I watch them drag Vaughn away, still yelling at me to listen, give him a chance to explain. My heart aches watching him go. I’m so angry at his betrayal, but even after everything, I still want to hold him, kiss him, tell him to stay.
Everything is falling apart, and Vaughn makes me feel strong. But he lied to me. He fooled me about everything.
I have to do this on my own.
“Well, now that drama’s done, let’s get back to business.” Brent clears his throat, pushing the contract towards me again. “Keely?”
I turn back to him. God, he looks so smug and superior, like he has me backed into the corner with no way out.
My haze of grief and confusion melts away. Vaughn was right: he planned this from the start.
“Sure, let’s do this,” I reply. A deadly calm settles over me. I reach for the paper.
Brent breaks into a grin as I lift the pages up. “I knew you’d see sense.”
I stare him straight in the eye and rip the contract in pieces. “Fuck you.”
His mouth drops open. “What the hell...?”
“Oh, didn’t you hear me?” I ask, my blood pounding in my ears. “I said, you can go screw yourself.”
“Do you realize what you’re doing?” Brent looks panicked. “I’ll release that tape to the world, you’ll be ruined!”
“No, you won’t,” I say clearly. “Any scandal involving me will only hurt the company. You still have shares,” I tell Brent, “And unless you want them to be totally worthless, then you’ll keep that video to yourself.”
“But the morality clause--” he blusters.
“Probably covers blackmail too,” I point out. “Which is what you’re trying to do right now.” His face goes red. “Yeah, thought so,” I give him a furious smile. “So you just listen to me. I’m keeping my stake in Ashcroft Industries, and my position as CEO. And if you dare come after me again, I will make you suffer.”
I lean in close, so he can see I’m not fucking around. He’s pushed me too far. I won’t take it anymore.
“I’ve had enough of these games,” I tell him. “I’m done playing nice. I have limitless resources at my disposal, and a whole company that I can dedicate to making your life a living hell. So I suggest you shut up, go back to whatever rich-boy bullshit you were doing before Ashcroft died, and forget about taking me down. Because this is my company now, and I’m not giving it up for anyone.”
I turn on my heel and walk out, leaving Brent sagging back against the desk in shock. I mean it, every word. I’m done being anyone’s fool.
But as I hurry down the hallway back through the party, it’s a hollow triumph. The pain slams through me all over again. Tears stream down my face. I can’t hold them back anymore.
Vaughn.
Oh God.
I hurry blindly into the stairwell, stumbling up higher, away from the noise of laughter and revelry. It all plays out in my head again, every moment we shared together, every passionate night and thrilling day. I opened myself up to him in ways I hadn’t imagined, and believed we had a real connection.
It’s all a lie. All of it.
I collapse at the top of the stairs, finally giving in to the pain wracking my body. I weep for everything I’ve just lost, the stupid trust I placed in a man I never really knew at all.
I wanted to believe in him. I thought he was a good man underneath it all.
How could I be so wrong?
I don’t know how long I stay, crumpled and sobbing in the dark. My head is pounding when the tears finally fade away. I don’t know what to do now. I don’t know how I can go on, but I muster all the strength I have and get to my feet again.
The party is still going strong. I have to go back out there, and pretend that everything’s OK. For the sake of the company.
I’m trying to pull myself together when a noise comes from behind me. The door opening, someone stepping into the stairwell.
Shit.
I wipe my face, trying to hide the signs of my tears. I can’t let anyone see me like this. But I don’t even have time to turn around before I feel a hand planted hard in the middle of my back.
The person shoves me, hard.
I let out a scream, losing my balance. I claw for the railings, but it’s all too fast. I miss my footing and tumble down the stairs, my head slamming back against the concrete.
Then there’s nothing but black.