Page 10 of Married With Lies

“What happened?” Normally I wouldn’t care but something tells me not to dismiss the conversation so quickly.

“She was all set to marry Grant Gallant. You know, as in the restaurant chain.”

“Gallant’s Steakhouse?”

“That’s the one. Casper Gallant has been a close family friend for decades. Grant was lined up for a job on the Dukes executive team and they were going to build a restaurant inside the arena. But then Scraps blew off all the wedding plans and moved to Colorado to start that stray animal project of hers.”

I take a closer look at the girl at the buffet table. She’s examining a row of tiramisu wedges.

“Good for her. She shouldn’t be forced to marry some silver spoon asshole if she doesn’t want to.”

None of us should.

Baylor lets out a gross little snicker. “My little sister needs to learn how to play the game.”

“What game?”

“Make the king proud and you’ll be rewarded.”

“Why don’t you just give her the money if he won’t?”

Bay’s expression turns shrewd. “We all have our roles to play, Cale. I’m sure you understand that.”

I unfold my hands and lay them flat on the table. There’s been blood on them before. There will be blood on them again.

That was my choice. Offer up my soul to save my brother’s.

Now I have another choice to make. Fall in line with my uncle’s wishes or risk his wrath.

But a new option has just occurred to me.

One that no one will ever see coming.

One that could solve more than just my own problem.

One that’s going to horrify the pretentious Wingate old guard and make this conceited dickhead across the table shit his pants.

The idea actually makes me smile.

“I should let you go,” I say. “Don’t want to monopolize your time when you have all these guests.”

Baylor doesn’t need any prodding. He practically vaults from the chair. “Good seeing you again, Cale.”

Before scampering away he finishes with a limp handshake and an insincere promise to have drinks in the city sometime.

Two seconds after he disappears, I take a swallow of that stupid champagne. Then, with a new mission in mind, I turn around and wait for Mercedes Wingate to finish fretting over her dessert selection.

We’re going to be making a deal. She just doesn’t know it yet.

3

SADIE

At least the catered food is tasty. And I’m grateful there’s not a slab of meat in sight to make my vegetarian soul shrivel.

Stepmother Number Four is a strict vegan and she chose the party menu. She’s the only person who has been nice to me since I landed in New York yesterday so I should probably stop thinking of her as Number Four and start remembering to use her name, which is Arlena.

When I get a glimpse of the giant copper pendulum clock mounted over the stairwell my heart sinks. Barely an hour has passed since the party began and it feels like days.

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