you know this guy well. Because if he’s anything like his parents...whoa, mama. I’m not sure you’ll enjoy what you’re getting yourself into.”
I hold in a sigh, ignoring Brina’s look of concern over her glass.
“Don’t worry about that. We’re no longer a...thing.”
Long pause.
“Oh, Paige. So that’s what’s wrong, huh?” She pauses, waiting for an answer I don’t give. “If he’s being an asswipe, do you still want the info?”
I hesitate. Brina slides a finger across her throat, encouraging the little devil on my shoulder who’s dancing around with his pitchfork, telling me to bury Wardhole alive. Let him suffer. Check out of this human circus for a warm beach and a chance to get drunk from a coconut.
Too bad it means a lot to Beatrice, Nick, and everyone at Brandt Ideas. Plus, his parents are actual raving monsters, and a legit menace to society.
“It’s not just about him. His parents hurt people, Liv. There’s no point in letting that continue, so yeah, please send it over.”
“You care about him,” she says quietly.
My throat tightens.
“I care about my coworkers, his brother, and their elderly grandmother. Why should they suffer just because he’s a selfish prick?”
“Ah, now we’re getting somewhere. Do you want to tell me about the prick?”
“Another time. I promise. It’s been a long day. Right now, I kinda want to overconsume alcohol and pass the hell out until morning, but if you send that email, lovely.”
“It will give you an excuse to talk to the selfish jerk, you know?”
“Ha. Nice try. I’m blocking him as soon as I hit forward.”
“Okay, lady. Riker just sent it! Look for a summer flower special. Gotta keep it low-key so it can’t be traced.”
My phone pings with a notification from an anonymous florist address that definitely has nothing to do with a dozen red roses. “I see it. Thank Riker a hundred times for me and tell him I love roses. Oh, and say hello to Milah!”
“Will do. I’ll have her call you at some point if you’re up for her yakking your ear off about her latest tour and the lavish gifts she’ll probably want to dump on you. Talk to you soon. Watch out for hangovers,” Liv says.
“Later.” I cut the call and shove the wine to my lips in a long, satisfying sip of triumph.
At least my agony with one very huge bosshole wasn’t all in vain.
“What was that all about?” Brina asks as soon as I sit back.
“Loose ends. You remember how my cousin married that hot bruiser guy from the big security firm? Well...” I continue with a quick summary, and fill her in on why I brought Liv in to help secure the dirt that could finally end a lot of people’s misery.
“Dang. Total cloak and dagger territory.” Brina sits up straighter. “What are you going to do with it?”
“Just what I said. Forward it to Ward when I finish this drink.”
“You’re sure you want to help him after what he did to you?” Sabrina cringes.
“It’s not just for him. It’s for Beatrice, Nick, and everyone else who works at Brandt Ideas.”
“...you’re sure you aren’t hunting for a reason to talk to him? If you really need to get him the info, maybe I could have it delivered?”
Oof. She has a point.
“Brina, I’m big enough to talk to my ex-fake fiancé all by myself,” I say with mock-pride.
“Yeah, but you don’t have to. Talking to him might make you feel worse.”
I shake my head. “I’m just going to unblock his email, forward Riker’s message, and reblock. Easy-peasy drama-squeezy over for tonight.”
“Go for it,” she tells me.
I polish off my wine and pull out my laptop. I unblock Ward on my personal email and hit forward on Riker’s message.
Wardhole,
This should help settle matters with your parents. I don’t want to hear about how it turns out. If you ever contact me again, I’ll get a restraining order. -P
My fingers hurt when I even think about signing my name for him.
He won’t reply, though, not after I block his address. Threatening him with a restraining order was just bitter.
I close the laptop and sink into the couch.
“Who was worse—Ward or Austin? Can’t believe I fell for this crap again.”
But I don’t need Brina’s vote.
This is worse, hands down, because Ward wasn’t trying to be malicious.
Also, I fell for my bossman far deeper than I ever cared for Austin.
Ward never lied. He never said he loved me. He told me this was a hoax to woo a client and he