False Facades (Best Sellers: Best Romance/Humor )

by Martha Greenwood

Will nearly bowled Frank Westlane over, shoving his body in between them. "Excuse me, pardon me, I'm trying to knock you over to get to my girlfriend here."

  Danielle grabbed the bewildered man by the shoulder, spinning him around. "Oh, excuse me, I'm Katherine Pearling Grenford's daughter, Danielle Amelia Grenford, sister to Vincent Warren Grenford III … and who might you be?" she asked pointedly.

  Will whispered in Sammy's ear, "She's playing the Name Card. Let's make our get away while he's still confused . . ."

  Sammy and Will were trying to sneak up the stairs when Frank cleared his throat importantly, "I'm your mother's financial advisor."

  "Ah, I see," Danielle mused. "Wait, no, I don't. Name?"

  Frank reddened and sniffed, "Frank Westlane, at your service." He tried to kiss Danielle's hand but she yanked it away.

  She stared at him down her nose. "Sorry, but I don't recall a Frank Westlane. You're crashing this party, aren't you? Tsk tsk. Naughty, naughty." She turned her head, voice sharp. "SECURITY!"

  Frank gasped as two burly men crashed through the doors and grabbed his arms. "Wh – what? Let me talk to your mother! I'm Frank Westlane!"

  "Heard you the first time! Now come on, honey, let's leave this lecherous man alone now." Will wrapped an arm around Sammy's shoulders and steered her up the stairs. Her heart was still pounding furiously and she clutched his arm tightly. Will tried to smile reassuringly at her, but his eyes were grim and troubled.

  "What in the world is going on here?" Mrs. Grenford's voice thundered loudly. Everyone froze. "Frank? Is that you?"

  "Mrs. Grenford!" Frank wheezed. "Oh, thank god! I have no idea what is wrong with your daughter! All of a sudden, she just decided to sic her guards -"

  Mrs. Grenford glowered darkly. "Frank, do shut up. This is a party and I will not have you drawing all my guests out here." Frank turned bright red and quieted down. Danielle shot him a simpering smile before her mother turned to unleash her rage at her.

  "Danielle, explain."

  "This man's a pedophile."

  Frank blew up again, "What? Of all the preposterous things I've ever heard –"

  "He was getting all touchy feely with my friend," Danielle interrupted coolly. "Mother dear, can I throw him out now?"

  Mrs. Grenford narrowed her eyes and turned her attention to Sammy. "And might I ask, just who is your friend?"

  Will slung his arm around Sammy's shoulder, successfully knocking the breath out of her. "My girlfriend," he declared.

  There was a pause. Mrs. Grenford asked delicately, "Is this a girlfriend girlfriend or a girl friend girlfriend?"

  "Uhhh . . . girlfriend girlfriend?"

  She was blunter this time. "Huh, thought you were gay. Well, this makes me feel a bit better about you hanging around my son all this time."

  "Oh no, I still think your son is an impeccable specimen of bootylicious manly man. However, I'm bisexual which means I love my bootylicious girly girls as well," William reassured Mrs. Grenford. He added with a grin, "Your genes are superb. You should be proud." Sammy cringed. The boy was walking straight into the lion's den - and belting a song loudly while he was at it.

  Mrs. Grenford gritted her teeth before covering her face with a low aggravated moan. She waved at them blindly. "Go. Get out of my sight before I decide to sic my own guards on you."

  Will, Sammy and Danielle scampered up the stairs, but even as they crossed the last step, Sammy could still feel her uncle's stare burning into her back.

  * * *

  Vincent wrenched his face from Victoria's grip and grabbed her hands to prevent her from launching herself at him again. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he growled furiously.

  Victoria pursed her lips playfully. "Kissing you."

  His temper spiked. "Have you forgotten that we're not exactly a couple anymore?"

  She breathed, "You know I still –"

  "Please don't," he cut her off, teeth clenched. "Don't. Go run off to Tristan if you want to play your little games again. Just looking at you makes me sick."

