Page 72 of Payback
She pauses and exhales a loaded breath. “Because I have something on you that I know you don’t want to get out.”
“And what exactly is that?” I mumble, rubbing my temple and not in the mood to hear her empty threats.
Then she says three little words I did not expect.
“A certainvideo.”
My entire body freezes. Surely she’s not talking aboutthatvideo. She must be referring to something else. It can’t be the same.
“What video?” I ask, my hand clenching the phone so hard I swear I hear it crack.
Her voice drops to a low, threatening tone as she replies, “A video that I’m quite certain you don’t want released to the public, unless you’re planning a future in pornography of course.”
She laughs menacingly into the line, and it takes everything in my power not to break down and cry.
“I deleted it,” I rush out.
“You’re an idiot,” she retorts. “Did you forget that I have access to your Cloud?”
No. No, no, no. This can’t be happening.
“I knew all your passwords when we lived together, Allie. I’ve had this video saved for two years now. I saw it right after it happened. I almost threatened you with it when you wouldn’t take your name off the apartment lease. Lucky for me, you came around so I could save it for this very special occasion. What were you planning to do with it anyway? Show it to Parker to make him see what he was missing? Make him jealous so he’d go crawling back to you?”
“No!” I exclaim defensively. “I didn’t want Parker back.”
“Oh, please,” she retorts. “You had a plan, Allie. You don’t do anything without a plan.”
“I just…wanted it for myself,” I whisper, my voice soft and unbelievable, even to my own ears.
“Lies!” she exclaims. “Did you even mean to tape the entire fuckfest? It looked like you tried to press stop and missed the button. Not that I’m complaining. That guy in there is hot…Who is he anyway? I want to meet him.”
“Stop, Rose,” I croak, my eyes welling with tears. “Stop all of this. This isn’t some random person in a video. He’s my boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” Rosalie laughs. “Wow, it only took you two years to move on from Parker. How’d you land this one?”
I bite the inside of my cheek, doing everything I can to stop the shaking of my fingers. “He plays soccer for Uncle Vaughn’s team. I do PR for him, which means Iknowhe can’t have that video get out. It will ruin his career. Please, Rose. I’ll do anything.”
“Good,” she snaps back harshly. “Then come to my wedding with a stupid smile on your face so I can have the picture-perfect day I always dreamed of, or I will ruin you.”
My head spins with a mixture of complete, utter sadness and hot, boiling rage. How did I allow this person so deeply into my life? How did I ever believe she cared about me? First she took my boyfriend, then my apartment, and lastly, my father! Now she’s threatening my relationship with Roan! This isn’t family. This isn’t love. This person is a monster. And I’m a fucking fool for not even thinking about our shared Cloud we had back then. I basically gave her everything she needs to continue ruining my life from another continent!
I thought coming to London would give me the fresh start I needed. I took Vaughn’s advice and left the past behind me. Roan and I are happy and developing real feelings for each other. Now my past is coming back to haunt me, all because of the stupidest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life.
My voice is weak when I utter, “Did you ever care about me?”
There’s a long pause on the other end of the line before she replies, “You had everything.”
“What do you mean?”
“A loving father, a perfect boyfriend, a career. Even school was easy for you. You literally had everything growing up.”
“I didn’t, though,” I snap, shaking my head. “My dad practically started to ignore me the moment we moved to Chicago.”
“So what!” she exclaims, her voice high-pitched and maniacal. “At least he was there. At least he didn’t leave you for another family that he loved more, like mine did.”
I bite my lip, stopping myself from saying something I’ll regret. “So, is that why you decided to sleep with my boyfriend? Because I wasn’t grateful enough for my own damn life?”
“I did it because I wanted to have a taste of perfect. I did it because I didn’t want to be second best to you anymore, which was all our childhood was about.”
