Page 78 of Blacklist

“I mean, if they need money, then you must be able to…”

Is he fishing for information? Does he really not know what position our family is in?

“I have a responsibility to several charities.” That’s actually true, which makes it an easy lie. I can’t afford to give more. Not until my inheritance shows up in my ever-dwindling bank account. If there’s even going to be an inheritance. Harding and my brother haven’t been very forthcoming with how much to expect. For now, I think I’m supposed to be grateful that there’s a roof over my head.

“What do I get out of it?” He slides onto the bar stool next to me. Zeus sits between us, looking back and forth at our faces with interest. The woman who loved him and the man who saved him. If only my relationship with Sterling could be so simple.

“Why did my brother invite you to dinner?” I blurt out the question.

His lips flatten though he’s surprised by the change in topic. “He knows I hold stock in MacLaine Media. He’d like to buy it back, I think.”

I weigh this answer. Maybe Malcolm is pretending like we have the money to pay it back. Maybe Sterling doesn’t know how badly into debt our father drove the company before his death. Either way, I know Malcolm doesn’t have a way to pay him. If that’s what’s keeping Sterling around, telling him the truth could free us both. “We don’t have the money to buy your portion.”

Sterling stares at me for a moment as if trying to make sense of my remarkably honest answer. He studies my face, his eyes sweeping down me in a way that’s both familiar and unsettling.

“I know that,” he says after a moment.

“So we’re going to be truthful then?”

“You started it.” He shrugs as though he doesn’t care either way. I’m not going to waste the chance to get more answers.

“If you know that he can’t pay you, why play along?” I ask.

He waits a moment as if considering his answer. “He’s not offering money.”

My heart skips a beat as if it knows the answer already. “What is he offering?”

“You.”

“Me?” My lips move, forming the word but there’s no sound. I’ve been silenced, cut out of the deal, and turned into a pawn by the man who claims me as his sister and the man who broke my heart.

“A merger, if you will,” he says. “Your family’s reputation and connections in exchange for keeping the stock in the family.”

“Oh my God,” I whisper as I begin to understand what he means by keeping it in the family. “What does he think this is? The nineteenth-century?”

Malcolm thinks he can arrange my marriage and I’ll just throw on a veil and comply? I’m not a mail order bride. He can’t just force me to take a husband to save the family business.

“And you’re considering his offer?” I accuse. For a second, his mask slips and the pain there says the things he should have said years ago. About us. About the future. About what we were. Then it’s gone.

“Did you really think I was?” The mask is back in place. The stage show has concluded. Whatever vestiges I thought I saw of the Sterling I once knew disappear, replaced by the smug prick that’s been investing in my life like I’m just some prize to collect.

Four years ago, I waited for him to prove me wrong about him. Now I know better. When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.

And my brother? I can’t keep turning away from who he is becoming. He thinks he can sell me? There’s gonna be a pool party in hell before I let any man control me. But why not let them think they can? According to Harding, there is at least three major parties who bought into MacLaine Media. If I can keep Sterling at bay and trick Malcolm, I’ll have time to find the other investors, buy them out, and regain a majority hold over the company. Malcolm will be forced to come to me and Sterling won’t be able to buy the love he gave away.

“Support the shelter,” I say to him, “and I’ll do it.”

He clearly doesn’t expect this response. “You’ll do what?”

“I’ll go along with Malcolm’s insane plan.”

“You’ll marry me?” he says in disbelief. “Look, I’m not exactly on one knee. I didn’t say I was going to accept his offer.”

The words pierce my skin, hitting the wall I’ve raised once more around my heart, and bounce off me.

“I know that,” I snap. “But I’m not stupid. There’s a reason why you’re letting Malcolm believe you’d be interested in his offer.”

“And you expect me to tell you?”