The Billionaire’s Forbidden Desire(18)
What to do? What to do now?
She accelerated out of the mansion grounds and onto the road. There was nobody to turn to—Libby was out of the question now, Chad was gone, and her mother was not only not interested, she was half a world away.
Still, Betsy was her only option now. Sophia pulled over and dialed the number with trembling fingers.
Her mother picked up after what seemed like forever. “Hello?”
“Mom!”
“Sophia. My lord, what on earth has you calling at this hour?”
“I need help,” she said, trying to draw in air more evenly. “I need a place to stay.”
“Isn’t there a hotel…?”
“There’s no money in the estate. Dad was broke.”
A beat of silence. “You just figured that out?”
“You knew?” Sophia hadn’t really believed George about her mom, especially after the attack.
“Of course I knew. Your father was a lot of things, but good with money wasn’t one of them. He only got to enjoy the lifestyle he did because he was lucky.” Betsy sighed. “I can send you a bit to tide you over, but only this one time. Dimitri doesn’t like it when I’m frivolous with his money.”
Sophia covered her mouth and swallowed a hysterical laugh. “This isn’t about money. I need a safe place to stay.”
“Can’t believe the banks got to all your father’s houses already. Damn vultures.”
“Not one of Dad’s places.” George would know all of those. “Someplace else. Outside the family.”
Betsy sighed. “Well, what about Chad? He has his own place.”
“He’s gone. He can’t stay with me if I can’t pay him.”
Betsy tsked. “Disloyal of him. Won’t Libby—?”
“No!” How was she going to tell her best friend about what had happened? “She’s out of—”
“Then try Salazar.”
“Who?”
“Salazar Pryce. He’s related, but only distantly. He’s your uncle Julian’s in-law, and lives in L.A. Not far from Seattle, really. He has a reputation for being kind to women.”
Now she remembered. “Are you kidding? Geraldine’s brother? You stole her husband!”
“I did no such thing.”
“But from their point of view, you did. Salazar would never help me.”
“Beggars can’t be choosers, sweetie, and you’re mistaken. He will help you—he owes us.”
Sophia’s jaw dropped. Her mother had always had a wacky way of looking at the world, but this was too much. That man didn’t owe them anything!
“No matter what, you’re still my daughter and I love you. I’m hanging up now, but I’ll call him and arrange things, all right? And I’ll text you his address. You have enough cash to get out there, don’t you? If not, use the credit card before the vultures cut it off.”
“Mom!”
It was already too late. Her mother had hung up.
PART II
THE PRESENT
Chapter Ten
–The Pryce mansion
Standing in the middle of the study, Dane looked dispassionately at his father. How the mighty have fallen…
It wasn’t even ten in the morning, but Salazar Pryce was already semi-drunk. At least he had the taste to get plastered on good booze, but still, the study stank, and the custom-tailored Italian shirt on Salazar had lost all its starchy crispness. Dane wouldn’t be surprised if his father hadn’t touched a razor…or soap…in the last four days or so.
“What do you want, Dane?” Salazar’s words were slurred. Sloppy.
“Stop moping,” Dane said coldly. “This isn’t like you.”
“I’m not moping. What do you know about what I’m like?” Salazar poured more scotch. “Want some?”
“No.”
“Then get out. I don’t want to hear your whining.”
“I do not whine,” Dane said, his diction sharp enough to draw blood. “Your lawyer called.”
“What the hell for?”
“If you’d answer your phone, you’d know.” He tossed an envelope on the desk. “Sign. It’s the divorce papers.”
Salazar’s knuckles turned white.
“Need a pen?” Dane asked, ignoring his father’s reaction.
“I don’t need a fucking pen,” Salazar snarled.
“She only wants fifty million, the same amount you’ve given every one of us, including your by-blow.”
“Blaine is your brother.”
Dane smiled slightly. “Doesn’t change the fact.”
“She doesn’t deserve it,” Salazar mumbled. “It’s not in the prenup.”