Page 119 of Perfect Assumption

And all the pieces finally fit together. What happened to her at college. Angie’s reticence to going out in public. Mike’s obsession with red-haired women. “You’re the one who leaked the story to the media. You just couldn’t let us have our peace,” I declare flatly.

But before I can say anything else, I’m interrupted by Mike’s predatory laugh. How come I’ve never noticed the way it sounds before now? It always came off as cocky and confident in my childhood. I open my mouth to speak, but he beats me to it. “I’m glad one of us got to tap that ass, Ward. You’re going to have to share how she was with me and Steve when you get over this snit your in.”

Angie lets out a beaten sound from somewhere behind me. I reach out a hand, but she adroitly avoids my touch. “Fuck, Angie…”

I never doubted her when she finally was able to share what had happened that night; how could she doubt me now? Then, there was too much pain that threaded through her voice, in the way she held herself as if she expected me to turn away from her. I realize it must be because she’s being confronted with one of her attackers so brutally. I repeat myself furiously, “Get the fuck out of my condo.”

Mike laughs. “You actually believe her? They didn’t at school.”

“Why? Did your dad buy off the witnesses or some shit?” I fire back.

Silence greets my response before Mike begins a slow clap. “I’m impressed, Ward. Money made you smart.”

“No, if anything it made me bitter,” I counter, trying with everything I can to remind Angie of all the wounds she helped heal. “There’s a lot more than money out there. I was just too blind to see it.”

The most important thing was out there waiting for me. Love.

“I hope your sister sees it that way when I move to block any and all business from going to LLF,” he threatens.

“I’ll look forward to suing your ass for attempting to do so. I might not give a damn about money the same way you do, but I’ll enjoy taking yours.” I pause for a moment. “And then I’ll enjoy using it to set the story straight about what you did. How long do you think your stock price will hold?”

He glares past me at Angie, who still hasn’t spoken a word. “Don’t let her cause problems for you, Ward.”

“By what? Trying to ruin me? Carys? We both know the two of us could retire tomorrow and never want for a damn thing ever again.”

“But could she?” With those words hanging in the air, he turns on his heel and heads to the door. Just as he’s about to open it, he addresses Angie. “It was good to renew our acquaintance again, Angie. It’s been too long. Next time we shouldn’t wait so long.” Then he slams out of my condo after flicking my keycard into the hallway, causing a clicking sound in the cavernous room.

The second he leaves, I open my mouth. “Angel.” But I hear her footfalls as she dashes away from me. “Shit.” I catch a glimpse of her dashing down the hallway toward the master suite. I give her a few moments to get her bearings before following her.

I never should have given her a second.

When I walk in, I immediately declare, “You’re not going anywhere.” Since I immediately made love to Angie last night, there’s nothing for her to repack. I find her scooping up her clothes I’d carelessly tossed on the floor and wedging them into any available space. When her head lifts, a knife pierces my heart, deflating it.

She’s shattered.

“I have to go.”

“Angie…” I slowly approach her, but the closer I get, the more her trembling intensifies.

“You don’t understand how bad it was. They drugged me and touched me, Ward!” she screams.

“You’re right. I’ll never understand.”

“The worst is yet to come,” she predicts ominously.

A sick feeling lodges in my stomach. “What do you mean?”

“Now, your friend Mike isn’t going to just disappear. He’s going to go on the attack. He’s going to go tell every scandal sheet I came after him. Again.”

“How can you know that?” I wonder aloud.

She makes a desperate mew. “Because every time the rags bring up his past, that’s what he says.”

A desperate fury I haven’t felt since the night my parents died washes over me. “And what do you say when they contact you?”

Her head tilts to the side, sending fiery waves of hair cascading over her shoulder. “What makes you think they do?”

I grit my teeth. “This time, they will. We’ll go on the attack first. We’ll contact the media. We’ll…”