Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
“Oh sweet girl.” She pulls me in for a hug, squishing Mama between us, but she doesn’t seem to mind.
“I got in trouble a few times at school. Anna, my roommate and I liked to talk a lot. A few times we were talking in class so I got sent to the quiet room.”
“The quiet room?” She releases me from the hug.
“It was a stupid little room they put us in when we would get into trouble. Usually it was only for a few hours, but one time they forgot about me.”
“How long did they forget about you?”
“A while. It was a Friday when I got in trouble, and Anna, my roommate, had gone home that weekend so no one was there to remind them to get me out.”
“Vivian, when did they come and get you?”
I close my eyes, hating to think about it. The room was so small and had nothing in it. I remember begging for someone to let me out. But my pleas fell on deaf ears. I remember going to the bathroom on myself. I’d been so ashamed.
“I don’t know. Pure darkness came twice, I think. Then I woke up in the hospital, and it was Monday, I think. I stayed at the hospital for a few days before I went back to school.”
“Did your parents know about this?”
I shake my head. They’d been out of the country on some trip at the time.
“You didn’t tell them?”
“What’s the point?” I shrug. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
“All right.” She stands from the bed. I let out a breath, happy she’s going to let it go. I always feel ashamed when I think back to it.
“How about we make breakfast?”
I’m grateful Mrs. Putman changes the subject. “Together?”
“Yep. Are any of those recipes you have for breakfast items?”
“Yes! There’s one for funnel cake pancakes.” I have a whole pile of recipes for breakfast, but that’s at the top. “Has Griff eaten? I can make them for him.”
“I think he’d love that.” She smiles as I spring from the bed. All my thoughts are now focused on Griff, the darkness all but forgotten.
11
GRIFFIN
“What is so goddamn pressing?” I storm into my office.
“Sir–” Vinny holds up a hand.
That’s when I see Charles sitting on my couch, a drink in his hand.
“You’re dismissed,” I bark at Vinny.
He closes the door behind him as he leaves.
I sit at my desk.
“Want one?” he asks.
“I don’t drink.”
He snorts a laugh. “What a gripping life you must lead.”
“Is there a reason for this visit?” I lean back and get a better look at him. Disheveled. Bloodshot eyes. And beneath that, there’s true sadness. He’s lost his parents, after all. Even if they were absentee at best, they were still part of his and Vivian’s life.
“I want my sister, and I want my share. After that, we don’t have to see each other.”
I steeple my fingers and consider him. “I know we haven’t spoken much, if at all. But I have to say I’m somewhat puzzled by your hostile tone.”
“Listen, I know what kind of man you are, Griffin. My sister doesn’t belong here with you. She belongs with me. The company does, too.”
There it is. What he wants. He’s too foolish to realize a real player never tips his hand.
“You think the company should belong to you now?”
He nods and finishes his drink, then rises to pour himself another. “Why does an asshole who never drinks have liquor in his personal office?”
I let him finish pouring and take a drink before I respond.
“Well?” he asks as he retakes his seat.
“Because when I have business guests who think they can gain some advantage over me, I prefer to give them just enough rope to hang themselves with. Alcohol is included in the rope part of that analogy.”
He holds his glass out and stares at it. “Is it poisoned?”
“No more than regular alcohol is just that, a poison.”
He drinks anyway, then coughs into his palm. “Long story short, the business is mine. I already have some partners who are ready to hit the ground running on a revamp and new lines of–”
“What partners?” I ask.
He shrugs. “Just business people, ones with good reputations.”
His glancing insult is amusing. “Anyone in business with a good reputation is absolute shit at business.”
“I don’t need any double talk from you. Just hand over my sister and agree to cut ties with the business, and we’ll be fine.”
“Why the interest in Vivian? You didn’t seem to care that she was locked away at boarding school for years on end.”
His eyes widen. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I think I do. I think now that there’s a large inheritance at play–and I’m well aware they left her the lion’s share of the money based on your many, many bad habits and untrustworthy behavior–you want to keep her close to you until she comes of age.”