Page 62 of Pretend for Me

I was tying the shoelaces on my tennis shoes. Suit and dress shoes be damned until I really needed to bust them out.

“Here. And I want dessert.” I winked and blew her a kiss. My eyes were glued to her as she plopped back on the pillow, throwing the covers over her body, and I willed myself to leave. This meeting was a good enough reason for us to be temporarily apart, but I couldn’t wait to be back in bed with her body under my own.

With a quick goodbye to Rocky, I was out the door and calling Holden to make sure he was still meeting me at Silas’soffice. Since Holden found the incriminating evidence on Wyatt, I figured he’d want to see it through.

“Come in and shut the door,”Silas instructed, peering out into the hallway. His desk was overflowing with papers, and the once put-together man looked disheveled and as though he hadn’t slept.

Holden and I exchanged concerned looks, entering the office and taking seats in front of Silas’s desk.

“Gentlemen, I’ve done some digging, and I’ve found quite a bit of disturbing information.” Silas broached the sensitive subject, running his fingers through his gray locks.

“What did you find?” My eyes widened. I couldn’t imagine what could be worse than what Wyatt had already done. Framing his brother-in-law and trying to pay off his son’s girlfriend were two of his largest offenses.

“I must tell you that it's unpleasant and quite upsetting,” Silas warned, waiting for objections. “After speaking with Wyatt’s banks in the Caymans, posing as an assistant, I uncovered the fact that not only has Wyatt framed Parker should the money laundering be discovered, but he also has put Liz’s name on multiple life insurance policies. Upon her death, all those funds would go to the corporation.” Silas sat back in his chair.

“So not only will he profit immensely when Liz dies, he’s gearing up for the shell corp to be his main source of income, funneling funds through it,” I clarified, my mind whirring with just how deceitful and treacherous my adoptive father was.

Silas nodded. “Also you should know that Adams Point is in ruins. The reports showing these massive earnings and gainsare all simulations. Fakes. The sole investor truly profiting is someone with the initials A.A.H. Do you know anybody with those initials?” The older man poured a fresh cup of coffee, offering us a cup as well.

Holden nodded his head in thanks when Silas handed him one, while I thought about the initials in my head. Why did they sound so familiar?

“A.A.H.,” I recited out loud over and over again. A moment passed, and it all hit me like a ton of bricks. “The fucking prick,” I whispered in disbelief, letting out a scoff.

“What is it, Matthew?” Silas inquired.

“Can I use your computer for a second?”

Silas got up from his chair, motioning for me to sit.

I went to Google and typed in a name I should have known would have been attached to this disaster. I chuckled in disgust when the search results popped up.

Turning the computer screen for Silas and Holden to see, I spoke up, “Arthur Anthony Harris.” Wyatt’s best friend. Arthur was the person who helped me get into Princeton. I should have known he was in cahoots with Wyatt—they were thick as thieves.

I sucked my teeth, so fucking pissed at Wyatt. “He’s our smoking gun.”

“Holy shitballs!” Holden spat out his coffee all over the office, covering Silas and me in the spittle.

33

MATTHEW

“You always did look handsome in a suit. You wear it well.” Cassie giggled, straightening my tie, giving me a once-over.

I leaned into her, giving her a peck on the lips. Her support meant so much to me. She’d never know just how appreciative I was of having her by my side. These last few days had been troubling with the new information coming to light, and she hadn’t gloated by saying “I told you so.” No, instead, Cassie jumped in to help in any way she could. Tonight would mark new beginnings and the end of another chapter in my life.

During my meeting with Silas, we discussed strategies to ensure our plan to take down Wyatt was ironclad. With everything ready, I knew the final pieces I needed to put into motion.

“Thank you for not asking me to join you tonight,” Cassie blurted, brushing the dog hair off my suit collar.

“If everything goes as planned, it’ll be better if you’re not there,” I assured her, caressing her cheek.

Cassie knew the plan, and while she was nervous about how it was all going to unravel, she knew she needed to trust me and the seemingly good team of people I’d gathered.

Cassie walked with me to the elevator. I had insisted on her staying the night, stating how much Rocky would miss her after this past week together. She smiled when I said it, knowing that Rocky probably wasn’t the only one who would miss her.

Audrey was on her way over to keep Cassie company, and I ordered takeout to be delivered for their girls’ night in.

They had a lot to catch up on since Cassie had been staying at my place, and Audrey finally felt a little lighter from her past. Their lives appeared to be going in the direction they’d always dreamed of.

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