No One in the World by E. Lynn Harris, RM Johnson Read Free Book Online Page A

Winslow Chicago residence for the duration of your marriage,” Sissy said. “Any questions?”
    Priya Parks glanced over at me. I quickly looked down at my hands. This was the most ridiculous idea I had ever heard.
    â€œYou said there would be financial compensation?” Priya asked.
    â€œYes,” Sissy said. “Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars annually. Plus room and board. All your expenses will be taken care of, to include a car if you need one, so the full five hundred thousand will be yours to do with as you please.”
    Priya chuckled a little as she sat up in her chair. “I thought I heard something about his inheritance being twenty million dollars. I’m sorry, miss, but you’re going to have to do a little better than that.”
    I wanted to laugh at how shocked my sister looked.
    â€œReally, Ms. Frazier, all you’ll be doing is lying around here collecting a check.”
    â€œNo, sweetheart. There won’t be much lying around, considering your brother over there is gay. And didn’t you say something about me not being able to see other men?”
    â€œNo, you can’t see other men,” Sissy said. “How would that look if you got caught?”
    â€œHow would it look if you caught me jackin’ off on a vibrator every night. A woman has her needs, and the dick is one of mine,” Priya said with a snap of her fingers. She stood, grabbed her purse, and straightened her dress. She walked over to me and held out her hand. “I’m sorry that I can’t be the one, Mr. Winslow.”
    I was smiling, almost laughing. “Me, too. But I appreciate you coming out. Is there anything you need for your time and trouble?”
    â€œNo. I’m fine. But thank you.”
    Still holding on to Priya’s hand, I added, “I trust this will remain between those in this room.”
    â€œAfter what I went through with my husband, having my business put out in the streets for all to hear, I would never think of doing that to another human being. Your secret is safe with me, honey.”
    I walked Priya Parks to her car. When I stepped back in the house, Sissy was standing in the middle of the room, her arms folded, looking betrayed.
    â€œI guess that gets me off the hook.”
    â€œDon’t even think about it. We have approximately three weeks left till your birthday. You’re getting married by then,” Sissy said, grabbing her keys off the end table. She headed toward the door, but stopped and turned around. “There’s another person I’ve been considering. I promise I’ll thoroughly vet her.”

12
    I t was early. The sun was out, and it was going to be a beautiful day.
    But for Austen Melrose Greer, it was already starting horribly.
    Austen had jet-black hair brushed back in a ponytail and beautiful, flawless Hershey Kiss–colored skin. Her eyes were almond shaped, and her lips were the shade of rose petals.
    Austen pulled the key out of her car’s ignition and exhaled deeply as she sat behind the steering wheel. She had loved this car. It was a 2008 Jaguar XJ8. It was silver with dark gray interior. She had bought the car in late 2007. It had just hit the dealership, and the housing business had still been great to her.
    As a Realtor, she had heard grumblings about awful things to come in the market, but like so many of her friends in the business, she ignored those warnings. At the time, Austen was still selling downtown Chicago properties as fast as she could list them.
    But not three months into 2008, things started to change drastically. There was talk, then evidence of a recession. People stopped buying houses, then houses started to go into foreclosure. Folks started losing their jobs, the value of properties dropped, and the stock market did things Austen never thought possible.
    By the time 2009 rolled in, Austen had lost almost all of her savings and hadn’t sold a property in over