Conklin's Corruption (#3) (Conklin's Trilogy) (39 page)

I slowly turned, noticing concern wash over his face as he watched Ashlynn.  She gave him a gentle smile, and he returned one, kissing her forehead and heading to the backroom. 

He must have had money for her to be with him.  Shallow Ashlynn would never be with someone so normal.

I didn’t say anything as I watched her fumble with her hair.  She wouldn’t meet my eyes for the longest time, and just as I was about to turn around and finally leave, she spoke.

“Becca, I’m sorry.  I know I was horrible to you our entire lives.  I can’t change that.”

Wow… that wasn’t what I was expecting.
  Ashlynn had never apologized or took responsibility for her actions.  I simply watched her, wondering if she would ever get the courage to look me in the eye.

“What are you looking for?” she asked quietly, finally meeting my gaze.

The look on her face was sobering and humbling.  The urge for me to coddle her like I always had crept up, but I quickly pushed it away. 

“Well… I was looking for a hairpiece.”

Her lips slowly quirked up, and a hint of smile took over.  “Let me show you what I have.”

Reluctantly, I followed behind her through the tiny store.  My heart pounded with every step I took.  Was she going to secretly jump me and pull out all of my hair?  Make my appearance terrible for the most important day of my life?

“This is what we have. I assume it’s for your wedding?  I saw the spread on MLIVE.  You and Tyler looked amazing.  You both looked happy.”

“We are,” I said quickly, not wanting her to think anything was ever wrong between us.

Her smile faded as she nodded.  She hung her head then slowly started to walk away.

Fuck.  Why was I feeling so guilty for being bitchy?  This girl typically radiated bitch.  But her fakeness wasn’t there, and her tone was normal.  She seemed remorseful and hurting.

“I, um… How have you been?” I stuttered, pretending to look extra carefully at all the hairpieces.

Her head popped up as she turned back to face me, a small ounce of hope in her eyes.

“Well, after Connor and I broke up, I did some changing.  I didn’t realize how much of a bitch I was until Connor let me have it.  Well, until you said the things you said.”  Ashlynn’s normal confident self shriveled like a dead plant. 

I blinked for a long second.  Was I too hard on her?

“Becca, you needed to say what you said.  I needed to hear it.  I can’t be so superficial and chase things I can’t have.  I’m not going to get anywhere being fake and treating people the way I did.  My whole life I’ve gotten everything that money could buy, yet I still wanted more.  Trying to take someone’s love from them, and twice… was the most selfish thing I could have ever done.  I’m sorry it took me so long to figure it out.  I’m sorry I ruined our friendship.”

I was speechless by her confession.  Her ability to realize what she was doing shocked the hell out of me.  This was so unlike Ashlynn.  I kept waiting for the cameras to come out and say, JUST KIDDING!  YOU’VE BEEN PUNKED!

“But I can understand why you’d never forgive me.”

Shit.

“Ashlynn… ” I paused, taking a deep breath.  What was I supposed to say?  I always forgave everyone and anyone so quickly.  But I just wasn’t ready to mend things with Ashlynn.  I didn’t want her to try and come into my life again.  I didn’t trust her and never would.

She shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips.  “Why don’t you try this one on?”

I stared at her for a moment then nodded my head.  I was thankful she realized how uncomfortable I was with her apology.

“Are you wearing your hair up or down?”

“I, um… I haven’t really decided.”

She gave me a warm smile, picking through different pieces and holding them up to my hair different ways.  She was always good at helping me figure out what to wear.

“Is everything else ready for the wedding?” she asked.

“Yeah, for the most part.  It’s been fun, stressful, but… Well, you know how my mom is.” I laughed.  She let out a giggle as well.

“Yes, Missy can be a bit much.  I’m glad you’ve enjoyed wedding planning.” Her smile faded, and hurt crossed her face.  “Maybe one day I’ll plan my wedding.”

