The Grumpy Boss Cowboy Billionaire

Chapter 19

Emma

In the days following Victor’s visit, I found myself growing increasingly conflicted about my employment. Each day provided me with ample opportunity to utilize my education, to influence my field of study, to make new discoveries about the previously lost past. Simultaneously, each of these findings felt poisoned—the dead snake in the toxic pool—by the sheer fact that the money funding the dig was dirty.

Four days had passed since his visit and I hadn't had a decent night of sleep, each one bringing less certainty to my decision on the offer I had received from Hastings. After what Victor had told me, I began thinking that my credentials meant less to Hastings than the fact that he had stolen me from someone who had stood between him and his goal of obtaining Cactus Creek. That led me down the rabbit hole of realization that in all likelihood, the renovation was going to fall apart without a Project Manager, and I doubted that Victor would have been able to find one who shared his vision this far into the project. Guilt filled my chest, often leaving me short of breath and gasping.

Several times, I had been escorted by my interns into the tent and given IV fluids during one of these episodes, innocently mistaking it for heat exhaustion. I accepted their help with smiles and nods, too ashamed to admit to them what was really going on.

Nights weren’t much better, alternating between nightmares of the Frontier Park’s demise, and remembering Victor’s searing touch on my skin. Both left me hollow-eyed and unsatisfied.

After one particularly bad night, I approached the administrative tent, hoping to talk to Prakash about taking a few days off. As I walked up, I overheard voices, Prakash’s and none other than Fred Hastings’.

“It all fell into place, that was the Carefree police department on the phone. She was arrested for arson, embezzlement, and corporate sabotage.” Fred’s smarmy voice sounded pleased as punch.

Prakash made an inaudible comment and Fred laughed. “You’re allowed to be excited, my friend. It means our investment is paying off. It’s only a matter of time before we’re able to drive Victor Sullivan out and purchase our Cactus Creek anchor at rock bottom pricing.”

A stab of betrayal ran through my chest. Prakash was an investor in the Cactus Creek takeover too? Did the treachery know no end?

After hearing Victor’s name, I pulled out my phone and hit the record button on my voice memo app. I could hear the sneer in his voice as he boasted. “Who knew all it would take was bending her over my desk, and offering her double pay to get her to turn on that trust fund brat. I didn’t even have to ask her to start the fire, she came up with that on her own."

"Can the police trace it back to you?" Prakash asked.

"I've got the connections to make all that go away." Fred chuckled. "A self made man doesn't get to where I am without making sure my bases are covered."

My mind was reeling with what I had just heard. I winced, remembering how he'd sworn to me he had never cheated on his wife or in business—and in one bragging statement, he had proven both false. I couldn't be a part of this. In fact, I never should have taken the job to begin with. Quickly, I looked up his wife's email from a previously cc-ed message and forwarded the recording. Nodding, I took a small measure of pride in the fact that I didn't hesitate. Once I made up my mind, there was no stopping me from doing the right thing.

For better or worse, this was over, and I was finished with this. I straightened, pulling my bag strap over my shoulder, heading into the main tent. On the equipment table, I placed my ID badge, my lab keys, and my site pager, and headed to the parking lot. Hands shaking, I pulled my keys out of my bag, unlocked my car, and tore away from the site, driving toward my house, mind whirring.

I thought about everything that brought me to this moment. What was I going to do now? I had unwittingly participated in the undermining of my own renovation project. I pulled to a stop on the side of the road.

My own renovation project? I studied that thought carefully. I had produced the ideas and means to renovate the park, I had put my hands on the assembly, and I was entwined with the construction and the people making it happen. It was my renovation project, just as much as it was Victor’s.

With that, I put on my signal and headed to my local credit union. An hour later, I had a detailed document telling me the exact value of everything of worth that I owned. I headed home, setting the paper on the table, and leaning over it, mind racing. There was a knock, then a jingle of keys as Sam, my twin brother, came in.

Though it was technically my house, it originally belonged to our parents, and all my siblings treated it with affectionate reverence—coming and going without notice or concern.

He stopped in the doorway when he saw my face. “You look like you’re plotting to murder someone.”

I let out a desperate laugh and bobbed my head. “I screwed up, Sam.”

He came across the house and slung an arm across my shoulders. “I’m sure it’s nothing you can’t fix.”

I glanced over at him. “I wouldn’t be so sure.”

He looked down at the paper in front of me, furrowing his dark eyebrows as he read. “You’re mortgaging our house?”

I blew out a breath. “It’s the only way I can make it right.”

He met my gaze, concern in his eyes. “What are you trying to make right?”

“Victor accused me of being a mole, he had reasonable suspicion. I took the job offer from Hastings, which was directly funded by the person who paid someone to sabotage the park.” I looked at my brother. “The renovation won’t survive without me. Victor needs me. With the money I could get from the house, I could buy into equal partnership with him, and help float the rest of the construction.”

Sam’s kind brown eyes were steady on mine as I spoke. He drew his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed one number, hung up, then another, and did the same. Within fifteen minutes, my older brother and sister were walking in the door of the house.

“Tell them what you told me.”

Benjamin, my oldest brother, wrapped an arm around me. “Anything you have gotten yourself into we can figure out together.”

“As a family.” Grace wrapped her arm around my other side.

I took a deep breath and spilled the whole story to my family, starting from the beginning, how Victor and I met, what we had been doing on the renovation, how I fell for him, what his father said, the accusations, how he had come to the dig site, and finished my tale by playing the recording of Hastings’ confession to Prakash.

“So you’re in love with him,” Grace concluded for me.

I opened my mouth to object, then hesitated, looking between the faces of my siblings. These people were the people who knew me best, had known me for my whole life, through all the worst times. They knew me even better than Ashley, who had known me since third grade. My siblings loved me beyond measure, no matter how many resume points I’d accumulated or what accolades I’d achieved.

“You want to make it right by buying shares into the park.” Benjamin added.

“We can’t let you mortgage Mom and Dad’s house,” Sam concluded.

Exhaling, I put my head in my hands. “I don’t want to do this, but I don’t feel like I have a choice. Please, I need you to understand.

Raising a finger to silence my objections, Sam continued, “What about this. We can buy into ownership of Mom and Dad’s house, and give you the money you need to help Victor save your park.”

I felt my jaw drop. “I can’t ask you to do that.”

Benjamin looked at Grace and Sam, who looked at each other, then back at me. “You’re not asking, we’re offering.”

“This was our childhood home, too. And we don’t want to see anything happen to it. Or you.” Grace finished.

“Besides,” Sam added with a smile. “I expect you’ll be moving down to Cactus Creek when you get your guy.”

I felt a blush creep into my cheeks as tears welled in my eyes, and I nodded my head. “I love you guys.”

“Anything for you, Em.” They encircled me with their arms in a hug.