We all stand up as Rylee walks in. Her eyes go first to Ace. But then they fixate on me and they are not
friendly. I have no doubt she’ll throw me under whatever bus she possibly can.
Rylee looks as gorgeous as always and I’m reminded that she’s a model and an heiress. She looks every inch
of both. Her cheekbones could cut glass and her lithe, waif-thin body belongs on a catwalk.
Everything about her screams money. White-blond hair hangs almost to her waist and moves like liquid. Her
cream power suit and matching pumps are clearly designer and her make-up is flawless.
For a second my face flushes with the uncomfortable heat of insecurity. My dress is understated, with the
slightest cowgirl flair in the suede detailing at the hem. I bought this dress in Austin and it shows. Not only that but
I’m curvier than Rylee and suddenly feel like a grain-fed heifer standing next to an exotic gazelle.
I’m an out-of-towner and, surrounded by these New Yorkers whose wardrobes are clearly sourced from Saks
Fifth Avenue or wherever, I feel out of place.
Ace, who has a knack for reading my thoughts, places his hand on the curve of my hip, his thumb pressing
gently. A boss wouldn’t touch an employee like this. It’s too familiar. It’s reassurance and it’s also a claim.
Rylee’s razor-sharp glare zeroes in on our connection and her cheeks get pink under the smooth mask of her
foundation.
“So, you two are together now?” she asks icily. “Like, together together?”
“That’s not really the concern here, now, is it, Rylee?” Colton answers. To Colton, nothing in life is to be
taken too seriously. But even doused in good humor, his words are as cutting as a pick axe.
I’m immediately struck by the band-of-brothers vibe in this room. These four men are power players. Wall
Street titans. Multi-billionaires. They’re also fiercely loyal to each other.
Rylee’s a fool to have tried to take them down, and I think she’s beginning to see that now with crystal clarity.
“I loved you, Cash. I still love you.” Her eyes pool with tears.
“If you love him, why are you trying to get him thrown into jail?” Alexander asks matter-of-factly.
“Blackmailing him isn’t the best way to get him to fall in love with you.”
“He broke my heart!” Rylee cries. “I wanted to hurt him like he hurt me!”
“Did you really think you would be able to pull this off?” Noah’s question is incredulous. “This is insider
trading, Rylee. You were really willing to take us all down because Cash called it quits with you?”
“We were perfect for each other,” she sobs. “He’s my soulmate.” Ace runs a hand through his hair agitatedly.
“We’re not fucking soulmates, Rylee. Jesus Christ, what’s wrong with you? You refuse to take no for a fucking
answer. And now you’ve dragged the entire company through the mud while also jeopardizing your own career.
For what? For a petty grievance. I didn’t think you’d be that vindictive, I really didn’t. I gave you the benefit of the
doubt because I thought even you wouldn’t go that far. Clearly I was very fucking wrong about that. But you
should know that I intend to press charges and prosecute to the full extent of the law.”
Rylee makes a small sound, a light exhale, like she’s finding it hard to breathe. “I didn’t want to do it, Cash! I
just couldn’t believe you could be so cold, stonewalling me like that when I loved you so much! I tried to get your
attention in every way I could, but you shut me out like I meant nothing to you.” Rylee bursts into tears. “You’re
heartless, you bastard.”
“So you were willing to destroy me? Who the fuck does that, Rylee?” I’ve never seen Ace this angry. Colton
or Noah are also furious. Colton suggests, “I think it’s time we call our lawyers, the detective who’s been
assigned to the case and the guy at the SEC who detected the emails. You can fill all of them in on your
twisted vendetta, Rylee.”
Noah begins to go through the details. “Rylee, you were seen coming out of office 411 at 4:44 this morning,
which is confirmed on video surveillance footage. Your knowledge of encryption software is obviously extensive.
But you might have overlooked one important detail: activity records aren’t deleted just because an email account
is.”
Colton continues. “The activity log from the computer in room 411 shows that an encrypted email account
was deleted at 4:22 a. m., precisely twenty-two minutes before you were seen vacating that office. Coincidentally,
the activity log of the deleted email account shows seven sent emails, sent over the course of nine weeks, to
fucm@sandersonfitzpatrick. com—the very same email address that led the SEC to launch an investigation into
Invested Enterprises.”
“It also just so happens,” Noah adds, “that the press are dangerously close to getting a whiff of that SEC
investigation. And when they do get a whiff, IE will begin hemorrhaging clients like rats jumping off the Titanic.”
Rylee’s sobbing now. Despite everything, I feel for her. Here she is, crying, surrounded by
these—rightfully—furious brothers, who are about to have her hauled off to jail.
I almost call him Ace. Then Mr. Maddox. Instead, I say, “Cash. If you give Rylee a chance to talk to the SEC
herself, I’m sure this could be worked though without getting the police in volved.”
Ace isn’t convinced. “If Dusty hadn’t caught you this morning, Rylee, would you have let us all get
convicted? How could you be so obtuse? Didn’t you realize you’d never get away with something like this?”
“I deleted the account,” Rylee pleads. “This has been hanging over our heads for months now,” Ace growls,
“while you smugly watched us suffer.”
Rylee wipes her tears. “You wouldn’t even talk to me or give me the time of day! You were so mean, Cash.
And now you’ve rebounded with her.” She breaks down once again into sobs. “You touch her like you never
touched me.”
Ace sighs heavily and swears under his breath. When he continues, his rage is controlled, but barely. “I broke
up with you because I didn’t love you, Rylee. Either way, it doesn’t justify what you’ve done.”
I don’t know why I’m trying to protect her, but she looks so heart- broken and outnumbered. “I think we can
all agree that Rylee took it way too far, but if she confesses and talks it over with the SEC, this can all be worked
out. It’s not too late.”
“I’ll fix this,” Rylee pleads. “I can, I promise.” More tears. But Cash is unmoved. “You’ll agree to confess not
only to the detective and the SEC but also to the press, if anything leaks. This is on you, Rylee. And you’ll submit
your resignation immediately.”
Rylee nods, blowing her nose. Noah’s relief is obvious. “You’ll still be lucky to es cape jail time.” “She can
es cape jail time if you don’t press charges.” I’m not even sure if that’s true, I’m winging this. My default mode is
to always pretend like everything’s fine. If you do that long enough, eventually it mostly works. “She’ll confess,
she’ll resign and the investigation of IE won’t go ahead. Rylee was obviously overcome by her emotions but if
she’s willing to make things right, maybe you should let her.”
“I will,” Rylee whispers hopefully. “Please.” Cash is watching me. His expression is stormy but there’s a
softness behind it he saves just for me.
“So it’s settled,” I say, hoping like hell we can avoid more tears, fury and prison sentences. “You can contact
the SEC now and Rylee will tell them everything they want to know. Then she’ll submit her resignation. And IE
can submit a statement to the press saying the error has been isolated, to squash any rumors and face the issue
head-on. There’s no case of insider trading and never has been. It’s business as usual and profits have never been
healthier. Done and dusted.”
All four brothers are looking at me, like they’re slightly bemused by my no-nonsense approach.
Colton almost grins. “Done and dusted by Dusty Rose. Rylee, do you agree to these terms?”
“Yes,” she says quickly. “You really won’t press charges?” Ace glances at me before answering her. “If you
stay true to your word, cooperate fully and never bother us again, I’ll consider it.”
“Thank you,” Rylee says to him, but her eyes are on me. Noah pats Cash on the back before heading for the
door. “I’ll go issue the statement. And someone give Dusty Rose a promotion.”