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But I couldn’t even think about the money. “Amonth?” I cried. “I can’t do that!”
I felt tears threatening. Cole had me backed into a corner. If I said no to Cole, he would have his lawyers go after Elena. She had two daughters she was trying to care for, and none of this was her fault.
But if I said yes, Cole’s father would punish him and help my auntie Theresa ruin my life once and for all. Lewis Bryson had explicitly threatened me—if I told Cole the truth, he’d make me pay.
I was backed against a wall—a billionaire’s wall—but that didn’t make it feel any better.
What the fuck was I supposed to do?
Elena’s phone buzzed, and she checked the number. “Hold on, okay? This is another VIP client that I have to deal with. Don’t go anywhere.” She hustled from the room.
Thenmyphone rang—it was Cole.Fuck!I wasn’t ready to talk to him. I didn’t know if I’d ever be ready. But I didn’t have much of a choice. “H-Hello?”
He didn’t bother with niceties. “I’m assuming you got my offer?” he barked.
“I’m not going to take it,” I said. “I’m sorry, Cole. But it’s not a good idea.”
“I had a feeling you were going to say that,” he said. “Did Elena tell you that my lawyers came up with the idea of suing you both for damages?”
“Yes,” I croaked. “But I don’t have any money, and it wouldn’t be fair for you to do that to Elena.”
“Oh, I know all about things being unfair.” He sounded angry. “And I also know you’re judgment-proof. That’s why I called you. You’re coming back to me, Jenny. Whether you like it or not.”
He went silent for a moment, letting that sink in.
My hands were sweating. My heart was pounding. The man I loved—myCole—was nowhere to be found. The person on the other end of the line was cold. So cold, in fact, he reminded me of his father.
“My lawyers are threatening all sorts of stipulations, but I’ve got one of a different kind,” he said.
“W-What do you mean?”
“If you say no, I’m going to expose you,” Cole said. “And Audrey. And AccommoDating. I’m going to plaster it all over the Internet that you and Audrey are escorts and that Elena is nothing more than a glorified, incorporatedpimp. It’ll blow the roof off James and Audrey’s wedding, and he’ll hate me. But if that’s what it takes to get you back, I’ll do it.”
“You wouldn’t,” I said, the words coming out in a rush. “James is your best friend!”
“And Audrey’s yours,” he snapped. “I know you wouldn’t want to hurt her. So sign the contract and pack your things. You’re returning to Fifty Liberty, whether you like it or not.”
He hung up.
I gaped at my phone, dumbfounded.
The motherfucker played hardball.
If I said yes to him, I would enrage his father.
If I said no, he would ruin everything. He would go public about Audrey. He would ruin Elena.
And it would be all my fault.
I had a choice; I just didn’t have a good one.
Just then, Elena returned. “We need to give them an answer,” she said.
“I’ll do it—I’ll go back,” I said, my voice scratchy. “But tell the client I have some stipulations this time, okay?”
Cole wasn’t the only one withstipulations.That was just a fancy word for rules, and hookers could have rules, too.
“Tell Mr. Bryson that if I’m coming back, I need my own space,” I said. “I don’t want to be near him if I can help it. I’m his fake date—the keyword being ‘fake.’ We’re just for show.”