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“Okay, thirty billion?” I leaned over thecoffee table and wrote it out, hesitating only at the signature. Ididn’tthinkmy friend planned to rob me… Nah, I trustedhim. I tore the check free and handed it over.
“Cool.” He took out his wallet and tuckedthe slip of paper inside. “Break up with my sister, or I’ll cashit.”
I laughed.
“I’m serious. Break up with my sister, or Iwill cash that check.”
I shook my head. “You know you can’t justwalk into the bank—”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll wait for the funds toclear. I know you’re good for it.” He put his wallet back into hispocket. “Call my sister right now, break it off, and you can voidthe check.”
“I could call the—”
“All you have to do is break up with mysister.” He held my stare, not a single flicker of humor there. Noindication that he would back down or declare it all a prank.
He was forcing me into a decision.
He was forcing me to realize…
I loved Charlotte more than I loved a singlething I possessed.
Well, I would miss my apartment, my resorts,and my bespoke suits, but I could live without them.
“No. Enjoy the money. I can hand you thekeys to this apartment, too, if you want them. But there’s no wayin hell that I’m breaking up with Charlotte.”
Scott stood in front of me, waiting for meto change my answer.
He could wait forever.
I didn’t say anything. I wasn’t going todefend myself or my decision. And I certainly wouldn’t change mymind.
With a deep breath, he took the check fromhis pocket and unlocked his phone.
“What are you doing?” I asked. “Mobiledeposit?”
The corner of his mouth quirked up, but hedidn’t fully smile. “Don’t panic, I’m covering the routing andaccount numbers with my thumb.”
The phone made a camera clicking sound. Hechecked the picture, put his phone away, and ripped the check inhalf.
“I’m so lost right now,” I said, watchingthe torn paper drift to the floor.
“You better burn that,” he advised. “Writing‘void’ or shredding it? Someone will put it back together forthirty billion.”
“What just happened?” I went to the sofa andflopped down on it.
“What just happened is that you proved thatyou were willing to give up billions for my sister. That should puther mind at ease when I tell her.” He tucked his wallet into hispocket.
“Shouldn’t I be the one who tells her?” Icould get on a plane, show up at her house, declare my love in therain, weather permitting.
“Nope,” Scott says firmly. “Don’t talk toher until I get a chance to. Trust me. If you want her to come backto you, take my advice and wait for her to make the next move.”
It would be difficult. Itfeltimpossible. But Scott knew his sister better than I did, so Itrusted him to fix this. “Fine. But you’re staying for lunch. Westill have things we need to discuss.”
Like how the hellanyonecould fallfor my sister.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
(Charlotte)