As days went by, Pine Ridge construction kept going full steam.
Jake was getting more confident every day, kept getting praised by Grandfather in meetings.
While Ryan was getting quieter and moodier.
Sophia was getting more bitchy around me.
She started bossing Carson around right in front of me, acting like I was invisible.
She even hinted to the other staff that they didn’t need to take the “temporary Mrs. Ashford” too seriously.
I didn’t give a shit.
I was just waiting. Waiting for the spring floods.
Spring in Montana hits hard and fast.
Weeks of heavy rain and snow melt turned the whole area into a swamp.
News started talking about flood warnings in the mountains.
Then one night, Jake got a phone call.
All the color drained from his face.
“What do you mean cracks in the foundation wall?! IMPOSSIBLE! <b>I </b>spent millions on reinforcement!”
He was screaming into the phone while I sat on the couch reading a magazine.
He hung up and just copsed on the floor.
Weekter, the rains were stilling.
Then came judgment day-
“What’s all this yelling about?!<b>” </b>Grandfather’s voice boomed through the house.
“Grandpa…” Jake’s voice was shaking.
“Pine Ridge… The factory foundation copsedpletely ‘cause of flooding and mudslides.”
Grandfather’s face went ck as thunder.
“Didn’t you do soil testing<i>?</i><i>” </i>
“Yeah… but the rain was so heavy, the groundwater rose way higher than anyone predicted, and when the mudslide hit…“ Jake’s voice got smaller and smaller.
That’s when Ryan spoke up.
“Jake, I tried to warn you about that spot. It’s called Devil’s Hollow–the locals know it floods every year. You just wouldn’t listen ‘cause
<b>13:19 </b>
Hell Yeah. Forget the Other Woman. My Smart House Was Cheating On Me<b>! </b>
<b>11.4</b><b>% </b>
444
you wanted to rush the timeline.”
Jake’s head snapped up: “You… you knew?”
“I didn’t know for sure.” Ryan shrugged, looking innocent. <b>“</b><b>I </b>just heard ra mention some local folklore, figured it was worth checking out. Had my team do a backup n just in case.”
“Not only that…”
Ryan pulled out his phone, showed a video.
Video showed the construction site with workers building, Ryan suddenly appeared on screen.
“Everybody out! NOW! We got mudslidesing down the mountain and this ce is about to get hit!”
Workers looked panicked, but Ryan got them all out safely.
Minutes after everyone evacuated, the whole area copsed with a huge CRASH.
Obviously, if Ryan hadn’t given that warning, the Ashfordpany would be dealing with twenty–something deaths.
Losing a project was nothingpared to that.
Dead workers would’ve destroyed the whole Ashford empire.
Everyone stared at Jake.
Especially Grandfather, with the coldest look I’d ever seen.
Jake looked at me like he’d seen a ghost.
“ra… it’s you?”
I slowly closed my magazine, looked up at him.
“I just told Ryan a story from back home.” My voice was totally calm.
“Is that against thew or something?”
“You…” He couldn’t even finish the sentence.
“Enough!” Grandfather mmed his cane down. “You’re a fucking disgrace!”
He was shaking with rage.
“Billions! Gone! You arrogant piece of shit! Thank God for Ryan or we’d all be fucked! You’ve turned the Ashford name into a fuckingughingstock!”
Ryan stood there quiet, shared a look with me.
I knew Jake was done.
<b>13:19 </b>