Page 81 of Forever Fake

“Then stop wasting my time and call her,” she snaps. Seeming to realize her mistake, she takes a sip from her cup asshe calms down. “I will be perfectly courteous. Please tell my daughter to come inside.”

I hold her gaze for several seconds. “Okay.”

Retrieving my phone from inside my purse, I send Lexa a text, but it’s not what Yve thinks.

Ginevra

Here. It’s going well.

Lexa

Good.

I glance up at Yve. “She’ll be here in fifteen minutes.”

Yve sighs, taking another sip of her coffee, and I do the same.

“When are you going to give Blake his inheritance?” I’m curious, and we don’t have anything else to talk about to pass the time.

She eyes me. “I told him he has to be married for one year before he can have it.”

“You really thought that would be impossible for him, didn’t you?” I watch her take another sip, and resist the urge to tap my foot under the table. I thought this stuff was supposed to be fast-acting. How much longer is it going to take?

“Of course I did, otherwise I wouldn’t have set marriage as the obstacle.” Yve huffs. “Then you came along and ruined everything. That ogre worships the ground you walk on, so there’s no hope of you two getting a divorce anytime soon.”

Her comment catches me by surprise. Does he worship the ground I walk on? I don’t see it. But apparently we successfully fooled everyone around us into thinking we’re the perfect couple.

That thought makes me sad.

“Then why don’t you give him his inheritance now and be done with it?” I urge.

“I don’t know… I’m not ready to admit I may have lost this round. But—” Her eyes widen and she covers her mouth. “Excuse me.”

Showtime. Yve launches herself toward the bathroom, her bodyguard sprints after her until she starts vomiting, then he rushes out of the women’s room to stand watch at the door.

Arranging my features to reflect concern, I hurry in after her but her guard stops me.

“You can’t go in.”

“She needs my help. Who’s going to hold back her hair while she throws up? You?”

He cringes, his pallor tinged green. “Go in.”

I slip past him, finding Yve in one of the stalls. It’s surreal seeing such a horrible woman, who seems untouchable most of the time, on her knees in a public bathroom.

Coming to her side, I deftly remove her charm bracelet, while saying, “Oh my god, are you all right?”

“Do I look all right, you imbecile?” She vomits again, and I quickly replace the flash drive on her chain with the empty replica.

“Here let me get your hair out of your face.” As I fuss with her hair, she tries to wave me off, until she’s sick again. With all of these distractions working in my favor, I fasten the bracelet back in place. She never notices a thing.

“Get away from me!” She shrieks, calling for her bodyguard, who is not keen on entering the restroom.

Backing away, I pocket the mini flash drive. “I hope you feel better soon.”

I give the guard an apologetic glance and point to the door. “She’s calling for you. Good luck.” He reluctantly ducks inside.

At the table, I grab my purse and leave. Mission accomplished.

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