Page 53 of The Photograph

I pinch my lips to stop the trembling of my chin.No, I’ve worked too hard for this.

Never again.

I look at the arrogant jackass. “This is my home. You can’t make me leave and this city isn’t yours.”

His eyes narrow, and his smile jolts my frantic heartbeat until my chest hurts.

He crosses his arms over his chest. “Oh, sweetheart, that’s where you’re wrong, and if you don’t, there’ll be a press release tomorrow where I’ll tell them how you stole from me.”

He’s insane.“I didn’t—”

“My foreman told me that you and your team took the scraps and leftover of every material you used on the house. This is theft…”

I should have trusted my instincts about the foreman. Swallowing hard, I shut my eyes briefly. Legally he’s right. Cold sweat dribbles down my back and the lace of the dress chafes my skin. Gabe’s been planning this since the beginning.

“…by the time I’m finished with you, no one will touch you nor anyone associated with you. And I’ll personally make sure everyone close to you is denied every opportunity, credit, or job. Trust me, they won’t stay your friends for long.”

The truth whacks me in the head leaving my ears ringing.Everything’s been a lie.The contract for Holloway…God, I got into my dream project on a deception. I let him … my first time was with …the room spins, and his face becomes blurry.

I’m going to be sick. I’m going to…

Iblink fast, close my eyes trying to stop my tears, and I breathe deeply. I won’t let him hurt Cara or Emma. Or anyone else because of me.

So, he wins.

He won.

Digging my nails into my palm, I lock my eyes onto his. “If I go, and … if I leave and never come back, you promise you’ll leave my sister and my friends alone?”

Again, his eyes blaze while the room shrinks ever more. “Yes, all you have to do is stay the fuck away.”

My mind veers in auto pilot “All right… I’ll need a couple of months to pack up everything.”

Oh my God, oh…

“You have until October fifteen.”

That leaves me roughly three months and a bit. I can make that work. If Cara gets to keep the house, I’ll pay my share from wherever I’ll be. I can make it work. I take a pen to sign the contract.

Gabe’s voice lashes through the room. “Wait.”

I freeze as he steps behind the desk and punches a number on his cell. “Smithson, I need you to witness the signature.”

Tim walks in and stands next to me. I sign wherever he points to me before he unclips and hands me my copy. He exits the office. Not once does he look at me.

After rolling the hateful document, I shove it in my clutch and hurry to the door on shaking legs.

“Aelin.”

When is this going to end?I stop with my hand on the handle and my back to him. When Gabe sets himself between me and the door, I stagger backwards.

He hands me a rectangle piece of paper. “Don’t forget your money.”

Heat floods my chest and I lock my eyes to his. “Go screw yourself.”

He scoffs while his eyes roam over me and I curve my shoulders down. I feel dirty, sullied. When he steps toward me, and I hold my breath. “There’s enough there for you to stay gone.”

Who is this man?

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