Page 40 of King of Deception

“If you think there’s more to these people than money.”

Raising my eyebrows, I slowly nodded. “Of course there is. There’s more to everyone than whatever we get to see. At the wedding, I heard that Mr. Engelbert was a great father. And my boss? I could tell by the way his wife looked at him when he wasn’t looking that he was the best husband she could ever wish for…”

“And what do you wish for?” His surprises never seemed to run out.

I had no answer. Genuinely and sadly, I didn’t know. It had been years since I thought that the love I had craved could be real. A love that conquered everything that stood in its way. The kind of love we saw in the movies. And now—after reality hit, time after time—all I wished for was someone who wouldn’t treat me the way Jude had.

“You really gotta stop making Jude your bar.” Alex’s words came back, raging against all of my thoughts.

“I have to go.” Suddenly feeling nervous, I leaped up, tossing the rest of my ruined cone in the garbage can.

“I’m sorry.” He stood up, squeezing his eyes shut.

“What for?”

“My question clearly bothered you.”

“It’s not that.” I lifted a hand. “I just—I need to learn not to let thoughts of my ex ruin the moment.”

“Your ex?” his eyebrows wrinkled.

Tittering, I looked away. “He really played a number on me.”

“You’re not over him.”

“No!” I quickly gestured with both hands in the air. “I’m so over him. It’s insane. I’m actually just… scared.”

“Of me?”

Biting my lower lip, I wanted to be honest with him. He deserved nothing less. “Of feeling this safe with you only to discover that I’m delusional.”

I saw his shoulders drop an inch and instantly regretted my candor. He then lifted up a hand, rubbing his temple as he pensively looked away. “You know what? I never meant for this conversation to do this to you. Let’s flip it. I have a fun idea. Wanna meet my friends?”

“Your friends?”

“Yeah. My buddy Chadwick is having a party at his place tomorrow night. I don’t have a date.” He shrugged cutely. “Wanna come with?”

Contemplating for a moment, I twisted my lips to the side. “And where does this Chadwick live?”

“Central Park West.”

Widening my eyes, I thought he was joking. He quickly chuckled, waving it off as if it were nothing. “Listen. All my friends are rich. That shouldn’t be a problem, right? I mean, who cares, right?”

Apprehensively, I stared at him and slowly nodded. “Right.”

“So?” he grinned as we began to walk back toward the gates. “Will you come?”

“Let me think about it, okay?”

Later that night, I texted Abel my acceptance. My mind, however, was buzzing with questions about his peculiar relationships with such wealthy acquaintances.

twelve

Kiss Me

Abel

With the excuse that I was going to help my friends’ crew set up for the party, I arrived early at Nathan’s place. Being my friend and also the owner of the law firm that handled everything for my company, I knew I could trust him. I was going to tell him everything.

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