AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Austin’s answer is clear as he looks me dead in my eyes. He would destroy anyone and anything that threatened him. It’s a reason worth lighting the world on fire to him. But that doesn’t mean it has to be for me. We are different people, different men, with very different styles despite our friendship.
“That’s a decision you’re going to have to make for yourself,” Austin says. “What does Raven think?”
I can feel a small smile play on my lips. Amid all this ugliness, she is the most beautiful thing in my life, by far. “She said to do whatever I need to do, making it sound like that included leaving her to repair my reputation.”
Her willingness to sacrifice herself for me meant more than she will ever know, but there is no way I would or could do that. I would give up everything I own before I gave Raven up. She’s all I need now.
“I don’t think it will take much to repair this,” Austin says, interrupting my thoughts. “Gossip interests those of small minds, but your investors act based on bottom lines, and there, where it matters, you make them money. If anything, many ofthem will relate to fucking an intern or having a scandalous affair with a junior exec.” He waves a hand dismissively.
I growl, “That’s not what this is.”
His smile is easy, showing no reaction to my snappishness other than to put both of his palms up. “I know that, and you know that. I simply said they will relate your relationship with Raven to something all too familiar in our world and not jump to overreaction.”
My ire settles… slightly.
He takes a sip of his scotch, then stares into the amber liquid as if it’s a crystal ball. “You could go to the governor’s Young Leaders ball. You do qualify, you know.”
“And how would that help?”
“Simple appearances,” Austin says. “Evan and his family think that they’ve embarrassed you. Embarrassed her. And that you’ll go scurrying back to the hole they think you belong in. Well, throw it right back by acting like the article meant nothing and Evan’s beneath you. Because the truth is, he is. You go, you drop some gratuitously obscene donation for the governor’s reelection campaign, and walk out of there with the prettiest girl, the biggest dick, and the fastest growing bank account. Any chatter volleyed about by gossip rags or concerns by investors would be assuaged by a showing of you and Raven as a united force, unswayed by the lesser.” He pins me with a powerful glare as he says, “And then, you go on with your lives together, leaving Evan in your combined past.”
It’s so straightforward and obscene, a short huff of a laugh leaves me.
“Just ignore it?” I ask him with barely contained outrage.
“His time is coming, and when it does, he will suffer. It doesn’t have to be at your hand for you to enjoy it. We know what he’s done… and I know well that his time is coming.” He looks me dead in the eyes, and I hear the unspoken. “Don’t get mixed up in that.”
With a deep inhale, I sit back in the chair, considering my options.
“How long will I have to wait?”
“Years.” His answer is quick.
“Legal matters, then?” I ask, and Austin nods. The knowledge that he’ll get his due is comforting, at the very least. “And what about Raven?”
“Have her on your arm. Kiss her like you’re grateful to love her. And do it in front of everyone. She won’t care about rumors if she knows you love her more than anything.”
I nod, letting it all sink in slowly and ease the anger.Go public.We were going to do that, anyway. Might as well do it big.
This whole mess started with a fundraiser. Perhaps the way to end it is with one as well.
And Austin’s right. After we handle this, ironically by not dealing with it head-on the way I’d first wanted to, Raven and I can have our ultimate vengeance by not letting Evan or the Faulkners cast any shadows on our future together. Perhaps, the best revenge truly is simply getting to love her.
CHAPTER 30
RAVEN
“Are you sure about this?” Maggie asks from the bathroom doorway. She’s eating a bowl of cereal—Rice Krispies with a dash of salted caramel coffee creamer added to the milk—while she watches me get ready.
“No,” I admit, meeting her eyes in the mirror. I lower my mascara wand so I don’t poke my eye out and turn to face her fully. “But Dylan said this is a way for me to save face, for him to put on a show of power, and for us to move on… together. So, even though I’m nervous as all hell, this is what I’m doing.” I wave the mascara wand around, indicating that I’m getting ready for the governor’s Young Leaders ball.
The truth is, when Dylan called, I was mostly expecting him to say we needed to play it cool for a while. In the insecure pit of my stomach, I thought maybe he’d say I needed to work somewhere else or not come into the office. I know how finickythe markets can be, and the smallest problem can have a ripple effect that reaches far and wide.
A scandal like this could be disastrous.
So when he told me the new plan was a very public display to hard launch our relationship, I was confused to say the least. But once he explained PR was on board and that he wanted it too, I couldn’t say no. I shake out my hands and breathe deeply. Never in all of the racing thoughts did I think Dylan’s plan would be to introduce me as his girlfriend to everyone. I thought it was all lost or at least barely being held by a thread, but if tonight goes as he said it will, it could be the start of a dream life I never even dared to dream.
That doesn’t mean I don’t have hornets buzzing around in my belly at the thought of walking into the ball, watching all eyes turn to us, and hearing the whispers work their way through the room.