  Victoria paled, her dark eyes all the more luminous. "How – how dare you? I -"

  But Vincent was already walking away and the girl clenched her fists before hurrying after him. She grabbed his elbow and he whirled around, flicking her hands off. With a startled gasp, she stumbled back and for the first time in a long while, she was frightened. The fury in his eyes had turned them from grey to almost cloudy black and he snarled at her, "I 'm not in the mood to put up with you, Victoria. Either you get the hell out of here or I boot you out. Simple as that."

  * * *

  Numbly, Sammy sat on the stool while Danielle worked in a hurry, hands flying everywhere, to turn her back into boy mode. Will fluttered over them, anxiously patting Sammy's shoulder. "Sammy, it's okay. He's gone. He didn't recognize you."

  "I know," she responded quietly.

  "Then what's wrong?" he asked, crouching low before her. Frankly, Sammy was starting to scare him with her comatose condition.

  "Everything." Sammy tried to bend forward to bury her face into her hands, but Danielle was still holding onto her hair. Her neck jerked back painfully. "Ow," she gasped softly.

  Danielle winced for her. "Sorry, hon. The hair's a bit hard to fix."

  Sammy broke down. Danielle let go of her hair just in time as the girl leapt up from her seat, staggering around to face her friends. Sammy's green eyes flashed and she waved her hands in the air as if she could settle down her emotions. "What am I?" She grabbed a clump of her faux black hair and shook it. "I'm not Samantha Westlane. I'm not Sam Westlane. What am I doing? Who am I? I'm not a boy - hell, I'm not even the girl I was before. I'm some stupid phony who – who can't even live without lying!"

  Her breathing came out in racking sobs and she rubbed her makeup off her face in a frenzy with a napkin. "Today was too close. Uncle Frank knows. He's too smart. He's a sick man, but he's still smart. He's not an idiot." Sammy rambled on quietly, almost as if she was talking to herself. "Everything was a mess today. Everything. First this whole disguise thing, then Uncle Frank, and – and now even Vincent . . ." She swayed, feeling around for the edges of Danielle's desk as she sat down, collapsing on the floor amidst the folds of her green dress. Her friends rushed to her side, kneeling next to her, afraid that Sammy had fainted or something.

  But Sammy just sat there. Tears finally flowed fast and free. "I can't face my uncle. I can't face my little brother. I can't even face Vincent. I don't know who I am anymore."

  Will pulled her against his chest, pushing away from her resisting hands, and murmured, "You're Sammy, the most bootylicious babe I've ever laid eyes on."

  She managed a laugh, but it was the bitterest sound they had ever heard.

  * * *

  After Danielle finally finished fixing Sammy's appearance, the younger girl's short, coppery hair was back and she was once again in her father's baggy clothes. Sammy absentmindedly traced the wispy strands of her hair that touched the base of her neck. Her face was still deathly pale and she stared off into space, lost in thought.

  "Sammy?" Will asked uncertainly. There was no response except for her eyes sliding blankly to him.

  Danielle murmured, "Let's leave her alone for now. I think she needs some time to think."

  Will hesitated slightly before backing out of the room. "Sammy, uh, get some sleep, okay?"

  The girl only gave an imperceptible nod. After the door closed, Sammy got up with a quiet composure she didn't quite feel inside and walked as calmly as she could to the wardrobe. She opened the elegantly carved doors, pulled out her clothes and her suitcase and began packing. No more. I can't handle this anymore. No more pretenses. No more being Vincent's "buddy" …

  The door swung open with a loud bang as it collided with the wall. Speak of the devil. Vincent stood in the doorway, eyes nearly a feverish black. "Made a fast recovery, did you?" he growled, a sardonic smile grazing the corners of his lips.

  * * *

  Meanwhi
le, Carrie and Jack were still … spending some quality time underneath the mistletoe. Jack murmured bemusedly when he came up for air, "Where have you been all my life?"

  Carrie still managed to blush though at the stupid line and she rolled her eyes, "Across the street, Jack. It's not like I suddenly materialized out of thin air."

  "Ah, but you did. Just like a faerie princess arising from a dewy soft petal of a new blossom," Jack whispered dreamily, swaying a bit on his feet as he hiccupped.

  Carrie blushed yet again. Then her eyes narrowed. "Jack, just exactly how many cups of eggnog and champagne did you have tonight?"

  "Mmm, enough . . ." He happily blew wisps of her light blonde hair off her forehead.

