Empire of Lies - Whitney G. Page 0,97

think that giving me a list of good deeds means a goddamn thing.

“Stop talking,” I say, cutting her off as I stand to my feet. “I’ve heard enough.”

“I love Meredith.” She looks at me. “I have since she was a little girl, and I loved my sister, too. I wasn’t thinking straight, and I—”

“If you say another word…” I pick up the gun. “You’re not going to leave this room. If you listen, I’ll give you that chance.”

She nods, and her face pales all over again.

“You’re not going to Thatchwood’s victory gala tonight.” I take a few steps forward. “You’re not going to tell him I was here. You’re going to sit here in this office, all damn day, and you’re going to spend every minute signing all of your firm’s escrow money to Meredith’s offshore banking account. You’ll sign away all of your personal money as well, and when you get done, you’re going to walk out of this office, right into the closest police precinct and tell them exactly what the fuck you did to get rid of her mother. Are we clear?”

She doesn’t answer. She just stares at me as if I’ll give her a bit of sympathy.

Never.

“Are we clear?” I repeat, and she nods—letting tears fall down her face.

“Good. In the meantime, don’t try to contact anyone—not the police, not your staff, not even her fucking father.” I narrow my eyes at her. “I’ll know if you do.”

I put the gun away and point to her desk. “I’ve left the paperwork for you, and I’ve sent a mass email from your account. None of your employees will come in today, and according to your email, you’ll be going on a long vacation. Effective immediately.”

She looks more stunned about that news than anything else I’ve said.

I motion for her to start walking to her desk, wait for her to take a seat. The moment she picks up a pen, I leave the room and make sure that the door remains locked. Then I walk down the hallway and join Meredith in front of the main elevator.

“That was good.” She smiles, looking impressed, and a little too happy—like I used to be in the beginning. “I think I can do the same tonight…”

“You’ll have to,” I say. “Just keep your emotions out of it, and stay calm.”

“Do you think she’ll turn herself in after she transfers the money?”

“Not at all.” I tap my phone’s screen to make sure that Trevor is already transferring the money for us. “These type of people never do, Meredith. She’s not going to transfer any money, and in

a few minutes, she’s going to call your father.”

“Why? You just threatened her with a gun and warned her not to.”

“Doesn’t matter, I didn’t shoot.” I trail a finger along her bottom lip. “She’ll do it anyway. Then a certain someone will have to show her and me that this legacy taking business is serious. Well, if she is serious about it, that is.”

Silence.

Within minutes, my cell phone buzzes, and I take a step back to answer it.

“Mr. Leonardo Thatchwood’s office,” I say, changing my voice. “This is Henry—Rachel’s out today. How may I help you this morning?”

“Connect me to his private line at once. It’s an emergency, and I need him. Now.”

“Hold on, please.” I hit the mute button and look at Meredith. “What do you want to do?”

Suddenly livid, she turns around and heads down the hallway with me at her heels. She pulls a silver tin of sleeping gas from her purse and slides it under her aunt’s door. Adjusting the settings on her phone just like I showed her, she lets out a breath.

“Since she can’t follow simple instructions…” she says, waiting until the tell-tale sound of her aunt’s body hitting the floor sounds. “She’ll need to spend the rest of today locked in the back of a trunk until we need her again.”

I smile. “Good girl.”

Meredith

Now

Later that night

I’m standing in the ballroom kitchen in the Chrysler Building, dressed in an oversized black hoodie and jeans. For the past hour and a half, I’ve watched well-dressed men and women dance under the glimmering chandeliers without a care in the world.

They’re all here to celebrate my father’s campaign victory, to bask in his presence as he thanks them for giving him their votes.

They have no idea how corrupt he really is, and I can’t blame them. By following Michael’s instructions on extensive research, I’ve just discovered the truth for myself, and it hurts