19. Aspen
Chapter 19
Aspen
I approach his desk nervously, my confidence still a touch shaky. “Is now still an okay time?”
“Lock the door,” he says, dismissing my question.
I walk back and lock the door, coming back to take a seat in one of the chairs opposite his desk.
“Here,” he says, pulling out his chair with a smile. “Figured you’d be more comfortable in the big seat.”
“Oh.” I swallow nervously as I stand back up and approach his desk. “Okay.” I slowly take a seat, studying his movements in my peripheral vision. I don’t know what I’m expecting, maybe a knife to my throat or a gun in my ribs, but nothing happens.
He walks over to grab another chair and pulls it close to the one I’m sitting in, taking a seat.
“Now, let’s get to work.” I turn to my laptop when his hand darts out and stills my movements. “The first step is you taking your clothes off.”
“I’m sorry?” His request takes me by surprise which I’m sure is written all over my face.
“Your clothes, off. You can keep your undergarments on.” When I don’t comply right away, he reaches for my blouse himself. “I need to make sure you’re not wired.”
I jerk back, his hand falling away from my shirt, and I stand up. “I can do it.” I try to keep my breathing as even as possible while I unbutton my blouse. I can feel my heart start to pound in my chest, but I remind myself what’s on the line. I take in a steady breath, stealing my nerves and removing my clothes as quickly as possible before sitting back down. “There, happy?”
His eyes drop down as the corner of his lips tick up. My skin crawls and I dig my nails into the palms of my hands to keep from reaching out and throttling his neck.
“Fine. Let’s begin. Use my computer.”
“What?” I feel the color drain from my face, panic setting in. I hadn’t even considered that he might make that offer. “Why?”
“Why not?” He stares at me and for a second and I’m convinced the jig is up, he’s onto me.
“I just didn’t know you had a Tor browser,” I say, referring to the network that allows me to access the dark web, something I don’t need for what I’ll be doing today with him but it’s something I know he won’t have on his computer. It’s also for me to judge just how competent he is in the world of cybercrimes. If he knows even a little, he’ll know I don’t need to access the dark web to hide some funds.
He shrugs. “Or whatever, use yours. I was just being nice.”
“Oh, well, thanks.” I offer a pathetic smile. “It’s just easier with mine. I have all these keystroke shortcuts set up that make hacking a lot easier and quicker.”
“Hacking?” He gives me a look like I’m a complete idiot, then scoffs, “Okay, Napster, calm down, this is just a bit of light accounting work.”
“Right.” I shrug and turn to my computer, working through a list of accounts, dollar amounts, and the offshore shell corporations they’re being funneled into. I manipulate and clean the data, twisting and turning it along the way to make every transaction look legitimate. All the while, the program in the background is running, tracking my every keystroke.
I flinch when he crouches closer to me, his tie swaying forward to brush against my arm. His cologne burns in my nostrils, an image of that night flashing through my mind. I have to clench my jaw to keep from physically vomiting from the memory of him ever touching me and the proximity of him to me now.
“Goddammit, how long does this take?” he asks for what feels like the millionth time as he paces back and forth across the office.
What? You mean you thought I’d have this done and cleaned up in twenty minutes like they do in the movies, you moron!
“I’m sorry.” I offer a pathetic smile. “It does take a bit longer than what people expect, or at least what the movies portray. I promise, I’m just making sure every i is dotted and every t is crossed, Mr. Blake.”
His gaze softens a little and he smiles. “You’re right. I’m expecting it to be like those genius level people who can hack into mainframes and steal cryptos.”
Even when he attempts to be apologetic, it’s passive-aggressive and underhanded. “Yeah.” I shake my head and giggle. “Those guys are way above me.”
Cryptos, forgot to add those to the list of items to grab off the internet in Connor Blake’s name or any other name he has them in. If I know him, he’ll have a list of log in credentials with the website name listed right beside it.
“You know, Aspen.” He drags a single finger down my arm. “I’ve been thinking, when this whole thing is over, maybe you and I should revisit things.”
I want to scream and puke and then scream again because how on earth could this man think that any woman would take him back after his behavior?
“I’m sorry?”
“Oh, come on.” He leans in, bumping my shoulder with his. “Don’t tell me you never think about me. Really think about me.” He reaches the back of his hand out and runs it down my cheek. “We could be really good together and good for each other.”
I continue my keystrokes, trying not to let him get to me. The faster I work, the faster I can get away from him for good.
“You know.” He stands up, relief washing over me. “I could give you a life he’ll never be able to afford. Once this divorce is final, we could make it official, you and me. I could wipe out all of your debt, give you more money than you could spend, and we could even get married.” He laughs. “Hell, have a fucking baby.”
