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“I know it is,” I reply. “If you can’t get whatever you’re looking for from that thumb drive, you’ll never get it.”
“That drive will only have his work files on it. I don’t doubt that he’s stupid enough to have all of his illegal dealings on his work computer. That drive is only part of the plan,” he says.
“No,” I say forcefully. “I’m done with this shit. Whatever vendetta you have against that family is yours and yours alone. I want to be left out of it.”
“I don’t give a shit what you want!” he yells. “You will do as I say.”
His words harken back to something similar my father said to me when I told him I wouldn’t say I liked lying to people.
“If you want to eat, little girl, you will do as I say!”he said right before he backhanded me across the face for talking back to him.
I flinch at the memory.
I was fifteen years old and growing tired of the constant manipulation and lies my father made me tell. That, probably not coincidentally, was right around when my migraines started.
“I don’t know who the fuck you think I am, but I’m not your employee or a fucking lackey of yours,” I tell Dean.
“But you are someone who wants to stay out of jail. Am I right?”
I tighten my grip on my phone.
He cackles again. “It’s not like you can do anything.” He huffs. “You’ve already provided me enough information that would have Kyle and those boneheads at Townsend suing you and have you arrested for corporate espionage. The same bullshit charges my father was arrested for.”
I want to argue, but I knew I had committed a crime when I handed Dean those files I got from the accounting office. Would Kyle overlook something like that?
I recall the cold, hard look in his eyes the first time I met him. The way he talks about Townsend’s legacy and how protective he is over his family. It’s such a contrast to the man who held my hair when I got sick in the company’s garage.
Despite how intimate we’d become, I don’t think he could overlook my betrayal.
I swallow the lump in my throat as my vision blurs. I refuse to let the tears fall.
“No,” I say adamantly. “I’m done. Find someone else to do your bidding.” With that, I disconnect the call, hanging up on Dean. He’ll try to call back, so I instantly block his number.
I swipe the unshed tears from my eyes and make a decision.
I dial Kyle’s cell number. After a few rings, I get his voicemail. I hesitate, but then say, “K-Kyle, it’s Riley. I have something I need to talk to you about. It’s urgent. I know you’re on a work trip, but please call me back as soon as possible.”
I don’t feel any less anxious after making the call. I could’ve just blown up my entire life.
Eve is the first thought that comes to mind. What will happen to my Ladybug if I’m in jail?
I shake my head, pushing that thought aside. Somehow, I’ll have to convince Kyle and possibly the board of directors not to press charges against me.
My heart squeezes in my chest because I know that as soon as Kyle finds out, he’ll want nothing more to do with me. He’s the type to cut someone off without a second thought for lying to him. And I know I’ll deserve it.
For the first time in years, I’ve felt a genuine connection with a man, and now it’s all about to end.
“It’s fine,” I tell myself as I start my car to head home. I’ll opt to give Kyle one more call.
* * *
I couldn’t even get insideof my condo before I redialed Kyle’s number. This one goes to voicemail, also. I sigh and hang up without leaving a message. The longer I put off saying what I need to say to him, the greater my anxiousness grows.
I pause at my door and massage my temples, willing the impending headache to subside. I console myself with the knowledge that I will tell Kyle the whole truth as soon as I can. As I put my key into the lock, I wonder if I shouldn’t go directly to the board instead. The longer I sit on this, the worse it’ll be.
But something about not telling Kyle directly doesn’t sit quite right with me. I need to tell him to his face. It’s the least I can do.
With that decision made, I unlock and enter my condo. I go to flick on the light switch right next to the door, but a lamp on the far side of the room turns on instead.
