24
That devilish sensuality must be in his genes . . .
And malice too
Forty-eight hours before the fair
Okay, so I’d been forced to come up with a new plan—and it wasn’t so bad.
With no time to keep investigating, I had to use what I already had: the recording of Eli fleeing the library and the video showing Aegan talking about how she was dead. I could show them to everyone on the day of the fair, and the rest would take care of itself as the footage spread like wildfire.
As for publicly breaking up with Aegan, as Dash, Kiana, and Artie had hoped, that was no longer part of the plan.
I was sure that the videos would be so earth-shattering that I could continue playing his innocent and completely unsuspecting girlfriend, even coming to his rescue.
That’s enough humiliation, guys. It’s over.
That day, I left the apartment to meet up with Aegan and help get things ready for the fair, just like he’d asked.
Honestly, all I really wanted to do was stuff my face with ice cream and wallow in my misery, unable to shake off the argument with Adrik.
No, I couldn’t fix it at this point. I also had to put Adrik out of my mind.
It was probably for the best that he hated me, because we could never really “be together” for very obvious reasons: I wanted to destroy his brother, which meant tarnishing his family name and inevitably hurting him too.
That was the little part that ate at me, but I tried to push my emotions aside.
I cycled to the fairgrounds in no time. Tagus’s event area was huge and had a load of different structures: an amphitheater, an audiovisual hall, a conference hall, and a banquet hall.
Outdoors, there was a stage for concerts, and that’s where all the commotion was.
There were things all over the place: fabrics, boxes, amplifiers, tables, chairs, fairground structures, and disassembled carts.
People were running around decorating and setting things up to make sure the tribute on Friday would go off without a hitch.
I looked for Artie in the crowd. She was with Laila. Both looked like regular college girls with their denim shorts, Tagus-logo T-shirts, sneakers, and high ponytails. They were looking at something happening a few yards away.
As I got closer, I didn’t need to ask what was going on. Aegan’s voice boomed all the way over to where we were standing.
“If I’m going to say it, it has to sound like me!” he blurted out in a loud and authoritative voice.
He wasn’t far from us, talking with Aleixandre and the chancellor of Tagus—a woman in her forties with sleek, straight hair, always combed back like a taut curtain. She had a stiff demeanor and, although she wasn’t scary, she commanded respect.
But . . . Aegan didn’t respect anyone but himself.
He looked like he was about to fly off the handle.
He was clutching a few sheets that must’ve been his speech, his brow furrowed and his presence radiating the unmistakable demeanor of someone who could, if he chose, wield enough power to change a nation’s name or anthem just to get his way.
“That’s my boyfriend, acting the way he always does,” I said as I walked up to the girls.
Laila let out a little laugh.
“He’s been like that the whole time,” said Artie, rolling her eyes. “He wanted to change the speech, but the chancellor says he has to follow the established one.”
Aegan was passionately defending his case.
Beside him, Aleixandre looked worried. He scratched the back of his neck, shifting his gaze between his brother and the chancellor, as if bracing for things to take a turn for the worse.
The chancellor was remarkably patient, clearly because she was dealing with the Cash family.
A little secret: Dash (Dash is such a gossip) told me that she gave the Cash brothers special treatment.
“But why do we have to give the same speech every year?” I heard Aegan complain. His words lacked understanding. He punched the sheets with the back of his hand. “I could write something better myself in three seconds.”
The chancellor took a deep breath in. Her hands were clasped over her belly.
“Mr. Cash, you’re a highly valued member of the student community,” she began, her voice calm and measured, so gentle it almost seemed timid.
“We have complete confidence in your abilities and are honored that you participate in the institution’s events, as you provide a positive image that inspires all of us.
However, the speech has been delivered in exactly the same way since the university was founded . . .”
He, of course, didn’t let her finish.
“How long has that been? Three centuries?” he shot back with an absurd laugh. “Please, this speech might as well be chloroform. As soon as I start reading it, people will either nod off from boredom or, worse, get up and leave.”
“But the press will—” the chancellor tried to say.
However, she was forced to stop, which was quite funny, because Aegan shouted, “Better still, journalists love me!” He looked really proud of himself. “Even if I just talked about cheese, the headline would still be epic. Just let me change the speech and everything will be fine.”