He’s unhinged. Actually unhinged.
“Ohh, this is all so sudden, Mr. Blake, don’t you think? I mean…” I search for the words, but I can’t find a single one for this unexpected complication. I don’t want to upset him, though. If he really is unraveling like he appears to be, he’s on a one-way path to immediate destruction. “After everything that happened between us”—I glance away from him, my voice trembling with pretend fear—“the video you have of me.”
“I know,” he says, holding up his hands. “I know what you’re going to say, but how could I love you or want a life with you when I’ve treated you this way? It was a test,” he says, reaching his hand out as he steps toward me. “I had to test your loyalty and you passed. I knew I could trust you, Aspen.”
He squeezes my arm, his eyes narrowing as he stares at me and I can’t figure out what’s going on.
Is this also a test? Does he know what I’m doing right now and he’s ten steps ahead of me? You have just a split second to make a choice here, Aspen… tell him what he wants to hear.
“I—” I let my eyes drop down bashfully before slowly looking back up at him. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, Mr. Blake, but I—I’ve secretly been in love with you this whole time.” My eyes start to tear up. “That’s why this was all so hard for me. I thought you meant it. I thought you hated me and only wanted to use me.” I let the tears roll and he reaches for a tissue, handing it to me.
“Now I know you’re who I need by my side, Aspen; this just proves what I was saying. Now we can be together, you and me, but you first, we need to make sure that this money goes through so we can have that life together and then…” He reaches for my hand and smiles. “You need to end things with Harvey.”
“Yes. Yes, I will,” I say, grabbing both of his hands with mine. “I only have a few more minutes left on this and then…” I smile. “Then we can be together forever.”
“And I can fire that meathead.” His brows dance when he says it.
“Sir, can I ask, if you don’t mind?” I play up my naivety. “Why’d you hire the Four Forces? Was someone threatening you?”
“You mean you and Harvey didn’t share those intimate secrets when you were cuddled up in bed together at night laughing at me?” I almost laugh at his response, it’s so comical and pathetic, like a jealous line delivered from a B-list actress in a teen drama.
“No.” I shake my head convincingly. “He would never share details of an assignment or a client with me or anyone. He and the other guys take their jobs very seriously.”
“There were some threats, not saying they were credible, but the evidence was there.”
“Evidence?”
“Videos and letters. Lucky for me, my wife’s background just happens to be a bit of a shady one… questionable associations.” He gives me a brief questioning look before a triumphant one takes its place. “Ah hell, who cares at this point. The threats weren’t real, but I needed a way to make it seem like someone was after me.”
“Why?” I ask, actually confused.
“Because how else would I fake my death and why else would I have you moving my money? Connor Blake is about to be a dead man and when I emerge from the ashes triumphant, I’ll have a new identity and three hundred million sitting in various shell companies where my new identity just happens to be the CEO of all those companies.”
“Oh.” His plan was bigger than I realized. “But why go through with the divorce stuff if you’re just going to fake your death anyway?”
“Why not?” He taps his fingers a few times. “You’re not thinking big enough with this. I’m happy to let you in on my biggest secret but you know, Aspen, if I let you in… there is no running away from this.” His gaze is serious as he reaches out and places his clammy hand on my bare thigh. “You’re either in or you’re out.”
“O-okay.”
“Do you promise my secret is safe with you?”
“I promise,” I reply, smiling disarmingly. “I mean, I kept us a secret and all of this.” His gaze softens as if he’s realizing that I am trustworthy.
“Oh, okay, fine. Besides, I really want to tell someone this secret. It’s not only my biggest one yet, but it’s also going to be my final act before you and I disappear together.”
He’s so close he has to notice the lump that I swallow, my throat so tight I’m struggling to breathe. The way he’s smiling, his tone, it all feels evil, like pure, unadulterated evil.
“I hired a hit man,” he says casually, like it’s just another thing he did on a Tuesday night after picking up some dinner on the way home. “Well, he’s a hit man but he’s not actually going to take me out. He’s going to make it look like I was murdered, shoot me somewhere not vital, leave plenty of blood behind, then set the house on fire. Between the charred remains and the dead bodyguard the police will find, along with some very incriminating evidence left behind with Lyra’s fingerprints all over it, it’ll seem pretty obvious that an altercation went down and unfortunately, we both lost our lives.”
“Both as in you and Lyra?” My body goes cold. “Or you and the bodyguard?”
“Exactly. You didn’t think Harvey was just going to walk away scot-free after his behavior? The disrespect? And Lyra sure as hell won’t. That bitch deserves every bit of what’s coming her way.” He flashes his pearly white veneers at me. “This is your final loyalty test.”
