11. Con Meets Her Match
11
Con Meets Her Match
S pencer had to admit Nicole was great. Not as a party planner. Anyone else would have figured a girl as young as Nessa didn’t have enough friends to fill a place like The Old Paint Factory. Not as a mother. From her own lips, she was an admitted failure.
But what she was great at, just like any con artist, was putting on a front. She could convince her marks she was whatever they needed her to be. That was her true talent.
She was a natural at making his kid feel comfortable. Spencer noticed by watching her in action. On the drive over, Nessa would ask her a question, and Nicole would answer it. Then she would follow up by asking Nessa how she felt, and validated her feelings. She was doing everything she could to sell she was a normal person who cared about her clients. Someone who cared about Nessa and her feelings.
Someone who could go from manipulating adults to connecting with a child was impressive. Spencer could give her that. Yet that only made him more wary of Nicole. He couldn’t let his guard down around her, especially if Nessa took a liking to her.
“Is that the venue?” Nessa pointed out the window .
“That’s right,” Nicole answered. “Our next stop is to the New Horizon Community Center.”
The moment Spencer turned off the engine, Nessa bolted out of the car and ran to the doors. “Wait for us,” he shouted.
He opened his car door, then promptly opened Nicole’s. He hated having to act nice to her, but William warned him the nicer he was, the easier it would be to gain her trust.
“Thank you, kind sir.”
“Anytime, madam.”
Nicole looked over her shoulder and grinned. “So this place is smaller in square feet than The Old Paint Factory, but you can still feel the creativity in its walls.”
Spencer forced a smile and nodded politely as he followed her to the entrance of the community center. Spencer trailed behind Nicole as she led them in. He kept an close eye on Nicole and Nessa as they explored the space.
The place was definitely more modern than any community center he’d been to as a kid. It had a sleek, sophisticated look to it with its high ceilings, glass doors, and an elevator as clean as his penthouse’s. While The Old Paint Factory had a rustic feel to it, the New Horizon Community Center had an upscale urban vibe.
“This place is so cool!” Nessa said.
“It’s amazing. There’s just so much space to work with. And you know what would go perfectly with this?”
“What?” Nessa asked, her eyes wide with excitement.
“An art studio,” Nicole said, stopping at the door of said studio.
Spencer peered inside, his eyes wandering the room. It was huge and empty, save for easels and the stage where a model would stand. It was minimal, making it almost serene. A mural was painted on the back wall. It was a picture of a girl looking at the sky, her arms stretched out as if she was trying to reach up and catch the stars .
“This is amazing! Can I use the easel?”
“Go ahead. Test the space out.”
Nessa went into the room and plopped down at an easel and picked up a pencil. Spencer and Nicole stood side-by-side, watching as she put pencil to the paper.
Nicole’s voice broke the peace Spencer had watching Nessa do what she loved. “What do you think of it?”
“It’s a very nice place.”
“Your tone…” Nicole stretched out like she needed time to choose her next words carefully. “You say what would be a compliment like it’s a bad thing.”
“I’m not saying it’s bad. I’m just… not sold. There’s nothing wrong with the place. It’s very nice, but not what I pictured for Nessa.”
“Is it too materialistic?” she asked, recalling the use of the word in their first meeting.
He turned away from Nessa and stopped on her. “Renting out an entire state-of-the-art community center? Yeah, I’d say that’s pretty materialistic.”
“For who? You or her?” It was the second time she let her professional mask slip today. “Do you mind if I be truthful with you?”
This Spencer had to hear. “Please do.”
“The reason I asked that question is that it looks to me you care more about appearances than Nessa does. You drive a Honda Fit, a modest choice for a millionaire. You shot down my more extravagant idea for Nessa’s party because you wanted something more down to earth. Now you’re talking about not being sold on this community center, a place most kids would kill to have a birthday party at. It’s almost like you don’t want her to have the things other kids her age would love to have. Why is that?”
Spencer stared blankly at her. Did she double as a therapist when she wasn’t stealing money from unsuspecting men? Because she hit the nail on the head.
This party, the penthouse they were shacked up in. Even the Ralph Lauren suit Spencer was wearing. It was all temporary. They would vanish as fast as they appeared once this case was over. The luxuries they were being afforded were because of William, a figure in their lives that would be soon be gone.
He didn’t want Nessa getting used to something he couldn’t actually afford for her. It would be a cruel trick to play on a child to allow her to think this life could be hers. Only for it to be snatched away. It wasn’t like he could tell that to Nicole, though.