“Mr. Cash . . .” the chancellor started to say, trying to remain calm.
Aegan was getting ready to snap back. We were caught up in the ridiculous argument.
Seeing the chancellor eat her words because she’d given Aegan too much authority at Tagus was quite funny.
It was also funny that Aegan kept cutting off Aleixandre every time he opened his mouth.
It was quite the situation, though my gaze drifted away for a minute.
Even Artie and Laila glanced away the moment they noticed my attention had drifted.
But . . . destiny, like, come on?
First, you only gave me two days to put the finishing touches to my plan, and now you throw in another unexpected twist? Or rather, an unexpected person.
“Isn’t that . . . ?” Artie suddenly spoke in a high, startling tone and quickly pressed a hand on my shoulder, as if she were stopping herself from fainting.
“Regan Cash,” Laila said, just as stunned.
Oh, yeah, there was a fourth Cash brother.
At this point, imagine the beat of the song “Do I Wanna Know?” by Arctic Monkeys.
Not the lyrics, just that drum beat, clapping, and guitar that inspire chaos.
Now imagine that playing in the background as Regan makes his way over.
Slow it down a bit and throw in a gentle breeze, and a few stunned heads turning in his direction.
And there he was.
Regan Cash. Twenty-eight years old. The oldest Cash brother.
A broad, charmingly sensual smile, towering height, and presence that seemed to make everything around him freeze.
Reliable sources confirmed he was actually a half brother.
Their father, Adrien Cash, had had an affair, but he had acknowledged him regardless and welcomed him into the family, treating him just like his other children.
But that helped explain certain differences.
The Perfect Liars all had jet-black hair, whereas Regan had brown hair with hints of blond, as untamed as the thoughts he stirred in you.
However, the one trait the four of them shared, maybe the true Cash hallmark, was their gray eyes.
Regan’s eyes were a tricky gray, occasionally flashing hints of blue.
There was a cunning provocation in that look, without a trace of doubt or bitterness.
If Aegan radiated power, Regan seemed to see the entire world as his plaything.
While the Perfect Liars seemed intimidating, Regan oozed an imposing presence that was more seductive.
If Aegan’s cruelty struck you right in your face, Regan’s malice was .
. . tempting? That demeanor, that height, that slender frame wrapped in a slate-gray tailored suit made it clear what he was: an important businessman.
When I finally snapped out of my trance and looked at the others, I could see Artie looked fascinated, while Laila seemed to be drooling over him.
“I’d never seen him up close,” Artie whispered, barely able to form a proper sentence.
“I have, but every time I see him, he’s even more impressive,” added Laila, equally as spellbound.
I blinked in bewilderment. The world seemed to stand still while I watched Regan, but in reality, everything kept going. Aegan kept arguing. In fact, as soon as his booming voice reached my ears, I snapped out of it.
Something was about to go down. Because, oh, destiny, you’re a bitch and you know it.
As soon as Regan joined the group with Aegan, Aleixandre, and the chancellor, he spoke.
“If it’s so hard for you, little bro, I can give the speech for you.” His voice was cunning and playful, yet calm and confident.
Aegan turned around suddenly, and I noticed that all of them reacted differently.
Aleixandre looked pleasantly surprised, like he was seeing a loved one for the first time in ages.
The chancellor had a nostalgic smile on her face.
Aegan . . . well, Aegan looked like he’d just been told, Get off the throne, the real king is here. He looked confused, surprised, and maybe even horrified. He looked Regan up and down in disbelief.
“Regan!” exclaimed Aleixandre, delighted to see him. They patted each other on the back in one of those manly embraces.
The same couldn’t be said for Aegan. In fact, Aegan just stood there, like he was wishing his half brother hadn’t shown up.
“Chancellor,” Regan said, taking her hand. He leaned over and kissed her knuckles.
Me and Artie tilted our heads in unison, sneaking a peek at his ass. His trousers were hiding something nice.
“When I studied here, I couldn’t admit it, but now that things have changed,” Regan spoke seductively, “I must say that your beauty almost drove me to break the rules.”
Any other compliments she’d ever received probably paled in comparison given the effect Regan’s had on her. The chancellor swelled up and looked like she was holding back a scream, like a fan at a concert.