Chapter 25 P-A-R-D-A #2
“That,” I growled, “is none of your fuckin’ business.”
Ronan wheezed under the hand around his throat. And then he smiled. The sick fuck.
I released him and calmly picked both our glasses off the rug. The housekeeper had her work cut out for her tomorrow. Then again, this wasn’t exactly unusual in this place.
When I sat back in my chair as if nothing had happened, both my brothers were watching me. Reading me.
Seeing right through me.
“You haven’t fucked her yet, have you?” Owen asked.
Ronan’s eyes popped open. “Bren, you didn’t tell us you’re a virgin bride. Don’t worry, it only hurts the first time.”
I went to the bar cart for another drink, if only to give myself something to do other than let their bullshit get to me more than it already had.
I’d anticipated the lies to the press. I just hadn’t anticipated this particular lie to my brothers.
Especially when I really, really wanted it to be true.
I was fucked.
I poured myself a double scotch this time. Tonight, it seemed necessary, despite cloning Dad’s nightly order. “I’m not a monk, you fuckin’ voyeurs. Of course we’ve slept together.” And then, somehow, with a lot less effort and a lot more enthusiasm: “She’s amazing.”
The only thing I’d said so far that was true.
“I bet. Those split ends and tennis shoes are amazing too,” Ronan commented with a chuckle.
I whirled around. “Shut up.”
“I bet it’s like a handful of straw when you’re pulling her hair.”
“Do you want to get throttled again?”
Ronan had the good sense not to continue talking.
But Owen wasn’t done. “He has a point. She’s pretty fucking basic.”
“You mean she’s not a spoiled brat like the ones you prefer?”
“Get your head out of your ass, Brendan. This company invests in the luxury markets. How do you think she is going to fit into that when she shows up in the papers accepting your ring looking like she just got back from Walmart?”
Ronan appeared to consider. “I think the kids call it normcore. Maybe she’ll take that to the luxury markets too.”
“Whatever. Ivy Ink is going to have a field day no matter what.”
I wanted to punch them both.
But the worst part was, they were right.
It was why I’d asked Ruth to set Simone up with a schedule to get her ready for future publicity and even just engaging with my family members, as judgmental as they were.
Something in my gut twisted at the idea of anyone changing a single hair on her head, but she wasn’t prepared for living under this kind of microscope.
Everyone in the world was as ruthless as my brothers. Maybe even worse.
Meanwhile, I’d gotten ahead of myself with the kiss in my office, when she’d shown up looking like any other girl off the street (and inexplicably seemed more valuable than anything I’d ever seen in my life).
The whole thing was supposed to be for publicity, and from the start, I’d set us back by being impulsive.
I was never impulsive. Ever.
“You are both complete and utter pricks,” was all I could come up with. “Give her time. She’ll fit in.”
“Like a knock-off spelled P-A-R-D-A,” Ronan agreed. “Who cares if the R is in the wrong place, right? No one will notice anything off about Simone either.”
“Off how?”
The three of us swiveled at the sound of Simone’s high, sweet voice.
She stood in the entrance wearing a knee-length dress made of black silk embroidered with green leaves and black shoes with small heels that made her legs look even longer than usual.
Even I could tell that nothing she was wearing was new—the shoes were slightly creased over the toes, and the dress bore signs of minor wear on the collar and sleeves.
But despite being obviously secondhand, everything fit her perfectly.
She looked chic and impossibly beautiful.
Her makeup, however, was threatening to smudge, if the sheen in her eyes and ashen complexion were any indication.
She’d heard everything my brothers had said.
I wanted to murder them both.
I set down my drink, then crossed the room. And before I could think twice about it, I kissed her.
She tasted like cinnamon, ice water, and tears. Luscious, slightly salty, and very sweet. Just the right balance as her lips parted to allow my tongue to touch hers.
Ironically, it was only in front of other people that I could get lost in that mouth for up to ten seconds. Fuck, I could get lost in this mouth forever if she’d let me.
Ten…nine…eight…
As if she were counting too, she pulled away right at one.
I wanted to tug her back and start counting all over again.
“Um…” She traced my tie with one finger. “Hello to you too?” Her eyes flickered nervously to the men behind me.
I cupped her cheek with one hand. “Ignore them. They’re assholes. They give me shit about everything I do.”
“It’s true, cupcake,” Ronan called from behind me. “Everyone in this family is a grade-A dick. You might want to get out now.”
“It’s okay.” She shrugged and flashed a brave smile. “I knew what I was signing up for.”
She was trying hard to keep her game face on. I had to respect her for that.
Ice clinked in a glass behind me. Owen still hadn’t said a word of greeting. He had just poured himself another vodka and was watching. Everything.
“Goddamn it, Liza!” Dad’s voice hollered across the hall.
Everyone in the room winced. Including the girl I’d invited here in the first place.
Suddenly, I was done. Done bantering with my brothers. Done waiting around for my father. Done dealing with my family’s needless cruelty and combating it with my own.
Fucking done.
