Free White Lies by Evelyn Glass Page B

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    “ That may be, Ms. Walden, but something you would have learned if you had grown up under Philip Blankenshi p’ s thumb instead of just his shadow is that your only loyalty should lie with yourself. Everyone else in the world is just waiting for a chance to cheat you . ” Zoey was glancing at him sideways, her expression tainted with horror. He hated that he was putting that look on her face, but there was nothing else he could do, absolutely nothing. It made him sick inside. Sicker than he should be, perhaps. But it was yet another moment which he needed to put a pin in, and move forward.
     
    “ That may be , ” Cindy said, after a long moment .“ However. Alone, w e’ re all vulnerable . ”
     
    That was the moment Alex had been waiting for .“ Please explain to me how I am vulnerable . ”
     
    Cind y’ s expression chilled down .“ Fine. I am vulnerable. So are innocent children. I came here because the rumors I’ m hearing about how your company is moving forward gives me hope that you are more moral than either of your parents. Unless i t’ s all a long involve scam to maximize AEGIS stocks. If it is, say the word, and I will leave. But if you would like to do something good for someone other than yourself, then perhaps we should have a real conversation, instead of one between two business people . ”
     
    He had to smile .“ Tell me how many of you there are to protect, and I will do everything in my power to protect you. Even if i t’ s my mother I’ m protecting you from. Jus t —” he let the smallest hint of emotion slip into his voice, the vaguest hint that there was something more than he needed .“ Just please. Tell me what I need to know . ”

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    Watching Alex and Cindy stare at each other was not unlike watching two alley cats circle each other, spitting and hissing. Zoey kept her eyes on the recording counter on her tablet, trying not to wince at the words coming out of Ale x’ s mouth. She knew he was right. He had to say these things to Cindy. They needed more information to move forward. Sh e’ d found a lot of hints, but very little information that was solid. Rumors and ghosts was all she had been able to find. Philip Blankenship had covered his tracks well.
     
    Cindy gave in, in the end. Zoey felt the moment it happened, even without looking at her. The air in the room relaxed, settled gently, and the tension that Zoey had collected in her shoulders faded gently away.
     
    “ There are five of us, in total , ” Cindy said .“ I know all the others. To the best of my knowledge, no one else does. Olivia knew of Arturo, of course, and Thalia. I’ ve done everything I can to keep the twins hidden from everyone. Of course, they were n’ t young enough for Philip to begi n… interfering in their lives yet . ”
     
    “ Interfering ? ”
     
    Cindy cocked her head ever so slightly to the side .“ You think that I wanted to be molded into his inferior copy? That my mother wanted him constantly involved in our lives, reminding her of what had happened on one horrible night ? ”
     
    “ I think that a smart person would use any advantage that they were given to screw over someone who had hurt their family . ”
     
    At that, Cindy managed a faint smile.
     
    “ Arturo was killed in his home last night. The others are Thalia Nicolaevna, and Henry and Irene Brie. Arturo was only a few months younger than me. Thalia had just turned 20. The twins are just children . ” Cindy sighed and shook her head .“ Olivia came to me last year and asked me to sign something stating I would never attempt any claim on Phili p’ s estate, never publicly attempt to claim myself his child, never seek any kind of acknowledgment . ”
     
    “ Did you sign it ? ”
     
    Alex and Cindy both glanced at Zoey, as if the y’ d forgotten she was in the room. She cleared her throat, and spoke more carefully .“ Obviously, it changes everything if you did . ”
     
    “ I did