Page 83 of Forever Fake

“Oz, it’s time you signed the paperwork. I’m done fucking around with this.”

“Oh, are you? Well,” his gaze darts to Yve, “we have a different idea of how this is going to go down. It’s nice of you to join us. Why don’t you have a seat?”

I remain standing, but my attention shifts to Yve. What the fuck is she up to now?

She purses her over-stuffed lips and leans against the conference table, victory shining in her eyes. “Ozzie here told me all about your little scene at his office.” Shetsks. “The deal is off. You failed. Which means Liam won’t be coming to work for Titan Enterprises. In fact, I’m making Ozzie the new CEO.” A vicious grin appears on her face. “Oh, and you’refired.”

My jaw clenches as I reel from this devastating turn of events. Then the reality of the situation dawns on me.Ozzie. A nickname.

“You two were in this together, weren’t you?”

Yve laughs, the sound grating on my ears. “You finally figured it out. I have to say it was hilarious making you bend over backward to woo Ozzie, all those dinners and having to pretend as if you liked him. This was one of my best games yet. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“It sure was fun.” Oz snakes his arm around her waist, then glances at me. “You should have known you were never going to win this one. I mean how many times did I have to delay signing that contract for you to get the hint? You’re not as smart as you think you are, Baron. You never even bothered to look for a connection between me and Yve. We’ve known each other for years.”

“True. I’m good friends with Ozzie’s mother.” She entwines her fingers with his. “I’ve known him since he was a child, and had the honor of being his first when he turned sixteen.”

Christ. I’d rather be buried alive with vipers than listen to this creepy shit. Step-monster, gold-digger, child molester, Yve continues to disgust me with her layers of depravity.

“Honestly, you two are boring me. So let’s change the subject, shall we?” I fish the tiny, bejeweled flash drive out of my pocket and hold it up for them to see. “Cue panic.”

Yve stares at it, then fumbles with her charm bracelet, her face pale. She laughs, relieved. “Mine is right here. But that was a cute joke, you had me for a second.”

“It’s not a joke. You bought this online, how easy do you think it was to order another one and swap it for the original? I found two video files on here, and once I knew what I was looking for, it was easy enough to have someone track down and erase all three copies. The shit you had on me… poof, gone.”

Her features contort in rage as her skin becomes increasingly flushed. “How—?” Realization dawns. “That littlebitch!”

I cluck my tongue. “Be careful how you talk about my wife.”

“What’s going on?” Oz asks, his gaze flicks back and forth between us. “What does this mean?”

“Nothing, it means absolutely nothing.” Yve removes the drive from her bracelet and plugs it into the laptop sitting on the conference table. She clicks a few buttons, then a couple more, before straightening her spine and gazing across at me. “Well played, Mr. Baron. Well played.”

We both know she’s done. The game has been seen through to its completion. I’ve won.

“Babe, what just happened?” Oz is really getting on my nerves.

“We’re finished. Blake’s won.”

“The fuck we are!” Oz spears his fingers through his dark hair.

Yve trains her gaze on me. “What do you want? What’s your price to let us go free?”

Cool satisfaction runs in my veins as I take in her defeat. “You think you can buy me?”

“Everyone has a price. Even you.”

“All right. Him. He’s my price.” I nod toward Oz. “I’m going to kill him slowly, painfully.”

“Fine.” Yve shoves Oz in front of her. “Take him. He’s all yours.”

“You bitch!” He turns, backhanding her so hard she crumples to the floor.

The door bursts open and several FBI agents enter the room, taking in the scene before them. They spot Yve and, hauling her to her feet, arrest her.

My gaze bores into Oz’s. Now that Yve’s taken into custody, there’s no one here to hide behind. He’s all mine.

As if reading my mind, his eyes widen and he blurts out, “You can’t touch me.”

---