“You know what?” I took Simone’s hand. “We don’t have to do this tonight.”
Her brow crinkled. “What? But I thought I was here to meet—”
“And you have—these two, anyway. Shea bailed, my stepmother’s at her favorite spa, and Dad’s still in his pajamas while on a rampage that will probably last the rest of the night. We showed up. We can leave. Let’s go.”
Her blue eyes popped open and bounced nervously from me to my brothers, both of whom were watching this interaction intently.
“He’s going to chew you a new asshole tomorrow if you take off” Ronan remarked.
“Ask me if I care,” I said, still looking at Simone, waiting for her response.
Her brows lifted as if to say, really?
It was answer enough for me.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I didn’t even look at my brothers as I pulled Simone out of the room and back toward the exit.
“Brendan.”
As we put on our jackets, I turned to find Owen following us. I kept us moving to the door.
Just before we made it out, however, we were interrupted by my name echoing down the corridor.
Owen’s face told that he was done joking.
I turned to Simone. “Wait for me in the car?”
“Of course.” Her shy smile lit up this dank house as she allowed Jenkins to help her into her green coat, also pretty and clearly secondhand. Probably vintage.
“Until we meet again,” Owen called after her, in a tone that was more insidious than friendly.
I wanted to strangle him too.
“What?” I bit out. “What the fuck could you possibly want, other than to apologize to her.”
Owen snorted as if the very idea of remorse was amusing. “She’ll get over it. But I don’t care about her. Yet, anyway. You, however, are my brother.”
“When did that start mattering to you?”
“Come on.”
He had a point. Owen and I weren’t best friends, but we were brothers. Being at the top of a notoriously cutthroat industry, every member of the Black family was acutely aware that others were always trying to take what we had. The only people we could trust, even a little, were each other.
At least as far as we could throw each other.
“Something’s not right,” Owen said. “You can fake it with the others, but not with me. What are you doing with her? It doesn’t make sense.”
“Did it ever occur to you that we’re just in love?”
Even I couldn’t help but cringe. I sounded like a fool. Not to mention completely unlike myself.
“Fuck off. Is she pregnant?”
“You already asked me that.” I pushed him away. “She’s not pregnant, for fuck’s sake.”
“Well, it’s got to be something. You know her for like five minutes and suddenly you, the guy who thinks being spontaneous requires a two-week head start, are getting married? Is it blackmail?”
“Nobody makes me do anything I don’t want to do,” I said through gritted teeth.
“You showed up here.”
“And now I’m leaving. Case in point.”
Owen huffed. “Whatever she has on you, we can make this go away. Everyone’s got a price.”
He had no idea.
“She doesn’t have anything on me. And the prenup is airtight. But…”
“But what?”
Fuck. I could tell he wasn’t buying a single excuse, and the problem with the second-oldest Black brother was that he was like a dog with a bone. I’d leave, and he’d do everything he could to pry into my secrets. Hire a P.I. Bug my house. Hack my phone.
His determination knew no end.
So, I made a decision and prayed it was the right one.
“If I tell you the truth, will you swear not to tell anyone? Not Dad, not Ronan, not Shea—fuckin’ no one. Got it?”
Owen leaned closer, interest gleaming in his dark eyes. “Of course, brother. Anything you need.”
It was a little too easy. But he had to know. Otherwise, he’d find out a different way, and I’d be truly fucked.
“It’s just for a few months. The engagement. It’s a professional situation to curry the board’s favor. Simone is just helping me out.”
He searched me for a few moments. Then, to my surprise, let out a sigh. “Thank fucking God.”
I frowned. “You don’t have to look so relieved. She’s a good girl.”
“It just means you’re not crazy. Why do you have to pretend to get married, though?”
I rubbed my face. “I want to show the old man that I can commit. He, uh…expressed some doubt about that. That the board had some doubts too. So, I made a business deal to address the issue, and—”
“Now you’ll get CEO when he retires. I see.” Owen nodded slowly, pursing his lips, then mimed zipping his lips shut. “To the grave, brother. I promise.”
I eyed, trying to assess whether or not he was telling the truth.
But in the end, I’d made the choice for myself. Owen could be an ally now if I played my cards right, and I was starting to feel like I needed one. Someone to yank me back to reality. Remind me why I was doing this in the first place.
“Just be nice to her,” I said finally. “Or as nice as you’re capable of. She’s only doing this to save her dad’s farm and probably a bunch of other people I don’t even know about. She’s not like us, Owen. She’s a good person who doesn’t deserve our poison.”
Owen gave me another long look. I looked back, and this time I didn’t have an issue with any part of what I was saying.
Explaining myself, pretending to be a good guy, acting like I was the kind of man who could actually fall in love? That was difficult. But defending Simone came easily. I had no problem with that.
“Understood.” He gave a curt nod, then backed into the hall. “But, Brendan?”
I finished putting on my coat. “Yeah?”
“I hope you know what you’re doing. Because if you don’t, I’m the next one in line to take your place. And once I’m there, I won’t step aside.”