Page 91 of You Owe Me

My mouth goes dry. “And what do you want in return?”

“Simple.” Carter sits back in his chair like he’s already won. “I want data, names, methods, leverage points. Everything Maverick has on the people at Havemeyer.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Then that IRS investigation runs its full course.” Carter shrugs. “Federal audits are thorough. They examine everything: bank records, tax filings, family finances. They interview everyone connected to the business. Including elderly grandfathers with heart conditions.”

“Why are you blackmailing me?”

“Blackmail is such an ugly word.” Carter sips his coffee like we’re discussing the weather. “I prefer to think of it as… incentivized cooperation.”

I lean back in my chair, studying his face. There has to be an angle here I’m not seeing. “You’re insane if you think I’m going to help you destroy him.”

“I’m not asking you to destroy him,” Carter replies smoothly. “I’m asking you to save him. And his family.”

“From what?”

“From the consequences of that IRS investigation expanding.” Carter’s voice drops to barely above a whisper. “Federal tax investigations have a way of growing. One business leads to another. One irregularity leads to five more. Before youknow it, everyone connected to the firm finds themselves under federal scrutiny.”

The worst part is, he’s not wrong.

“If you expose him, you’ll destroy yourself, too,” I point out. “You’ve been part of this—the gala, the threats?—“

“Have I?” Carter’s eyebrows rise in mock surprise. “Because as far as anyone knows, I simply invited an attractive fellow student to a university function. What happened after that—your decision to leave with my property, cause a public disturbance—well, that reflects more on you than me, doesn’t it?”

My stomach sinks as I realize how thoroughly he’s covered his tracks. Everything I did to him could be painted as inappropriate behavior. Everything he did to me could be dismissed as normal social interaction that I mishandled.

“How long do I have?”

“To get my data?” Carter checks his watch—expensive, probably Swiss. “How about we say… until tomorrow night? I’m having a small gathering at my apartment. Nothing formal, just a few friends discussing future opportunities.”

“You want me to come to your apartment?”

“I want you to take the first step toward ensuring everyone’s continued happiness and prosperity.” Carter stands, straightening his polo shirt like he’s heading to a board meeting instead of walking away from destroying someone’s life. “Eight o’clock. I’ll text you the address.”

He starts to leave, then pauses and turns back.

“Oh, and Ainsley? I’d recommend not discussing this with Maverick just yet. Not until you’ve had time to consider all the variables. We wouldn’t want him to do something… rash.”

The threat is crystal clear. If I tell Maverick about this conversation, Carter will trigger whatever nuclear option he’s prepared. If I don’t, I have until tomorrow to figure out how tosave everyone I care about without selling my soul to the devil in designer casual wear.

Carter disappears into the crowd of caffeine-dependent students, leaving me alone with cold coffee and the growing certainty that I’m about to make choices that will haunt me for the rest of my life.

My phone buzzes. A text from Maverick.

You left before I could properly thank you for last night.

The casual affection in his message makes my eyes burn with unshed tears. He’s probably sitting in our kitchen right now, reading my bullshit note about lab work and coffee with Eliza, completely trusting that I’m exactly where I said I’d be.

Instead, I’m here. Making deals with devils. Protecting him from threats he doesn’t even know exist.

I type back:

No thanks necessary. Love you.

And I do love him—so much that I’m about to do something that might make him hate me forever.

But what choice do I have?

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