Chapter 164: Medicine, Money and Meyers

IVY

"Ma’am? Miss Kingsley? Are you in there?"

There was a loud knocking on my door that sounded so far away.

I frowned, rolling on my back. What was going on? My eyes opened slowly to see the ceiling of my living room. Something scratchy and wool was pressed against my cheek, and my neck felt like someone had twisted it off and glued it back.

"Miss Kingsley?!"

Oh wait, that was Jenny.

I groaned and pushed myself up. I was on the living room rug, curled up in my nightdress. The curtains were open. Gray morning light was spilling over the couch down to the front door where I had slid down last night and cried until I couldn’t make any more noise.

Kai. The whole night came back in one hot, ugly rush. His hands on my face, his mouth devouring mine, punishing and hungry.

Thanks for the extra pictures.

"That... that jerk!" I seethed so hard clenching my teeth.

Every single word he said, every sneer, every filthy thing he had called me, replayed over and over in my head.

My face burned. I pressed the heel of my hand against my eyes, which felt all swollen and sandy.

How could he? How could he... screw him! I couldn’t believe I was so excited to see him. I was so angry my fingers shook.

How could he blackmail me? He drove all the way here in the middle of the night to stand in my driveway and wait for me, so he could humiliate me on camera?

I should have slapped him harder than that. I know I hurt them but that was too much. I was getting tired of being blackmailed too, for goodness sake!

Yeah but you still went all putty in his hands like a fool.

I smacked a hand over my face.

"Oh god, she’s not answering. Should I call the police? What if she’s hurt?"

Jenny’s panicking outside my door drove me out of my thoughts.

"I’m up!" I croaked, clearing my throat. "I’m up, Jenny. Sorry I slept in late. Give me ten minutes."

"Oh thank God! It’s nine fifteen. Your father’s been asking for you since eight and it seems like something’s happening."

I closed my eyes, rubbing my forehead. What now? I hoped this wasn’t about the Montagne contract.

"Ten minutes," I repeated.

It took twenty minutes to get ready though. I showered in water so hot it turned my skin pink, scrubbed my face until the redness from crying faded, and hid the swollen eyes with makeup. I pulled on a beige cashmere dress and walked out the door. Jenny handed me a cup of coffee, her eyes scanning mine.

"Are you... are you sure you’re okay, Miss Kingsley?"

I could have kissed her for the coffee. "I’m fine, Jenny. Thank you."

"You’re welcome, ma’am." She hesitated before leading the way to the car.

The ride to the office was a blur, my mind replaying Kai’s lips against mine. I was still furious with him, but I couldn’t stop wondering what would have happened if he hadn’t gotten that call. Would he really have taken me right there on the driveway?

My thighs pressed together shamelessly . I can’t believe I was getting turned on thinking of that asshole. I whipped out my phone and shot him a text. I don’t care if I wasn’t supposed to contact them again, Kai contacted me first!

Ivy: Never ever pull that stunt on me again. I am truly sorry that I lied and deceived the three of you. But you will never treat me like that again!

I leaned against the backseat, taking in deep breaths. Shit, what if that only pissed him off? Should I delete the text?

Screw this, I needed to focus! Jenny said something probably happened with my father. That meant he was pissed then. What could have happened? Was it the deal with Montagne?

Or did he know that Kai came to my place?!

I slept for three hours on a rug. I was in no state to deal with my father. But I had to tell him about Richard before he heard it from someone else, and we had to come up with a plan, because I would not be going to any gala just to get a signature.

One problem at a time. Just get through today.

The top floor of Kingsley and co was quiet when I stepped out of the elevator and my father’s secretary wouldn’t look me in the eye.

Oh shit this was bad. What could have happened? My heels clicked loudly against the marble as I trudged down to my father’s office. I was right at the door when I heard the shouting.

"....why would you want to do this? Don’t do this, Anthony!"

Wait, what was happening? Why would Father be yelling at Anthony?

"Don’t be so dramatic, Felix." Anthony’s voice was hoarse and frayed. "I need the money. I need it urgently. You’re overreacting."

"Overreacting?" My father demanded furiously. "You would do all this for some common medicine? Can’t you hold out a while? Endure it, for God’s sake, just for a little while longer?"

I crept closer, pressing my ear against the door. Was Anthony sick? I had noticed he shook a lot and he kept rubbing his arms every time we met, like he was cold.

"I can’t!" Anthony snapped. "You of all people know I can’t, Felix! You got me hooked on it!"

What on earth were they talking about? It couldn’t be drugs, right? Why would my father get Anthony hooked on drugs? How did any of this make sense?

"Me?!"

"Oh don’t play dumb! You think I don’t know you and Meyers got me addicted to opioids on purpose?"

My jaw almost hit the floor. What the hell did I just hear?

"Watch your mouth, Anthony,"

"I know you did it so you could always keep me by your side? You didn’t need to do that because we were friends and I let it go for our kids sake. But I need this Felix!"

"I know those bastards are behind this." My father’s voice was tight. "They’ve been waiting for something like this. You seriously cannot fall into their trap."

He wasn’t even denying it?

Father wasn’t even denying that he drugged his best friend just to keep him by his side. Shivers ran down my spine. I grabbed the door handle and pushed.