Chapter 21
Witnesses
LANIE
I only told my sister and Chloe that Baz took me on an adventure.
I didn’t inform them who he really was or that I visited our ancestral home.
I didn’t explain our plot or the lies we told.
I kept it simple and wrote it off as the lurid affair I wanted them to assume it was. Mission accomplished, right?
But, I had to tell someone as the day grew closer and that someone was Chloe.
I could trust her. I wanted to let all of this out to someone.
So, when I had a moment alone with her, I climbed into bed next to her to break all the news.
She was curled up watching a cheesy tv movie with a bowl of popcorn.
It was the best possible circumstance I could expect.
“So, about Daddy Vibes,” I sighed.
“Yeah?” Chloe asked. “Is this some sort of wild sex story?”
Given that since our forced engagement, we had exactly zero sex, it was not.
“No,” I said. “No sex clubs, no exhibitionism, no table fucking. It’s quite boring.”
“Then why do you look so nervous?”
“Can I tell you something you cannot tell Dora or Cal or anyone? And I mean anyone?”
“Sure,” Chloe said.
I trusted her. She held my secrets close to her heart.
“Baz is the son of the man who stole my mother’s family’s estate. His father was supposed to marry my mother, but she turned him down to wed my dad.”
“Holy shit! You just found this out!?”
“Not exactly. I initially planned to seduce and torture Baz for his family’s sins.
And because men are stupid and don’t think to google their dates, he never looked up who I was.
I gave him my stage name only. So, he didn’t find out who I was until we were in Scotland, and his dad confronted him about it. ”
“How?”
“I look like Mum,” I sighed, “and he’s a schemer. Baz had on rose colored glasses because he was into me, I guess? I dunno. Sometimes very smart men only think with their dicks.”
“True. Very true,” Chloe sipped seltzer. “So, what now? Are you guys done?”
I chuckled nervously. “No. His father basically forced us to get engaged.”
“What the fuck, how?”
“It’s all kind of hazy, but Baz needs to marry quickly. She must be of noble blood or better, be able to give him a male heir, and be Catholic. I meet all those markers on paper. He basically forced it on us in front for a fucking priest!”
“This dude is psycho. And Baz didn’t think to be like ‘fuck off?’ and plans to… what… imprison you?”
“No, no. He’s not like that. His dad is a fucking monster, but he isn’t. If Baz doesn’t marry me, his father will disinherit him before he dies—which looks like it will be in the very near future.”
“So, fuck them! His family stole the estate from your Mum, right? Why do you even care?”
I took a deep breath, knowing none of this computed.
“His brother will take over the family estate and destroy it. Baz doesn’t want to see that happen and his sister has some struggles socially, and it would rock her world.
She is really the sweetest soul, Chloe. She’s very much like Dora.
They would be so close. No, it’s… I agreed to it. ”
“Why? Why the fuck would you be so stupid?” Chloe hopped from bed. “No, Lanie! No!”
I winced and shielded my face with a pillow. “Because, I think Baz is actually sort of ideal.”
“How on Earth do you figure? Yes, he’s rich and hot, but like… what about this sounds like a good idea?”
“He doesn’t expect me to fall in love with him in five minutes, he doesn’t even care if I fuck other people, and he needs children. You know how desperate—”
“Lanie, you cannot let yourself be trapped in a sham marriage because you’re desperate to be a mom. That’s silly!”
“Time flies by, Chloe. This urge is too much. I need to have a baby. So badly! And here, I can do it. I can keep working and remain independent. He will be there when I need him. We can have great sex, but we aren’t stuck. Plus, we’re about to have a lock-tight prenup that favors me.”
“What? Why? How?”
“Daphne’s attorney is reviewing the agreement his solicitor sent over.
Basically, I marry him and stay with him for three years or until I produce a male heir.
If I want to terminate our agreement at that point, I will receive $100 million and the deed to Braemoor will pass to our child upon my husband’s death.
I will be permitted to stay at Braemoor indefinitely.
I don’t know how much easier a marriage could be. ”
“Until he decides not to let you work or starts being a controlling shithead.”
“He’s not,” I said. “Trust me. I’ve seen him pushed to his limits, Chlo. He’s not like that.”
“So, when is this sham marriage happening? And when should I prepare for Danna Delphine’s angry arrival?”
“We’re going to wed in secret soon—here in London—at the registry office. We’re filling out the paperwork tomorrow. I have a ring, too. It’s being sized. It’s massive and gorgeous. He picked it out.”