“I can handle it,” I say confidently before turning back to the computer, unable to hide the panic that I know has crept behind my eyes. I stay focused on my screen, my fingers moving faster than they ever have before.
Finally, I finish and shut everything down. “It’s done,” I say, closing my computer and turning to look at Connor. “I just have one small request,” I say as I stand and begin to redress myself. “Don’t tell Harvey that I’m leaving him. Let me do it? It’s the least I can do for him.”
That Disney villain smile curls across his lips again. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
The second I’m out of his office and in the elevator, I have my cell phone out, ready to text Harvey and give him a casual heads-up that I have the files and I’m heading out of the office. I run to my office, locking the door and transferring the copied keystroke data from my computer to several hard drives before deleting it, the program, and all trace of it on my laptop. I grab my purse, the drives, and my phone and head toward the elevator, hitting send on my text to Harvey.
Me: Hey, just wanted to let you know I’m going to head out of the office.
The second I get around the corner, I hit dial on the phone number listed for Lyra. I hold my breath as it starts to ring on the other end. It feels like the rings keep getting louder, longer with every passing one.
“Please, please, please,” I chant into the phone when a second later it stops ringing, there’s a pause, and then a simple, “Hello?”
“H-hi, is this Lyra Blake?” I try to keep the words steady so they’re not coming out in a jumbled mess.
“Yes. Who is this?” she says in a clipped tone.
“My name is Aspen Wilder and I have some information on your husband you’re going to want. Could we meet to discuss it?”
“Look.” She lets out a frustrated sigh and I can only imagine what she’s going through right now, trying to divorce Connor Blake. “If you’re one of his mistresses calling to tell me you’re pregnant or to try and get money or whatever, I hate to break it to you, but you’re just one in a long line of many so no, I ha?—”
“He’s committing financial fraud and I have the proof.” The phone goes silent for several seconds. “Hello? Are you still there?”
“How did you get this number? This is an unlisted number.”
“Nothing is really unlisted if you know how to find it.” Silence again. “Please, I promise you, this is worth your time. I have the evidence on a drive and I’m ready to hand it over to you. I just—I need to talk to you.”
“Fine,” she says curtly. “But I will have security with me and if this turns out to be some sort of attempt at blackmail or whatever, I will have you locked up for the rest of your life. Is that clear?”
I almost laugh at the mention of blackmail. “Understood, completely. Any chance you have time now?”
“I was about to go to my country club for a tennis lesson but I’m sure Tyler won’t mind if we reschedule it.” Her voice grows muffled and it sounds like she’s speaking to someone else before returning to our conversation. “Yes, that’s fine. Meet me at Hoexeters at one thirty. Don’t be late.”
She hangs up abruptly. I stop on the sidewalk, someone bumping into me almost instantly. I want to shout a loud ‘yippee!’ and shoot my arms up in the air, but there’s little time for celebration right now.
Twenty-seven minutes later I’m running up the stairs from the nearest train station and sprinting the rest of the way to the restaurant. When I arrive, I’m panting, sweaty, and I’m sure red-faced.
“I-I’m meet—meeting a friend here,” I say to the gentleman behind the host stand who is not amused with the state I’m in. “Lyra Blake.” When I say her name, his eyes open wide and he turns to whisper something to a passing waiter.
“Follow Pedro, he will take you to her table.” He points toward the waiter with the big smile.
“Right this way, ma’am.”
I follow behind him, winding through the dimly lit restaurant that doesn’t even seem like it’s open yet. When we reach a table in the back, he gestures politely to the immaculately styled blonde who sits rigidly upright. She’s dressed in a sensible black dress, her makeup and hair perfectly accentuating her natural beauty.
“Mrs. Connor?” I ask nervously as she slowly looks up from her phone.
“Oh God, please don’t call me that,” she says dismissively, her impossibly thin arms crossing one over the other. “Lyra.”
She doesn’t gesture toward the chair across from her but I reach for it, gingerly pulling it out before taking a seat.
“Thanks for meeting with me. I know this is very out of the blue and probably unexpected but seriously, thank you.”
She gives me a curious look. “I must admit, your comments on the phone piqued my curiosity about my husband’s extracurricular activities and left me wondering how he managed to ensnare yet another victim in his web of lies.”
I let out a small sigh of relief. It’s clear that Lyra isn’t oblivious to Connor Blake’s ways of manipulation. “Well, he’s been blackmailing me. Using his position to threaten me.”
She lifts one perfectly sculpted eyebrow a tiny centimeter. “Of course he is. That sounds exactly like Connor.” Her expression settles back into one of passive amusement. “But why you?”
