But I got up and tried anyway. I had to try. It was part of my job. I poked at the back of the television until Kaspar’s connection strengthened and he appeared.
His smile sent a shiver along my skin.
“Hello, Chika. I love seeing your beautiful face first. Would you like to come work for me?”
“No, thank you,” I said and returned to my seat.
Charleigh scowled at him. “How many times do I have to ask you not to try to poach my assistant?”
“A few more might do it.” He showed his teeth. It was meant to be a smile. It was not quite right.
Erin put her phone down and stared at Kaspar’s image.
Charleigh let out a dramatic sigh. “It’s nice of you to join us. I appreciate you taking time.” Always polite. Smart woman. I worked for her for a reason.
Erin’s eyes were like a hawk.
“I’ll admit, I’ve been very curious about your proposal.”
“Have you given it thought?”
Kaspar shrugged. His face moved off screen. In the background, books covered shelves. He was in a library then. Who knew where. Could’ve been anywhere.
“I have. You know me, Charleigh. Always weighing my options.”
Which meant he was an untrustworthy snake and we all knew it.
“Where did you come down then?”
“I still have some problems I’d like to nail down.”
“Namely?”
“Payment.” His not-smile never faltered. His eyes darted across the screen like he was taking in every detail he could see.
He stared like Erin did. Engaged, intense.
Of all the Oligarchs I’d met, he scared me the most.
I begged Charleigh not to do this. She wouldn’t listen. She said Darren wasn’t the only person with power in this family.
Though he was the only Oligarch.
Going behind his back was not smart. I knew it, Erin knew it, but Charleigh was determined. I didn’t know why Erin went along with it.
I went along because I had no other choice.
Games within games. The house was a nesting doll of shifting alliances and political machinations.
I thrived in this place.
I did not know what that said about me. Nothing good. No respectable woman was her best in a hornet’s nest.
And yet there I was, dutifully taking notes.
“We discussed that already,” Charleigh said with an edge of impatience. They’d been going back and forth about this deal for weeks. She was tired of him always finding a new reason to hold back. “I have private accounts and connections within several quality accounting firms. I’ll see that nobody can follow the money.”
Kaspar waved that way. “You know I don’t care about that. Erin and I spoke of an alternative.”
Charleigh stared at her daughter with outright shock.
I did not move. I felt heavy, my limbs like tombstones.
“You did what?” Charleigh asked.
Erin did not look at her mother. She did not smile or make any sign that this was a distressing thing to have done.
“He’s amenable to my proposed alternative payment schedule,” Erin said in a quiet, clipped tone.
Passionless and devoid of emotion. Incredible, how she could turn it all off.
Assuming there was anything to begin with.
“And what is this alternative?” Charleigh glared at Kaspar. “You weren’t supposed to negotiate with anyone but me.”
“I apologize, Charleigh, you know I do, but she came to me with a suggestion that I found… tempting.”
Charleigh’s jaw worked. “And? What?”
“You don’t want to know, mother.” Erin turned her head. “It’d be best if you were left in the dark.”
I nearly choked. I truly did. Erin had never done something like this before. She was smart—too smart—and this was too far.
“Erin.” Charleigh seemed too shocked to muster up anger. “What are you talking about?”
“Kaspar and I will figure out the details. This alliance will work because I am making it work, Mother.” Erin turned her body to face her mother. I felt bile rise in my throat. “Do you remember what you said to me the day after Liv died?”
Charleigh’s face turned white.
Nobody spoke about Liv. She was gone, gone, gone. Erased from the world.
Charleigh hated that name. Not because she hated Liv—but because she loved her so much.
Her dead daughter. The chasm through all their hearts.
“I remember,” Charleigh whispered.
But Erin spoke anyway. “You said, you’ll never be enough. Do you remember that?”
Charleigh closed her eyes. She grimaced as if slapped.
Kaspar watched all this in mute boredom.
“Why are you doing this right now?”
“Because I am more than enough, Mother. I will handle Kaspar from now on and you will back me up. Do you understand?”
“Erin—”
“No more, Mother. Kaspar won’t deal with you any longer.”
Charleigh opened her eyes. I felt my life hanging in the balance.
“Sorry, Charly,” Kaspar said, grinning wide. “Just the way it goes.”
Charleigh stared at her daughter, the betrayer, then stood. She walked to the door.
I stood as well.
Erin held up a hand.
“Stay, Chika.”
I looked at Charleigh. Looked at Erin.
Charleigh shook her head slightly. “Do as she says.” Then she left.