“Hey babe, are these supposed to be on sale?” the gentleman asked who greeted me earlier.

Ashlynn turned her head and looked at him adoringly as he held up a pair of shirts with a confused expression.  I smiled, enjoying his less-than-perfect appearance.

“Yes.  Thanks, Alex.”  He grinned wide at her as though he was her puppy, like she had just patted him on the head for doing a good deed.

She blushed as he turned back into the back room then met my eyes again.  “He’s still learning,” she said softly.

“Your boyfriend?” I blurted.

She nodded her head.  “He’s different from anyone else I’ve known.  He’s pure, and I’ve learned so much from him.  Maybe one day.”  She was insinuating marriage, I’m sure. 

“You’ll get your fairytale,” I said sincerely.

Her eyes watered as she nodded her head at me.  “Do you like any of these?”

“Yeah, I think I’ll take both.  I’m not sure which one I like more,” I said truthfully.  They were gorgeous.  Intricate beading that I’m sure she did by hand.  She was always creative when it came to designing.  I’d imagined when we were younger that she’d be the one to make my wedding dress.

I followed her to the register, an awkward silence passing between us.

“You’re going to make a beautiful bride.  I can’t wait to see pictures,” she whispered, pain laced with her words.

“They won’t be on MLIVE,” I half laughed.  Tyler promised, and I would personally go to the news station and have a major freak out until the photos were taken down.

“Oh, well… maybe we could have lunch after and you could show me sometime,” she asked timidly.

My eyes widened, that same fear of her creeping back into my life. 

I paid her for the headpieces then offered her a smile.  “Maybe.”

She nodded her head with a small bit of hope twinkling in her eyes.

Turning to leave, I felt a peace in my heart.  I didn’t hate her, not anymore, but I wouldn’t be showing her my wedding pictures either.  Forgiveness was something I was willing to give, but I wouldn’t let her back into my life.  Maybe that was low of me, but some things just can’t be repaired completely.

The sun was warm on my face as I left the store.  I took my time walking back to the Conklin building, reaching into my pocket to rub the ruby heart Tyler gave me.  My breath hitched with worry.  Just as I was reaching for my phone, it chirped.

We’re by one of Conklin’s pieces at the Public Museum. They look awesome! Meet us here?- Heather

Sure!  Let me get Tyler and I’ll text you when we’re on our way- Becca

Oh, Tyler!  My heart raced as I went to dial his number, but a FaceTime message from Cooper’s phone came through.  Odd.  Cooper rarely called me.  I only had his phone number if there was an emergency. 

Oh my God, Tyler!  Anderson must’ve thought he was suspicious and took him into custody!  My heart dropped, breaking into a thousand pieces as I slowly hit accept.  A million thoughts rushed through my head as I waited for the phone to connect.  What were people going to say?  How was I going to tell Mary her sons were in jail?  What was bail all about and would I be able to get Tyler and Nathan out?  Maybe I should go see Connor?

Finally the phone connected… and Cooper wasn’t on the screen.  A snaky, smiling older man was on the other end.

“Hello, Miss Stine,” Lee Chino greeted.  His voice was friendly, but his eyes held something completely different.  The Devil.

“Hi Lee… I wasn’t expecting to see your face.  Why do you have Cooper’s phone?” I asked, trying not to seem completely shaken.  I began to walk faster, my eyes searching the streets for anything suspicious happening.  Maybe Tyler would still be with Anderson, and things were going smoothly enough that we could catch Chino saying something Anderson could use against him.

“I borrowed it.  I figured you wouldn’t answer an unknown number, but that doesn’t matter right now.  What matters right now is that you listen to everything I say.”

The phone he was holding rotated, making its surroundings shake.  Finally, it focused on what appeared to be a mock of one of the ArtPrize pieces Louis made for Conklin.

“Now.  I need you to cooperate for me, Becca.  If you don’t… I’ll show you what’s going to happen.”  Chino zoomed into the piece as worry struck me.  What was he up to?

