Page 33 of You Owe Me (21 Rumors #2)
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Rumor has it, she discovered the truth at the worst possible moment.
Ainsley
But for the first time in weeks, I’m not the one who should be scared.
My phone buzzes with a text from Eliza:
How’s Operation Destroy the Khaki Menace going?
I type back:
About to find out. If I don’t text you in an hour, assume I’ve been murdered by overpriced cologne fumes.
Eliza: Got it. I’ll tell the police to look for someone in boat shoes and daddy issues.
I laugh despite myself, then take a deep breath and push through the glass doors into Carter’s pretentious lobby. The same concierge barely glances up as I head for the elevators, which is perfect because I probably look like I’m here to commit several felonies.
Which, let’s be honest, isn’t entirely inaccurate.
The elevator ride to the fifteenth floor feels like ascending to my own execution, except this time, I’m the one holding the weapon.
Jin’s intelligence sits heavy in my bag—screenshots, academic records, email chains that paint a picture of systematic cheating going back three years.
Everything I need to flip this entire nightmare on its head.
Assuming Carter doesn’t just laugh in my face and trigger whatever nuclear option he’s prepared.
I knock on his door with more confidence than I feel, straightening my shoulders and trying to channel some of Maverick’s intimidating energy. The door opens almost immediately.
“Ainsley.” Carter greets me with that insufferable smile. “Right on time. I was beginning to think you might not show.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I reply sweetly. “We have so much to discuss.”
He steps aside to let me in, and I’m relieved to see we’re alone this time.
No audience of business school cronies to witness whatever’s about to happen.
Just Carter and me and the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook a city full of people who have no idea their morning is about to get very interesting.
“Can I offer you something to drink?” Carter plays the gracious host. “Mimosa?”
“I’m fine, thanks. I prefer to stay sharp during business negotiations.”
His eyebrows lift slightly. “Business negotiations? How… professional of you.”
I set my bag down on his expensive coffee table and pull out the manila envelope. “I think it’s time we discuss some new terms.”
“New terms?” His voice carries just a hint of amusement, like he’s watching a child play dress-up in adult clothes. “I wasn’t aware this was a negotiation.”
“Everything’s a negotiation if you have the right leverage.” I tap the envelope with one finger. “And it turns out, I do.”
Carter settles into his leather chair, completely relaxed, like this is all very entertaining. “Do tell.”
I open the envelope and spread the contents across his glass coffee table.
Academic records, email screenshots, suspension letters that were mysteriously downgraded to probation.
The paper trail of Carter Mills’s fraudulent academic career, laid out in black and white.
I wasn’t waiting on Jin to find someone to report Carter.
I’m pulling a Maverick and handling business.
If Carter wants to threaten my family, I’ll return the favor.
The change in his expression is immediate and satisfying. The smug confidence falters, replaced by something sharper, more calculating. His eyes scan the documents, and I can practically see him running damage control scenarios in his head.
“Interesting reading,” I say conversationally. “Particularly the emails about your ‘study group’ activities. Very thorough documentation of academic fraud. Almost like you wanted to get caught.”
“Where did you get these?” His voice is carefully controlled, but I catch the edge underneath.
“Does it matter? What matters is that I have them. And copies. Lots of copies.” I lean back in his overpriced chair, trying to mirror his earlier casual menace. “Funny thing about digital evidence—it’s really hard to make it disappear completely.”
Carter’s jaw ticks. “These are illegally obtained. Inadmissible.”
“To a court, maybe. But to the university’s academic integrity board?” I shrug. “They’re remarkably flexible about how information comes to their attention. Especially when it involves the dean’s son running an organized cheating ring.”
“You have no idea what you’re playing with.” His threat lacks his usual conviction.
“Actually, I think I do. See, here’s what I think happened.
” I pick up one of the emails, pretending to study it.
“You’ve been cheating your way through college for years while Daddy covers up your failures.
But you got greedy. Started looking at Maverick’s operation and thinking you could do it better.
The only problem? Maverick actually earned his reputation. You just inherited yours.”
“My father?—”
“Your father’s been cleaning up your messes for three years,” I interrupt. “But what happens when these emails find their way to the board of trustees? When they start asking questions about whether the dean has been compromising academic integrity to protect his own son?”
Carter goes very still. “You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.” I lean forward, letting some of Maverick’s cold authority bleed into my voice. “You threatened my boyfriend’s family with federal investigators. I’m threatening you with the truth.”
