Page 52 of Forever Fake

CHAPTER 23

Ginevra

Yve stands up at the dinner table, glass raised. “I’d like to welcome you all aboard. We’ll be cruising together for the next three days, then we’ll arrive at the private island where this happy couple will be married on the beach at sunset.” She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “To the happy couple, Lexa and Franklin.” Everyone echoes her toast and we all drink.

When she goes to sit back down, I swear Franklin, who’s seated beside her, grabs her ass. Yve glances at him, then leans slightly forward in her seat and his eyes roll back in his head. I really don’t want to know what’s going on under that side of the table.

Meanwhile, Lexa stares at her barely touched food, seemingly lost in thought. She is my age, with straight blond hair and cornflower blue eyes set in a heart-shaped face. Where I’m all curves, she’s small and slim. Lexa has this pixie-like energy about her, she’s beautiful in an ethereal kind of way.

I find it strange that Lexa’s maid of honor, and only bridal party member because they’re keeping the wedding intimate, is Franklin’s twenty-five year old daughter Samantha. Lexa and Sam don’t really seem to know each other that well, so why’s she her maid of honor?

Then there’s Guy, Franklin’s best man. Those two must be good friends because they keep laughing about inside jokes that go right over everyone else’s heads. Personally, both those guys give me the creeps.

Thankfully, I’m seated between Blake and his brother Liam. Liam spends most of his time on his phone, which he hides under the table, barely paying attention to anyone. What a strange, disjointed family.

Franklin grunts and shudders, drawing my attention. Did Yve just jack him off? Gross. He winks at me, and my dinner threatens to come back up. Quickly, I drop my gaze. The last thing I want to do is draw that man’s attention. Huh, maybe my sense of self-preservation is finally kicking in?

Blake did his best to warn me about his family, but there’s a huge difference between hearing about them and experiencing them in person. He’s kept me close to his side all day and now I understand why. Even now, his arm rests across the back of my chair. It’s possessive, a barrier and shield against those around us. He’d prefer I wasn’t here—to protect me from his family. Since I have to be here, we should make the best of it.

Yve dabs her lips with the napkin and clears her throat. “After Lexa’s nuptials, I’m making it my mission to find Liam a beautiful bride. Maybe even… Samantha?”

Sam chokes on her wine, but Liam seems unfazed. “I’m already seeing someone,” he states, not bothering to look up from his phone. He’s playing an app game.

“Oh? Who’s the lucky girl?” Yve presses. When he doesn’t respond, she barks, “Liam?”

He finally glances up. “My boyfriend’s name is Maks.”

Silence descends on the table. You could hear a pin drop. I hide my smirk behind my wine glass. Did they really not know Liam’s gay? Arianna told me all about the drama between him and Maks, her bratva husband’s second in command. Liam’s allkinds of mixed up in that world, which Maks apparently hates because he wants to protect him.

“Well,” Yve’s voice has an edge to it. “There are places I could send you to fix your affliction. They have proven methods that could cure you.”

I gasp, shocked she’d say such a thing. Her attention darts to me, assessing, then shifts back to Liam. He glares at her for a moment before he shrugs, going back to his game. I can only imagine what it must have been like to grow up with a step-mother like that. I don’t like my father very much at times, but I’d choose him any day over Yve.

Blake’s been awfully quiet, so I glance at him. He’s watching his step-mother with a deadly glint in his eyes. For the first time, I wonder why he doesn’t make her disappear, like he has to so many other powerful people. She must be holding something over him. But what could it possibly be?

Suppressing a soft chuckle, I inwardly shake my head at myself. The list of potential blackmail items Yve could have on Blake is probably endless. He’s far from squeaky clean. If I wanted dirt on him, I could probably search his house and come up with something. Though I have no doubt he’s excellent at hiding his crimes. He must have slipped up at some point, doesn’t everyone?

After dinner and dessert we all have a nightcap in the lounge. The yacht is truly magnificent. It’s basically a floating mansion with full-on suites for bedrooms and all the amenities you could want. Plus staff. Despite some of the company, I’m enjoying myself.

With Blake tailing me, I have a seat next to Liam. “I heard you just graduated. Congratulations.”

“Thanks.” He sips his scotch, making me think of a younger version of Blake. They have the same coloring, but Liam’s much easier going than his older brother. “I’d be much more excitedto join the company if it didn’t mean working under… that.” He glances at Yve.

Blake grunts his agreement. “You won’t have to for long. One year, that’s all. Then the CEO position at Titan Enterprises goes to you.”

“Nepotism.” I cough. Blake glares at me and I chuckle.

Liam laughs. “Nepotism is alive and well in the Baron family. Pretty soon you won’t even notice it, and by the time you and Blake have kids you’ll be grateful for it.”

Blake and I glance at each other, both of us caught off guard by Liam’s comment.

“I-I’m sure you’re right.” I humor him. It feels odd that Liam doesn’t know our relationship is fake. But why would he? Blake kept his promise to tell no one, not even those closest to him about us.

Liam sighs. “Though there are times when I want to toss it all away and go work with Maks.”

“Work with Maks? Are you fucking insane?” Blake struggles to keep his voice low. “You’re not joining the Russian Bratva.”

“Duh.” Liam rolls his eyes. “It was a joke, Blake. Calm down. I know how much you’ve sacrificed to make sure I eventually take the CEO position in the company our father built. I’m not going to throw that all away. I’m grateful.”

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