Conway was nowhere in sight.
A man in a leather jacket handed me a set of keys. “He said you can keep it.”
I stepped out to see a bright red Ferrari waiting for me. I didn’t want any of his things, but I needed a getaway car right now. I would return it the second I could.
“And Mr. Barsetti wants you to have this as well.” He held up a black suitcase.
I didn’t need to look inside to know what was there.
Cash.
I grabbed the briefcase from his hand and tossed it across the roundabout and onto the lawn. It landed with a heavy thud and snapped open, all the bills flying out across the grass. “Tell Mr. Barsetti I don’t want his money—I was never his whore.”
I got into the two-seater speedster and set my bag on the passenger seat. Thankfully, the cars were the same as they were in the US, and they drove on the same sides of the road. The engine was packed with immaculate horsepower, and I had no experience driving such a beast.
But I could pretend that I did.
I hit the gas hard and sped off, the engine roaring to life as I sped into the darkness and away from the house. I kept up a brave face even though no one could see me. I wanted my last moment on his property to be a proud one. I would hold my head high. I would keep a perfect posture. I would be unafraid.
Just like I was on the runway.
But once I was a few miles away, the sadness kicked in.
And I started to cry.
I grabbed my phone from my bag and called the first person who came to mind. It was the only opportunity that I had, and now that I was on my own, I had to be resourceful. Conway wouldn’t take care of me anymore, and I had to take care of myself. I did it before him—and I could do it after him.
Andrew Lexington picked up. “Sapphire, I have to be honest and say I wasn’t expecting you to call.”
That makes two of us. “I apologize for calling so late, but I was wondering if the offer was still on the table?” I stopped my tears from escaping over the line. No one liked the sound of desperation.
Andrew didn’t say anything for a long time, but I could feel his smile over the phone. “For a woman like you, it’s always on the table.”