“The IRS investigation is already in motion.” His voice has lost its earlier confidence. “You can’t stop that.”
“Maybe not. But I can certainly give investigators some very interesting information about who initiated those anonymous tips. Amazing how digital footprints work, isn’t it?
” I pull out my phone and show him a screenshot of network logs that Jin provided.
“Your laptop, Carter. Your IP address. Your incredibly stupid decision to submit federal tips from university Wi-Fi.”
The blood drains from his face. “That’s… that’s fabricated.”
“Is it? Because the FBI takes filing false reports very seriously. Especially when those reports are designed to harass innocent families.” I set the phone down and fix him with my best impression of Maverick’s intimidating stare.
“How do you think that’s going to play when you’re already facing academic fraud charges? ”
Carter’s composure is cracking now, the polished facade giving way to something uglier underneath. “You think you’re so clever, don’t you? Walking in here with your little folder of evidence, playing at being dangerous.”
“I don’t think I’m dangerous,” I reply calmly. “I know I am. I learned from the best.”
“Your boyfriend isn’t here to protect you,” Carter snarls, abandoning the pretense of civility entirely. “And when this all comes out—when the university starts digging into his operation—you’ll go down with him.”
“Maybe. But you’ll go down first.” I start gathering the papers, stacking them neatly.
“Here’s my offer, Carter. You call the IRS today.
You tell them your concerns were unfounded and you’re withdrawing your complaints.
You disappear from Maverick’s life and mine.
And in return, I don’t hand these documents over to the academic integrity board. ”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then by Monday morning, every member of the board of trustees will have copies of these emails. The student newspaper will have a very interesting story about academic nepotism. And federal investigators will have some fascinating information about who’s been filing false reports.
” I stand up, slinging my bag over my shoulder.
“Your choice, Carter. But choose quickly.”
Carter stares at me for a long moment, and I can see him weighing his options. The calculation in his eyes, trying to figure out if I’m bluffing, if he can call my hand and still come out ahead.
“You have until tomorrow morning,” I continue, heading for the door. “After that, all bets are off.”
I’m almost to the door when he speaks again, voice low and dangerous.
“You have no idea what you’ve just done.”
I turn back to face him, hand on the doorknob. “I’ve leveled the playing field. Welcome to the game, Carter.”
I’m pulling the door open when my phone rings. Unknown number. Probably spam, but something makes me answer anyway.
“Hello?”
“Is this Ainsley James?”
“Yes, who is this?”
“This is Havemeyer Medical Center. We have you listed as the emergency contact for Maverick Lexington?”
The world tilts sideways. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Mr. Lexington underwent a cardiac procedure this morning, and there have been some complications. We need you to come in immediately.”
I’m already running for the elevator, leaving Carter and his threats and my carefully planned revenge behind. Because none of that matters now. Nothing matters except the fact that Maverick is in a hospital somewhere, having surgery I didn’t know about, facing complications I can’t understand.
And I’m here. Playing games with his enemies while he’s fighting for his life.
“What happened? Where is he?”
“Ma’am, I need you to come to the hospital.”
“Just tell me—is he okay?”
“He’s stable, but there were complications during the procedure. Dr. Patel will explain everything when you get here. Can you be here within the hour?”
“I’m already on my way.”
I end the call and get in the car, my hands gripping the steering wheel like it’s the only thing keeping me tethered to reality.
Cardiac procedure.
Maverick had heart surgery this morning. While I was planning Carter’s downfall, while I was feeling proud of myself for finally fighting back, the man I love was lying on an operating table.
And he didn’t tell me.
He let me believe he was visiting Pops, let me worry about IRS investigations and academic blackmail, while he was facing something that could have killed him.
The traffic lights blur together as I speed toward the hospital, and I can’t decide if I’m more terrified or furious. Terrified that he might not be okay, that the complications might mean something worse than they’re telling me over the phone.
Furious that he went through this alone. That he didn’t trust me enough to let me be there for him. That he chose lying over letting me love him through something difficult.
My phone rings again. Carter’s name on the screen.
I let it go to voicemail.
Whatever war we were fighting, whatever threats we were trading, all of it feels impossibly small now. Carter Mills and his daddy issues and his pathetic attempts at intimidation don’t matter when Maverick is in a hospital bed with complications from surgery I didn’t even know he needed.
The only thing that matters is getting to him.
The only thing that matters is that he’s okay.
Everything else can wait.