"Probably nothing. Let's get back to work."
I hold my breath until the voices fade. My hands shake so badly I have to set the mug on a shelf before I drop it.
I'm in over my head.
When I finally slip back to my desk, my pulse is still racing. I shuffle papers, type a nonsense sentence to look busy, but inside I'm unraveling. They're going after Asher's land. Not just to build, but to drill. To ruin.
And I've been the fool standing on the wrong side.
Quickly, I gather my stuff, leaving my work unfinished. My mind races as I head out to my car. I’m not worried about my job; my only thought is if Asher finds out I've been anywhere near this... God, he'll never look at me the same way again.
By the time I get home, my head aches from holding it all in. Candy is sprawled on the couch with Emma curled beside her, both of them watching some baking show where contestantsbuild impossible towers of cake. My daughter has frosting smeared on her chin from the cupcake Candy let her decorate earlier.
"Hey, Mama," Emma calls without looking away from the screen. "Mine would've won."
Candy grins. "She's not wrong."
I set my purse down and sink into the armchair, suddenly so tired I could fall asleep sitting up.
"You okay?" Candy asks, watching me too closely.
I hesitate. She's the only one who knows. She's the one I've trusted with everything—every late-night text, every sneaked meeting, every kiss that left me shaking.
And now this.
"Emma, why don't you go wash up and take a shower?" I suggest.
"Can I use the new shampoo? The one with the unicorn?" she asks, jumping off the couch.
"Yes. Make sure you rinse it all out of your hair," I tell her, knowing I'll have to go check anyway.
She runs off to her room to pick her PJs, and I turn back to look at Candy once Emma is out of earshot.
I lower my voice. "I wasn't supposed to be in the office today, so no one knew I was there, and I overheard a conversation. It's worse than I thought. They're not just building. They're talking about oil. On Asher's land."
Candy's eyes widen. "Oil? Are you sure?"
"I heard them." My voice shakes. "They're hiding it. Keeping the town in the dark."
She presses a hand to her mouth, then lowers it. "Kassi, that's huge. That's not just shady business. That's dangerous."
I nod. "They said they'd cover it up. Pretend it's soil testing." My voice cracks on the last words. "If they do this, it won't just ruin the ranch. It could poison the entire lake."
Candy swears under her breath, then reaches for my hand. "You have to tell Asher."
"I can't." The words rip out of me, sharp and pained. "Not yet. He already thinks I'm a spy. If I admit I overheard something in their office, he'll... he'll think..."
Candy squeezes my hand hard enough to stop the spiral. "Kassi, listen to me. That man cares about you. He's not gonna let youdrown in this alone. You need him, and he needs you. Even if you can't see it yet."
"I'm terrified," I admit. "What if they find out I know? What if they come after me?"
Candy steps closer, grips my shoulders. "You're not alone. You've got me. And you've got Asher, whether you're ready to admit it or not. Asher looks at you like you're already his."
My chest aches. I don't know what to say.
Her words crack something inside me. I blink back tears.
She pulls me into a quick hug, then leans back. "Listen, I'll take Emma for the weekend. You go to Finn's rodeo with Asher and his family. You need a night that isn't worry and fear. Besides, Emma loves sleepovers at my place. She'll be fine."