by H. M. Ward
He smiles. “You think that’s bad? You haven't heard what he did to make my parents disown me.”
“There’s more?” I ask, shocked.
“After he took Gwen away, William convinced my parents to trust him with their financial holdings. He liquidated their entire portfolio and invested the money in a Ponzi scheme. My parents almost lost everything! They didn’t want to believe it at first. When they confronted him, he blamed me. Can you believe that? It’s only because of me my family has any money left at all.”
“Don’t tell me they believed him?”
He lets out a breath. “Yes, they did. He’s smart. He had everything planned out with a paper trail leading directly to me. Don’t ever get on his bad side. He’ll bring your entire family down, too.”
“I’m so sorry this happened to you.” I place my hand over his. His handsome face looks so distraught. How horrible to be shunned by your family—and under false pretenses. “Believe me, I won't let William Darcy anywhere near my family.”
CHAPTER 22
I glance in the mirror at Mary’s reflection. She’s sitting on my bed, leaning against the headboard, watching as Jane and I get ready. “I can’t believe you managed to get out of going to the Degatto’s fundraiser ball.”
“I think her orange hair might’ve had something to do with it.” Jane lets out a soft laugh. “I was really hoping you’d come with us to this one, Mary. Cameron loves it when you go out with us.”
Over the last few weeks, Cameron and Jane have been inseparable. If they aren't going out to a club or taking a stroll in Central Park, they are talking on Skype. On occasion, Mary accompanies them when they go dancing with the intention of digging up dirt on Bingley Tech. She was originally skeptical of Cameron, not believing anyone as wealthy as he is could truly be nice or have honest business practices. He must’ve convinced her, though, because she emailed Suzy from Suzy Loves Poochies and told her to take down her blog post accusing Bingley Tech of outsourcing to third world countries.
“There’ll be a lot of politicians present tonight, and it’s a masked ball. You can verbally bash them without revealing your identity, but only if you wash out your carrot top.” I grin and gesture toward her hair.
“Tempting,” Mary says arching a brow and tapping her forehead with a pencil. “But nope, not tonight. I’ve got a date.”
“Really? He must be someone special if you’re missing out on an opportunity like this.”
She focuses on picking the polish from her nails, avoiding my eyes. “Maybe.”
“Uh, huh.” I slide siren red lipstick across my lips.
“You’ll miss wearing the gorgeous dress Gwen sent you.” Jane lifts one of three evening gowns lying on the bed. A waterfall of glittering Swarovski crystals rain in carefully arranged lines from the waist transforming the full skirt into a dew-kissed spider web. “You would look awesome in this one.”
In preparation for Degatto’s ball, Jane and I had pooled our money to rent the cheapest dresses we could find. When three boxes of designer gowns arrived last week, we thought Mother had totally lost her mind. I was seconds from angrily calling her out when I noticed a note from Gwen inside one of the packages explaining that they were from her modeling days, and she thought they'd look beautiful on us.
My red gown fits perfectly. The strapless hourglass shape emphasizes my silhouette and the heart shaped bodice makes the girls look awesome—it even has a high slit perfect for dancing.
“It’s an awesome gown," Mary admits, waggling her eyebrows at me mischievously. "I’ll wear it to Beth’s engagement party.”
“Colin and I are not getting married. I can’t do that to him. It seems like a major misstep. Besides, you know how I feel about marriage—it’s forever. Colin’s not the right guy.”
“’Cuz he’s super gay. He needs a cape.” Mary teases and grins at me.
“Don’t tell Mother any of that," Jane says, unrolling curlers from her hair. "She’s already interviewing wedding coordinators. She’ll flip out."
Mary nods in agreement with Jane. This situation has been difficult. I want to be there for him, but this isn’t the right way to do it. Colin is so busy, both with work and with helping coordinate Catherine's fundraiser for his father, we haven’t had a chance to talk. Not that I've been searching for one. The longer I can avoid agreeing to his proposed mock marriage, the better.
There’s a loud thud at the window followed by a squawk and frantically flapping wings.
