Page 41 of Pretend for Me

Wyatt nodded. “Make it quick.”

“So I didn’t want to bring this up in front of Ma because like you said she’s in a delicate condition. But I was looking at some paperwork on Holden’s desk while he was at lunch. I was checking the status report from last week and I found a spreadsheet for a company called Nardini Industries.” I looked Wyatt square in the eye, searching for any clues or acknowledgment of his deception, but Wyatt wore a mask of indifference. “I found it odd that there’s a company in Parker’s name, especially since you’ve been saying how Parker is going to be ‘reassigned’ due to future restructuring.”

Wyatt pursed his lips, his nostrils flaring. “Matthew, if I were you, I’d watch the next words that come out of your mouth,” he warned, venom oozing from his mouth.

“Or what? You’ll frame me too?” I snapped. Wyatt’s defensive attitude was all the confirmation I needed.

“Shut your goddamn mouth.” Wyatt looked around, making sure nobody was in earshot of this alarming conversation. He started for the door again, probably hoping I would get the hint and follow.

But I was on a mission. After all the bullshit, the hoops I jumped through, I was starting to see it was all for nothing. All for someone who was unethical and lacked any sort of remorse for the sins they had committed. God knows what else Wyatt was hiding.

“You know …” I started signaling to Wyatt to come back, not worrying about my volume because I knew it would draw Wyatt’s attention. “There’s one thing I don’t quite get.”

Wyatt walked over to me, his face beet red and the veins on his forehead bulging. “What’s that?”

“You’ve known Parker most of your life. He’s married to your beloved wife’s sister. How could you do this to him?” I questioned, disgusted by the man standing before me.

Wyatt laughed, and I couldn’t believe the motherfucker had the balls to laugh. Nothing about this was humorous. Wyatt was playing with someone’s livelihood, with their freedom, and he didn’t seem to care in the slightest about it.

“See, this. This is why you will never make it in the business world. You could do so well under my guidance. I gave you my last name, setting you up to be a power player. I’ve basically been spoon-feeding you my insights. If it weren’t for that, you’d be just like the rest of the bottom feeders out there, doing the doggy paddle in an Olympic-sized swimming pool, trying to make a few bucks. You’ve always been a little too righteous for your owngood. Word of advice, son—cut the pious act. You’re no morality police. It will do you some good to see that we live in a dog-eat-dog world, and some of us are just hungrier than others.”

I was stunned. I seriously wanted to believe that these allegations weren’t true. I believed in my adoptive family. Thought they were a testament to how I was supposed to behave. A good, wholesome family. What a crock of shit that was. Everything I once believed in was a lie.

“You’re despicable. What would Ma say if she found out? Or better yet the SEC?” I implored, playing on Wyatt’s weakness with the mention of his sick wife.

“You think you’ve got it all figured out? Well, jokes on you, Matthew, you don’t! I can’t imagine how much more we can do for you. We’ve tried to mold you. Tried to show you the way to live, but you’ve always found a way to fuck it up. You couldn’t even get something as simple as dating right. You somehow managed to find some way to complicate it with ‘feelings.’ How many times do I have to tell you? There is no love in business. There’s fondness and familiarity. That’s it.” Wyatt rolled his eyes, continuing to try to bait me. “You couldn’t just be happy with a woman like Natalia or even that Maya chick. Someone good for you and this lifestyle.” Wyatt threw his hands up in exasperation. “No, you just had to go and pine over that little orphan girl some more.”

“Cassie?” I questioned, knowing the answer as to who Wyatt was referencing already but needing to hear it from the horse's mouth.

“Yes,Cassandra, your preciousgirlfriend.”Wyatt spat her name, malice laced around the words. “She was never good enough for you. Wouldn’t even accept my attempts at getting rid of her. All she would talk about was this future she was planning with you. I thought I was doing a good thing, offering to make some connections for her in the art world, but she wouldn’t evenconsider it. In the end, everything worked out as it should, but you’re still not happy. I don’t get it. Don’t you see the lengths I’m willing to go through for your happiness?”

My eyes widened as Wyatt let the truth tumble from his mouth for the first time. His disapproval was evident. Instead of feeling relieved to finally have confirmation, I felt like a fool. I allowed myself to be duped by my only family. I tried not to be too hard on myself—I was just a kid after all—but seeing how far back this all had gone turned my stomach. Wyatt not only hated Cassie, but he offered her money to leave me? What a shame the truth came out too late.

“How could you?” I narrowed my eyes, pissed at the inconvenient truths being exposed. This was the second time I was heartbroken in the last few days.

“Oh get over yourself. I did you a favor,” Wyatt dismissed, looking to the doorway of the dining hall where Arthur was now poking his head in. “Now like I’ve been telling you, we have a lot of important events coming up. You need to be at the top of your game. Your mother is still insisting on planning the company’s anniversary party, much to my dismay. And I think you need to talk to the doctor about those sleeping pills. And quit fucking smoking! Now if you’re done with your little temper tantrum, come on.” Wyatt started for the door again.

I stood there, staring blankly. How could he be planning to go in there and pretend everything was business as usual? Was this what had been happening for years? How had I never noticed the two-faced nature of my adoptive father?

No, I couldn’t go back there—not now, maybe not ever. Not after having all of this thrown at me at once. I was no longer able to fake it anymore. I couldn’t sit there with a smile on my face and act like my whole world hadn’t just caught fire. The truth changed everything. It took away my ability to be blinded by love any longer. All the deception, the pretenses, all the meaninglessbullshit I wasted my time on—all of it was for nothing. I couldn’t look away from the problems that were caused by my ignorance. While I lived in bliss, Cassie lived in agony all those years ago.

One thing was for certain—now wasn’t the time for me to bust this whole operation open. No, I wasn’t in the right headspace. When the time was right, I would rip off the bandage, exposing all that I had learned. Just not tonight.

“Matthew?” Wyatt motioned for me to follow, speaking through gritted teeth.

I shook my head. “I can’t. I’m gonna need time.” I couldn’t be rash. If I cut Wyatt off, then not only did I lose everything, but Parker could as well. “I think I need to take a sabbatical. Like you said, I need to get my head on straight. Talk to the doctor, get myself back on track.”And put some fucking distance between you and me, I added mentally.

I walked toward the doors leading outside, knowing there wasn’t much Wyatt could do with Arthur standing there. I smirked as I turned my back to Wyatt. “I’ll call you soon! Give my best to Ma!” I called over my shoulder, heading to my car, ignoring Wyatt’s hushed protests.

As I exited the fancy country club and was greeted with the crisp fall air, I inhaled a deep breath. For the first time in years, I could breathe freely.

22

MATTHEW

Woof. Meow. Tweet Tweet.So many animals complained about being at the vet.

I approached the desk, alerting the receptionist of my arrival. “Matthew Adams,” I announced cheerily. “And Rocky. Sorry we’re late. Somebody pretended to need to use the bathroom.” I chuckled, looking down at the petrified dog waiting for his impending fate.

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