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“If his purpose is to hurt you and he doesn’t care about the money, then none of this does you any good.”
Her gaze cut to his. “I don’t expect you to understand why it is I’m doing what I’m doing.”
His weathered hand rested gently on the folder, blocking her from reading it. “Are you sure about this? You don’t have to give him a dime. I’ve got a gal who is amazing at PR. She’d be able to keep most of this out of the limelight. It would just take one call.”
The offer he made was more tantalizing than she cared to admit. Maybe she’d made her decision too quickly. There might be other ways to solve this. She hesitated, closing the file and moving back to her seat at the desk. There was one thing Mr. Goldblum didn’t seem to consider, however. Her parents could disown her over something like this. She’d seen them do far worse for far less.
She tapped her finger against her lips. If she told her parents before Kenneth could, that wouldn’t take away all of his power. The media would have a heyday if they found out what Sarah had been up to over the summer. Heaven forbid her parents’ sterling reputation get tarnished.
No. Her decision was made, and she had some plans up her sleeve that might make all of this more bearable. The offshore accounts had stipulations. Kenneth wasn’t getting everything he wanted exactly the way he’d requested, and he’d risk a whole lot of money if he didn’t agree to certain terms.
It was risky, weighing his greed over his ego. If Kenneth’s thirst for revenge was greater, then none of this mattered anyway and her secret would be out.
Sarah shook her head. “I think this is the best way.”
He crossed the room, an urgency in his voice she hadn’t ever heard before. “Kenneth is a criminal, Sarah.”
“Technically, I am too.”
Mr. Goldblum shook his head. “No, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. You were influenced—”
“May I remind you that some of what happened was my fault? I chose to start this whole mess.”
“True, but you had a change of heart. You grew. If you were to go back, you would have done things differently. I’m not so sure about Kenneth.”
But if she had the chance to change her past, she wouldn’t have met Dax, nor found out just how much she loved being on a ranch. In a way, she had Kenneth to thank for her current outlook.
“Don’t let that boy take anything else from you.” He offered her a strained smile. “If you were my daughter, I’d want you to stand up for yourself, no matter the consequences. I think your parents would agree.” He straightened and strode across the room to take a seat on a couch. “I’ve got some paperwork to finish while we wait for him to show up. I suggest you think about what you really want.”
What she really wanted.
That was easy. Now, getting it was the hard part.
He pulled out a few more files from a briefcase he’d brought with him and got to work. He’d made several good points. As much as she assumed what her parents would do in this situation, she couldn’t be one hundred percent sure. For all she knew, they’d be angrier with Kenneth and do whatever it took to completely destroy him.
Once again, doubts over whether or not she’d jumped the gun on this one accosted her. She glanced at her lawyer and frowned. “You know my parents. What do you think they would do if they found out what happened over the summer?”
He lifted his gaze and met her eyes. “I think you underestimate your folks. They want the best for you. And sometimes that comes across differently to you.”
She tightened her jaw. There were very few memories where she recalled feeling loved and appreciated by her parents. But if Mr. Goldblum was right, then they wouldn’t do much besides scold her for a mistake made and help with damage control.
Sarah had already lost Dax. If they kicked her out, it wasn’t like she’d be able to go crawling back to him. Though she might be able to convince Brielle’s father to hire her until she could get on her feet.
The possibilities were starting to sound even better with each passing moment. Sarah lifted the document once more, then turned and pushed it through the shredder.
She wasn’t sure, but she thought she caught a hint of a smile on Mr. Goldblum’s face. “Do you think you could call that PR lady for me? Make an appointment as soon as we’re done with Kenneth?”
He already had his phone in his hand and was set to dial. “Of course, ma’am.”
She grimaced. “How many times have I asked you not to call me that. It’s Sarah.”
This time he did smile, and she met his with one of her own. Even if it was for a few minutes, the relief was refreshing and allowed her to clear her head.
Sarah needed to speak to her parents first. Then she’d give Brielle a call. Repairing things with Dax would come later.
* * *
“What doyou mean you’re not giving me the money?” Kenneth’s words came out in sharp puffs and his chest lifted and fell with each angry breath. His hands were clenched, and if she hadn’t planned on this meeting in a public place, she might have been scared he would hurt her.
