Page 41 of Interview with the Billionaire

Bridge: Did they want you gone? I was under the impression that Stark essentially paid to make you go away.

Bree: I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Bridge: Well, he bought you an apartment in Manhattan. That’s a little extravagant for severance. Seems more like a bribe.

Bree: No. No way.

Bridge: Well, you’re young. Maybe you’ll see it differently in a few years.

Bree: Think what you want, but if you print your suggestion without my denial—if you print it at all—I will totally call Evelyn and get her to snag an appointment for me with Damien’s attorney. It wasn’t like that.

Bridge: You’re saying Damien’s not the kind of man who would pay someone off?

Bree: I don’t know. He didn’t pay me off.

Bridge: He’s a powerful man with a checkbook full of clout. People like him don’t have to do what they don’t want to do.

Bree: No. You’re—

Bridge: They thought you participated in the kidnapping. And you’re sitting here defending them?

Bree: You have this all backwards.

Bridge: Oh, so they weren’t suspicious. My source must be wrong.

Bree: Source? Who?

Bridge: Sorry. Confidential.

Bree: Well, you should know your source is a liar. They were suspicious for a while, sure. Who could blame them? It was their little girl. And it was my boyfriend behind it all. But they realized they were wrong. I even helped take him down in the end.

Bridge: Hmm.

Bree: What’s that supposed to mean?

Bridge: I was just wondering if you blame them. For thinking that you’d help kidnap that sweet child and pump her full of a drug to make her loopy and tired.

Bree: They … they would have been idiots if they didn’t suspect me. I mean, I disappeared at the same time Anne did. And trust me, neither one of them is an idiot.

Bridge: So you weren’t upset? Pissed? Feelings hurt?

Bree: Well, sure. I think that really ripped them up, too. That they had a moment of doubt, I mean. They’re good people. Some of the best I know. And I love their kids. The cousins, too. Jeffery and Ronnie. I secretly love when Stella’s unavailable to watch the Steele kids, and I get all of them. It’s exhausting, but I love it. And Ronnie’s old enough to help now.

Bridge: That’s all nice, but the fact that you love the job only makes their suspicions worse. And then to buy you off with an apartment … smells like a bribe to me. They gave you a nice gift. Now you’re supposed to be silent. Is that why you’re not answering my questions.

[Bree pushes back from the table. I’ve clearly pissed her off]

Bree: I am answering your questions, and you’re not listening. I meant what I said. I will sic Charles on you. And now, I think we really are done.

Bridge: I understand. You’re young. You’l l get clarity when you’re older.

[She doesn’t answer. She just leaves.]

Interview End

I lean against the tiled wall and watch him, this man who is so much more than physical beauty. He’s strength and intelligence, commanding and tender. He’s honorable and strong, fierce and loyal.

- Hold Me