Page 42 of Deceit
The two of us had access to endless pots of money, yet neither of us had anydesire to spend it. She’d grown used to having to work her ass off to make a pittance, which ultimately went to making sure Angel had everything she needed. And while I had access to a trust fund, there simply wasn’t anything I wanted.
Nothing money could buy, at least.
Instead, we caught up on gossip, and as Riley hadn’t had a chance to beforemy wedding, she filled me in on most of the details of her honeymoon, and all the trouble Angel was causing at her new school. She had a boyfriend, something Kai wasnothappy about.
“So, how’s married life?”Riley asked after we collected our iced lattes froma little cafe and resumed our stroll.
I shrugged, trying my hardest to remain nonchalant.“I can’t complain. Ihaven’t seen Miles since the day after the wedding.”
She stopped walking, her brows creasing as she brought me to an abrupt stop. Around us, ourbodyguards paused, looking around for an imminent threat.“You haven’t seen him? As in, he hasn’t been home?”
“He’s been home. Not ’til I’ve gone to bed, though, and he’s long gone by thetime I wake up.”I paused, taking a sip of my latte and enjoying the sweetness of the vanilla syrup on my tongue.“I didn’t expect anything different, if I’m honest. He told methatafter the wedding, he wanted as little to do with me as possible.”
She pursed her lips.“He can be such an asshole sometimes. Honestly, I’m sodisappointed in him.”
I tugged her arm to continue walking, ready to move on from the topic of myhusband, when she spoke again, almost to herself.“I wonder where he’s been going? He hasn’t been to our place.”
“He hasn’t?”I replied, hearing the accusation in my tone.
If he hadn’t been with Kai, where had he been these last few days? Acidroiled in my stomach. He’d impliedthatI had nothing to worry about with regards to him fucking another woman, but he hadn’t elaborated. There was a lot you could do with someone without actually fucking them.
He also could have been a big fat liar.
Right at the moment, my brain unhelpfully chose to play the image of himfour years ago, on the stage, pounding into someone. I hadn’t allowed myself to think about him still going to Exotique, but what if he was still a regular, fucking different women each night?
A wave as strong as a tsunami crashed into me, and I had the sudden urgeto call him and demand to know where he was. Until I realized I didn’t have his number.
Riley squeezed my arm, trying to reassure me.“I know you won’t haveanything to worry about, Sofe. Miles is many things, but he isn’t a cheater.”
“He might not be a cheater in a real relationship,”I muttered glumly.
She sighed.“I wish I knew what his problem with you is. It can’tjustbebecause of your family. It was his idea to go through with the wedding in the first place.”When I could only hum a response, she turned her suspicious gaze on me, her eyes burning into my profile.“You know, don’t you? You know why he’s so distant with you.”
It wasn’t a question, and my silence confirmed her statement. Her thumbrubbed lightly over the bare skin of my forearm.“Sofe, what’s going on?”she asked gently.“You know you can talk to me, right? I won’t say anything.”
I exhaled a heavy sigh. I’d neverreallyhad friends, except Kat, who Papahad forbidden me to see after she took me to the club, so I’d never had anyone to discuss secrets with.EvenRafe, there werejustsome things you couldn’t tell your brother.
Like the factthatI went to a sex club and almost caused World War Three tobreak out.
But part of me wanted to confide in Riley. Not because it was something wecould gossip about, but because the secret of the night Miles and I met had always weighed on my shoulders. I hadn’t told a single soul, but maybe telling her would help lift the burden.
Subtly, I checked to make sure none of the guards were listening beforeleaning closer.“You won’t tell Kai?”
She almost looked offended.“Of course not!”
Sucking in a deep breath, I bit the bullet.“When you and Miles came tothe house for the meeting with Papa,thatwasn’t the first time I met him.”
Her brows flew to her hairline.“What? When did you first meet him? Andhow?”
Pulling her tighter to me,justto be absolutely sure we couldn’t beoverheard, I launched into the night in question, being careful to avoid certain parts. Like how it was a sex club we’d met in, orthatI’d watched Miles on stage, fantasizingthatit was me whom he was fucking in front of everyone.
I didn’t know if she knew about his…interests,and it certainly wasn’t myplace to tell her.
She listened with bated breath, her jaw dropping as I told herthatI’d metTheo, andthathe’d kissed me.“Holy shit!”she exclaimed when I was done recountingthatnight.“Of all the things you were going to say,thatwasn’t it!”
“Yeah, well.”I shrugged.“But that’s why Miles hates me. He told methatafterthatnight, Theo was obsessed with finding out who I was, andthatMiles had to lie to him to hide my identity, otherwise it would have caused trouble between our families. That’s why he hates me. He blames me because he had to lie to Theo.”
Riley fell quiet for a few seconds, lost in deep concentration.“Actually,Sofe. I don’t think that’s it,”she said tentatively.“I think…I think Miles might be jealousthathe didn’t get to you first.”
