Page 82 of The Grand Duel

I nod. “And if he comes in again?—”

“He won’t be in again whilst you are on shift.”

I let out a heavy sigh.

Maybe that’s a good thing. Bronwyn’s clearly not losing his fee, and I’m making…fuck. I chuckle. “Twenty-five thousand a week.”

Her lips twitch. “I was waiting to hear back from my accountant before I told you. It’s tricky being a lump sum.”

It’s a huge amount of money. The sort of money I couldn’t dream about earning.

I’d win.

Just like that.

I stare at the desk in front of me, waiting for the feeling of accomplishment to hit.

Only it doesn’t.

It only feels easy. Like I’ve cheated somehow.

“Christian’s little brother.”

Bronwyn’s eyes lift to mine.

I give her a half smile. “I know they need money for his treatment. I’ve thought about helping before but didn’t want to take that from Christian when he’s working so hard himself.”

Bronwyn twists her head, eyes narrowing, unsure.

I nod, certain it’s the right thing. “A business can donate money and use it as a tax write-off.”

“Lissie—”

“I don’t want the money. Maybe with the information you have, like Christian’s real name, you could figure out a way to donate it anonymously?”

She shakes her head. “How much of it?”

I smile, my heart aching as I heave myself back from a dream I’ve dreamt since walking my little sister home at thirteen. “All of it.”

Christian’s words come back to me from before.

“I like working. I like being too busy to think. I don’t want an excuse to stop.”

Because what then?

Face all my problems?

No, thank you.

“Think on it,” Bronwyn tells me. “Take a couple of days, and if it’s still what you want to do, we’ll figure out a way to donate the money.”

I relax in the chair. “Sure.” Although I already know I won’t change my mind.

I grew up with money. Whilst I loved and grew accustomed to the finer things it brought me, I lost so much as a consequence. One day, I’ll go and buy the shoes, the house, the finest of things, just like Bronwyn said. But I’ll do those things on my own terms.

I’ll buy them because I want them, because they no longer come with a silent price tag.

Charlie