“What is that?” Opening the window, Mary peaks outside. “Oh, no!”
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Get me a box, hurry.”
I go into the closet and grab an old shoebox. When I turn, Mary has a pigeon cupped in her hands.
“The poor thing.” Jane gently strokes the pigeon’s tiny head with her finger.
“What’s wrong with her?”
Mary lifts the pigeon’s feet to examine them. “She looks hurt, and there's a string tangled around her feet. I’m taking her to my room to try to get it off her. Do you have some antibacterial cream? Her feet look infected.”
“Yeah, in the medicine cabinet.”
She smoothes the bird's feathers and speaks in a soft, calm, very un-Mary-like voice. “There, there, Lucy. I’ll fix your little feet right up.”
I laugh. “You’re naming her already?” Mother doesn't allow pets. Despite the rule, Mary snuck rodents, lizards, and even an armadillo into our house while we were growing up, claiming them all as pets.
“She looks like a Lucy, don’t you think?”
“I think you shouldn't get too attached. And hide her! Mother will freak if she finds a pigeon in the apartment,” I yell as she leaves for her room.
“Oh, goodness. I didn’t realize how late it is.” Jane rushes to the mirror, brushing her hair furiously. “Cameron and Colin will be here in ten minutes.”
“Are you sure Darcy’s not going to the ball?”
After speaking with Grant, I've stayed as far away from Darcy as possible. Grant hasn't tried to contact me since our night together. It really irks the hell out of me that he listened to Darcy’s threats, but I've been so busy working in Dad’s office, I decided to let it go. Grant was attractive, but not worth the drama it would cost to continue seeing him—especially if Darcy makes things difficult for Jane and Cameron because of me. Jane is too happy with Cameron. I can't mess that up.
“I’m pretty sure. Cameron said he’s in San Jose on business.” She slips into her champagne-colored gown, instantly looking Grace Kelly beautiful. “I still can’t believe what Grant told you about Darcy. He may be a little standoffish—”
“A little?”
She giggles. “Okay, a lot. Still, I can’t imagine him doing something so cruel, especially to his own family.”
I sigh, gathering my dress. “That’s because you see only good in people. Can you do the zipper?”
“It’s more than that. Darcy seems to take so much pride in doing what is right. I can’t imagine anyone who values common decency and good character investing in a Ponzi scheme and then lying about it. It’s out of character.”
I snort. “What you consider right and what he considers right are two different things. Who do you think he’d claim has the correct way of thinking?”
“My turn.” She places herself in front of me. “You may be right. But if what Grant says is true, I can’t believe Cameron would be friends with someone like Darcy.”
“Maybe he believes Darcy’s lies?”
“They’ve been such close friends for a long time. Cameron would know if Darcy was lying.” She pauses, her concern written in her eyes. “Please don’t be mad, Beth, but what if you’re wrong about Darcy? Is it possible Grant is the one who lied?”
Yeah, right. “It’s much easier for me to believe Darcy duped Cameron than to believe Grant lied. You can’t make up things like that on the fly, and you didn’t see how he looked when he spoke. He was sincere, his voice still feeling the
pain of betrayal. There’s no way he lied.”
“I don’t know . . .”
Reaching into a small bag, I pull out black Venetian masks lined in colors that compliment out gowns.
"Come on, this is something I do. It’s my thing. I can tell when people are lying. I’ve always known.”
Mary chimes in, “She has. It’s like she has a lie detector soldered into her brain.”
Jane sinks onto the edge of the bed, slipping on her shoes. “All of this is so disturbing. I don’t know what to think, Beth.”
“You should know exactly what to think, you just don’t want to admit it—Darcy is a prick.”
Her eyes shoot up to meet mine, and I immediately regret my words. It’s not fair to push Jane like that. She loves Cameron, and Darcy is his best friend. It makes sense she’d want to see Darcy in a good light.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bitch at you.” I push off the bed and link her arm with mine. “Come on. Let’s wait for the limo in the lobby, and I promise if I run into Mr. Darcy again, I’ll try to be nice.”
