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Saturday was supposed to be goodbye. Imagine my surprise when I got a message from her last night asking if she could meet with me today.
At first, I wondered if she was going to ask me about cancelling on her Sunday, but I quickly shoved that thought away. That’s not her style. She would have accepted the goodbye after the way she left me at the gallery.
So, my next thought was that she must need me, and she must be desperate enough to contact me. That’s why I suggested we meet first thing.
“Morning,” I greet her first.
“Hi.”
“Do you want to sit?” I point to the chair in front of me. “Or we can go grab some coffee or something?”
“No, that’s okay. I don’t plan to take up too much of your time.”
I narrow my eyes, curiosity eating up my insides as I watch her lower herself into the seat.
“What’s going on, River?” I lean forward, resting my hands on the desk.
Her lips part, and she looks paler than the soft cream of her complexion. “I heard you were looking for a wife. I’d like to be considered for the job.”
As the words fall from her lips, I wonder if I heard her right. When I realize I heard her perfectly, my back snaps straight as if someone shoved a steel rod down my spine.
What the actual fuck?
How the hell does she know that?
“What are you talking about?” My voice has a chilling edge to it I would never normally use with her.
She swallows and seems to regain some of the confidence she exuded when she first walked in. “Please don’t bull shit me or beat around the bush. I heard you on the phone yesterday talking to Luc. I was… here.”
Jesus Christ. How the hell did I let that happen?
How could I have been so fucking careless? No one was supposed to be around because they were all in the lounge for the meeting. I slipped away during the break to take Luc’s call.
River heard me. She could have been anyone. Not that they come here much, but she could have been my father, or even one of Bastian’s minions.
The information she has is the sort that could destroy me, but if she wants the job—of being my wife—then she’s not looking to destroy me.
“What were you doing here?”
The color returns to her cheeks, but she schools herself again. “That doesn’t matter. Did you hear what I asked you? I want to be considered for the job. You might not want to be with me, but you know you can trust me, and two million would be more than I could ever hope to make in this lifetime.”
The money.
She needs money again. Coming to me in this desperate state can only mean one thing.
“What happened to Gina?”
The deep worry in her eyes tells me I’m right, but she seems surprised that I would guess the answer.
Her eyes turn glassy and her bottom lip trembles. “She needs lifesaving surgery.” A tear slides down her cheek, marring her flawless skin. “I went home to find her on the floor. She had a heart attack. I… had to do CPR.”
“Jesus, I’m so sorry.” Cold shock grips me. I knew things were bad with Gina, but I didn’t expect this. She could have died.
“Thank you.” She wipes the tear away and blinks rapidly, attempting to stop the rest from falling, but she fails.
I pass her a box of tissues, and she gratefully takes out a couple to wipe her face.
I hate seeing her cry. I’ve only witnessed her tears a few times during the time I’ve known her because crying is not something most are privy to with this girl, so I know this must cut her deeply.
