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Alex huffed. “She’s in a rough spot, Holden. Life hasn’t been kind to her. She’s all alone in the world, and not by choice. You can change that. You can give her people to belong to.”
Something in his voice gave me pause. Alex genuinely seemed to believe he was helping this woman, and after being shunned from the elitist world I’d been born into the second things had gone sideways, I’d developed a bitter taste in my mouth about everything and everyone connected to that world.
But a girl with no connections, no family fortune, and no ridiculous last name was someone I might actually be willing to consider in this deranged scenario. Gaining access to some financial freedom?
That was difficult to say no to.
“I’ll think about it,” I said after a long beat. “I’m visiting Ryan in New York next weekend. I’ll get back to you after that.”
“Alright, but think fast. Nothing good has ever come from giving someone too much time to over-analyze this sort of thing. Plus, I’m sort of on a roll here. I’d like to keep the streak going.”
I groaned. “Go figure you’d find a way to make this about you.”
Alex pushed to his feet and shoved the ball at me. “Nah, this is all about you. It’s your decision, Holden. I’m just really hoping you’ll make the right one. For your sake and hers.”
CHAPTER 8
ALICIA
Tasha hadn’t moved a muscle in at least three minutes. She just sat on the corner of my bed with her hands in her lap, her face completely blank.
Meanwhile, I wasn’t doing much better, sitting cross-legged against my headboard and swirling my wine like I hadn’t just dropped a bomb on her head, but it was like I was watching the countdown to nuclear midnight in her eyes.
“So, do you have any thoughts?” I asked finally before bringing my glass to my lips and taking another sip of wine. “I’d really like to get your take on this.”
She blinked slowly, taking a few seconds longer than usual before she managed to refocus on me, still sort of looking like she was trying to shake off a trance. “Let me make sure I understand.”
“Okay.”
“Alex Thayer—”
“Westwood.”
“Yeah, sure.” She inhaled a deep breath. “The billionaire named Alex offered you a deal that would save the house and then some?”
“Yes,” I said, nodding like all this was perfectly reasonable. “No more worrying about back taxes or my student loans. Hell, I could go back to school and get the master’s degree I’ve been lusting after if I want.”
“You’ll also be able to pay for it in cash,” she said, her voice dry. “As long as you marry someone in his family.”
“Or his wife’s family,” I replied lamely. “That part wasn’t really clear. He just said the family.”
“God, that sounds so mafia.”
I rolled my eyes. “Neither the Westwoods nor the Thayers are part of the mob.”
“They’re into arranged marriages, Alicia. That screams mafia.”
“You’ve read way too many of those books.”
“That’s precisely my point,” she said. “I’m an expert on this.”
“Okay, well, then tell me what to do.”
“I can’t, but I’ll tell you what you should’ve done,” she said, widening her eyes at me. “You should’ve raised my rent. I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me how far up shit’s creek you are.”
I groaned. “That’s exactly why I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want you to think that I was going to raise your rent.”
It was like I could see her brain actively rebooting. She sagged back on my bed, looking around my room like she might never see it again. “I could’ve helped, Alicia.”