“Because,” he said, struggling to find the words.
“Because?”
Spencer exhaled, shaking his head. “Money is fleeting. Luxuries like this party can be gone in a flash. The last thing I want is for Nessa to believe these things will always be available to her, when we don’t know if it will.”
“And here I thought your reservations were rooted in vanity when you’re just trying to protect Nessa. I’m sorry if my earlier line of questioning offended you.”
“It didn’t. I appreciated you lowering your mask, even if it was only for a second.”
“My mask?”
“Yeah. You can’t tell me you’re always this buttoned up and reserved. The Nicole I’ve gotten to know has been very put together, but also very stiff. I can’t help but think there’s another side to you, one you keep hidden, that you show only when you need it.”
Her eyes widened. For a moment, she appeared almost vulnerable before ridding herself of it. “You’re quite perceptive, Spencer,” she commented with a small smile. “There’s more to me than meets the eye, just as there is to you, I’m sure. ”
Spencer returned her half-smile, feeling less forced now that he was getting her to come out of her shell. “You were right to call me out. You said it best earlier. This is Nessa’s party. I shouldn’t stand in the way of what she wants because I’m afraid.”
“Right, but you’re not wrong for wanting to protect her, either. You not wanting her to get hurt or be disappointed down the line is something any great father would worry themselves sick about. Don’t be ashamed of that.”
Nicole’s words felt sincere, but feelings weren’t facts. What was important was Nicole wanted Spencer to believe she was being sincere. She wanted him to have a high opinion of her. It told Spencer she didn’t view him as a threat. Which meant he could gain her trust and have the upper hand when he needed it.
“Are you two coming in?” Nessa called, bringing them back to reality.
Spencer chuckled. “I guess that’s our cue.”
Nicole nodded, falling back into her professional demeanor. “Let’s go join the birthday girl, shall we?”
Nessa showed off her sketch of a starry night. Like she was the girl in the mural, and she was committing the stars to memory. When she was done, Nicole took them to visit other rooms in the building. Rooms similar to the studio and some smaller. And one larger.
“This is the ballroom. The owner told me they use this space for many functions. A birthday party would be in line with stuff they’ve done before. It would be very easy to transform this floor into a dancefloor. Create a space for a DJ. After all the artistic activities and food, the party could end here with music and dance.”
Spencer watched Nessa, half paying attention, as she spun around in the huge open space. Stopping herself right before she got too dizzy. The lights in the room reflected the sparkle in her eyes.
Spencer couldn’t help but smile as he watched her take in the elaborate setup. He couldn’t believe he was thinking it, but maybe Nicole was right. Maybe he had been too focused on protecting Nessa from disappointment. That he hadn’t considered how much joy an experience like this could bring her in the present moment.
“What do you think of the place, Nessa?” Spencer asked.
“It’s amazing,” she gushed, twirling again. “It’s the perfect size for how many people I want to come, and there are enough rooms to have the art stations like Ms. Nicole suggested.”
Spencer turned to Nicole, who was standing quietly off to the side. He could tell she was biting back a smug look, as if to say, “See, I told you so.”
“Well, Princess Nessa, your wish for the perfect party is my command. If this is what you want, then this is what you’ll get.”
“Yes, yes! I want it.” She jumped up and down, making what was left of Spencer’s reservations fade away entirely.
“Looks like you’re sold, Spencer.”
He shook his head. “You were right. It’s perfect. Don’t get a big head about it.”
“The only one with a big head here is you,” Nessa shot back.
Nicole covered her mouth, laughing at the burn. Spencer rolled his eyes. “You can be very sassy for someone so small, you know that?”
“I get it from you.”
“Ooh, another burn,” Nicole teased. “She’s really besting you. Maybe now would be a good time to wave the white flag before she launches another one at you.”
Spencer narrowed his eyes, turning his attention to her. “You’re supposed to be helping me. Not teaming up with the enemy.”
“As far as I’m concerned, my enemy is you.”
Nicole had no idea how right she was. He was her enemy. Which made it all the more harder to see his niece leave his side to walk over to her and give her a high five .
Spencer wasn’t annoyed with Nessa. She didn’t know any better. He was annoyed that in two hours, Nicole had won her over so easily. His sweet and innocent niece was becoming another one of Nicole’s marks. His only way of stopping it was to beat her at her own game.
Spencer held up his hands in mock surrender. “Alright. I’m done. You won this round.”
And if it was up to him, it was the only round she would be winning.