Page 107 of Don't Bet On It
“But I saw you with him twice.”
“He’s tracked me down no less than five times since he got out of jail. I’m not sure how he’s doing it—my guess is he knows someone who knows my secretary—but he just shows up.
“The first few times, I humored him because I felt a little bad for him,” he continued. “It’s obvious he’s desperate. Like really, really desperate. In addition to losing his wife and older children, his mistress has taken off with his youngest child and left the state. He has nobody in his corner.”
“Have you ever considered there’s a reason for that?” I challenged.
“Um, every single day. I have no love for Ryder Stone. I never did. I’ve stopped engaging with him entirely. I don’t even pretend to be polite.” He shifted on his chair. “What’s this about?”
“I thought… Well, I thought maybe you were working with him.” I had to tell the truth. I was sheepish when doing it, shame making me feel sick to my stomach. “Part of me figured you were too selfish to actually do anything for him, but I was still a little worried.”
“Should I be grateful that your defense of me is that I’m selfish?”
I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but I had to be realistic. “It’s the truth. That’s what I told Zach and Ruby.”
“You’re right that I’m too selfish to work with Ryder. I would never help him. He’s unhinged anyway. He’s always been a little off. Right now, he’s bonkers.”
“He’s working with Tallulah’s mother. We saw them at Netflix Bites yesterday.”
Dad wrinkled his nose. “Why would you eat there where there are so many better places in Vegas?”
Of course that was what offended Dad most. “Tallulah likes macaroni and cheese. That part doesn’t matter. I need to know why Ryder would be hanging out with Sharon.”
Dad’s sigh sounded like a leaky tire, it was so drawn out. “Son, have you met Sharon Jackson? How can you even ask that question?”
“I need to hear you say it.”
“Ryder likes to talk big,” he replied. “He thinks he can sneak into the board meeting tomorrow night and somehow get them to vote him back in charge. He says he has blackmail information on a few board members, and as soon as two or three side with him, the others will fall into place.”
“And how does Sharon play into this?”
He gave me an incredulous look. “Are you kidding me? How do you think he got the blackmail material? Sharon Jackson has always been good for one thing. That’s why you shouldn’t be dating her daughter.”
I jabbed a finger at him. “Don’t. Tallulah is nothing like her mother.”
“I have nothing against Tallulah. Sharon will always drag her down, though. The girl is strong, but Sharon is still her mother. You can’t totally turn your back on your parents no matter how old you are.”
“I actually don’t agree with that. Tallulah will overcome Sharon.” I believed that to my very marrow. I had to. “Just to be clear, though, are you saying that Ryder tapped Sharon to seduce Stone board members so he could blackmail them?”
“Yup, that’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“And you didn’t think to tell me this?”
“When I saw the way Tallulah tried to interject herself into our conversation, I knew something was going on between thetwo of you. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings by telling her that her mother is a … well, you know.”
I did know. Tallulah did too. “This will not come as a surprise to her.” Something occurred to me. “Do you know which board members?”
Dad smirked. “As a matter of fact, I do.”
“Will you give me their names?”
“I’m selfish. I don’t want to get involved in this.”
I shot him an exasperated look.
“Since I feel that I owe you for being a bit of a buttmunch as a father, I’m going to tell you, though,” he added.
I didn’t know what shocked me more. His word choice or his easy capitulation. “Did you just call yourself a buttmunch?” I asked because I couldn’t help myself.