I hang my head, my fingers knotting together in my lap. “First, I need to apologize to you.” I glance up at her, then back down at my hands. “When I met your husband and started working for him, I had no idea he was married.” I wipe furiously at a stray tear. “I am so sorry and I know that doesn’t excuse any of my behavior but I am truly ashamed. He was charming and made me feel special which feels like such an adolescent and ridiculous thing to say out loud.”
Her hard expression softens. “Let me save you the disgrace and regret; you’re not alone.” I nod because I’m well aware of that… now. “Let me guess.” She smiles. “He killed me off in some tragic manner?”
My head snaps up and my mouth falls open slightly. I hadn’t planned on telling her that detail which seems a bit like salt in the wound. “He did say you had died tragically,” I answer softly.
She laughs. “It’s not the first time he’s killed me off. I think I’ve been in…” She squints like she’s trying to recall. “At least three or four tragic accidents that ended in death. I believe there might have been a cancer diagnosis thrown in there at some point as well as a plane crash.”
“Plane crash?” I ask in disbelief.
“He has a flair for the dramatic,” she says, making us both laugh. “Connor is heartless. I’m sure you’ve managed to gather that on your own by now but don’t feel bad. We haven’t lived together in over three years and to him I probably am dead.” She laughs. “But like I mentioned earlier, you’re one in a long line of many that dates back decades so whatever you do, however you move on with your life, don’t carry that burden. That’s on him. He’s a master manipulator.”
She says it all with class and grace, not an ounce of disgust or reprehension in her voice. If I had to guess, after years of his behavior, she’s become completely numb to it.
I reach for my purse, pulling out the flash drive and sliding it across the table.
“He came to me and told me that he’d tell everyone I was having an affair with a married man, that he’d ruin my career and life.” I don’t bring up the other flash drive and his empty threats about releasing a video of me that didn’t exist, partially out of my own embarrassment. “I installed a program on my laptop that tracks keystrokes which is what’s on there. You’ll be able to see me move around roughly three hundred million dollars into different shell corporations and offshore accounts. I manipulated the data so that the transactions appear legit, spaced out over time and to different entities, but this program allows you to see me manipulating that data which proves that money has been illegally hidden from you.”
She grabs the thumb drive and immediately hands it off to a man standing a few feet behind her in a black suit.
“I’m not surprised,” she says, shaking her head. “I don’t think I expected this level of fraud when you mentioned it on the phone but this”—she smiles, then pulls it back—“this is gold.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, why haven’t you gotten divorced from him during all this time?”
Lyra leans back in her chair slightly. “Connor likes to be in control. I think you’ve probably figured that out by now. He’s also enjoyed playing the victim, gaining sympathy so he can use that feeling inside people to manipulate them, just like he did to you. I’ve tried to divorce him for years now but there’s always a loophole, always someone he’s able to manipulate, always a string to pull at that just unravels everything.”
For a brief second, I see her human side. While none of this is shocking to her, I can see that it’s wearing on her. It would anyone.
“I’m sorry,” I say gently, “that you’ve had to go through all of this, but there is one other thing I need to tell you. I just don’t have any evidence to prove it. He’s going to… he’s going to fake his death and make it look like you set it up.”
A coy smirk flashes across her lips but just as quickly it’s gone. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. After all the ways he’s killed me off over the years, I’m surprised he isn’t actually going to attempt it.”
“He’s going to wait until after the divorce so it looks like you came after him because you weren’t happy with the settlement. Then he’s going to run off with the three hundred million dollars I hid for him all under an alias name he has the shell companies in.”
“He’s not as bright as he thinks he is and coming up with some harebrained, ridiculous fake death scheme like this tells me he’s unraveling faster than both of us realize.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, hoping she confirms my suspicions earlier about how erratic and unhinged his behavior has become in the last two weeks.
Her smile is tight. “I’ve known him long enough to see when he’s approaching a meltdown. During our marriage, I bailed him out when it would happen. All those connections I have that he loves to pretend are evil and at my beck and call were the ones who saved his ass. Thank you for bringing the evidence to me, Aspen. I’m sure my lawyers will have a field day with it.” She stands up and grabs her designer handbag that was perched on the chair next to her. “Connor thinks he’s untouchable. I think it’s about time he learns otherwise.”
She walks around the table until she’s in front of me. She reaches down and grabs one of my hands.
“If there’s ever anything you need, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.”
“Thank you.”
She lets my hand go and steps around me, but then pauses. “What will you do now? Is there anything I can do to make this all go away for you?”
It’s a nice offer, a very generous one actually, that I think anyone would jump at but I already have a plan in place for that.
“No, thank you.” I smile. “I’ll be alright. I prefer to let karma handle it.”
“Good luck with that,” she says. “I don’t have the patience for karma. Besides,” she leans in closer and whispers, “I want to watch him suffer.”