Page 50 of Faking Ever After

The mischief was gone from her face. “I’ll admit I didn’t realize Benny was like that until he arrived, but his proposals to Percy were asubtlehint.” She added sarcastic emphasis on that word. “It was a disappointment, but also a relief. And Emily looked him up, discovering a string of bankruptcies. That man has ruined every company he has touched, but he sure can row a boat if he thinks it’ll get him into other people’s bank vaults.”

Again, I refused to consider what rowing a boat meant, even as I recalled Benny Tupper literally rowing them out to sea one morning.

“A bit of drama, darling, that’s all there is to it. It’s the spice of life,” Aunt Judith said wisely.

I wasn’t sure I agreed. I could totally sign up for a life without a single excitement. If I could just curl up next to Percy on a sofa in the evening, and if we could just have a cat nestled betweenus, I could spend my whole life that way. I didn’t need intrigue and drama. I’d had more than enough of it in my life already.

And what are you if not a lowly scammer here to provide some fun for your host?I heard myself asking internally. It was a terrible thought, cold and nasty, and I tried to rid myself of the icky feeling it left in me once it crossed my mind. I wasn’t like Benny and Percy wasn’t using me for some quick release. If anything, I was more devious than Benny, and Percy more trusting than Judith.

“You are a darling for worrying, Finn,” Aunt Judith said. “But put him out of your mind and get ready for the party. We only have two days to go.”

“Well, I’m glad Benny hasn’t hurt your feelings,” I said, wondering if I was going to hurt Percy’s feelings. He knew I was in trouble, but he had no clue just how much trouble. I wondered if he would be relieved once he knew just how serious that flash drive was.

Aunt Judith hugged me, then sent me on my way because she needed a bit of rest. As I closed the door of her room, I saw Percy standing in the open space between the kitchen island and the living area, fiery beams of sunset pouring into the house from behind him. Emily had a bottle of some Naxos brandy in her hand, Nektaria and Dimitrios were in the kitchen getting dinner ready, and Alicia and Lawrence had appeared on the balcony, wet after a swim in the sea. Percy gazed at me and I at him.

A gust of wind from an open door pulled the white curtains behind Percy up and they billowed in the draft. Percy’s gaze slid from me to the main door that was three paces behind me. His face split between a welcoming smile and a creasing worry. “Richie,” he greeted.

Even as the first word left the newcomer’s lips, my stomach opened into a hollow abyss and my heart fell through it. “Anybody home?” The dark, deep voice of the billionaireinvestor and crypto scammer Richard Harrison chilled my blood and spilled goosebumps down my spine.

My ears rang and my throat closed tightly as I fought hard against the urge to sprint off. I turned slowly on my heels and found myself face to face with the man who had ruined my family, threatened me into exile, and, at one point, tried to get me into his bed. His cold, shark-like gaze turned to me, the corners of his lips growing hard and still, and he pointed at a small suitcase he had just lowered by the foot of the stairs. “You may take my luggage to my room.” He turned his gaze warmly to Percy, inhaling as if to say something.

In a moment of pure shock and horror, I saw myself bending down to pick up Richard’s luggage, my heart pounding out of my chest.

“No, Finn. Don’t do that,” Percy said, half-confused and half-chuckling. “Richie can take his own luggage. Can’t you, Richie? Finn’s not staff.”

Richard Harrison—or Dick as his acquaintances in New York City’s most exclusive clubs had called him around me—made an apologetic face. “Oh, forgive me, I thought you were hired to help with the party. My bad.” His smile was so genuine and open that some small part of me thought this couldn’t have been the same man, but then I looked into his eyes and nothing was smiling there.

“Welcome, old friend,” Percy said, coming closer to me.

I held my breath, waiting for Richard to tell them I had stolen his most private data after gaining his trust. I waited for them to turn on me. The Davenports were battered with scammers whose only goal was to extract whatever they could from Percy. Why shouldn’t they believe I was just like everyone else? And how was I any different? How was I different from Benny Tupper and his sort?

“It’s good to be here again, Percy,” Richard said. A stubble covered the lower half of his hard face. His teeth were pearly white when he smiled and his voice was deep, but not menacing like it had been the last time we had spoken.

“You’ve met Finn. My boyfriend,” Percy said, letting go of Richard after a brief hug.

“I sure have,” Richard said. It made my stomach turn as he directed his gaze at me. He offered me a hand to shake and I took it limply. His hand was cold and mine was sweaty. He squeezed me just enough to make me notice. “Sorry about the confusion,Finn.”

Not that long ago, he had known me as Matthias. His subtle pressure on my hand and the emphasis on my name that might have sounded to everyone else like a man trying to commit a new name to memory were enough to warn me of a hellishly bad time to come. He wasn’t going to out me just like that. Of course not. It would be too risky for him.

But he sure as hell was glad that fate had brought us to the same house.

Richard released my hand and moved to hug Emily, passing between me and Percy to get there. I stared at the back of his head, still numb with shock, and I flinched when something touched the small of my back.

“Hey, it’s okay. It’s me,” Percy said, amused, and tried to wrap his arm around my waist again.

I forced a smile to my lips. There was a sliver of worry in Percy’s eyes, but our attention drifted back to Richard as Alicia and Lawrence walked into the house. “Richie, darling, you’re as arrogant as ever. Where on Earth is your valet?” Alicia said, making me choke.

Richard chuckled warmly. “You’re ravishing, Alicia. The silver in your hair looks good on you.”

Her laughter was melodic and warm, obviously pleasing her to duel with backhanded compliments. “Welcome to Paradise,” Alicia said, kissing Richard twice.

As my heart hammered in my chest and my stomach filled with acid, I learned that my fight-or-flight instinct was broken. Had I been an antelope and he a lion, Richard Harrison would be enjoying a fine feast by now. I was stunned off my feet, which were fused solidly to the floor until Percy nudged me forward a little.

Nektaria was dicing a carrot furiously and Dimitrios ignored everyone while pouring white wine into a decanter. Emily looked away from me when my gaze went to her, but she still wore her little smile, speaking to her mother in the next heartbeat.

The flurry of activity around the dinner began and it felt like a swarm of bees flying around my head.

We moved toward the terrace and the dining table. Alicia and Lawrence went in to get dressed, talking under their breaths about this party beingtheiranniversary, and I was able to put together the rest of their opinions on the new arrival. Emily was going to speak to Aunt Judith about Benny, which left Percy, Richard, and me on the terrace.

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