Chapter Sixteen #2
I blinked at both, still in disbelief about this turn of events. God, I needed a break. But maybe in a way, I already had one.
A short time later, I left with a stack of brochures, all focused on places that were not only farther from home, but at least double the amount I currently paid for my mother’s care.
Looking at the projected estimates on the back pages of the slick paperwork made me want to scream or lose control and pitch a fit in the parking lot, ripping them all to shreds.
God, what a mess. I threw the pamphlets and glossy pages in the passenger seat of my car and placed a quick phone call.
“How did the showing go?” I asked Bridgette when she answered. “Any bites from the buyer?”
“I should have guessed you’d call,” she replied. “And yes, things went relatively well. They liked the current state of the house and property. But you know how these things go.”
I eyed the packets of paperwork on the seat next to me, a half dozen financial calculations filling my head.
When I didn’t answer, Bridgette sighed, and replied, “If the buyer is interested, they’ll be in touch. But for right now, they’re keeping their true feelings to themselves. We need to let this play out.”
“I know.” I didn’t hide my annoyance or frustration from her. “I know.”
“Patience, Lila. Patience.”
Bridgette had no clue that whatever sanity I had left was close to giving out for good. No one did. We ended the call, and I sat in the car for a long time, feeling alone, afraid, tired, and hopeless.
And most of all, I had regrets.
Major ones, and a lot of them focused on the decisions I’d made after getting my bachelor’s degree at Vanderbilt.
How foolish I’d been to think I’d always be taken care of, I’d always have money, and I’d be able to kick back, waiting for a rich guy who moved in my parents’ social circle to scoop me up, marry me, and install me in one of his mansions, where I’d have every comfort I needed for the rest of my life.
I knew I’d wasted the last five years, relying on pretty and perfect instead of getting real-world experience in a career that would give me a way out of this disaster.
Maybe I deserved this chain of events, deserved the shame and groveling that came as a result of my father mortgaging our entire family’s existence on the backs of shady loans to a Russian oligarch intent on controlling the most populated section of Florida.
A place where he’d be able to control the Caribbean by proxy, influence elections, import drugs, and traffic in a black market as dark as an Everglades swamp at midnight.
I knew a lot of people wouldn’t feel sorry for me.
Still, it sucked. And the sheer isolation of it all stung more.
Sure, Adam had offered advice and even a financial bailout, but I couldn’t bear the thought of him knowing what was really going on in my life.
He’d be horrified—ashamed. It would change everything he thought about me.
Julie wouldn’t be much help either; our friendship had been strictly based on shallow interactions, the kind of relationship that centered on drinks at fancy bars, celebrity gossip, spa treatments, and laughs about people she’d swiped right on while browsing the MatchR dating app.
I needed an ally. Someone who would give me unvarnished, straight-up advice. Someone I could trust. After another glance at the glossy brochures outlining the increased financial impact of my mother’s situation, I placed one more phone call.
“I haven’t heard from you in months, and I was getting worried about you,” Aaron Shields said on the other end of the line. “In fact, I was just about to call you.”
“I need to talk to you,” I said though a suppressed sob. “Now, if possible.”
“This sounds serious.”
“It is,” I replied, thinking of the handful of legal files currently inhabiting a large section of trunk real estate in my car.
For months, I’d told myself I’d take them out, I’d file them away along with the tax returns and other documents I stored in the basement safe in the house.
But whenever I opened the trunk to do so, I ended up closing it almost immediately.
Locking it all away in the trunk might have been reckless, but it had also been a way of avoiding reality, of compartmentalizing my life as it spun out of control.
“I have something to show you. Something you need to see, and it can’t wait. ”
“Come right over.”
The drive didn’t take long, just a few minutes through West Palm Beach and then over the bridge to the island I had always called home.
I parked on a side street near the center of town, grabbed the files from my trunk, and slid through the side door of Aaron’s building, where his executive assistant showed me into his office.
“I’m glad you showed, up, Lila,” Aaron said. He’d stood as I walked in the door and didn’t have his usual smile on his face. I supposed my frantic tone had conveyed more than enough over the phone. “I meant it when I said that I’m worried about you.”
“Well, I’m worried about me too.”
He sat at his desk and studied me. I look that as an opportunity to dump the files on his desk.
“Look at this,” I said as they landed on the wood with a smack. “This is what’s going on with me. What I’ve been dealing with over the last few months. And what my father left me.”
“I didn’t know your father had these debts, nor had forged documents,” Aaron murmured as he looked over the files. “Jesus Christ.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty bad, isn’t it?” I shook my head.
When I learned he’d forged paperwork, it blew my mind.
Who was that man? “It was back when Mario Cortez and I were going over Dad’s will that I got the first idea things might be off.
Mario said some of the statements had account manager names listed that didn’t exist.”
I shuddered at the memory of that awful, sickening day; one I’d never forget no matter how much I wanted to. My world had already stopped spinning the day my dad had died, yet that day with Mario had felt like a death blow.
