Page 144 of So I'll Know
Sebastian slaps the table, and my father flinches. “Because that’s all you care about, right, Dad? The reputation of your precious business? Jeremy’s parents weremurderedby your business partner, and you’re worried about yourbusiness?”
Ryan scoffs. “Ihiredsomeone to murder them. There’s a difference.”
We all stare at him, dumbfounded.
I glance at John, and he shrugs.Well, alrighty then. That admission was the final nail in his coffin.
Ryan swats at John’s phone, which slides back across the table. “And I don’t know where you got that audio, but it’s a deepfake. And even if it’s true, you have no real proof that I had Jason and Athena Hart killed.”
My father looks completely scandalized. “Jesus Christ, Ryan.”
I’m honestly not sure that my dad really knew the extent of Ryan’s psychopathy. Ignorance is bliss, I guess.
Sabrina clears her throat. “Martin, are you agreeing to Marcus’s terms or not?”
He narrows his eyes. “I’ll sign the pub over to John and back off Sebastian and Charlie, but I still want him on the board. At my side.”
She shakes her head. “Not happening.”
I shrug and nod. “She’s right. Not. Happening.”
He glances at me, bewildered. “Marcus?—”
“No.” I stand, towering over him, and for once, my fatherlooks like the small, weak man he actually is. “You don’t get to dictate my life anymore. I don’t want to be part of Skynet. I’m not your cis-het clone, for fuck’s sake.”
“My what?” he asks slowly.
“I’m queer, Dad. I’m bisexual. And Sabrina and I will not be getting married. And I’m in love with Jeremy. And you can keep your heteronormative bullshit to yourself.”
His eyes widen with outrage, but before he can speak, Sabrina cuts in. “I suggest you think very hard before you say what you’re about to say, Martin. I’m the CEO of Pine Investments, and Iwillback out of this merger if you don’t shut the fuck up.”
Sabrina’s lips flatten into a hard line, and I’m so grateful for her right now. Her father just looks embarrassed and defeated, and I almost smile. This clearly isn’t how he thought this meeting would go.
My father opens and closes his mouth a few times, and then his whole body deflates. “Okay,” he says quietly. “Marcus is free to go.”
John gives my dad an eat-shit smile and pulls the paperwork from his briefcase. He slides it across the table and tosses a pen on top of the pile. “Sign next to theX, my friend.”
For the first time in a long time, the tension seeps from my body like water from a sponge. I grin at Sebastian, and he gives me a wink.
My brother and sister are safe.
I’m my own person.
I can do whatever the fuck I want with my life. And, more importantly, love whoever the fuck I want.
Shit, I’m finally free.
The best part of the night, though? The authorities are waiting outside the conference room, and we all watch with varying degrees of satisfaction—even my father—as Ryan is escorted into the elevator in handcuffs.
I glance at my dad. “Well, you just lost two board members.” I glance at Regina, who’s glowering at me. “And I’m not sure if you plan on keepingheraround, so you’re about to be very busy.” I smirk. “Not to mention, your business partner’s arrest is a nice little scandal. You should probably get ahead of the media if you don’t want Skynet’s reputation to take a hit. Good luck.”
Then Seb and I leave.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
JEREMY
JUNE