  She grabbed the lapels of his suit and shook him with a low growl. "If you're drunk and forget about everything that happened tonight by tomorrow morning, I swear I will hunt you down and stuff a snowman down your throat. Understand?"

  Jack blinked blearily and nodded with a goofy smile. "Understood, Carrie, my darling."

  She smiled, leaning gently against him. "I'm glad you're so considerate." Her eyes scanned the room and she suddenly noticed that Sammy, William, Danielle, and Vincent were all missing in action. Then she saw Victoria stomping angrily across the room. Uh oh. What did I miss?

  She sighed ruefully before pulling away from Jack. The boy nearly fell over before he righted himself up with a casual smile. "Where ya goin'?"

  "To find Sammy," she replied absentmindedly as she walked away.

  He nodded slowly and rubbed his temples before his brows snapped together and he jerked around. Wait, what? SAM?

  * * *

  Sammy winced slightly and tried to maintain her composure. It was time for the truth – her last chance to get everything straightened out before she disappeared from their lives. She let her gaze drift over the tall boy's features, his grey eyes and the strong, stubborn set of his jaw. "Sorry, Vincent, I was never sick –"

  "Oh, really? Gee, I hadn't noticed. Thanks ever so much for taking the time to clarify things for me!" Vincent exploded in fury. His intense stare drifted from her open suitcase back to her and he leaned against the doorway, playing with the strap of his removed mask. "Going off on a vacation, are you?"

  "No. I mean, yes, I mean . . ." she trailed off, extremely uncomfortable. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, shaking her hands out as if she could soothe her nerves. "I have something to tell you. The thing is … all this time, I haven't exactly been honest with you. I - I'm actually –"

  "A lying bastard?" he bit off. "Yes, I know."

  Her head jerked up and her eyes found his, astonished. "What?"

  Vincent stepped into the room coolly and kicked the door shut with a slam. He folded his arms and leaned against the door as if to prevent her from escaping. "Please. Don't act all innocent with me. Sam, I'll understand if you wanted to ... meet up with your girlfriend. Just don't lie to me and sneak her into my house." His eyes were icy cold, appraising her with disdain.

  She continued to stare at him in confusion. "Huh?"

  Vincent's face went taut. "I know about you and your little tryst tonight."

  "What?" She shook her head, bewildered. What was going on?

  "The girl!"

  "What girl?"

  "That girl!" He tossed the mask down at the floor between them, lips curled. He was getting so angry, he nearly trembled with the need to punch someone. Turning around quickly, he stared at the wall and tried to calm down before he gave into his urges to hurt Sam in any way he could.

  "What?" The soft inquiry only incensed him.

  "You lied to me about being sick and brought a girl to your room," he hissed.

  "How would I do that?" Sammy exclaimed.

  "The guards saw her climbing through the window."

  There was a long pause and Sammy paled slightly.

  "Oh, you remember now, do you?" Vincent snapped, turning back around to stare down the redhead. He was getting angrier by the second with that fake blank look Sam was giving him. "You're pathetic," he spat out.

  Sammy's emerald eyes flared. She'd had enough for one night and she didn't need Vincent to be screaming at her about her supposed rendezvous with herself. She didn't owe him anything. She raised her voice. "I'm pathetic? Me? You're one to talk!"

  At Sammy's abnormal outburst, Vincent froze in utter surprise and all he could do was stare at her for a second or two. His eyes glittered coldly and his voice was subzero when he spoke. "What?"

  Sammy crossed the room in three steps and stood in front of Vincent. She had to tilt her head back to look him in the face, but her eyes spat fire. She jabbed him in the chest with her index finger as if trying to get her point across into his heart. "You're the one who was mauling Victoria underneath that – that stupid mistletoe!"

  It was Vincent's turn to tense and he growled, "Who the hell told you that?"

  "I saw it with my own eyes," she retorted through clenched teeth.

  His eyes pierced her. "Oh? Did you come downstairs especially to escort your little whore?"

  She wanted to pummel him with her fists, but decided against it. It would be like a fly ramming itself against a brick wall. "You – you're the biggest idiot I've ever met in my life and believe me, I've met quite a few!" She waved her hands around in front of his face and he twitched in annoyance. "Are you blind? Haven't you noticed that I'm different from you?"

