Page 53 of Billionaire Retreat

Jackson abruptly hugged me and whispered, “You’re on your own, babe. Sorry.”

I sighed, knowing he was right. Griffin grabbed him by the shoulder and practically shoved him out the door.

“Hey! This jacket is expensive!” was the last I heard from Jackson as Griffin slammed the door.

I sat down heavily on the couch and he sat across from me.

“Did you plan to tell me?”

“About which part?” I said deliberately coy.

“The money...”

“Oh, that part.”

“Is that why you came back to see me that day in the office? You wanted money?”

“What? No! That’s not why!”

“Because Jackson said you wanted nothing to do with me when I left the island. And then suddenly you showed up months later, just out of the blue...”

“Listen, I know how it looks, but that’s not what happened.”

“Isn’t it?”

“I mean, yeah, I was angry with you after you left me on the island. I thought there was something more between us and when I woke up and you weren’t there, I was really hurt—”

“I already told you what happened.”

“Yes, years later.”

“But that still doesn’t explain why you showed up months later, that does sound suspicious.”

I was speechless. He thought that lowly of me? Really? I took a deep breath and tried to stay cool and collected. Don’t get emotional, Nina.

“I’m sorry if that seems suspicious, but I was not after your money.”

“But yet when Mom offered it, you took it.”

“I needed it.”

“You needed it?”

“Yes,” I said refusing to meet his eyes. “I didn’t ask for it. I tried to give it back, but I eventually needed it.”

“Where’s the money now, Nina?” he asked coldly. “Spent it all? Got yourself some pretty things? Maybe a fancy car?”

I looked up at him sharply. “You know me better than that.”

“Actually, no. No, I don’t. I know my mother is a misguided snob, but I don’t know your angle.”

“I don’t have one.”

He nodded and then stood up. He began to pace. “I think it’s time that we put all our cards on the table, so to speak.”

I gulped, knowing there was one card I was holding that would trump all other cards.

“Do you want to go first?”