AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Helen gave her a sympathetic look before focusing on the road. It curved here, and she couldn’t be too cautious.
It didn’t take long for them to reach a gate manned by more than one security guard. Both men dressed in padded black took a good look at the well-to-do people in the Drophead Coupe before glancing at each other.
“I believe we are expected,” Helen said. If she were at all intimidated by these men, she did not let on.
I’m intimidated. These weren’t like the security guards on the perimeter of Warner Manor or keeping out the weirdos at the Manoir. Those people were genial to anyone not causing trouble. These men looked like they were waiting for trouble to shake up their day. Monique did not miss those types.
One guard was about to check Helen’s ID when the other smacked him on the arm and pointed to Monique. “You’re too new to remember her. Let ‘em in.”
The electronic gate slid open without a sound. Helen forced a smile at the guards before gently stepping on the gas to the private road leading up to a compound in the mountains.
Nothing had changed in the year and a half since Monique was last up this road. The same trees grew. The same outpostsmanned with armed guards stood tall in the shrubbery. Once upon a time, young and naïve Monique thought it was normal for a rich woman to be this paranoid about security. Now she knew it was nothing but power – and not the fun kind. Helen didn’t need this level of security. Since breaking up with Jacqueline, Monique had come to regard it as a sign that the woman in charge had something to hide or was too paranoid to function – or both.
Once upon a time, Monique was trapped on this mountain. If she tried to leave, someone would drag her back. The fact she escaped when she did was a miracle.
Five minutes later, they passed the final gate leading to the front driveway of Jacqueline Love’s luxurious mansion. The place Monique once called home. No, my prison. She frowned, her body stiffening as Helen parked only a few yards from the main entrance.
Monique had promised herself that she would never pass through those doors again. She was about to go back on her word.
Helen lightly touched her shoulder. “You ready? You can wait here if you want.”
The sun glared off the windshield and into Monique’s sunglasses. “No. I need to do this.”
Helen nodded. “Let’s go, then.”
She got out of the car, rounded the front bumper, and opened Monique’s door. Helen was quick to take her hand, searching for her strength as one foot was placed in front of the other. I can do this.Breath steadied in her throat. Monique was sure to keep her chin up. The last time she was here, she ran away with fear striking her heart. Now she returned on her terms.
Not to be Jacqueline’s girlfriend.
The doorman took one look at her and squared his shoulders. They recognized each other but shared no greetings. If anything,the man was probably paid to keep his mouth shut around Monique. Lots of the staff had been like that. Jacqueline didn’t like her getting too cozy with people. Jealousy? Maybe. Power-tripping? Definitely.
Jacqueline stood in front of the grand staircase, her lawyer beside her – and Helen’s lawyer on the other side ofhim.He came an hour ago to smooth things over for us. Monique held no qualms stepping right up with Helen behind her.
The tension in that grand hall was thick enough to choke on. Nevertheless, Monique Grant kept her posture straight and her intentions clear. She was not here to make nice with Jacqueline. Quite the opposite. She was here to make sure she never bothered her again.
Jacqueline opened her mouth as if to address Monique, but Helen stepped forward, and right away that stupid coward in a tacky tan suit backed down. Ever since the show at Midnight, people had been laughing behind Jacqueline’s back while flustering at the thought of Helen Warner flaunting her sexuality like that. Those people hadn’t done shit when Jacqueline’s abuses came to light a year and a half ago, but now they were more than happy to make jokes at her expense and declare Helen the much better woman to admire and do business with.I barely understand how people work.Not on that level, anyway. A bunch of teenagers, really. Although right now it worked in Monique’s favor.
“Let’s get this over with,” Jacqueline said with that false bravado of hers.I can’t believe it used to turn me on.Now Monique wanted to laugh like the others. “I’ve got appointments.”
Both lawyers cleared their throats. Before Jacqueline could throw a fit in her own home, Helen withdrew her checkbook and tore out the first paper she encountered. “To whom do I makethis out?” She pretended to write something, though the check was filled out even before they left home.
“You know damn well, Warner.”
“Oh, of course.” Helen held the check up for both lawyers to inspect. “$41,578,430.98. The full amount, including the interest owed. I’m sure your lawyer is satisfied?”
The wiry old man took the tiny piece of paper and double-checked the numbers he had written on a clipboard. Jacqueline tapped her foot against the floor, refusing to look Helen in the eye.What a weak weasel. She only knew how to throw her weight around when she had a woman to take advantage of. Right now, no woman in their circles would want anything to do with her. One day she might con another woman into being her girlfriend. That was another battle for Monique to fight another day.
“This is the correct, agreed-upon amount.” The lawyer handed Jacqueline the check. “Should I consider the debt paid in full and release Gerome Warner?”
Jacqueline didn’t take her angry eyes off Helen. Not like she would do anything in front of the lawyers, but she ensured Helen and Monique knew how much disdain she now held for them. They were no longer amusement. They were the people who had put some final nails in her business – let alone pleasure – coffin. First Etta Coleman, and now the “little puppy and her pathetic bitch,” as Jacqueline called them in her final letter.Not so pathetic, now is she?Monique got a regular demonstration of that.
“Sure. Paid in full. Now get these people off my property.”
She said that, yet the look lingering on Monique was anything but damning. Jacqueline was taking her last fill of her.I suppose I should be intimidated. She wasn’t. If anything, she felt sorry for Jacqueline. All that money and nobody to share it with. It was her fault, but still…
“Farewell,” Monique said. She extended her hand to Jacqueline.
Everyone, including Helen, took a step back.So sue me. I’m a bit emboldened. How could she not be when this was her new fate? After their show, the first thing Monique discovered was that she had broken the record for most donations. When she saw the number, she nearly fainted.
