The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 63

Riley rushed out and drove straight to Room 204 at the hotel Ross had specified.

She pounded on the door.

It swung open seconds later.

Ross stood there with his messy silver hair, wearing nothing but a loosely tied bathrobe that blatantly exposed the fresh hickeys scattered across his chest.

He looked at her like she was a godsend. "You have to help me, Riley. I can't go to jail!"

"What the hell is going on?" she demanded.

He had only given her the address over the phone, terrified she wouldn't show up if she knew the details.

Now that she was actually here, he finally spilled.

Riley quickly pieced together the disaster: Ross had slept with a woman two years older than him, a fresh college grad currently interning in Landon Enterprises' sales department.

And now, the woman was claiming he raped her and was threatening to call the police.

Riley was furious. "You're nineteen years old, and you're pulling sick stunts like this?"

"I didn't force her!" Ross waved his hands frantically. "I met her when I started at the company, and we've been dating! It was totally consensual, but right after we finished, she completely flipped the script!"

Riley scowled. "So you're saying she's setting you up?"

Ross nodded violently.

If it was just a false claim, he wouldn't be shaking like a leaf, but he genuinely didn't look like he was lying.

This was a massive landmine. If handled poorly, her brother was going to federal prison.

"Where is she?" she asked.

Ross pointed behind him. "Inside."

Riley stepped into the room and found a woman curled up against the headboard, sobbing hysterically. She looked every inch the traumatized victim.

Sloane sniffled. "I just agreed to try going out with him two days ago. I didn't think he would do this..." She burst into fresh tears.

Riley stood up, grabbed a couple of tissues, and handed them over. "Are you absolutely set on calling the cops?"

Sloane hesitated for a few very telling seconds before nodding.

Riley instantly knew there was room to negotiate.

She sat down next to her. "You two have conflicting stories, and you're officially dating. Going to the police won't guarantee a conviction, but it will absolutely destroy your reputation. How about this? I will force him to apologize to you, and I will compensate you financially."

She paused, adding, "Or, if you prefer, I'll make him marry you."

"No!" Ross practically jumped off the couch. "I'm nineteen! I'm not getting married!"

Riley silenced him with a look. "Then you'll get engaged until you're of age. If you're old enough to pull this garbage, you're old enough to take responsibility."

"I don't want to marry him," Sloane interrupted.