Regina Henson had put the word out: anyone who helped me was openly declaring war on the Henson Group.
Morgan called to talk me down.
"Roland, would it kill you to bend a little?"
"Sarah's crazy about you. She went to Regina on her knees for your sake."
"You marry her, the company's saved, you've got a good life ahead of you. Everybody wins. What's the problem?"
I hit the end-call button and blocked his number.
Three days later, the court summons arrived.
I sat in my empty rental, staring at the bare walls.
The door swung open. Sarah stood in the doorway, umbrella in hand.
"Roland, stop fighting this."
She walked toward me and looked down from above.
"All you have to do is say yes, and all of this goes away."
I lifted my head and met her eyes.
"Sarah, do you honestly think that if you back someone into a corner and then toss them a scrap of mercy, they'll worship the ground you walk on?"
Her brow creased.
"I'm just trying to help you."
"Help me? By cutting off every escape route I had?"
I stood and closed the distance between us.
"By having Regina blacklist me?"
Sarah's hand shot up and seized my jaw, her fingers digging in hard.
"Roland, my patience has limits."