As we walk out of the apartment, she says, “I’m so glad you’re giving William a chance. He isn’t that bad. I think he’s just shy.”
I throw my head back and laugh. “Now, that’s what I find hard to believe. A man in charge of a multibillion-dollar empire, shy? Yeah, right.”
“I think he is. Did you know he doesn’t know how to dance?”
“No way!”
“He knows the basics. Nothing fancy. After the charity gala, he asked me for my dance instructor’s phone number.”
We reach the lobby just as the limo pulls up. Colin and Cameron step out, both looking gorgeous in their tuxedos.
“Who asked? Cameron?” I watch him rush to open the glass door for us. His handsome face lighting up as Jane walks out.
“No. William.”
CHAPTER 23
The ballroom looks like a page from a storybook. Masked women float on elegant clouds of tulle while masked men in inky black tuxes slip fluidly through the maze of ball gowns.
As Colin escorts me in, the first person I see is Anne Degatto standing next to her mother. Even behind a diamond-studded mask, an unforgiving expression dominates her face. She’s a perfect reflection of her mother.
Cameron leads Jane to the dance floor, whisking her away with a graceful swish of skirts. I stand with Colin, drinking champagne and watching Jane's fairy tale unfold. Across the ballroom, I'm relieved to see Mother and Daddy sitting at a table talking with his golfing buddy, Dr. Brandon. Asking him to dance will provide the perfect ruse to discuss Dad's health, and I make a mental note to do so later. If anyone can convince him to see a specialist, it's Dr. Brandon.
“Colin Michael Frey!” Andrea Frey's face pinches into a scowl. She marches to us, her light gray gown fluttering as she moves.
“Mom looks angry. Hide!”
“It’s too late, Colin. She’s already seen us,” I whisper, wondering what crawled up her ass.
Andrea Frey stops abruptly in front of us. Pale blue eyes so similar to Colin’s regard me coldly through a hand-held silver-sequined mask. She purses her lips, her eyes scanning my body, and resting uncomfortably on my chest. She’s so angry, the plume of white feathers on the side of her mask is vibrating.
“How could you? How could you do this to your father?” She hits Colin in the back of his head with her open hand. “Your engagement is about to be announced, and you bring this woman to his fundraiser. God, Colin, the media is right outside the doors. What were you thinking? And what about poor Beth? She’ll be devastated when she finds out. Tell me you and your America’s Next Top Model floozy entered through the back door. Tell me this disaster isn't already on the news.”
“Mom, please, let me explain. This is—”
She hits him again. “I won't hear your excuses. This isn’t the time or place to be flaunting a conquest.”
I bark out a laugh. Holy crap! She doesn’t recognize me.
She throws me a death glare. “Keep laughing, missy. I'll deal with you in a minute!" She waves her hand at me dismissively, redirecting her rage at Colin. “As much as your father might be pleased to finally see you with a woman like this,” she sneers the word, “you take her out of here this instant before anyone else sees you together.”
“Mrs. Frey, it’s me, Beth.”
Her eyes widen with shock. Reaching into her silver clutch, she takes out a pair of glasses. “Beth, dear. Is that you?”
“Last I checked, yes.” I lift up my mask for a moment and smile at her.
“Oh, my dear girl, you startled me. You look so…so different.” She leans in and says in a not-so-quiet whisper, “Your breast implants look convincing—though they are a tad too large. Nothing that can’t be corrected.”
“Mom!” Colin’s face turns beet red. He looks cute when he’s embarrassed.
I’m trying not to turn the same color as my dress. I lean in and quietly whisper, “They’re real.”
She pushes up her glasses, continuing to stare at my chest. “Well, now, you are a late bloomer. May I say that the bodice of your dress—”
“Mom, can we please talk about something else,” Colin says, exasperated.
“Oh, yes.” She places the glasses back into her clutch. “Victoria is looking well these days. You must give me the name of the surgeon who did her work. And that beautiful choker she’s wearing. She got that from Sotheby’s auction last week, didn’t she? I’d been eyeing that necklace for myself.”