“Why the fuck are you doing this, Delanie? It’s so unlike you.”
“I waited years to have someone tell me they loved me. I uprooted my entire life, moved to LA, and gave up everything. Then, when his career blew up, he wanted nothing to do with the reality of settling down with me. I worked everything around that and almost ruined everything. I almost didn’t come back for this season because he wanted me to stay in LA.
Baz can give me everything and will stay out of my hair.
And he can give me children if I want them.
I know it sounds insane, but I can have all of it and get our family back what was stolen.
That’s so satisfying. And while I do not love him, I do care about him and his sister. They’re the victims of that man, too.”
“I love you,” Chloe said. “But this is fucking nuts—even for me. Daddy Vibes does not deserve your charity.”
“I hope you will give him a chance, Chloe. I really do.”
“When am I going to this sham wedding?” Chloe sighed.
“What do you mean?”
“Lanie, you are my best friend. You’re basically my sister. I am not about to let you get married without being there to hold your bouquet.”
“Who says I will have a bouquet?”
“You need one.”
“I’m not buying a wedding gown.”
“That’s fine. We can get you something else, but you need flowers, okay? I will get you some. I won’t tell a soul about this unless you exclude me. You need a witness. Who better than me?”
I smiled, resting my head on her shoulder. “Okay. I will tell Baz I have someone who wants to be my witness tomorrow.”
BAZ
“Jeremy!” I called for my assistant from my office door.
Jeremy appeared holding a printed paper.
“Yes, Baz?”
“I need to speak with you about some important developments,” I said.
Jeremy entered my office.
“Close the door, please,” I said.
“Alright?”
“Today, I have an appointment with the registry office.”
“For what?”
“I am to marry a woman I’ve been seeing,” I said, as if this were a normal statement.
“I’m sorry, Baz, but what?” Jeremy laughed, assuming my remark was a jest.
“It’s not a joke. If I do not wed, I will lose my inheritance. Father finds this woman acceptable, she is more than good to me, and I want to make it official.”
“This is the one I’ve been building your diary around, but you won’t tell me she’s in the picture?”
“Yes,” I sighed.
“And who is she?”
“Her name is Delanie Delphine. Her father was David Delphine—the retail magnate. She’s an actress.”
“Ah,” Jeremy said. “Alright. So, the girl Caleb brought to the shooting weekend? This is madness, right? You know—”
I’d forgotten he’d been there the first night and met her. Fuck!
“It is. It’s a play of desperation on my part and act of charity for her. I need you to also ensure a courier delivers my rings from the jeweler today. Please keep them safe. There should be three.”
“So, this is really happening? In a week, you’re getting married?”
“Yes. It will be sometime soon. Today, I will meet her at the registry, take her to lunch and then pad for time before my driver delivers her at the studio for wardrobe fittings. She’s filming a big role for a tv series.”
“When will you be getting married?”
“As soon as they can make it work,” I said. “Oh, and one more thing, can you schedule a birthday dinner for Friday? It’s her birthday.”
“What year?” Jeremy wanted to torture me—clearly.
He knew she’d not be within ten years of me, but the actual answer would lead to ridicule.
“She’ll be twenty-nine,” I winced.
“Seems about right,” Jeremy said. “That poor girl.”
“She’s no girl. She’s formidable and feisty. I promise when you get to know her, you’ll like her.”
“Are you sure you’re alright? Do you need to see a physician?”
“No, I’m fine,” I said. “It’s… complicated… but I haven’t completely lost it.”
“I only mean that she appeared to have a brain—more than Caleb deserved and more than you’ve ever dated in the past. Good on you for finding someone more your intellectual equal!”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ve dated clever girls before.”
He shot me a disapproving look. “Uh-huh. Well, I will have Leslie schedule a reservation for you somewhere wonderful and get her a nice present.”
“I will do that,” I said. “I have an idea for a gift.”
“Suit yourself. You must really like her—regardless of what you say—to plan all of this. It’s been at least five years since I’ve seen you plan something for a birthday. And I don’t believe that was for a woman.”
“No. It was Caleb,” I said.
At some point I needed to call Caleb and explain this. I could only hope it did not burn a bridge with my mate, but I knew there would be some who would never understand.
“Well, she’s a lucky girl, then.”
I nodded. “I hope you will come to respect her, Jeremy. I do think she is good for me. And I think she will impress you.”
“I will respect her, I am certain,” Jeremy said. “I just worry about her dealings with your family.”
“My father’s heart is failing,” I said. “It’s the end, Jeremy. It’s over.”