Owning Violet (The Fowler Sisters #1)(84)

Pilar’s eyes light with pleasure and she props her elbow on the edge of her desk, leaning her chin onto her curled fist. “Crying? My, my, Ryder. Have you ever made a girl cry in bed before?”

“No. She’s my first.” We both laugh, and I ignore the sick feeling in my gut. I hate doing this. Making fun of Violet, making her look weak and pitiful when she’s far from that. “Right after I f*cked her, I left. She texted me but I didn’t respond. Left me a voicemail but I deleted it. When she showed up in my office this morning, I told her I didn’t think we were a good idea anymore.”

“You were never a good idea, my darling,” Pilar says snidely and I glare at her.

Bitch. I can’t wait to f*ck her over.

“She cried and raged on over what an * she thought I was. Then she stormed out.” I pause. Making up these lies is harder than I thought it would be. “So it’s over. Done. I did what you asked. Now it’s your turn to deliver.” I lean back in the chair and cross my arms over my chest, my fingers linked. “Tell me. Who have you been talking to?”

She purses her lips. “I can’t reveal all my secrets.”

“Not even to me?”

“Especially not to you. You’ll run right over me and cut me out. I prefer to be the middleman.” Her smile grows. “Or middlewoman. You know, that reminds me, I’ve never participated in a threesome. Have you?”

She turns everything back to sex. And that is the last thing I want to think about when it comes to Pilar. “No. Too much work, not enough return.”

A laugh escapes her. “Hmm. Selfish as usual, Ryder. I wouldn’t mind giving it a try.” She taps her finger against her lips, her usual look when she’s contemplating something. If she suggests getting it on with her, me, and old man Fowler? Fuck that noise. No way, no how.

“Yeah, well why don’t you plan your threesome later and focus.” Her laughter dies when she realizes I’m serious. “I’m done.”

Pilar gives me a blank look. “Done with what?”

“I’m done playing this game with you. We’ve done what each of us said we would do. There’s no need to take it any further.” I can’t keep up this pretense any longer. I don’t want to. It’s painful, spending time with Pilar. I can hardly stand her. Plus, I’m trying my best to protect Violet.

She’s becoming my weakness, as much as I don’t want to admit it. If Pilar knew this, she’d know just how to get to me.

By hurting Violet.

“So you just want it to … end.” Pilar sounds surprised, which she probably is.

“It’s time to sever our ties, don’t you think?” I scrub a hand along my jaw, frustration making it tight. This is harder than I thought, ending everything with Pilar. I need to do what’s right. And what’s right is for me to stand by Violet. Without Pilar knowing, of course.

She laughs and shakes her head. “You’re so funny, darling. Like I’d cut you loose. You can’t get away from me that fast.”

“Yeah, I think I can.”

“No. I think you can’t.” The thin smile on her face tells me I’ve irritated her. She won’t let me dismiss her. I don’t understand why. “You really believe I’ll let you cut and run? You could use this against me somehow.”

“What? And throw myself under the bus, too? I’m not that stupid.” I’m almost insulted that she’d think so.

“Men do strange things when under Violet Fowler’s spell.” She arches one perfectly sculpted brow. “I wouldn’t expect you to be any different.”

“I dumped her. Or did you forget?” My voice is tight. My blood is boiling. I’m tempted to walk out before I say something stupid and ruin everything.

“I haven’t forgotten. And I thank you for it. Truly I do.” The serene expression on her face is a total ruse. “I need you to do more.”

Unease causes my stomach to pitch. “There’s nothing more I can do.” The possibilities don’t settle right. I don’t know what she wants, but I know it can’t be good.

“Liar. You could do plenty more. Didn’t you take any dirty pictures of her naked? We could make it look like Zachary took them and send them out via the company email. Something that scandalous could make Violet leave Fleur for good and never, ever come back,” Pilar murmurs, her eyes flashing with pure hatred.

“What the hell did she ever do to you?” I ask incredulously. Her unwarranted anger takes me aback. I don’t get it.

“She was born with the last name Fowler.” She tilts her head, a smug look on her face. “Isn’t that enough?”

“She can’t help who her family is. And why do you think getting rid of her will help you get ahead here? There’s still Rose to contend with. And you never know, Lily could straighten up and come work here someday,” I point out. Pilar is downright vicious when it comes to Violet and I don’t get why.

“Violet is her daddy’s favorite,” she practically spits out, the disgust written all over her pretty face, making her look rather … ugly. “He never stops praising her. She can do no wrong in his eyes. With her out of the way, he’ll need to focus on someone else. Rose doesn’t have the chops. Lily is a f*cking mess who will never work a day in her life. Violet’s the only one with true focus. The one the f*cking grandma believes in.”