Page 9 of Fool Me Once

Leah wanted to argue withCain, but she would never do it with one of his employees watching. At alltimes, she showed Cain respect in front of others. Behind closed doors, when itwas just the two of them, he got a piece of her mind. Even though she’dwitnessed him kill several people, she wasn’t afraid of him and never would be.

“I’m your son,” Dannysaid. “You’re going to take her side. She is a liar.”

Cain laughed. “Oh, son,that might have worked when you were five, but you see, you didn’t deactivatethe camera. I got to see everything with my own two eyes. I warned you and nowit is time you suffer the consequences. Remove him before I do finally cut himoff without a dime.”

Danny went willingly, buthe didn’t leave before giving her a final glare. It was a warning. One Leahknew she needed to be ready for. Danny blamed her. The man was such a child hecouldn’t accept responsibility for his own fuckups.

“You’re going to make anenemy of him,” Leah said, turning toward Cain.

“My son is already myenemy. The problem is, he is too sloppy. He doesn’t like working hard andrefuses to put in the necessary work to get the job done. Are you ready?” Cainasked.

She looked at him and thenglanced down at her dress. “Are you for real with this dress?” she asked.

“There is nothing wrongwith your dress.”

Leah couldn’t help butlaugh. “What happened to it? Did it shrink in the wash or, I don’t know, justlike failed to be complete?”

“You look stunning,” Cainsaid.

She tried not to let hiswords get to her. He was the first man to ever call her beautiful. She rolledher eyes, and in response he gave her a wink. She would not let it affect her.

“Are you ready, or wouldyou like to complain about my other choices?” he asked.

“This was not a complaint,but an observation. I was not complaining.”

He frowned as he stared ather.

“What?” she asked. “Whatis it?” She repeated her question as he continued to stare at her without ananswer.

“There is somethingmissing.” He reached into his jacket pocket and then held up a diamondnecklace. It was stunning and seemed to glimmer within the lights.

“I can’t wear that.”

“You are, as it is goingto complete the look. Trust me. You’re going to love it.”

There her heart wentagain, pulsing within her chest as he urged her to come forward. She took thelast few steps down and then turned, lifting her hair to give him access to herneck.

Thisis fine. He’s just putting a necklace on your neck. It is not a big deal. Justa necklace.

She knew she shouldn’tcare about how good it felt when the backs of his fingers brushed against herneck. Maybe she was so devoid of human touching that she was gravitating towardCain. It wasn’t like her history was filled with lots of hugs and cuddles. Itwas filled with anything but.

The necklace lay againsther neck, and she dropped her hair and turned toward him.

“Stunning,” he said. “Nowyou look like you’re ready to go to the ball.”

She wasn’t ready, but shedidn’t put up any argument. Cain presented his arm to her, and they left hishome together. There was already a limousine waiting.

Leah had to keep remindingherself she’d been to plenty of these events in the past few months. This onewas no different, and yet, it felt like it was.

****

Cain looked around at thecharity event. Leah hadn’t said a word since she read what the charity was for,but he saw it was pissing her off.

Men and women were ingroups, some discussing other business affairs. Others were talking about howhard it was for children within the foster care system. He tried to keep Leahaway from those groups as he knew she could only take so much before she gaveup.

“Do you enjoy coming tothese events?” Leah asked as he took some champagne from a passing waiter.

“No.”

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