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“Calm down, firecracker. I will not hurt you. You aren’t my type, anyway. But you are a vital part of my plans for my son’s future.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, my son is going to run this company alongside me. His pipedreams are just that, and you’re going to help to make him realize that.”
I laugh. “You’re delusional if you think I’d do anything to help you. Especially try to convince Ryder to be your right-hand man.”
His fingers wrap around my throat in seconds, and I let out a strangled breath. “If you want your aunt to remain employed, and if you want to keep your scholarship, you’ll listen.” He’s restricting my airways and I can barely see straight.
When he lets go, I gasp, hungrily sucking in air. “You’re a fucking monster. You’ll lose Ryder when he finds out.”
“Oh, but he will not find out.” Coben stands and makes his way to the floor-to-ceiling wall. I wish the glass would crack and the man would fall to his death. “Your aunt has a secret. One she doesn’t want anyone to find out. Not even her daughter, and if you’re grateful for her taking you in, you’ll do as you’re told.”
His words sink in. My aunt is hiding something. Something devastating enough that she won’t tell Marcella.
“What makes you think Ryder will even listen?”
“Incentive, dear girl. He needs to know you think he’s worthless, and he’ll do anything to prove you wrong. The boy is that taken with you.”
“He’ll hate you for this.”
“On the contrary, he’ll thank me one day. How long do you think his success as an artist will last?”
I sneer. “He’s been doing far better than you can imagine.”
“Oh, I think I have an idea. He’s coming home this weekend because a major contract with a gallery in New York tanked, and he’s going to come home to a cheating whore of a girlfriend.”
I burst into laughter. “I am not cheating on Ryder.”
The doors open and Will walks in. “You asked to see me, Mr. Rothwell?”
“Will…” I start to say something, but my mind is suddenly fuzzy. I’m dizzy and have to hold onto the arm of the chair to stay upright. What the hell is happening to me?
“Ash...” Will’s voice cuts through the fog, but it’s too heavy for me to answer back.
I feel myself floating and my last thoughts are of Ryder.
ChapterTwenty-Two
RYDER
My mother used to say that when something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Downing my second bourbon, I rest my head against the couch and try to drown out the sheer disappointment of this week. Two major contracts fell through. How the fuck could that happen? My agent said it was in the bag. Ash isn’t picking up, so despite my rules against it, I am spending the night at home with a bottle.
At eight p.m. I called my Mom and she picks up on the first ring the way she does most times I call.
“Hey, stranger. I’ve missed you. When are you coming home?”
“Hey, Mom,” I sit up, and set the glass on the coffee table. “I flew in earlier today. Maybe I can take you to lunch tomorrow. Catch up. How’ve you been?
“Lunch sounds great. And I’m better, sweetheart. A lot better. I joined the gym again and got a personal trainer. I haven’t felt this good in years.”
“That’s good to hear, Mom.” I rub my eyes.
“Ryder, are you okay? You sound tired.”
“Yeah, I’m great. Just jetlagged I think.”
The sound of a message coming through distracts me. It might be Ash. “Hey Mom, I’ll call you tomorrow.”
