I rub my face and nod. “I hear you, Amy,” I murmur. She’s been worried about me from the moment Ryan became part of my life again, disliking the fact that I’ve given him access to whatever he wanted. I know what she’s saying, but I don’t think Ryan is beyond salvation, and while it would be convenient for me to believe he went after Alanna with an agenda, there’s no proof of that. He truly seems to love her, and though it fucking kills me, she seems to feel the same way about him. My brother isn’t that good of a liar, and there wasn’t a single hint of deception in his expression over dinner. If he was faking it, I’d know. He loves her.
I sigh as I run a hand through my hair and stare up at the ceiling, unsure what to do. I still remember how hard it was for me when Mona threw me out, and I’m trying my best to shield Ryan from my actions as best as I can. Suddenly losing everything pushed me into a downward spiral, and though I wasn’t willing to give up on my revenge, I’m trying my hardest to shield Ryan from the consequences of it. I want Mona to suffer, but I don’t want Ryan to be caught up in it. I know he’s spoiled, but deep down, he isn’t a bad kid. He was just raised by a terrible person.
Had I been around, he wouldn’t have been the way he is now. When Dad died, I promised him that I’d protect Ryan, and that’s exactly what I’m trying to do. Maybe it’s too little too late, but I have to try. I owe it to our dad.
If I can, I’ll give Ryan everything he would’ve had if I hadn’t stepped back into his life and forcibly taken it from him — except for Alanna. It’s going to kill him to lose her, but one way or another, I’m making her mine… even if it comes at the cost of my relationship with my brother.
My only worry is that it’s no longer me she wants. If Alanna really is happy with Ryan, can I truly take away that happiness? Can I knowingly break her heart because of my own selfish desires?
Chapter Thirty-One
Alanna
I stare up at the entwined double S on the building in front of me, wondering whether I should just walk away. I was so excited about this interview just a few weeks ago. The idea of working with Ryan at the company that bears his surname was amazing.
Now? Now I’m second-guessing myself. I’ve embarrassed myself in front of Silas enough now. The last thing I want to do is run into him again.
Not that I would. The building has twenty-seven floors. Surely the CEO doesn’t sit in on graduate interviews?
I take a deep breath and force myself to walk into the building. I’d be crazy not to attend this interview just on the off chance I might run into Silas. Sinclair Security is my dream company. I’ve wanted to work for them long before I even met Ryan.
“Good morning, Ms. Jones,” the lady behind the receptionist counter says before I can even tell her what I’m here for. My eyes widen, a thrill running down my spine. I’ve heard rumors about the staff here. They’re what I always imagined the FBI would be like — except privatized.
I look around for a name card, but there isn’t one. I nod politely, wondering whether this is a test. Should I have known her name too?
She smiles as though she can read my mind. “I’m Amy, and I’d honestly be quite upset if you knew that, because it’d mean I wasn’t doing my job.” She winks at me as she rises from her seat and guides me toward the elevators.
Her kind smile puts me at ease and I listen attentively as she tells me about the security measures in place at the elevator. “Fingerprint scans are sufficient for the lower floors, but any floor above fourteen requires a retinal scan,” she says as she leans into the scanner.
I only barely manage to contain my excitement. I knew Sinclair Security was high tech, but this is better than I even imagined. Amy presses the button for the top floor, and I blink in surprise as unease washes over me.
The top floor for graduate interviews… surely not. My suspicions are confirmed when she leads me through the quiet floor, until we’re standing in front of a corner office — one fit for a CEO.
“You’ll do great,” she tells me as she knocks on the door. “I have no doubt that we’ll be working together soon.”
She opens the door and takes a step back to let me pass. I hesitate, taking a moment to gather my courage and push down the dread that threatens to overwhelm me.
My stride is confident as I walk into the office, finding Silas sitting behind a large black desk. He looks up and smiles politely, his expression completely professional. I’m nervous as I sit down opposite him, but I’d like to think I managed to keep my cool.