An American Cinderella

She sighed and shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

“I’d like to get this over with.” She just ignored me and walked into the kitchen.

“I believe this deserves some champagne to celebrate,” she said. She picked up a bottle from an ice bucket and popped the cork, making me jump. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.

“Before I give this information to you, I want to make sure it’s what you really want.” I stepped into the kitchen to face her. “It’s not too late to stop this.”

“Stop this?” Audrey laughed. “There’s nothing to stop. This is how it’s supposed to be, dear.”

“I don’t want to do this. This isn’t right. You know that it isn’t right.”

She sighed. “You won’t get anything on tape from me. Though you do get an A for effort. Stop trying, please. It’s very annoying. I know you have a backup phone. It’s no use to you.”

“I’m just making sure that you understand what I’m about to hand you.” I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out a thumb drive. “I’m giving you the chance for both of us to walk away from this.”

“To walk away from millions of dollars?” She snatched the small metal drive from my hand. “Of course I’ll do that. Of course I’ll do the right thing and walk away.”

“Audrey...”

“No, no, no. You have put me on the path to salvation,” she said, holding up the thumb-drive with a smile. “You keep that dirty thumb drive. You destroy it. I want no part in your schemes, Aria.”

I sighed. She was playing to a non-existent recording device. If I had been on my own, I would have no thumb drive and a recording of her saying that she didn’t want it. It would have been useless to me.

She walked over to a laptop set up on the kitchen counter and plugged in the drive. It took a moment, but suddenly thousands of images popped up on the screen. They were all documents outlining everything from Paradisa’s mining abilities to oil reserves to technology.

“Oh, Aria. This is perfect,” she whispered. “I had no idea you could be so thorough. I’m very impressed. Your father’s legacy is safe with you.”

“Then I’m done?” I asked. “I want your word that I’m done.”

She laughed, the sound cold and chilling. She turned from the computer, her eyes glittering like those of a snake.

“You’ll be done when I say you’re done,” she replied. “I know that you went to the ball after I explicitly told you not to. You will be punished for that.”

My cheeks flashed hot. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, Senator Glenn thinks she’s clever, but she’s not,” Audrey scoffed. “It’s not like it’s hard to follow you, dear. You didn’t even try.”

“I got you what you wanted.” I crossed my arms and then quickly uncrossed them. “What more could you want?”

“The world, dear.” Audrey smiled and it made me shiver. “You are safe for now. But, I have these documents now. Documents only you had access to. I’m sure I’ll think of something you can do for me in the future.”

I was shaking with rage. I knew this would happen, but it still made me angry. Blackmail never stopped. It just paused for a little while.

“I have nothing left to give you,” I said, my voice coming out low and dangerous. “What more could you possibly want from me?”

“I hear you’re dating a businessman from Paradisa these days.” Audrey poured herself a glass of champagne and sipped on it. “An interesting choice, given the documents I didn’t take.”

My fists clenched up tight enough that my nails dug into my palms. If she knew about Henry...

“Oh don’t be so dramatic,” she scoffed. “He’s a nobody, darling. Just like you.”

I wanted to hit something. I wanted to scream. Henry was so much more than a nobody. But I kept my cool. She had the files now. As far as she knew, she was the one in control.

“Since you didn’t take the files, are we done? Can I go home?” I asked. “I’d like to go back to my old job.”