Trust Fund by Skye Warren
“Harper,” he says, my throat squeezes. He sounds like he’s facing a firing squad. “Maybe it’s wrong to use this against you, but you told me about that husband, the one who owned the job website. The one who climbed into your bed. And that makes me think your dad was right.”
“No,” I whisper, because this isn’t going to end the way I hoped.
“He knew, okay? Your father knew that I’m a man of my word. He knew how much that meant to me… and why it means so much to me.”
“No,” I whisper, even though I love that about him.
I would rather have no money than have a trust fund I can’t use to support my mother… which Daddy probably knew, too. It was a final fuck you to the woman he could never get over. I accepted that weakness from Daddy a long time ago, but having him use Christopher to do it makes my stomach turn over.
I would be pissed, my friend had said once. Like he’s trying to control you with money, even though he has so much. And for the first time I do feel pissed.
“He appointed me as the executor, and not the hundred other men he knows could have done it. Because he knew I would have to do it, if he asked me. And that I would never take a single cent out of the damn trust fund for myself or anyone else.”
“Isn’t there something more important than keeping your word? Isn’t there doing what’s right?”
A dark laugh. “Not to me.”
“Don’t do this.”
He’s made of stone again, any semblance of vulnerability turned hard. “It’s already done, Harper. It was done before today. Before the art studio. It was done when your father sat down and wrote the will, knowing exactly what would happen.”
“You’re giving him all the power.” All the power to ruin whatever was between us. That kiss standing beneath Medusa’s wrathful gaze. Maybe we had been doomed from the beginning.
“It’s not his choice anymore, Harper. Not even yours. It’s mine. And I’m going to do this for you, because he asked me to, and because it’s the only way I can protect you, even from yourself. You’ll give away every cent if you think it will help someone.”
“Protect me? This isn’t the Massachusetts Bay! I’m not sitting on the damn rail.”
“You told me to leave you alone then, too. And I’ll never regret staying on deck so that I could dive in after you. I’ll do it again if I have to.”
What would it take for this man to see me as a woman? As someone that can make her own decisions instead of as a maiden who needs saving. But I don’t think it’s even about me or what I need. He already told me, didn’t he? It’s his choice, and he would rather be a white knight whether it helps me or not.
“Christopher,” I say, my voice low and desperate. “That kiss.”
His black eyes sharpen. “What about it?”
“It means something to me.” Even if I have to slash my skin to pieces. That’s how much Christopher is worth to me. It’s more than a girlish crush, the way I feel about him. The feelings that are wavering like a drop of water on a petal, about to slide away.
“I told you it was a mistake.”
I swallow hard. “I think you’re lying. I think it meant something to you, too.”
His eyes are more opaque than ever, obsidian and shining. He twists his mouth into a look that’s worse than dislike—into pity. “You’re young, but I didn’t think you were stupid. A kiss doesn’t mean anything.”
My father’s death should have been enough to break me, but somehow I was whole. Until now, when I’m in a million pieces at Christopher Bardot’s feet. “No.”
“I felt bad for you, to be honest. That’s why I wrote you back.”
“You’re lying,” I say, hating the tears in my eyes.
“You weren’t a sister to me. You weren’t even a friend. And now your father asked me to do this, so you’re just..an obligation. Something I have to do out of respect for your father.”
Not out of respect for me. Never that.
Both men and money have a way of disappearing when you need them most. It’s something I learned early, but clearly I needed to learn it again. Neither my stepbrother nor the inheritance were anything I could count on.
Neither of them were anything I could trust.
Ready for more? Find out what happens to Harper and Christopher… One click Survival of the Richest Now!
Thank you for reading TRUST FUND! Find out what happens to Harper and Christopher in SURVIVAL OF THE RICHEST now…
An heiress without a cause.
Two billionaires determined to claim her.
And a war fought on the most dangerous battlefield-the heart.
My story starts with a plunge into the cold water of Manhattan’s harbor. A strong hand hauls me back onto the deck of the luxury yacht. Christopher was supposed to be my enemy. Instead he protects me with fierce determination.
That should have been my happily ever after, but then Sutton appeared–ruthless and seductive. He doesn’t care that my heart belongs to someone else, because he’s determined to win. No matter the cost.
It’s an impossible choice, but I can’t have them both.
One-click SURVIVAL OF THE RICHEST Now >
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Books by Skye Warren
Endgame trilogy & Masterpiece Duet
The Pawn – FREE DOWNLOAD!
The Knight
The Castle
The King
The Queen
Underground series
Rough Hard Fierce – FREE DOWNLOAD!
Wild Dirty Secret
Sweet
Deep
Stripped series
Tough Love – FREE DOWNLOAD!
Love the Way You Lie
Better When It Hurts
Even Better
Pretty When You Cry
Caught for Christmas
Hold You Against Me
To the Ends of the Earth
Criminals and Captives standalones
Prisoner
Hostage
Standalone Dangerous Romance
Escort – NEW RELEASE!
Wanderlust
On the Way Home
His for Christmas
Hear Me
For a complete listing of Skye Warren books, visit
www.skyewarren.com/books
About the Author
Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of dangerous romance such as the Endgame trilogy. Her books have been featured in Jezebel, Buzzfeed, USA Today Happily Ever After, Glamour, and Elle Magazine. She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, sweet dogs, and evil cat.
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Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. Except for use in a review, the reproduction or use of this work in any part is forbidden without the express written permission of the author.
Trust Fund © 2018 by Skye Warren
Kobo Edition
Cover design by Book Beautiful
Photograph by Wander Aguiar
Cover Model: Andrew Biernat
Formatting by BB Ebooks
Skye Warren, Trust Fund
(Series: Survival of the Richest # 0.50)