Chapter Twenty-Six
Aasia always disliked Bentley’s house.
A modern glass house that lacked the homeliness and coziness of what a home should be. The air had a biting quality, like a sheet of ice. The space felt unwelcome, lacking warmth that even the large fireplace covering one wall of the living room couldn’t help.
Bentley stood at the mini bar, his back to her. “Care for a drink, dear?” His British accent was missing.
“No.” The last thing she needed was a drink. Her mind still whirred from what she’d uncovered in the data from the lab.
He strode over, placing his glass of whiskey on the table then loosening the tie on the robe.
He had an air about him, reminding her of a silent hunter searching for prey.
How had she not seen this in him before?
Maybe she did. Maybe she’d missed that. It made her sick.
Made her skin crawl. He sat down on the leather couch and crossed his ankles on the edge of the coffee table.
From where she sat, he seemed defeated in a way.
A self-absorbed grin carved his lips. “I knew you’d eventually come.”
She blinked. “Excuse me?’
He spread his arms over the back of the sofa. “You and me. You want to discuss getting back together,” he said the words with such assurance that it made her intestines spasm.
“I need you to listen. Don’t interrupt. You and I have been over long ago.
We just prolonged the inevitable. And while you’re at it, please stop looking at me with that pained expression that you’ve perfected.
” She noticed the subtle tightening around his eyes.
“You didn’t expect this from the person you called “unsavory”? ”
“There might have been a misunderstanding. Maybe I was being too harsh—”
“Misunderstanding? Harsh?” She didn’t mask her annoyance.
“What you call a misunderstanding is you degrading me for a choice I made when I was a kid. You know why I did it. I was hungry. Have you ever been hungry for a day in your life, Bentley? I’m not talking about your mouth salivating because your mother made delicious looking lasagna and you were told to wait until dinner.
I’m talking about hunger that makes you feel like your insides are being eaten inside out.
That feeling of not being able to think because you don’t have the energy, or desire, to ponder anything but satisfying the hunger. ”
His grin diminished a tad. “You had Pedora. She took care of you.”
She narrowed her gaze, feeling an urge to throw his glass at his head.
“Not until I had already been through so much and the survivor sense was embedded in my brain. I’m sick and tired of people thinking they can tell me how I should have acted, how I should have felt.
Especially coming from a man who has been taken care of by his parents all his life.
You get so much as a hangnail, and your mother is at your beck and call. ”
“Don’t bring Mother into this.”
“Then don’t travel into my past where you have no idea what my life was like.
What I’ve seen in you is someone I don’t want to be around.
You’ve always had a casual, uncaring contempt for what I’ve been through.
You never wanted to hear what my childhood was like.
So, here’s where we stand. I’m done. Done with the arrogance.
Done with the excuses. Done with the vicious cycle.
Done with you thinking that you’re superior.
You should really work on that before you think about running for office again.
People will see straight through your bullshit eventually. ”
“I love this person you are now,” he said without humiliation. “Fiery.”
“For who I am now?” she scoffed. “Who I was as a child formed who I am now.”
He opened his mouth, protest filling his gaze, but he stopped and rerouted. “Fine. This is a moot conversation.”
“You’re right. The flame has extinguished.”
Every bit of humor left. “Is this why you came here?”
She took a step. “No, this isn’t why I came.
You’re responsible for MedLabOne. There’s something that you need to see.
” She whipped out the folded papers from her back pocket that she’d printed and tossed them beside him.
She would forever be grateful for the anonymous person that sent all the “dirty” files to her email that morning. Aasia now had the proof for Bentley.
He picked them up, grazing them with half-attention. “What are these?”
“Take a look.”
He scanned a few of the sheets. His gaze narrowed. His brow popped up twice. Then he lifted his gaze. “Where did you get these?”
She wouldn’t tell him. “These are financial reports, data, insurance approved labs, Bentley. My name is on many of these statements.”
“You were responsible for ordering these things.” He tossed the papers onto the table.
“You’re right. However, there’s a bit of a glitch. I can prove that my name was being forged for fake claims.”
“Aasia…you’re angry—”
“Look.” She swiped up the papers and stabbed her finger at the bottom of a report.
“How is it possible that I’m still signing my name after my termination date?
” She bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing at his flash of surprise.
Nothing about this situation was funny. They were using MedLabOne as a cover for illegal business dealings connected partly to his campaign.
If only she had more proof and exact details.
“Oops. Someone overlooked that discrepancy. Was it out of clumsiness? Or did Deacon Clark grow tired of being your patsy? Is this why you withdrew from the campaign?”
She’d give it to Bentley. He certainly did have an amazing poker face. However, the telltale creases around his mouth told her she’d struck a nerve.
“You always did have a wild imagination,” he said smoothly.
“This will destroy the lab and everything good we’ve done. All the hard work. Anyone involved in this scam needs to be held accountable. I believe Deacon sent these to me. It’s not a coincidence that you fired him and he disappeared. Where did he go? Did you pay him off to leave?”
He stood, a little slower than usual, picked up his glass, and drained it. “In politics we tend to have a handful of enemies. Looks like I’m adding another one to the list.” His beady eyes penetrated her reserve. “I won’t let anyone ruin my chances for a future race.”
She squinted. “Is that all you care about? Yourself?”
He didn’t make eye contact when he said, “I’ve lived my life to a certain level with my focus on a political career. Sometimes we must do things to advance,” he said without shame.
“Which includes illegal activities?”
“Let’s cut to the chase.” A moment’s hesitation passed. “Why are you here and not the Sheriff?”
“So, you’re admitting everything?”
“What do you want?” His thick accent was breaking through. “Your job back at the lab? Money? How much?”
“I want you to stop destroying MedLabOne,” she said quietly.
“And if I don’t?”
“I have all the proof I need to shut down your operation. An investigation of this size will not only shutdown the lab but will ruin you and your family name.”
“Is that a threat?” His grin ate through her. How had she missed this grimy side to him?
“No, it’s not a threat. The lab means as much to me as your political career does to you.”
“I need some time.”
“You have until the end of the week to get step away as chair of the board of directors. Break all affiliation.”
His laugh made her skin crawl. “You’re a lot tougher than I ever gave you credit for.”
She straightened, dropping her arms to her sides. She hoped she made the right decision by coming straight to him and not the Sheriff. “I learned from the best. You can keep the paperwork. I have copies.”
She was halfway through the door when he said, “You don’t know who you’re messing with, sweetheart.”
“Oh, I have a good idea that I do.” She closed the behind her.
She hurried to her car and once she was alone inside, she inhaled deeply. It took a lot of courage to stand up to Bentley. She was proud of herself.