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I continue, ignoring her comment. “We have never gotten along, and I know that the changes to Dad's will caught you off guard.”
Someone brings Hilloria her cocktail and she sips the frothy drink from a straw, her eyes narrowed on me.
I lean back in my chair and fold my arms over my chest, studying the woman. "I'm willing to offer you money to never see you again. No contesting the will. No asking for more money. Nothing. We walk away and I never see you again."
Hilloria scoffs and sneers at me. "You think you can pay me off? I was his wife. I should have gotten everything."
"And I was the caretaker that endured his wife's abuse."
We stare at each other, animosity thick between us. I pull out a manila envelope and slide it to her, then nod to the unopened envelope. “I had a contract written up by an attorney. Sign it and I'll be on my way. Contest the will and I'll do the same, asking for more money. By the time I'm through with you, all your money will be eaten up in legal fees.”
“For crying out loud, Carrie. Why do you have to be so difficult?” She slams her glass down onto the table with a clank.
“The terms are simple," I say. "Sign it and I'll leave you alone. You and I will never have to see each other again.”
Hilloria grabs the envelope and yanks it to her, ripping it open. She reviews the pages for several minutes, then pulls out a pen and signs it. When she's done, she shoves it back at me. “I hate you. I've always hated you. You're worthless and entitled, and lazy. You never deserved him as a father. He was too good for you."
It’s as if she slapped me across the face.
I try not to flinch, or make any expression at all. I learned early on after having Freddie as an older brother, that you can never let them see that they got to you. I never thought I’d be grateful to Freddie for all the misery he shoveled onto me as a kid.
I slowly slide the paperwork into the envelope. “I'll have my attorney send you your copy.”
Our breakfasts are placed before us on the table. Hilloria picks at her salad, only eating a few bites, preferring to focus on her drinks."When do I get my portion of the money?" she asks.
I reach into my purse and pull out an extra-thick envelope, practically bursting at the seams with hundred-dollar bills.
Her eyes widen, and a greedy look covers her face as she eyes the envelope. When I place it on the table, she snatches it out of my hands. I'm surprised she doesn't cackle.
She stuffs the money into her purse, then stands. “I’d like to say it was a pleasure, but I hope to never see you again.”
Then she strides out of the restaurant, practically knocking over a server carrying a tray full of food.
Shaking my head, I watch her leave. Each step she takes, causes my stomach to unclench a little more. Good riddance to the rubbish.
Chapter 30
The Dare Of All Dares
Ryan
Livviecrossesherarmsover her chest and grins like a Cheshire cat. “Perfect.”
“What’s perfect?” I say, slowly backing away from the group. “What do I need to do? Jump into the pool with my clothes on? Walk around with my underwear outside my pants? What?”
“Even better.” Livvie glances at Cimmeron. “You wanna tell him or should I?”
Wariness blooms inside me, growing by leaps and bounds. “What are you guys talking about?”
Cimmeron steps forward, drapes his arm over my shoulder, and looks down at me with a satisfied grin. “We’ve all been watching you, man. You’re miserable. You don’t laugh. You don’t joke. You almost never want to hang out anymore.”
“Yeah,” Livvie scowls up at me. “I asked you to take me bra shopping and you didn’t even freak out. You were supposed to give me your credit card, not gowithme.” She shudders. “Something is wrong with you and we need to fix it. I want my old dad back.”
I open my mouth to protest, but Cimmeron holds up his hand and shakes his head. “Tut-tut-tut. Don’t even.”
I open my mouth again.
I get the hand again. “This is our dare. You have to take it.”
