Chapter 20 #2
“Come on, Pen.” He smiles like I didn’t just reject him outright. “We have a lot to catch up on.”
What is wrong with him? I just told him—again—that I’m not marrying him, and he’s acting like everything is alright in the world.
When I don’t move, he closes the distance between us. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
I stare at him in disbelief, equal parts stunned and pissed off. Who does he think he is? The man standing in front of me suddenly feels like a stranger.
Still, I force my feet to move and start walking toward his car.
“Good girl,” Easton says smoothly as he falls into step beside me. “Now, where’s a good place to get a decent lunch around here?”
“The Rustic Spoon,” I answer immediately.
If things go sideways, I know the MacAllister women will help me in a heartbeat.
The drive to the diner passes in uncomfortable silence, my nerves twisting the closer we get.
“Penny, dear. It’s so good to see you,” Granny says from her table the moment Easton and I walk into the family diner.
“Hey, Granny. How have you been? Is this cold weather killing your bones? Mine have been aching lately.” I make small talk with her while Easton gets shown to a booth on the other side of the diner.
“I hope those pains are from all the exhausting activities you’ve been doing with my grandson.” Her grin widens. “You’re far too young for weather pains, dear.”
“Granny,” I scold lightly. “A lady never tells.”
I smack her hand gently, making her laugh loud enough for half the diner to hear.
“Good thing neither of us are ladies then, hm?”
A laugh bubbles out of me despite everything. “Always.”
Then Granny’s entire expression changes. The teasing disappears, replaced by sharp seriousness.
“Now listen well, Penny Marie. If at any point you feel unsafe—or you need us to get you away from that man—simply order a Cheerwine with a side of ice. Understood?”
Warmth rushed through my chest so suddenly that it almost hurts.
“Don’t worry, I got it, Granny.” I lean down and kiss her on her cheek. “But thank you.”
She pats my face gently, the gesture so unexpectedly tender it nearly undoes me.
And somehow, that tiny moment gives me enough strength to walk toward Easton’s table and have this conversation.
Once we order our food, I pin him with a hard stare.
“Okay, out with it. Why are you so determined to marry me after I already told you no?”
Easton takes a slow sip of his tea before setting the cup down carefully.
He closes his eyes for a moment, like he’s gathering patience.
“It’s a little disappointing you can’t see how good we are together, Pen,” he says quietly. “But if you need me to spell it out for you, I will.”
Something dark flashes across his face.
His nostrils flare before he visibly reins himself back under control.
“I’ve always been in love with you.” His gaze locks onto mine. “From the first time we rode our horses at the club. From those summers we spent pretending to be mad scientists while collecting bugs by the pond. From the moment you decided to go into finance and make a name for yourself.”
A sour feeling churns in my stomach.
“I’ve always followed you,” he continues softly. “Like an obedient pup, waiting for your attention.”
The way he says it makes my skin crawl.
“What do you mean you’ve always been in love with me?” I ask carefully. “Easton, I genuinely thought we were just friends. Really good friends.”
“Penny, please.” He scoffs like I’ve insulted him. “Do you really think I would’ve spent hours listening to boy bands, taking you to pop concerts, and being your date to every gala if I wasn’t interested in you?”
“Well… yeah.” Irritation sharpens my tone. “That’s what a good friend does.”
But then my thoughts snag on Miles.
Because when I think about all the things he does for me, I suddenly see the difference. Miles takes care of me because he genuinely cares about me. And because he wants me in his bed whenever possible.
Shit.
“I’m really sorry I didn’t realize how you felt, Easton,” I say honestly. “But I still can’t marry you.”
“Why?” His lips curl slightly. “Because of that blue-collar fuck boy?”
Rage explodes through me so fast it nearly steals my breath.
My palm slams against the table hard enough to make the silverware rattle.
Easton jumps in his seat, clearly not expecting the outburst.
“Don’t you ever talk about Miles like that again.”
I push back from the booth and rise to my feet, glaring down at the man I used to consider one of my closest friends.
Now?
Nothing about him feels familiar.
“I’d sit down if I were you, Pen,” he says calmly, adjusting the cuff of his shirt without even looking at me.
I glance around and realize half the diner has gone quiet. People are openly staring at us now.
