Throne of Truth
Greg opened his eyes as I shut the door with a harsh slap, getting his attention.
“Shit...Elle?” He sat higher in bed, shuffling against the mountain of white pillows, his skin rosy with health not white with sickness. “Came to visit. You love me after all, huh?”
His smirk made me rage.
I hated that he was here being pampered while Penn was in jail going through who knew what.
My hands curled, holding back my temper. “Shut up, Greg.”
His forehead furrowed. For a moment, it looked like he’d retaliate and a small frisson of fear bolted into my legs remembering how it felt to be washed unwanted by him. To be naked in front of him. Cook for him. Such normal things but it left a terrible taste in my mouth that could never be washed away by mint toothpaste.
He’s a creep. Nothing more.
Stalking toward the bed in my high black heels, I stopped close enough to glower but far enough not to touch.
My eyes fell on his wrist on top of the starched sheets. A silver handcuff attached him to the steel frame of the bed.
That was karma. A few days ago, I was the one in cuffs. Now, he had the joy.
I smiled before I could school myself to be cold and aloof. “I see it’s your turn to be imprisoned.”
He bared his teeth. “It won’t stick. I’ll get a good lawyer. I’ll—”
I held up my hand. “Stop. I don’t want to hear any more of your delusions, Greg.” Before he could launch into another tirade, I said, “I’m here for one thing and one thing only.”
His eyebrow rose, his body relaxing into a flirt. “Oh, yeah?” His gaze traveled over me. “Come to finish what we started?”
I hid my shudder. He wasn’t worth my retaliation. “Withdraw your statement about Penn.”
“What?” His green eyes flashed with surprise then darkened with anger. “No way. Look what that bastard did to me.” He raised an arm, showing a few bruises. “He fucking broke me.”
“I see nothing but a spoiled brat milking a stay in the hospital before he goes to jail.”
He froze. “I’m not going to jail, Elle.”
“I say otherwise.”
The metal handcuff jingled on the bed frame as he shifted again—uncertain but still trying to dominate the situation. “He broke my ribs and bruised my throat. I’ve had a headache since—”
“Oh, spare me, Greg.” I waved a hand at his prone body. “All I see is a boy who never grew up. You’re an adult. You have to take responsibility for the things you’ve done and the people you’ve hurt.”
Moving closer toward the bed, I growled, “I won’t ask again. Revoke your statement about Penn. Drop the charges.”
“Why the fuck would I?”
“Why?” I bared my teeth. “Because you kidnapped me, tried to rape me, and attempted to steal my company. Yet here I am being civil to you, asking you politely to be the bigger man and let Penn go.”
His face turned nasty. “He’s not going anywhere.”
My skin crawled, fighting quicksand—a losing battle. Why did I think I could come here and negotiate with Greg like he was a sane, logical thinking adult?
He wasn’t. He had a screw loose or ten.
Fine, you leave me no choice.
Looking over my shoulder at the door, I moved closer. Close enough that he could touch me if he wanted but close enough to hurt him if I did. “Drop the charges.”
“Fuck off, Elle. If I can’t have you, no one can—including that asshole.”
I didn’t respond, focusing on my task. “Drop the charges or else.” My voice mimicked a general giving the orders on a firing line.
“Or else?” He laughed. “Who are you trying to be? A CEO who actually has the balls to threaten?”
“I’m being myself. And I do have the balls to threaten.” I held up my finger. “I will ruin you—”
The door cracked open, followed by David’s command, “Ms. Charlston, step back. You have two minutes remaining, according to our friend out here.”
“Close the door, David.” I didn’t look away from Greg. “I know what I’m doing.”
He knew better than to argue with me in public. The door clicked shut, leaving me alone once again.
I’d tried to do this kindly, but Greg was an asshole and left me no choice. “Drop the charges against Penn. Tell them you mistook everything that’d happened and no longer want to follow through with your statement.”
“No way. They’ll prosecute me for lying.” His mouth twisted, knowing he’d just slipped into truth. The sticky substance had a way of coming to light beneath the slickness of lies. “Besides, I’m hurt. He hurt me. Bastard will get what’s coming.”
I breathed hard through my nose, doing my best to stay calm despite the overwhelming need to wrap the IV cord around his neck and strangle him. “Don’t care. Be honest for once in your miserable life and accept whatever punishment is coming your way. Or...”
He still didn’t look afraid, merely entertained—waiting to see what I would do. “Or?”
“Or I march back to the police station, and I tell them in graphic detail how you raped me. How you took advantage of me against my will. How after multiple times of hurting me, you planned to kill me.”
He instantly froze, filling with doubt. “You wouldn’t.”
“I would.”