Just as I was about to say something, the mock up of the Public Museum exploded into a million pieces, spitting debris all over wherever Chino was.

I gasped in horror, stopping dead in my tracks.  Then something even more terrifying came on the screen as Chino turned, showing a video of Heather and her family standing outside of the museum.  Josie was patting the small version of the building, and I was about to vomit.

“I see your family likes the artwork.  Every single stupid little model that crazy ass artist made has an explosive inside of it.  And see this,” Chino moved the video to a list of buttons, 18 to be exact.  18 models.  My mind went back to when we first met with the artist.

“Can’t you see it?” he said in frustration.  “It will be a masterpiece.  I will need at least 18 spaces throughout the city.”

“These buttons, all 18 of them, are connected to each art piece.  If I’m not mistaken, that’s your sister and her family?  Right?”

I couldn’t answer him; my mouth was trembling along with my hands and heart. 

“Answer me, or I’ll push this button right here—”

“STOP!  Yes, that’s them.  Please, don’t hurt them!  This isn’t about them!  What you want doesn’t involve my sister and her kids!  Please!” I begged, tears running down my cheeks.  I had never been more frightened in my life.  I wanted to sprint to Josie, grab her from that small mock up building, and run thousands of miles away.

“Now that you’re being so compliant, I want you to listen and do exactly what I say.  Come to the Arena remodel.  I have some paperwork that needs to be filled out,” Chino’s slimy voice said over the phone.  “If you’re not here in ten minutes, I’ll push this little red button.  If you call the cops, I’ll push two more, if you call your precious fiancé, I’ll push five.  Get what I’m saying, Becca?”

I nodded my head as though he could see me, trying to catch the wind that was knocked out of me from pure fear.

“Good.  Hurry up.  The clock is ticking.”

Chapter
26

Tyler

Every single document that Nathan and I found from Robert Senior and RJ involving any business with Lee Chino was spread across my desk.

Anderson was holding the Put Option Agreement that RJ had voided once my grandfather died.  He didn’t say a word while Nathan and I fed him our story: how we had no idea what was going on until RJ died, all the threats Chino had sent and told us.  Every little bit of information I’d stored in my mind was now in Anderson’s hand, and my palms were sweaty as I waited for him to speak.

Nathan was as cool as a cucumber, sitting in the chair next to me.  He was pissed I didn’t wear a suit, but quickly forgave me once Anderson came in wearing jeans.

After what felt like hours of silence, Anderson finally spoke.  “So you don’t know who his snakes inside your company are?”

Nathan and I both collectively answered no.

Anderson sighed, setting the document down on the table, collecting all the others and throwing them in a pile together.

“Well?” I asked, doing everything in my power to keep my nerves from taking over.

“Well… let’s catch the fucker.”

I let out a huge breath of air. 
We were going to be okay.
  We had Anderson on our side, and that brought us one step closer to getting Chino out of our hair.

“So, what do we need to do, and how is this going to affect the company?  I don’t want any bad publicity,” Nathan said quickly.

Anderson chewed on his lip as he looked up towards Nathan.  “I can’t guarantee the press won’t find out about it once we catch him, but I’ll try my best to keep everything under cover.”

Nathan nodded, clearly not happy with his confession.

Anderson stood, and Nathan and I quickly followed.  “We’ll get this sorted out.  For now, keep contact with Lee as much as you normally do.  I’ll go over all this and get our own privates in your company.  If you want to walk free from this, we’ll do it my way.  Understand?”

“Yes, sir,” Nathan and I said in unison.

He nodded his head then eyed the liquor on the table off to the side of my office.  “Do you mind?”

“No, please, help yourself,” I said.  My heart was finally starting to calm.  We were going to be okay.

Nathan’s smile was wide as he joined Anderson, pouring himself a glass.  “Want one, Tyler?” he asked.  I shook my head no, still ravishing in the bit of hope I had in my heart.