Page 36 of Deceit

Asher

“Thursday– the usual time. Ensure Liam is with you,” my father says, his eyes flicking carefully from side-to-side.

Always listening, always watching.

I dip my head in respect, knowing better than to speak unless asked a direct question. In the next moment, a figure moving through the crowd catches my eye. Skyla is walking towards us with a myriad of emotions on her face. I look back to see both our fathers watching her carefully, before sharing a look as they glance back to me.

“You’re dismissed,” my father says.

Nodding my head, I quickly step away from them and turn to start walking towards Skyla. I’m not sure why he’s willing to cut us loose in the middle of our own engagement party, but I don’t really care. I feel a hand grab my arm and I look down to see Bridgette holding it, batting her eyes up at me like that shit is actually going to work on me. I sneer at her, shaking her off my arm as I close the distance between me and my fiancée.

I stop her in her tracks, grabbing her elbow and weaving her through people as we make our way to the front door. I’m practically speed-walking and I can tell she’s having a hard time keeping up.

“Asher. What the hell?” she whispers in a hushed tone.

“We’re leaving.”

“Leaving?” she questions.

I nod as we step around Liam’s parents. I give them a winning smile and they smile back approvingly before casting disappointing looks at their son. He doesn’t shrink under their gaze. Instead he tunes them out, focusing his eyes on the princess in my grip. A flirtatious smile spreads across his face before he gives her a sly wink. I grit my jaw in irritation, he’s such a fucking flirt.

We move further through the party, almost making it all the way to the door when someone steps in front of us.

“Giselle?” he practically gasps, his mouth open and eyes wide as he stares directly at Skyla.

I raise a confused eyebrow in his direction. Looks like someone’s getting off well with the open bar.

“Um, no. I’m Skyla,” she smiles politely, a guarded look in her deep green eyes.

The man who I now can place as Clark Lewis nods, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them back up and smiling at her.

“My apologies. Your mother, you look so incredibly like her. It’s amazing, actually.”

Skyla’s face softens, and I see her eyes begin to slightly water as she takes a small step towards him, lowering her voice as she asks.

“Really?”

He nods. “Undoubtedly. You’re practically her twin.”

“So, you knew her well? What was she like? Do you have any memories of her? I was so young when she pass—”

“Sorry Mr. Lewis, my fiancée and I are needing to get home. I hope to see you again soon,” I cut in, thoroughly bored with this little stroll down memory lane.

Skyla delivers me a hurt look before she masks it, giving him a polite smile. He smiles back at her in a sad way, before he steps to the side, allowing us to pass.

“Where are we going?” Skyla asks, while the Valet goes to fetch my car.

“Back to campus.”

“Why?”

“We were dismissed,” I say stiffly.

Her brows furrow. “Why?”

I roll my eyes, before facing her just as the car pulls up.

“Who knows, but I’m not going to snub a get out of jail free card, and neither should you. Know one thing about this place, Princess. If they give you an out at any point, you take it with both hands and run like hell.”

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