  He stared down at her and arched an eyebrow, giving her a condescending look. "You snuck a girl into someone's house where you're a guest at. That's different."

  "Oh god." She groaned in frustration and her hands trembled. She'd never liked confrontations and never would she have imagined that she would be fighting with Vincent like this. "Well, at least I'm not someone who kisses a cheating ex-girlfriend!"

  "Yeah, that's right. So what if I kissed her? She's hot and she's someone who walked through the front door unlike the girls you seem to prefer," he retorted. He leaned down, getting in her face. "At least, I'm not the one who pretends to be someone he's not!" At his words, Sammy's face seemed to get gradually more pallid. "At least I don't have a phobia about changing in the locker rooms! 'Oh, look at me, I'm prissy little Sam. I don't like people seeing me indecent - oh wait, never mind, just girls who scales a tree to get into my window! Yeah, that's fine!'"

  "You think I have a phobia about public changing? That's your reasoning?" She spluttered, giving him an incredulous look. "Boy, you're dumber than I thought."

  "What?" His voice turned low, deepening with a warning note.

  "I SAID YOU'RE DUMBER THAN I THOUGHT!" She didn't know whether to laugh or to cry now. She closed her eyes tightly and tried to turn away. Vincent's arm shot out and grabbed her shoulder. He wrenched her around and shoved her against the wall. Her breath shot out of her in a surprised gasp as he slammed his hands against the walls, arms lining her face, successfully pinning her against the hard surface.

  She glared up at him. "What? I'm in no mood to talk to you."

  "Who was that girl you brought up to your room?" He leaned his head closer to her, shoulders crouched, and his voice was quiet. "The guards said something about her being Danielle's friend. Did Danielle have anything to do with this?" His gray eyes bored into her and she shifted uneasily.

  "Why do you keep bringing this up? It's none of your business anyway!"

  Instantly, the expression on Vincent's face closed off - and that was even scarier than when he was yelling at her. His eyes had frozen and she wasn't able to tell what he thinking about any longer. She knew she should back down now, but the words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them. "Are you back together with Victoria?"

  He stared down at her without a sound for a long while before he inclined his face close to hers, stopping a few inches away as he looked straight into her eyes. His eyes were the same beautiful shade of gray when she had first crashed into him, but there was no amusement, no laughter, nothing this time. Her heart sunk. His low voice
rumbled gently in his chest and with his body so close to hers, she could almost feel the vibrations through her as he answered, "None of your business."

  This was it. She was going to disappear after this night anyway so was it – why did it feel so painful to let him go like this? This should be good. This final, clean break. This was good.

  But as he turned away and started to open the door, Sammy panicked. I can't let him leave. Why were we fighting anyway? Vincent - Her heart felt oddly hollow and she reached out a hand to grab his sleeve. "Vincent, please –"

  "Let go," he refused to turn around. She grabbed his shirt with her other hand.

  "Vince –"

  "I said LET GO!" Vincent jerked his arm free and she staggered, tripping and crashing against the door, clipping her shoulder. Pain shot through her body and he glanced over his shoulder, alarmed.

  She clutched her upper right arm, dazed as they stared at each other. "I have to say something to you!" she cried out desperately. "Just one last thing! I need you to know that I'm a –"

  "Save it. Like I'm ever gonna listen to you again. I detest liars," he bit off.

  Her heart broke. So much for telling the truth.

  She shook her head, desolated, before crossing the room and grabbing her suitcase. Vincent watched her as she walked out of the room, brushing past him without another look.

  "H – hey! Where do you think you're going?" For some reason, he couldn't seem to be able to just make himself stop caring. "Sam! What the hell are you doing?" It was his turn to tug on Sammy's arm.

  "What do you want me to do? You won't listen to me!" She screamed at him, voice hoarse. "So I'm just going to get out of your hair and be on my way then! Go find your beloved Vicky and have some champagne in your nice fancy mansions, you big jerk!"

  His temper got the better of him and he yelled back at her. "Fine then! And you can go sleep with as many girls that climb through your windows as you want and contract all sorts of diseases!"

  Her blood boiled. "FINE!" Sammy yelled back and she spun around to stalk away, the suitcase in her case swinging into his shin.