29
1379 คำ
Lyssa
Ray and his dad were still yelling, sometimes at Bonnie, sometimes at each other, and sometimes at me. Brooklyn had given up on her side of the argument and was now sitting back down in her seat with her arms crossed, pouting and glaring at me. Bonnie was ignoring everyone else and watching me expectantly, waiting. Goose and the other guys were still standing in the back of the room, no longer talking to each other but watching both Ray and his dad. Emilia, who was still sitting next to me, had started asking some important questions of the lawyer, things I probably should be asking or, at the very least, listening to their whole conversation. As it was, I was only hearing bits and pieces. Things like if I wanted to, I could request changes to the contract. I could go as far as declining the money for myself, but ask that the money be donated to one or more charities. Hell, I could straight up say no to everything. The two talked about so much more, but I wasn’t listening.
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I repeated this a couple of more times before finally opening my eyes again. Reaching out, I grabbed Emilia’s arm, stopping her and the lawyer’s conversation. Both of their attentions going to me.
“I need fresh air.”
They both nodded and stood up. All three of us walked out of the room. Goose and the MC guys stood in the doorway, moving to allow us to pass before blocking Ray, his dad’s, and Brooklyn’s path so they couldn’t follow us outside, which wouldn’t have mattered much as another dozen or so MC members all set outside. I could feel my anxiety level rising at just the sight of all the MC members. Why were so many here? Emilia grabbed a hold of my hand, prying my fingers off her arm. I hadn’t realized I was still holding onto her as we walked out. But apparently, she was, and she was now trying to pull my fingers off her arm.
“Sorry.”
I forced myself to let go of her. She didn’t say anything; she only grabbed me and turned me so I was facing away from all the guys, and walked me along the side of the building. Taking another deep breath, I let it out slowly, trying to calm myself. Once we were a few feet farther along the side of the building, Emilia let me go, allowing me to pace forward a few feet before turning back and pacing back to where she stood. I continued this path several more times as I tried to get my anxiety levels back under control and calm down. I don’t know how long I paced back and forth, but all I know is that I wasn’t feeling any better after a while, and my attempts to control my breathing weren’t helping. I know Emilia tried talking to me a couple of times, but I didn’t hear what she said; I only know she said something. Turning again, I found Goose blocking my path, forcing me to come to a stop. His hands gently grabbed my face, lifting my head so I was looking up at him, pulling me from my internal debate.
“Talk to me.”
I shook my head.
“I don’t know what to do.”
Nodding his head, he gently caressed my cheeks with his thumbs.
“Talk me through what you are thinking.”
Taking a deep breath, I let it out not so slowly.
“One of the first things I did when I left Ray was cut up all the credit cards with his name on them. The only money I have used since leaving him has been my own. I didn’t want him to be able to come back and say I owed him money or anything like that. It hasn’t been easy, and I have worked my ass off to pay my way. I know when I finish college, I will be in debt by thousands of dollars. I was ok with that. However, I am now being offered a way out of that. A way I could do all the things I ever wanted.”
Nodding, he ran his thumbs over my cheeks again.
“But?”
Sighing, I shook my head.
“But I know if I accept that money, not only will I have Ray claiming I stole his money. But I will have his dad claiming he always knew I was a gold digger and was only ever with Ray for his money. That makes me less inclined to accept the money. Yet at the same time, signing those papers and taking everything that meant so much more to that man than I ever did to him would feel like a really nice final f**k you to him.”
Sighing, I wrapped my arms around his waist, leaning my head into his chest. His hands fall away from my face, his arms wrapping around me. Slowly, he ran his fingers up and down my back, allowing me to stand there in silence. Standing like this with him was soothing, and I was finally able to calm down. Allowing my mind to slow down. Saying what I did out loud was also very helpful. Would that f**k you to Ray be nice, but at the same time, I chose to cut up those credit cards for a reason. I wanted nothing to link me back to Ray after I left. So deciding my response to this money should be easy. I get it would be nice not to have to worry about anything as far as money goes. But that was why I was working my ass off in school, so I didn’t have to worry about money. And best of all, I was self-sufficient. When I was done, I wouldn’t have anyone saying I owed them anything. Taking a deep breath, I pulled away from Goose, letting my breath out slowly as I looked up at him.
“Would you think I am stupid if I don’t take the money?”
He shook his head.
“Never.”
Keeping eye contact with him for a minute or two, I finished making my decision. With a nod, I pulled away from him and stepped around him. Walking back around the side of the building, where everyone was waiting. Well, not really everyone, just all the MC members, Emilia, and Evelyn the lawyer. Ray and all of them were still inside, and from the sounds of it, Ray and his dad were still yelling. Walking over to Evelyn, I focused on her and ignored everyone else around us.
“You were telling Emilia inside we could negotiate different things.”
She nodded.
“You don’t have to agree to the terms as written. We can offer a different suggestion, and they can either accept it or not. Either way, you don’t have to sign anything.”
“And if I decide to suggest something else, they would have to talk to you and not me?”
She nodded again.
“As your lawyer, all communication goes through me.”
“Good. Then here is my counteroffer. I don’t want the money. However, if she is determined that no one else should receive the money, then she should consider leaving it to various charities. I don’t know of any offhand to suggest.”
Evelyn nodded.
“The MC donates to a few very important ones every year. Could I suggest those as options?”
I nodded.
“Good, I like it.”
Smiling, she held out one of her cards to me.
“Unless you want to go back in there, I will go in and give them your answer. In the meantime, you do not have to stay. I can handle it from here for you.”
“Thank you. And I would really rather not have to go back in there.”
She nodded.
“Then I will be in touch with their answer.”
Turning, she motioned to a couple of the guys who followed her back inside.
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