Page 35 of Lavish

“It’s all aboutme, of course.” She swirled her drink like she had all the time in the world. “My life. My journey. My regrets. And of course, the people who fucked me over.” She shot me a look that made my skin crawl. “It’s a beautiful piece, really. Raw. Honest. I couldn’t write it and not have you in it, obviously. You’re one of my masterpieces.”

I calmly exhaled. “You’re lying. Half the shit you’ve done, you’d go to jail.”

“Don’t worry, I talked to a lawyer. Just changed some name, dates, details. It won’t come back on me. But we need action in this book, or it’ll just be some boring-ass diary. I added it all!” She grinned at me, giddy like a kid. “I…exaggerated on some details, but who cares? People like the messiness. Espionage! Embezzlement! And oooh—thethefts.”

I must have died. Died at my desk in the office, and now I was in hell.

“That’s not what we did,” I protested weakly.

“Oh, please,” Jenese said. “I covered your ass more times than I can count. Who do you think made those permits go through when you couldn’t because they wanted your brother instead?”

“You’re lying.”

Jenese shrugged. “Your word against mine.”

Breathe, breathe.

“This isourstory, Serena.” Her voice sharpened. “Yet you cut me out like I was trash. But when you needed leverage back then, help, compassion, was I not there? I kept your hands clean. Now I’m tellingmyside.”

I couldn’t lose my temper. I should have expected this.

King Developments was climbing, and nothing—nothing—could slow us down. This was just a curve in the road. A deer in the headlights. You swerved in time…or you hit it head-on and keep driving.

From her bag, she retrieved a black flash drive, idly twirling it.

“A little draft. The early stuff. You wouldn’t believe the reception it’s gotten in certain circles already.”

My pulse knocked against my ribs. I didn’t let it show.

“I’m hoping now you’ll take me seriously. I want that Harrington estate.”

“You should know me too,” I said slowly, trying to work moisture back into my mouth. “You think you’re going to paint me as some kind of villain? I’ll sue you, your publisher, and anyone involved for defamation.”

“Now, I’m not a callous woman. I know you’ve made a life without me,” Jenese continued as if I hadn’t spoken at all, “and I wouldn’t want to mess with that. Truly. I’m rooting for you. I’ve come to make a deal.”

“You’re offering a lot of deals today.”

“You’re not someone I can easily intimidate.” Jenese grinned. “So, let’s keep it simple: you give me the estate. I don’t release the photo. And if you’re cooperative, I’ll give you a chapter of the manuscript. You do a few small things for me, I might even give you editorial input. How’s that for generosity?”

I glared at her. “You’re blackmailing me with a book and want to collaborate on it?”

“Beta reading,” she said, amused. “Very modern.”

Jenese stood up, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. I watched as she slid her sunglasses on and tossed me the flash drive.

“A sample chapter from my book. I think you’ll find it…enlightening. Do give me critique, okay?”

Before I could say anything, Jenese turned to leave, pausing just long enough to glance over her shoulder.

“The estate. Or the photo is going out right now.”

“Fine,” I said. “You’ll get the estate. Two weeks.”

Her eyes gleamed.

“But it won’t be in your name—not directly,” I added coolly. “I’ll move it through a holding company. Clean. Quiet. You’ll get full control, just not…ownership. Not yet.”

She studied me, narrowing her eyes.