Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Britney
My red lace plunging-neckline Jovani was sheer over my long legs, covering the important parts I didn’t want to put on display, and the long sleeves made the dress elegant.
But tonight was my time to shine, and I intended to sparkle.
And red had always been my best color. I checked myself in the mirror after I left my makeup team, whom I absolutely enjoyed having around.
I looked great. My skin radiated happiness. So I walked out and downstairs like I was some princess.
Michael’s eyes widened when he saw me, and my heart thumped. He was gorgeous in a black tux that fit him like a glove and showed off all those muscles of his.
When I made my way to him, I asked, “Do I look okay for this party?”
He kissed my cheeks. “You look dashing, darling. Let’s go so we can watch your friends debut.”
“Right.” I latched onto his arm, and my heart swelled. As we stepped into the limo, I realized a life with Michael forever would be pretty awesome.
Together with him, I was happier than I’d ever been.
He held my hand, and sparks rushed through me.
As we walked in line to greet the hosts, I gazed into the ballroom.
The women in white weren’t there. However, I focused on the host and hostess and said our hellos and thanked them for inviting us.
As we finished, we walked in where married couples were gathered and single men were seated near a stage.
We waved at Charlie and Kir, who had front-row spots.
Then the parade of single women, all in white, started.
I sipped on lemon water and clapped when Avril came out first.
She waved at Kir and circled back.
A few minutes later, Hope did the same thing.
Bernadette was next, and her dress was very demure and plain, like she’d purposefully found something that didn’t fit her, completing the look with a frown at seeing me.
After her, Kelly sparkled then Isabel. Miley was one of the last, and she looked entirely disapproving of the entire spectacle.
After the single women were allowed in, I saw my friends gathering but asked Michael, “Is that your sister over there?”
He shrugged. “She is with her friends.”
We headed toward our friends, but I took one more look and said, “Whose faces all look pinched.”
Michael followed my gaze and shrugged. “Yes, I suppose you’re right.” Then he smiled and said, “Here come your friends.”
Once we were in the group, he let me go, and I hugged all my friends in a circle and said, “You all look amazing.”
“Thanks,” everyone chimed back.
We spoke for a few minutes about clothes and whose outfits were gorgeous.
However, I became parched and headed to the lemon water for a refill.
As I grabbed a glass, Bernadette waved and said, “Britney, come stand and talk to me.”
Once the party started, my plan to find her a boyfriend would launch, but first, I needed to scope out the lay of the land and the options to present.
I began, “I don’t want?—”
“I can reveal your secret here in front of everyone.” She glared at me.
My hairs stood up, and I inched closer to her. “Secret?”
She placed a hand on her hip. “That you’re faking?—”
“I’ll come,” I said to quiet her quickly.
My heart raced. I hadn’t told my friends or anyone else that we’d made a deal or changed it. For a second, I wondered if Michael had said something.
Then as we watched couples starting to dance, she said, “So you and my brother thought if you just get married and have a baby, then no one will know that you’re lying through your teeth about some made-up relationship.”
A cold tingle rushed down my spine as I crossed my arms. “I don’t know where you get your information.”
She stared at my plunging neckline. “Maybe you got pregnant to trap my brother and score a title.”
I pressed my hands to my belly like that might keep my little one safe.
Then she showed me her phone and I asked, “What’s this?”
I read a photograph of an email exchange between her and Regina, the blogger that reveled in trash talking my friends and me. It detailed some of my private conversation and initial misgivings.
Bernadette said, “This Regina blogger in America was quite helpful, getting me the information on you.”
My breathing was shallow, but I handed her phone back, smiled, and pretended she wasn’t a priority. “So when Michael and I first met, we were keeping our relationship physical and secret.”
She read the email. “Because he’s your booty call.” She put her phone away. “I’m sure my barrister will find faking one-night stands into a relationship isn’t mentally sound, and if you’re not pregnant?—”
“You’ve gone too far,” I said though goosebumps were all over my body. I swallowed then said, “Michael is intelligent, smart at making money, and good at taking care of himself.”
As the music changed, she didn’t care to hide her voice at first. “He paid you twenty-five million dollars to lie to us.”
I cringed. She knew everything. “That’s not what that was.”
One thin eyebrow rose. “No?”
My bubble was clearly burst, and I needed to protect my unborn child, but I squared my shoulders and said, “I don’t have to explain anything to you.”
She shrugged. “No, you don’t. I can publicly humiliate my brother to get him to fork over the cash, or…”
Heat washed through me. “Or what?”
She lowered her arms to her sides and said, “We can both stop pretending you’re some lady and future duchess to replace my mother.”