“The worst part is, I can’t confront him,” I added. “Dad will never know how much he hurt me.” And my mom. How could he do that to her? To us?
“I’m so sorry, Lila.” Aaron straightened and sifted through the stacks of account statements and blown budgets. He looked at me with sad, soulful eyes that made the lines in his face even deeper. “I keep thinking I’ve read these wrong, but I haven’t. This is truly stunning.”
“That’s one way to put it,” I replied, spitting out some of the vitriol and anger I couldn’t spew at my father. “That my dad mortgaged seventy-five percent of his assets to a Russian oligarch and his henchmen is the other.”
A rueful laugh escaped his lips. “I suppose I’d have the same amount of anger.”
“You bet I’m angry.” I took a deep breath to calm myself.
“But now things are worse because the facility where I have my mother getting the care she needs just informed me her condition is getting worse, and it’s happening rapidly.
Her needs exceed what they can provide, and she’s going to have to move to another place.
One that probably costs double what I’m paying now. ”
Aaron let out a low whistle. “Oh, shit.” He pulled all the statements together into a crisp pile that he straightened with two taps on the desk. “Now I see why you feel backed into a corner.”
“A several million dollar one, for starters.” I sipped some of the coffee Aaron’s executive assistant had been kind enough to offer me when I stumbled into the office. “Which Alexi reminds me of any time he can.”
“I know how Alexi Chekov is. One of my other clients had a few run-ins with him, and he’s ruthless.”
I snorted.
“Oh God.” Aaron narrowed his eyes. “You’re dealing with him, aren’t you?”
I shrugged and then immediately looked away.
I didn’t plan on telling Aaron any of what I’d decided to do on the drive over to his office—not the sordid details, at least. He wouldn’t understand; he’d only look down on me and criticize my decision.
He’d declare me insane or worse. But he didn’t know what it felt like to be on the edge of the cliff, hanging on by a few cracked fingernails.
He didn’t know what it felt like to be desperate and hungry.
I did.
I’ll never forget it.
“What does Chekov have you doing?”
I slid my attention back to him. “A few things.”
“A few things?”
“Nothing too awful. Just a few, err…errands to help repay the debt as fast as possible. Things that are particular to his business interests and expanding empire.”
A humorless laugh escaped Aaron’s lips. “Alexi Chekov owns maybe five legitimate businesses around South Florida. The rest aren’t—and that’s where he makes most of his money. So, when you say errands…”
I glanced at the door to Aaron’s office. “Are you sure you know who this man is? He’s ruthless, Aaron. And he has people working for him everywhere. People you wouldn’t expect.”
“Like who?”
“Everyone.” I felt paranoia rushing through me, but I had good reason for it. “Even people right here, in your office.”
Aaron laughed without humor. “My executive assistant doesn’t know who Alexi Chekov is, I promise.”
“You can’t be sure of that.”
“Okay, fair enough.” His eyes narrowed again. “You’re really scared of him, aren’t you?”
“Terrified.” I thought of the intimidation I felt the afternoon I’d been summoned to that warehouse in Jupiter. “It’s too terrible to even mention,” I said before I could stop myself. “Too awful to even think about.”
“Honey, I once had a client go to jail for running a cocaine ring out of his Wall Street office. Don’t tell me I can’t hear whatever it is he’s about to make you do.”
Gripping the edge of my chair, I swallowed. “Okay, fine.” I paused. “He wants me to sell my virginity.”
Aaron sat back in his chair. “What?”
He studied me for what felt like a full month. “He’s attempting to blackmail you.”
“I know, but he’s backed me into a corner.”
Aaron raised his eyebrow. “You’re not seriously considering it, are you?”
I spread a hand.
“Oh, God, you are.” Dread coated his words.
“I don’t think I have any other way out of this mess. I just want it to be over. I want to be able to look after Mom, and not fear debt collectors are going to be chasing me into dark alleys. This must be the straightest path to end this. Surely.”
“With a man like Alexi Chekov, there are no straight paths. He doesn’t operate like that.” Aaron sighed. “As your financial advisor and your friend, I have to caution you against doing this. He’s—he’s dangerous, Lila. I wouldn’t do this.”
I regarded him for a moment. No, he was wrong.
He didn’t understand the predicament I was in, and he never would.
The conversation I’d had with the staff at Homecare had solidified my decision.
This was probably the fastest way out of this nightmare, and I needed to take it.
Besides, Alexi was only talking about one night of my life, a few moments that would soon fade into blackness.
I’d be able to forget it all once it was over, I would make myself do that.
The following morning, my debt would be clear.
I’d never have to think of the millions I owed him again.
I could start living again and start focusing on the most important task—how to take care of Mom’s needs during the years she had left, and what graduate school I could attend to start a real career of my own.
“I know you don’t like this idea, Aaron.” I stood. “I knew when I came here that would be the case, but I still needed someone to talk to, someone to help me process this. If you were me, you’d see things differently. This is the way things have to be.”
Then I turned and strode out of his office, the purposeful strides of my legs masking the uncertainty I felt in my heart.