24. Chapter Twenty-Four
Leaning into the solidity of James’ chest as they watched the sunset, Evie sipped her wine, preparing herself for whatever he was about to tell her.
‘You know that day at the beach?’
Evie remembered the kisses on the sand and the swimming in the sea, the love swelling in her chest and mustered an ‘mmm’, as she nestled into him a little more.
‘Cyan called me directly. She’d come to the house, but it wasn’t to see how the project was going. It was to discuss something she couldn’t talk about on video calls in case she was listened in on,’ he said, as Evie enjoyed the sound of his voice vibrating through his chest.
‘When we got to the house, I spoke to Cyan. Just her and I and that’s when I found out that everything we were doing was a decoy.’
Sitting up abruptly, Evie almost knocked James’ wine out of his hand. ‘A decoy? What was?’
‘That’s what I’m getting to. All of it, the house remodel, the wedding dome. All of it is acting as a decoy to the press and her fans so they all focus their attention on what we’re doing here, and no one spots that she’s already married and on honeymoon as we speak.’
Evie spun around and saw James break into a huge smile. ‘No way!’ she said, thrilled with knowing the inside gossip and a little admiration of the double dealing. ‘But how. And to who? No one even knows who she’s marrying.’ Then realisation dawned. ‘Everything we’ve done is pointless? Is she even going to live in this house?’
James poured them both another glass of bubbles. ‘I think she’s keeping everything on a need to know basis. I only know this part of the plan, the fact we’re a decoy. My job was to ensure everything continued to run smoothly, including wedding plans being leaked to the press about this place so that the fans would appear. I also had to manage the extra security at last minute notice in a bid to draw more attention. But to do that I needed a bit of time.’
‘Which is why you disappeared for a couple of days,’ Evie said, as things began to fall into place. ‘But I don’t know why you couldn’t tell me. I’d have been discreet, I’d have helped you,’ she said, disappointed he couldn’t trust her. ‘Was Chloe in on it too?’
James shifted a little. ‘You could say that.’
‘Hang on,’ Evie wondered if she’d got it right, ‘Chloe…is she?’
‘Cyan’s fiancée. Wife now. They met a few months ago and apparently it was all a whirlwind. It was Chloe's idea for Cyan to buy up this house as she thought they could have a secluded place to be together, it was Cyan who decided to conjure up the wedding story out of it. They’re somewhere with sparkling seas and white sand by now.’
Evie sat in silence, processing everything she’d heard. ‘So Chloe was covering for you, who was covering for her and Cyan, whilst you pulled the wool over the press and fans, and my, eyes?’
‘Evie, I’d have told you if I could. You know that.’ Somewhere nearby crickets were performing for each other providing a soundtrack to their conversation.
She shook her head. ‘I thought you were with her,’ she said sadly. ‘I’d convinced myself.’
James held her hands, ‘I know and I’m sorry. But I hope you can see it was all done with the very best of intentions and she’s rewarding me pretty well for my silence. That is assuming we can get through tomorrow and hope to make everyone fall for the fake wedding.’
Trying on anger and jealousy but finding neither of them fitted the situation, Evie found all she felt was a little sad at being left out. However she could also see how trustworthy James was for doing everything he could for Cyan and Chloe to have some privacy.
She realised she’d already forgiven him. ‘How are you going to fake the wedding? I’m assuming none of the staff know.’
‘Not yet.’
‘So how are you – we – going to do it? If we don’t have Cyan?’
James’ eyes glimmered with joy. ‘I’m glad you asked that. You see, I have a plan. And it involves you.’
Evie pressed a hand to her chest. ‘Me?’ Her heart was hammering, she suddenly had the very real fear that James was going to propose to her, and as much as she was in love with him, she wasn’t certain she ever wanted marriage, and definitely nowhere nearly as quick as this.
‘Yes, the whole place will be ready for a party, the room will be stunning. The florists have set up amazing displays. We have a dancefloor and a live band. No expense has been spared. Then of course there’s the food and the waiting staff that have been booked. It’ll be a shame to let it all go to waste. Plus someone will need to have their hair and make-up done by the women who are booked and coming tomorrow. And someone will need to wear the beautiful dress that’s hanging up in their bedroom.’
An insect buzzed past Evie snapping her out of the daydream she was sure she was in.
‘James, the question you were going to ask. In the orangery. Are you asking me to marry you? I’m not sure I’m ready.’ If she was preparing for any kind of reply, her now boyfriend guffawing with laughter wasn’t one of them. ‘What?’
‘Evie, I think we’ve agreed I love you. I want to be with you, but I’m not ready for marriage yet either.’
‘Okay, so what are you asking me?’
James wiped his eyes a little then held her hands. ‘Evie Beck, will you go to prom with me?’
‘Prom?’ she raised an eyebrow.
‘Prom,’ he confirmed with a shy smile. ‘I couldn’t make the last one. I’d like to make it up to you. The way I see it, we have everything booked for the perfect prom. A free party which will go entirely to waste, so why don’t we put it to good use? We can ask all the team to it, tell them they can bring a date. We’ll tell them when they get there that they’re part of a hoax, but by that point they’ll be sipping bucket loads of free champagne and won’t care.’
Evie laughed with joy and clapped her hands together. ‘This is utterly, marvellously, ridiculous. I love it. Are you sure Cyan won’t mind?’
‘I told you. She’s not using it. She told me to do what I could to cause as much of a commotion as possible, to suggest there was a party at the house. I’ve organised for very fancy cars to arrive one after another, which should give the paparazzi hope for a scoop. We can even send them to collect the team. I bet Mick would love to turn up in a Lamborghini,’ he grinned.
‘You’ve thought of everything. You’re pretty sure of yourself though, what if I said no to going as your date?’
James smiled. ‘You haven’t seen the dress yet. I think it’ll be a yes.’