Page 4 of Vows of Deceit
Cassie nodded. Her lips tightened into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Right.”
By noon, Damien emerged from the bedroom with sleep-tousled hair and a groggy face that under any other circumstance might’ve made her smile.
“Morning,” he mumbled, stretching. “What time is it?”
“Almost noon.”
He winced. “Shit. I was supposed to be in a call an hour ago.”
Cassie handed him his coffee, black and just the way he liked it. “You were tired.”
He kissed her cheek. “Last night was amazing. Seriously, thank you for everything you did.”
She nodded, searching his face. “Did you… forget something?”
He looked up from his coffee, blinking. “What do you mean?”
Cassie gave him a moment.
He glanced at her, then down at the cup, then away. “Oh. The gift.”
Her heart thudded softly.
“I… meant to have it delivered to the office yesterday, but things got crazy. I’ll bring it by tonight. I wanted it to be perfect.”
Cassie nodded slowly. “Of course. I understand.”
But the way his gaze slid to the floor said more than his words. There was no gift. There had never been one.
“Do you want to tell me what it was?” she asked, her voice gentle.
He hesitated. “A bracelet. Emerald. To match the one you wore at the gala last spring.”
Too specific. Too fast. Practiced.
Cassie smiled and leaned up to kiss his cheek. “I’m sure I’ll love it.”
He gave her a quick nod and disappeared into the bathroom. Cassie remained still, the air around her strangely heavy.
When the water began running, she picked up her phone and texted Delia one word “Check.”
Later that day, Cassie wandered through the Kings Grand’s grand ballroom for a final check before an upcoming gala. Her heels echoed against the high-gloss floor as she moved past gold-trimmed columns and crystal chandeliers.
Delia met her by the reception desk, tablet in hand.
“I checked the company card and Damien’s personal Amex. Three days ago, he bought a diamond bracelet from Raffin’e Jewelers. Not emerald.”
Cassie’s jaw clenched. “Shipping address?”
“Not listed. But the pickup signature was K. King.”
Her breath caught.
Kelly.
Her sister.
Of course it was.
