Page 45 of Killing Me Softly

“Call me when you’re done.” She jabbed a finger at Aaron’s chest. “Like, immediately.” With that, she stomped across the lawn, ignoring theDO NOT WALK ON THE GRASSsign, her boots leaving a defiant trail.

Jervine tilted her head, watching Mel stampede off. “Girlfriend?”

Aaron snorted. “You think?”

“No.” She searched his face, expression softening. “You all right?”

“That depends.”

“On?”

“Why the fuck you’re here.”

“Let’s find coffee. I need coffee. You?”

“I still hate the stuff. But I’ll watch you burn your tongue on it.”

They wandered across campus to a quieter coffee vendor, avoiding the longer queues. The one where Aaron had sat across from Kenny on his first week here. How much time had passed since then. And stuff. Lots and lots of stuff. They found a picnic bench tucked away in the shade and Jervine sipped her coffee while Aaron nursed a cup of tea, wondering what thing was ready to strike him down this time.

After a moment, Jervine reached into her bag and pulled out a manila envelope, sliding it across the table.

Aaron frowned, suspicion tightening his chest. “What’s that?”

“People generally open their birthday cards without questions.”

He snatched the envelope and turned it in his hands. “Might I suggest something less ominous for next year, then? Maybe a cute teddy bear with a heartfelt message on it. This thing screams paperwork.”

“Just open it.”

He ripped the glued edge off and pulled out a stack of papers. “No teddy. And…” He turned the envelope upside down and shook it with a pout. “No cash falling out. As suspected, this ain’t no Hallmark card.”

“But thereissomething in there worthy of a grand unseal.” Jervine took a sip of coffee through a sly smile. “Much harder to fit into a birthday card, though.”

Aaron flipped through the documents. “What the fuck is this?”

“Your trust fund.”

“My what?”

She leaned over, flattening the papers to point at a specific section. “The estate you were born into. Government seized it all after your parents’ conviction. Used it to pay off compensations and legal fees. But the rest? It’s yours. Set aside until your twenty-first birthday, provided you stayed out of trouble.”

Aaron gulped, darting his eyes over the numbers. “One and a halfmillion?”

“Told you it wouldn’t fit in a teddy bear card.” Jervine sipped her coffee. “You’re rich.”

He slapped the papers down, mind spinning on overdrive. “I don’t… This can’t be right.”

“It is.” She took a sip of coffee. “Your parents were old money. Aristocracy. When they were arrested, the estate was liquidated to settle debts, compensations, and other… associated costs.What’s left belongs to you. Legally. Your mother signed it off, and your father… well, he relinquished any claim when he…”

“Hanged himself.”

Jervine shrugged. “Or whatever.”

Aaron stared at the papers, his throat dry. “And my mum wants me to have this?”

“Not that she has much choice. She’s never going to use it. Commissary at Ashbridge doesn’t exactly carry high-end merchandise.”

He rubbed his forehead, tension radiating through him. “I don’t trust this.”

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