Page 137 of Lavish

“I didn’t think you’d understand.”

“Understandwhat, exactly?” I asked.

He pressed mute on the television.

“I was drowning,” he said quietly. “I didn’t even realize it until I was halfway to the bottom. After your grandpa died… I never really worked before, Miles. He handled all that. And then suddenly I had to deal with watching him die, taking care of you all. You know what people called me when I first took over? Lazy. Stupid. Irresponsible. I wanted to prove them all wrong.”

He had never told me any of this. I’d never heard about this at all.

“I tried. So damn hard.” He blinked rapidly. “I needed to stay awake. That’s…that’s how it started. I wanted to be awake and alert. First it was pills. Then powder. Then pretending it was all under control and that I could stop at any time.”

He flinched. It was small, but I saw it.

“It spun outta control too quickly. How could I tell you and your mother that their father became an addict? So I needed to solve it on my own. I really thought I could.”

I exhaled hard, throat tight.

“I did something, Pops,” I told him, and this time I looked away. “Back when things got bad. Right after the scandal, right after everyone pulled out. We needed capital. No one would touch us. I was desperate.”

He stayed quiet.

“I took money from someone I shouldn’t have. A man named Victor Raines. On paper, it was a private loan. Off the record, it was…dirtier. He’s got ties. You know the kind and he’s back in all kinds of shit. Bad shit that can ruin all of us.”

Pops’s jaw flexed.

“But I’m handling it,” I added quickly.

Pops leaned forward slowly, elbows on his knees.

“I’m leaving the company.”

He looked up at me, brows furrowed. “Miles?—”

“My mind is made up. Ma knows what to do.”

Standing, I patted Pops on the shoulder before I headed out of their place. I was halfway down the steps when I got a call from an unknown number.

“Miles Whitmore?”

“Who’s asking?”

“This is Burke Hale. I’m a private investigator. I think you might be an associate of Victor Raines?”

I stopped walking.

“You might be able to help me.”

CHAPTER 32

Serena

Done.

The last of the protestors had either lost interest or we paid off or were gone. No more shanty towns in front of the office, no more bad publicity. Everything at the office was going back to normal. What was more important was telling my parents my decision.

If Miles could do it, so could I.

I could tell them I was stepping down. Leaving King Developments.