I try not to roll my eyes as she lists all the expensive antiques, jewelry, and furs she recently acquired. My mother and Andrea Frey are almost the same—their only difference being the Frey Family still has money.
“So, where is it?” She eyes my left hand, expectantly.
“Where’s what?”
“Uh, Mom. I need to talk to you in private.” Colin attempts to take her aside.
“Not now, Colin.” She waves him off. “The ring. Where’s the ring? Colin said you two were engaged and—oh, no. Don’t tell me he hasn’t asked you yet?” Her eyes grow wide.
Aw, crap! I’d forgotten Colin told her he bought an engagement ring. I didn’t want to do this now. Colin’s face is pleading. I sigh, placing a fake smile on my face. “We wanted tonight to be Mr. Frey’s night. We’re all so proud of his running for Senate.”
“Oh, how sweet of you! Don’t worry, dear. I won’t say a thing until you two are ready to make the formal announcement.”
“Yes. Yes. That’s nice, Mom. I think I see father waving you over. Come on, Beth.” Colin pulls me to the dance floor so fast I stumble trying to keep up with him.
“Don’t be mad at me,” he says as we begin to dance.
“Colin, how am I going to get out of this one? What if your mother talks to my mother? What if she confirms our engagement? Your mom may be able to keep a secret, but mine can't. She’ll have our engagement announcement running across the news ticker in Times Square.”
He laughs. “She wouldn’t do that.”
“Have you met my mother?”
His face turns serious. “Okay, so maybe she would, but you have nothing to worry about. My mom may be flakey, but she keeps her word. For now, could you just pretend to be madly in love with me?”
“Colin, this is a bad plan—”
“Please, Beth.”
“It’s not right, we’ll both be miserable, and—”
“Please.” He gives me puppy dog eyes and hangs his head.
I lose my gusto. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?” He bats his thick lashes at me. “You know you love me.”
“Not like that. It’s not fair.” My lip quivers as I try not to smile.
“Say it. Say iiihhht.” He nudges me.
“Fine, I’ll go along with it, but you need to promise we’ll tell your mom later that it won't work out. Better yet, I’ll tell her I found you cheating on me with another woman.”
Comically, Colin sucks in a b
reath and presses a hand to his chest. “How scandalous!”
“It’ll build your rep as a ladies' man. Your father will love that one. Every senator—or senator’s son—needs a good sex scandal.”
I’m half kidding, but we need a way out of this. If I agree, we’ll be shoved down the aisle with no escape plan. It can’t come to that, for both our sakes.
Marrying my best friend is one thing, but skipping the sex and love parts of marriage robs us both—and for what? Because his parents don’t know their kid? I understand what a difficult situation this is for him, but this isn't the right solution. We need to buy more time.
CHAPTER 24
As the night progresses, I try my best to act like I'm in love with him, but it's hard to feel convincing. It's especially difficult when he kisses me. Each time I feel like we're telling a lie—a lie made worse by his being such a good kisser. Though he's easy on the eyes and can make my heart pitter patter with his kisses, I can only think of Colin as a friend.
I never considered him like that. How could I when I knew he wasn’t into my gender? It’s like a class action rejection. I wasn’t signing up for that heartache, and somehow I still walked right into the dead zone. I’ll die here alone, with no real lover, no real kisses.
I’m screwing us both over by going along with this. I know I am, but it’s not my secret to tell, and he is my best friend.
As we dance, I glance around the room at the other couples, wondering how many of the relationships are fake. When my eyes land on Jane and Cameron, a spark of hope flickers within me. Seeing them together is like watching a romance movie come to life. He rests his hand against her cheek, her hazel eyes gazing up at him with intense longing. Then she leans into his hand, closing her eyes as his thumb strokes her cheek. He ducks his head to place his lips softly onto hers, and I can't help but gape at them, wishing I were lucky enough to have someone think I hold the stars in place.
I smile sadly, and I know Colin can feel it. He knows me too well. “It’s not forever, Beth.”