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“You will leave on the eight-forty flight I have booked for you,” Martine said. “My driver will take you. He has all the information you need to get settled in Tampa. You will speak to no one. I have cameras and microphones on every part of this property. I have tracking on everyone’s phones and access to all conversations and texts, including your mother’s and Seren’s. You will not try to contact him. You may contact your mother, but if you do, I will be monitoring every word you say. If I think you’re trying to tell her anything, she will have an unfortunate accident. If you contact the police, she’s dead and I will pin it on Seren. You will lose them both. Do you understand me?”
It was as if the air had been punched out of my lungs. I was lightheaded and devastated. I was stuck with no one to turn to. No one to help me. “And if I stay away?”
“Everyone will be just fine,” he assured me with a shifty grin.
“Including Maureen?”
“Oh, my sweetamore. All she has to do is sign the business over to me and she will be fine. But she wants Seren to have it. So, we will see. The ball’s in her court, as they say.”
“Make Seren a deal,” I pleaded. “Buy him out. There has to be something you can say to convince him. Letme. I’ll get him to give you the entire business. He doesn’t want it anyway. He just wants to play football.”
“You think you’re that convincing?” he scoffed. “You spread your legs in a matter of weeks. You’re lucky he’s paid you this much attention. He fucks them all and leaves them. I’m doing you a favor getting you away from him.” He glanced down at his expensive watch. “By my calculations, you’re already on your way out.”
My stomach churned, not only because of what he’d said but because he’d disregarded my pleas. If Seren knew what was on the line, he’d hand over the company. But, then again, he’d know who killed his father. So, Martine would never pressure him and risk showing his hand. “I’ll go.”
He smiled. “I knew you’d see things my way.”
“I need your word that you won’t hurt anyone.”
“I’m the one running the show, sweetheart. Not you.”
I stood on unsteady legs.
“And just remember. I’ll be watching you,” he warned with a sick smile on his face.
CHAPTER 37
Grace
I moved as quickly as I could from the third floor to the basement, trying not to break down until I’d reached my room. And even then, I reined in my tears because I knew Martine was watching.
“Grace?” my mother called.
I froze when she poked her head into my room.
“What are you doing?”
“I just got some great news,” I said, trying to pull it together. “I got the internship.”
Her mouth opened. “That’s amazing.”
I tried to smile. “I leave tonight.”
She gasped. “Tonight?”
Tears glazed my eyes. “Yes, isn’t that great?”
“Oh…I…I wasn’t ready. You just graduated.”
“It’s a great opportunity,” I said, moving to my closet and pulling my suitcase down from the top shelf, avoiding eye contact so I didn’t make her suspicious. “And, you know how much I’ve wanted this.” I placed the suitcase down on my bed and opened it.
My mother went to my dresser and started taking out the clothes inside, packing them in my suitcase for me. “It’s gonna be quiet around here without you.”
A perpetual ringing pierced my ears as I went to the closet and pulled some hoodies and jeans off their hangers. I folded the clothes and placed them into my suitcase.
“I got so used to being with you every day. It’s been nice.” I was happy she walked into the bathroom because tears trailed down my cheeks.
Pull it together, Grace.I wiped away the tears and began packing my shoes.
