Just Pretend (Just… #1)

28. Hallie

CHAPTER 28

HALLIE

Rupert Sinclair . The man whose name my mother won’t even speak out loud. My father’s ex-business partner who put money and power above all else, no matter what the consequences. And now, the man who is demanding my father buy him out for the land our family’s camp sits on. Rupert Sinclair has long been a boogeyman in my house, looming over us, threatening to take what we hold so dear, and it turns out that he is also James’s father.

This whole week, I’ve been guarding myself from James because I thought he was a womanizer. I was scared of having feelings for someone who would only use me for sex and then never want to see me again. I had no idea that the price of being with James was so much higher than ending up as a notch on his bedpost. Maybe I could have understood if he were just the kind of guy who preferred flings to relationships, but this I can’t wrap my head around. James lied to me. He betrayed me. He got me to lower my defenses and let him into my life…and for what? What is the endgame of whatever scheme he and his father cooked up? Is he just trying to humiliate me and my family for fun or does this have something to do with the camp?

I have so many questions and none of the answers. My head is dizzy, and I think I might throw up, but everyone is watching me. I can feel their eyes scrutinizing me, trying to determine if I knew who James really was or if it’s just as much of a shock to me as it is to all of them. My inclination is to turn and run out of the restaurant as fast as I can, getting far away from James Sinclair, but at the same time, I don’t want to give Chase the satisfaction of knowing he’s gotten to me. If I bolt now, then he’ll know that he won. What’s worse is that the Winter brothers will have reason to question my relationship. At best, they’ll think James was lying to me this whole time and question my judgement. At worst, they’ll wonder why I didn’t know my boyfriend is an heir of the Sinclair empire. My only choice is to hold it together through dinner and deal with the situation in private later on. James has a lot of explaining to do—if I ever speak to him again.

The catering manager comes over to let the Winters know that dinner is ready to be served, and the three brothers quickly disperse to get everyone to their tables. I take a deep breath, relieved that we don’t have to continue this conversation with my bosses. As Chase walks away, he turns and smirks at me over his shoulder, knowing that his little stunt paid off, even if all it did was rattle me.

Once we’re alone, James puts his hand on my elbow, stepping closer to look in my eyes.

“Hallie, I can explain,” he whispers.

“Not now,” I growl under my breath, glaring at him.

“But I?—”

“Don’t say another word,” I cut him off before turning away from him and heading into the dining room, leaving him behind.

No matter how difficult dinner is going to be, I’m determined to get through this night without letting James’s lies keep me from getting the promotion I’ve worked so hard for—and that, because of his father, I so desperately need.

I make it through dinner with a forced smile on my face, turning the attention on my coworkers and their partners, asking about school plays and soccer games, inquiring how piano lessons are going and if middle schoolers are looking forward to high school next year. I even ask after dogs and cats and family vacations, anything to keep the focus on everyone but me. For the most part, no one seems to notice or mind. It takes some effort, but I manage to stay hyper focused on the conversation, refusing to let my mind wander.

When James tries to take my hand between courses, I immediately pull away from him, folding my hands on the table, away from his reach. If only this had been the night that the Winters decided to sit us away from our partners, I could have more easily ignored him throughout the meal. As it is, it’s difficult to pretend he’s not there while being aware that I still need to act like he’s my boyfriend, even when I’m not sure if he really is or not. I’m trying to wait to hear what sort of explanation he has for the lies he told, but it’s hard to ignore the anger that’s boiling inside of me. I can barely look at him, let alone consider if we have any sort of future.

The way I see it, either he kept his true identity from me because he was trying to sleep with me and didn’t want to ruin his chances by admitting who his father is, or else this is part of a bigger plot, for which there aren’t enough apologies in the world to get me to forgive him.

When the main course is being cleared and the server is handing out dessert menus, I cover my mouth, faking a yawn and stand up from the table.

“I’m sorry to miss out on the cheesecake, but I’m so exhausted,” I tell everyone. “After sleeping on the ground of a cave last night, I really need to get to bed early.”

“Of course, get some rest,” Sarah Cummings, an older woman who manages the seasonal staff says with a sympathetic smile.

“I’ll join you,” James says, jumping up next to me.

As everyone wishes us a good night, I turn and try to walk slowly out of the room, not giving anyone a reason to be suspicious. I even take James’s hand, holding it as loosely as I can until we get to the lobby, and then I drop it and hurry to the elevator. I feel a desperation deep inside me to get far away from everyone. I know I need to deal with this huge blow, and it has to be done in private. I can tell James is itching to defend himself and the moment the elevator doors close, he turns to me with a pained expression on his face.

“I know you’re upset,” he says. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you who my father was, but I don’t see why it matters.”

I give my head a shake, feeling like he’s playing some kind of practical joke on me.

“Are you kidding me?” I ask, my eyes narrowed with contempt.

“No,” he says firmly. “What does my family name have to do with us?”

“You lied to me,” I point out, incredulous that he doesn’t see why this is an issue.

“Well, technically, I guess it’s a lie,” he says with a nonchalant shrug, “but I told you I have nothing to do with my father anymore. I’m out of his business and I hardly speak to anyone in my family other than my mother. Your bosses’ reaction in there is why I changed my last name. I hate being associated with my father. I don’t want anyone to be impressed just because my last name is Sinclair. You can understand that, can’t you?”

I stare back at him for a moment as the elevator rises up through the floors of the lodge. I search his face, looking for signs of guilt or deceit, but as he looks back at me, all I see is genuine confusion and hurt. Is it possible that he doesn’t know who my father is? Could this really be one horrible, unbelievable, incredibly inconvenient fluke? There’s no way. It’s just too far-fetched. He has to be lying.

“It matters, James,” I say, trying to stay calm, “because my father is about to lose everything because of your father. Are you going to tell me it’s just a coincidence?”

He shakes his head from side to side, looking lost and helpless, refusing to let go of his assertion that he has no idea what I’m talking about.

“I’m sorry,” he sighs. “I’m completely lost here. I don’t know what my dad’s business dealings are anymore. I haven't worked for him in years.”

“This isn’t new business,” I tell him, getting frustrated. “This has been in the works for decades.”

“I don’t understand,” he responds with an edge to his tone. “Just tell me what’s going on, please.”

“My father is Mark Evans,” I blurt out. “Does that ring a bell? He’s your father’s former business partner.”

Right away, James takes a staggered step away from me, his eyes growing huge as he puts the puzzle together.

“Oh shit…” he whispers. “Hallie, I didn’t know. You have to believe me.”

“Do I?” I ask. “Or do I have to wonder if that’s why you’re here? Did your father put you up to this? Is that why you were so willing to come on this trip and pretend to be in a relationship with me?”