Roses Revenge novel · Chapter 10 of 24

Chapter 10: Stop Being Careful

Aunt Bea picked her cardigan off the hook by the door.

"I'm going to bed," she announced, to nobody. "I sleep with earplugs. I always have."

She had never owned earplugs.

She went up the stairs one slow step at a time, and a door shut on the second floor.

Elliot and I stood in the front hall, with the IWC in my hand and the porch light glowing through the glass.

"Say it," I said.

He put his coat over the banister.

"Two years ago," he said, "you called me into your kitchen."

"You told me you were going to wire a million dollars to Colton's company."

"I remember."

"I told you not to."

"I remember that too."

"You said I was your money manager, not your family." His voice was level. "You were right. I was out of line."

"I shouldn't have said it like that."

"You were right," he said again.

"But I was in your kitchen that night, Rose, and I wanted to say something else."

"I said the other thing instead."

"What was the something else?"

He took a slow breath.

"At the launch party, he stood on a chair and thanked his team."

"He thanked the engineers, the investors, his mother, and his dog."

"He did not say your name."

"I know."

"I watched you clap for him. I watched you smile."

"I was happy for him."

"You were hurt."

His jaw worked.

"I stood by the bar and I wanted to cross that room and take you home."

"I was your manager, and I did not."

I stared at him.

"You've been angry at Colton for two years," I said.

"I have been angry at myself for two years. Colton I merely despised."

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