Her smile spread across her face.
For the first time that afternoon, she looked completely relaxed.
“Excellent. I knew you were a sensible girl.”
I stood up.
“One question, Patricia.”
“What?”
“Does Ryan know you’re offering me this money?”
Her smile faltered.
“Of course not.”
“Does he know you’ve been recording our conversations?”
She glanced at the recorder.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Then perhaps we should ask him.”
I took out my phone.
Patricia rose so quickly that her teacup rattled against its saucer.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling your son.”
“Put that phone away.”
I didn’t.
Ryan answered on the third ring.
“Hey, sweetheart. Everything okay?”
I looked directly at Patricia.
“Your mother and I are having a conversation. She has something she’d like to tell you.”
Patricia shook her head violently.
“Chloe, don’t you dare.”
I put the call on speaker.
“Ryan, your mother has offered me fifty thousand dollars to end our engagement and disappear from your life.”
