Page 117 of The Other Side of Green

“Ah, Jack, you came home.”

“This isn’t my home,” I growled.

Miriam’s smile was tight. “Still sofa surfing?”

“Better than living with an ice queen.”

Her gaze dropped to my hands. “Ah, I see you have your post.”

“What do you want?” I gripped the paper tighter and tighter. Wanting to shred it to pieces, but knowing there would just be more copies, more lies.

No one would believe my innocence, especially if the actual truth about Lyra and I came out.

I’d been outplayed.

“We want your little slut girlfriend to tell the world that we aren’t in the wrong. Explain the mistake that’s been made.”

“But it’s not a mistake. Lyra had nothing to do with that list that went public.”

Miriam tilted her head to one side. “Maybe so, but she can show everyone her forgiveness and that she still stands by the scholarship we gave her.”

“She’ll never do that.”

Miriam nodded to the photoshopped picture of Brittany riding my lap. “Then I’d say your future is done for. You’ll never be a professor who gropes students.”

“I don’t care about me.”

She clutched her hands to her chest. “Wow, so gallant.”

“What will you do to Lyra?”

“Well if she doesn’t agree, then let’s just say everyone will know she sleeps with her lecturers to get her best grades. She’s not worthy of all the love and support people have given her—the backlash will be spectacular.” She flicked her hand at the pile of papers and I shuffled them, my mouth so dry I couldn’t swallow. Underneath the Brittany lies was the same image, the real one of Lyra and I, her head tilted back in wild abandon. Side by side you couldn’t tell which photograph was real and which one had been doctored.

“Either way, Jack Cross, you are ruined.”

Standing, I pushed the rest of my clothes in the bag and shouldered past her. “Keys please.” She held out her hand. Shoving my fingers into the pockets of my slacks, I pulled them free and dropped them into her palm.

“How long do we have to decide?”

“I’ll be generous. Seventy-two hours.”

“Three days? You can’t be for real?”

Miriam chimed a laugh. “Believe me, Daddy wanted it to be much less.”

Without a backwards glance I strode past her. Out down the elevator, except this time I didn’t go to the parking lot. I left by the front door and started the long walk to the bad end of town.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Lyra

The cab pulled over and I stared out of the window. Why the hell was everyone stood outside?

“What’s going on?” I asked as I slipped out of the cab and threw the driver some cash.

Evan turned, face of carved stone. “No Jack?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I thought he would be with you. He didn’t come to give me a ride.” I gestured to the cab pulling away.