Forcing a tight smile, I sit back down. The last thing I need is for this scene to get any bigger, especially in a town that would absolutely destroy Easton for insulting one of the MacAllisters.
“I didn’t want to use my ace yet,” he says quietly, leaning across the table toward me, “but you leave me with no choice.”
The smell of his cologne turns my stomach.
“I think you should know that dear Daddy Levine has developed a pretty expensive gambling problem lately.” He pauses, studying my face carefully. “So expensive that the last time he ran out of money, he put the family company up as collateral.”
My brain blanks completely.
No. That doesn’t even make sense. Dad enjoys poker nights at the club sometimes, sure, but gambling? Not like this.
“And if you’re wondering whether he lost,” Easton continues smoothly, “you’d be correct.”
My pulse stutters violently as all the blood drains from my face.
Dad may be many things.
Protective. Proud. Overly trusting sometimes.
But reckless? Careless?
Never.
After thinking about how hard Dad has worked to build Levine Constructions into one of the most respected companies in the industry in North Carolina, my shock quickly turns to fury.
“How dare you?” I bite out through clenched teeth. “My father is one of the hardest-working people I know. He built that company from the ground up. He would never jeopardize his legacy over some stupid poker game.”
“See for yourself.” Easton calmly pulls a mini tablet from his jacket. Once the screen lights up, he slides it across the table toward me.
A folder full of documents stares back at me.
The first file I open is a notarized agreement stating that unless my father pays 1.8 billion dollars or his daughter—me—marries Easton Ryan, Levine Constructions must be transferred to Jeremy Ryan by March thirty-first.
Dad’s signature sits at the bottom of the page. Clear as day.
The air leaves my lungs.
I shove the tablet back toward Easton before quickly wiping the tears from my cheeks.
“That could be AI-generated,” I say, even though deep down I already know the documents look terrifyingly real. “Where are the hard copies?”
“Pen, please.” He gives me a pitying look that makes me want to throw a salt shaker at his head.
“I can pay,” I blurt out.
The words come automatically because I know Gio would loan me the money in a heartbeat.
I’d figure out how to pay him back later.
“Actually,” Easton says smoothly, “I also have it on good authority that your father’s dealing with a pretty serious heart condition these days. Stress-related, apparently.” He clicks his tongue. “Keeping all of this from his beloved family hasn’t exactly done him any favors.
“Do you really want to drag this into the open and make him lose the last shred of dignity he’s hanging onto?” he continues softly. “Or would you rather marry me, get this over with, and let Daddy Dearest keep his company?”
If we weren’t sitting in the middle of the MacAllisters’ diner right now, I’d probably launch myself across this table.
Maybe bringing him here wasn’t the smartest choice after all.
Because Easton isn’t bluffing anymore. He’s out for blood.
“How do I know your family won’t still take the company after we get married?” I ask, my voice sounding rough even to my own ears.
“Well, Pen, there are signed legal agreements covering everything we discussed.” He shrugs lightly. “If you marry me, the company stays with your father. If not, we’ll be adding Levine Constructions to our portfolio by May.”
I close my eyes for a second, trying to absorb it all.
“I still need proof my father’s sick,” I say quietly. “I saw him last week and he looked completely fine.”
Easton smirks, then taps another file open on the tablet.
A doctor’s report. My father’s doctor.
The document states his heart health has rapidly deteriorated over the last several months. There are notes about stress management, medication, diet changes, exercise restrictions—more than I can bring myself to read.
Tears burn behind my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I won’t give Easton the satisfaction of seeing me break.
“Fine,” I whisper. “I’ll do it.”
“Wonderful.” He grins. “One more thing. If you decide to play hero and expose me—or go to the police—remember my family is more powerful than yours. And infinitely more powerful than the MacAllisters.”
My stomach drops at the mention of Miles’s family.
“Oh yes,” Easton continues, clearly enjoying my reaction. “I know all about your little fuck boy’s family. I could crush them without lifting a finger.”
Images flash through my mind one after another.
Miles losing his home. River losing the orchard. Xander’s ice rink project falling apart before it’s even finished.
Even Gio—with all his money and influence—wouldn’t be untouchable against a family like Easton’s.
Because the Ryans aren’t just rich.
They’re old-money rich.
The kind of power that destroys people quietly.