I swallowed and lowered my voice to ask, “So you want me to leave England?”
She nodded. “I want you to take your American friends, leave town, and divorce my brother.”
Kelly came over and asked, “Are you okay, Britney?”
I took her hand as Bernadette said, “You have twenty-four hours to decide.”
Then she swooped away.
Kelly tugged me back toward the group as she mumbled, “Bitch, huh?”
After we took a few steps, she asked me, “Are you okay?”
I swiped my face, not wanting to get into it. She had no idea I was a liar. None of my friends did. I nodded, but the second I rejoined the group, I clutched Michael who was like a port in the storm.
“Michael…” I said.
He glanced at me, and we pivoted to one side, away from our circle of friends.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
I went on tiptoe and whispered, “She knows everything.”
His eyes widened as he asked, “Knows what?”
“That our relationship is a lie,” I said, my stomach clenching.
He curved his lips higher, and bright lights caught my attention. He pointed for me to turn as he said, “Smile, darling. They are videotaping us.”
I rocked on my feet but somehow did as requested. The second the camera left us, I let him go and said, “I need to get out of here.”
He offered his hand and said, “Come with me.”
Perfect. He knew how to escape.
“Michael, the game is over.” I said.
He took a deep breath but then hugged me closer and puffed out his chest. “Wait. Here comes the host. Say hello, and then once they pass, we head to the door.”
The party was feeling surreal and huge and stifling all at once. I somehow managed to say hello.
The duchess said, “You two look so in love.”
I lowered my head, needing to just hop on a flight and go home, but I said, “Thank you ma’am… I mean Your Grace.”
Once she was gone, Michael gripped my hand and led me outside. “Come.”
As we were hailing our limo, I said, “I can’t breathe.”
He opened the door for me without waiting for the driver, and once we were inside, he said, “Everything is going to be fine.”
I shook my head. “Stop saying that.”
He closed the partition and asked me, “What is Bernadette intending to do that has you scared?”
Maybe he needed to leave too. I wasn’t sure about the country’s laws or rules or what might happen.
As my heart pounded, I said, “She thinks her lawyer will be able to prove you’re mentally unfit.”
He nodded. “So she wants to disgrace me. I’ll handle it.”
“I suppose,” I said though his calm prickled against me.
He sat back. “I don’t care if there are whispers about my mental fitness.”
I rocked in my seat. “There seriously shouldn’t be. You’re brilliant.”
As we made it back to his house, I said, “That’s good to hear from you.”
He stepped out, and I followed. Once we were back inside, I took off my heels and asked, “Why aren’t you more upset?”
We walked to the sitting room near the door as he said, “Because I’ve been thinking I can just pay her off and not stress.”
“That goes against everything.” I stood and crossed my arms, knowing we were caught. I swallowed and asked, “What was the point of all our subterfuge? Why are you changing your mind?”
He stared right at me. “I’ve been thinking. Maybe growing up and seeing our lives as we thought weren’t what they seemed. I think I’m over all of it.”
My heart twisted, and I closed my eyes. We’d lied to everyone. I was probably lying to myself.
Unable to look at him, I said, “I need to go home, I think.”
“We’re here. We’re safe,” he said.
I shook my head. This isn’t my life. This is someone else’s. I wasn’t meant to be a princess. “No, I mean to New York. I can get another job. I’ll figure something out.”
He stood and took my hand. “Don’t be rash.”
How his skin brushed against me sent a shock through me. I ached to be his right then though that was crazy.
I shook my head and tried to reason with myself and him, saying, “Maybe you’re right. I’m panicked because I thought I was helping you here, and now I don’t know.”
“You are helping. Let’s make decisions with clear heads.”
If I stayed, I’d be tempted to question my own motivations for being there and whether it was just to protect him. I cupped his face and wished all our lies might be fixed somehow.
“You’re right,” I said. “Let’s sleep on it and make decisions when our choices are logical and safe.”
“Or we admit our feelings.”
I narrowed my gaze and hugged my waist as I stepped back. “I’ve been honest with you.”
“I believe that.”
I nodded as at least we were honest with each other. “Good, as I hate lying, which is funny because it’s all we’ve been doing.”
He kissed my forehead. “Let’s get you something to eat.”
My stomach grumbled. “I hate that you know me this well, and I need to change too.”
He ordered food on his iPad, and we headed to the stairs, where he whispered, “I thought we were at least friends and partners.”
Tears burned my eyes. If only we had a change.
But as I walked upstairs, I said, “I don’t know about anything right now.”
The truth was I was lost and alone. All I had was Michael and the lies we’d built, but that wasn’t enough.