The Love Of Money - S01 E187

Story 2 days ago

The Love Of Money - S01 E187

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 187

I tried calling my parents but got my younger brother instead. I was surprised to find out that Richie had come with them. Not only that, but he'd brought his girlfriend with him, which I found terribly unfair. My mom would have never let me do something like that. Parents really are softer on the younger siblings. Dad was out getting food with one of my security, and mom was taking a bath. I told him about the party tomorrow and that I wanted them there.

Then I returned Henry's call, he found Ashlee.

"She's back in New York and is currently staying on campus with a friend."

"Why would she do that?" I asked.

'My guess would be to avoid her stepmother, Henry said, "but the only way to be sure would be to ask her."

"I've tried texting and calling since last night, but she hasn't responded, I admitted.

"Would you like to explore alternative options?"

"What do you suggest?" I asked, trying to understand what he meant by that.

"You could wait for her to come to you," Psalter mused, "or I could bring her to you at a specified location."

I recalled Chloe offering a similar solution and imagined Ashlee strapped to a chair and waterboarded like I was. Jesus, what was with the spooks and their eagerness for blood? Still, I entertained the idea. Ashlee was one of only a handful of people who knew where I'd been when the mercenaries appeared on that rooftop. Ashlee disappeared after my kidnapping, and Ashlee was the one showing up in photos with Cartwright. The evidence wasn't exactly stacked in her favor.

But did that mean she deserved the treatment Chloe and Psalter were suggesting?

"No," I finally responded. "I need to see her, but I don't want you bringing her somewhere with a bag over her head. I'll keep texting and calling. Just see what you can do to put pressure on her."

'I believe I can accommodate that request," he said.

'Any idea who tried to kidnap me or what was on that drive they were asking for?"

"Unfortunately, no. The mercenaries were hired by an organization called Hatchfield, but as you can probably guess, it's a shell corporation. The paper trail gets difficult to follow, and that's my only real lead on this flash drive the woman asked about. I recommend getting people you trust to go over your grandfather's estate with a toothcomb and look for anything related.

"What are you suggesting?"

"That Colin Gerrard gave you an obscene inheritance tied to massive corporations, countless properties, and socio-political schemes. You've inherited things you don't even comprehend. Understanding that inheritance is the best way to know more about that flash drive. Not only that, but it is also the best means to unmask your enemies."

Henry was right. I needed to start looking more into what my grandfather gave me and not just on fun ways to spend it. "Alright. I'll see what we can find out."

"And I'll see what I can do about flushing out Miss VanCamp.

By the time I was done and left my study, it was a little after eight in the evening. Helen had asked if was busy tonight, so I texted to see if she was back in my apartment after doing whatever she needed with Chandler. She texted back that she was and gave me directions to a specific room on the west wing of my apartment. It was an area had spent a little time in since it was on the opposite side of my bedroom and the kitchen.

However, before going there, I had one more thing to do. I told Helen I would be there in about thirty minutes and set off toward Natashya's room. It was bothering me that we hadn't spoken yet.

I approached her room, eyeing the bottom of the door for any sign of light, but was disappointed. I stalled in front of the door, thinking I didn't want to wake her, but if there was any chance I could talk to her, I didn't want to miss it. I felt responsible for what she'd gone through and wanted to make sure we were okay. My fingers closed gently around the knob to her bedroom, and I cracked it open just enough to let light spill into the dark bedroom. A dim strip of Illumination fell over the bed, and saw blankets stir. I opened my mouth to whisper her name but stopped short when I heard, "Shhh."

I considered protesting but also wanted to be sensitive to

Natashya and whatever she was dealing with, so shut the door

without any argument. Feeling defeated, I turned and quietly

walked away when the door opened, and Emily slipped into the hallway. She wore red flannel pajama bottoms, a white spaghetti tank top with a simple bra underneath, and her hair hung down her back in a glossy sheet of chocolate-colored strands. I smiled, realizing I hadn't seen my sister since I fell asleep in Shea's lap in the back of that SUV, God, she was a sight for sore eyes right about now. She returned my smile but gestured for us to move down the hall.