FIONA
“Thank you,” I said to Cynthia.
After all that talking, I ended up at the Merciers.
After trying to use my credit cards and bank account, I found out they were in the beneficiary’s hands.
When I heard those words, I knew Bobbie wasn’t coming back.
I had to go through hell and high water to find out he was dead.
Hearing those words made me sick because it meant that my financial needs were at the mercy of Braylen.
He had been calling me, probably to tell me about his father, but I was in the midst of trying to survive.
When I discovered Braylen had deadbolted the locks on that house, I was speechless.
Everything I owned was inside, and he had taken it all from me.
It was devastating to pull up and try to enter a place I considered my perfect home, only to be turned away by my own staff.
The only thing I had left was the Prestige, and that was only if Braylen didn’t know about it.
Cynthia sat across from me and sipped her tea. “What are your plans now?” she asked.
I wanted to scream, “bitch I need money.” Instead, I mustered up a fake smile. “I’m Fiona, I’m going to bounce back. With the Prestige, I should have some money coming in, right?”
Cynthia’s grin scared me. “Sure, I mean, considering my grandson has not gone forth with the project. The money you and Bobbie put in would be given back to you,” she paused as she took another sip of her tea. “If Braylen doesn’t show up.”
I nervously sipped from the cup. “He doesn’t know about it. As long as your grandson minds his business, I will be fine. Besides, the Prestige isn’t Braylen’s speed. Even if he were invited, he wouldn’t show up.”
Or that’s what I hoped. If I were able to get the money back from what we spent, I would have to downgrade some.
However, all I needed was some time, and I’m sure Mister would have space for me.
It would take a little begging and dick sucking, but then I would be back like I never left.
I gave Cynthia a tight-lipped smile as I set the cup down and stood from the chair.
As I headed out to leave, one of Grace’s twin daughters came down the steps.
She looked so much like June, I didn’t know what to think.
I cleared my throat and grabbed my fur coat.
“Merry Christmas, Fiona. You know you’re welcome to stay,” Cynthia said to me.
I put on the only expensive thing I had, my coat. “Where is Clark?” I mumbled.
“Clark and I are separated because just like you, he cannot find a way out of the game he created.”
A tear rolled down my face because for the first time, I was terrified of what things would look like for me.
“It’s just me and my granddaughter, Tania. There is plenty of food,” she added.
I froze, torn between my desire for a warm Christmas meal with family and the reality that my efforts were done.
What was a good few hours when it couldn’t last a lifetime.
Without bothering to look back, I stepped out into the wintery white snow.
I hoped like hell things worked out because if they didn’t, it would be me left with nothing or no one.