Page 91 of Ruin Me

As soon as he left. I threw off my robe and enacted my plan. Frantic, I ran around collecting my things and throwing them in a suitcase.

“So you do intend to keep your promise.”

I lurched with my heart thundering in my chest. “You scared me, Ife. Why are you here?”

She shrugged and fully entered the bedroom while looking around at my half-packed bags. Tyger had moved from beside my dress to make a bed inside a bag.

“So many days have passed since Hal’s arrest, I thought you forgot and wanted to renege on our deal.”

I sat and stared at her. “You won’t change your mind about wanting me to leave? Despite knowing what your father and I mean to each other?”

Ife hugged herself. “Why don’t you understand? Every time I look at the two of you it’s like a knife stabbing me in my heart. Do you think it’s easy to cut you out of my life? Do you think I want to hurt my father? You were the sister I never had, and you destroyed my trust. We can’t rebuild while you’re around my father. Especially if you want me and my dad to repair our bond. You must understand that if nothing else.”

I swallowed the distasteful truth. She was right. If I stayed, Kent would push for us to deepen our relationship until I said I do to vows I could only imagine ever saying to him. I stood, feeling ancient, defeated, and bruised. “I don’t have much time before Kent becomes suspicious. You should leave and keep him distracted. Buy me time to disappear.”

Ife eyed me, then glanced at Tyger peacefully purring inside my luggage. “Are you taking the animals with you?”

I stared with longing at my first and only cat. I stroked his soft fur and shook my head. “I’m already taking so much from him. Kent will need them when he’s alone.”

“Alright. You have maybe forty-five minutes before my dad suspects anything. You need to be long gone by then.”

I nodded and shoved more clothes into my bag. “Ife, please know, I love you so much. I’ll run to you whenever you call.”

She sniffed and turned her back. “I don’t know how soon that will be. My pain runs deep.” She left without another word.

When I had everything I intended to carry, I left an envelope on my pillow. I recognized the cowardly act for what it was. I lacked the courage to end things to his face, but I needed him to understand why I had to leave. Being with me would only bring him lifelong regrets. He’d already proven to anyone out to get him I was his weakness.

One day, he would make one sacrifice too many on my behalf, and I couldn’t allow him to do that.

I bid farewell to Benson, Stabler, and Tyger, telling them to be good to their daddy, and I walked away from the best future I could ever have hoped for.

CHAPTER 37

Kent

Mal pounded my back. “You must be on top of the world right now. Exonerated for crimes you didn’t commit, your reputation on the mend, and your position as CEO and president secured. This calls for a toast.” He raised his tumbler to me, his grin a match for his ostentatious purple tux.

I stopped scanning the room for Madison and clinked our glasses together. “It is a relief. And I’d like to thank you.”

“For?”

“You helped me keep control of Luxe Locations.” I scanned the party-goers, friends, and industry professionals with connections I’d established years ago as well as others on my wish list.

Madison’s knowledge and strategic abilities always awed me. How did she even know about half these people?

“Look, I’m young and adaptable, but I prefer not to get used to a new boss. I was doing myself a favor more than you.” Mal emptied his glass.

“Sure. I also have to thank you for Ife. I can rest assured she has someone in her corner until she’s ready to work on our relationship.”

Pink tinged Mal’s cheeks and he stared into his glass. “No problem. Hey, looks like we need refills. I’ll be back.” He took my glass and walked away.

I ignored the awkwardness of the moment to check my watch. Where was Madison?

Unease slithered down my spine. I wanted to dismiss the sense I’d overlooked something. Was it from tonight or earlier the feeling first plagued me?

“Dad?” Ife broke into my thoughts.

“Hey sweetheart, you came.”