Money (The Keatyn Chronicles Book 10) (21 page)

“
I
’
m afraid you don
’
t really have a say in it, Mrs. Clarke. My job is here, and the girls are excited to go to their new school.
”

“
And just what kind of school is it?
”

“
It
’
s a private school very worthy of your grandchildren. You would approve.
”

“
Were you going to consult me on this?
”

“
Um, no. I wasn
’
t.
”

“
When were you going to tell me?
”

“
As soon as it
’
s official. They visited the school this week, and we
’
ve had our interview, but we
’
ve yet to get a final response as to their acceptance.
”

“
Ava told me she
’
s moving. That she
’
s going to be allowed to wear makeup. What are you thinking? Do you want your daughter to end up on a pole?
”

I try really hard not to sigh audibly. It will just get her going more.
“
No, I
’
m not. And it
’
s just clear mascara and some lip gloss. Not a big deal.
”

“
I
’
m going to fight the move.
”

“
And how are you going to do that?
”

“
I
’
m going to sue for custody. I have rights as a grandparent.
”

“
You threatened to do that after Whitney killed herself. You didn
’
t do it then, and you aren
’
t going to do it now. You don
’
t want to have to deal with the girls on a daily basis, and you know it.
”

“
That
’
s not true. I only want what
’
s best for them. There
’
s no reason you can
’
t get a job here.
”

“
I like my job in L.A. and, honestly, I think the change will be good for the girls. A fresh start for all of us.
”

“
So they can forget about their mother?
”

“
They are never going to forget about their mother.
”

“
I don
’
t know why you can
’
t just stay here.
”

“
Because my job is here, and I need to support them. You know, since your son-in-law stole all of my money.
”

She ignores my jab.
“
I assume you will all be here for the fundraiser on Whitney
’
s birthday?
”

“
The girls will not be coming to the fundraiser this year. It wasn
’
t an appropriate event for children. All you did was parade them around.
”

“
You want them to forget her!
”

“
No, I don
’
t!
”

“
Well, you had better be here!
”

“
I
’
m going to try to attend, but I
’
m not making any promises.
”

“
Try to attend? No. You will be in attendance along with my granddaughters, and that is final!
”

“
The girls will definitely not be attending. They will be starting their first week of school.
”

“
Already? I assumed you would let them finish the semester!
”

“
I
’
m afraid not.
”

“
This is asinine. I won
’
t allow it. I expect the girls to finish the semester here, attend the fundraiser, and join the Clarke family for the holidays.
”

“
Not gonna happen, sorry.
”

“
Then you will be hearing from my attorney. I
’
m taking you to court.
”

“
Oh, hey, speaking of court. I heard William had his sentencing.
”

“
Yes, he got four years in prison.
”

“
That
’
s not nearly long enough, but I
’
m glad to know my testimony helped put him away.
”

“
You shouldn
’
t be so hard on him. He has a wife and three children.
”

“
He stole all our money and your daughter killed herself because of it. You should hope he rots in jail like I do. And if you even think about suing me for custody, I will come to the fundraiser and tell all your friends the truth about why Whitney killed herself.
”
I slam the phone down, hanging up on the bitch as my brother walks in my office.

“
What
’
s wrong?
”
he immediately asks.
“
Are the girls okay?
”

“
They
’
re fine.
”

“
You look upset.
”

“
Mrs. Clarke just called. Threatened to sue me for custody.
”

“
Will she?
”

“
I don
’
t think so. She is upset because I
’
m moving the girls to this
wretched place
and is convinced Ava will end up dancing on a pole because I
’
m going to let her wear clear lip gloss.
”

Riley laughs out loud.
“
She
’
s a piece of work, isn
’
t she?
”

“
Yeah, she is. The Whitney Clarke Memorial Fundraiser is next week. She wanted the girls to go again this year.
”

“
After last year, you said you wouldn
’
t let them.
”

“
I won
’
t.
”

“
So are you ready for the board meeting tomorrow?
”

“
I guess. It sounds like the investors are in for a bit of a shock.
”

“
They will be surprised, but they
’
ll be getting a really high return on their investments, so I highly doubt you will hear any complaints.
”

“
So how did Ariela take the news about Shelby
’
s pregnancy?
”

“
She took the news fine.
”

“
So does that mean things are going well between the two of you?
”

“
Things are not going anywhere between us.
”

“
Why not?
”

“
Get this. She had me read the note she was going to give me on graduation day. It basically said she was going to Princeton, and she hoped we could stay together.
”

“
What?
”

“
Exactly. If she really felt that way, why didn
’
t she let me know? It
’
s bullshit, and I
’
m done with her.
”

“
Riley, are you sure?
”

“
No, not really, but I
’
m moving on. With Shelby.
”

“
Shelby? The baby mama? Why?
”

“
Hey, you
’
re one to talk. You married Whitney.
”

“
You
’
re thinking of marrying her?!
”

“
I don
’
t know, maybe. She
’
s not what I expected.
”

“
What did you expect?
”

“
Well, when we were at the premieres, she was maybe not the most classy date I
’
ve ever had, but I sent her to a personal shopper and to the spa and now she looks amazing. She seems to want to learn more. She didn
’
t have the best upbringing, and she
’
s really sweet. Not to mention she
’
s a hellcat in the bedroom.
”

I rub my face and now understand why when I wanted to marry Whitney my family was so upset. They believed I should marry for love.
“
I know it sounds hypocritical of me, but you should marry for love, Riley.
”

“
Do you regret marrying Whitney?
”

“
That
’
s a difficult question to answer. If I wouldn
’
t have married Whitney, we wouldn
’
t have had Harlow.
”

“
And she
’
s an amazing little girl.
”

“
Exactly.
”

“
If you had a do-over, would you do the same thing? After all you went through?
”

“
I want to tell you I wouldn
’
t. That I shouldn
’
t have married her. That I should have thought of myself. That I should have married for love. And now that I know what that feels like
—”

“
With Vanessa?
”

I nod.
“
I wish I would
’
ve married someone I really loved. I want that for you, Riley. For you to be married to the love of your life.
”

“
I
’
m not so sure that
’
s Ariela.
”

“
Only you know who it is, Riley. I
’
m just saying, don
’
t settle. Fight for her if you love her. It sounds like you got mad at Ariela over something that happened more than a decade ago. You
’
re going to have to let all that go if you
’
re ever going to be able to move forward with her.
”

“
Sounds like the advice you should be giving yourself.
”

“
What makes you say that?
”

“
I had a call with Vanessa earlier today. She said you won
’
t talk to her.
”

“
Did she tell you her ex spent the night?
”

“
In the guest house. You have no idea how much he hurt her. There
’
s no way she
’
d ever take him back.
”

“
You didn
’
t see the ruby he gave her.
”

“
He also proposed.
”

“
He
what
? What did she say?
”

Riley smirks at me. “She hasn’t given him an answer yet. Sounds like you need to take your own advice, bro, and fight for what
you
want.
”

Shelby
’
s Bungalow - Sunset Boulevard

SHELBY

After a morning prenatal massage, a blowout and makeup application, and a lovely poolside lunch, I have the hotel driver take me to the sports bar where Marcy works. I purposely dressed in my old clothes so I wouldn
’
t stand out. If I came in all classy, the people I
’
m friends with who work here would ask questions. Dressed like this, me sitting at the bar while Marcy works is a normal occurrence. There are two customers eyeing me from the end of the bar. Businessmen, in town for one of the conferences held at the hotel up the street, most likely. I
’
m wearing a pair of skintight jeans, cheap black booties, and a white T-shirt that shows off the cleavage God blessed me with.