“There’s no time to set up something with a longer timeline. And I need a way to ensure my family won’t force a breakup.”
“Force? How powerful are they?” Andreas could command Nelson to do many things, but the latter is sort of gutless and sniveling toward his father. Mick will do as he’s told, too, because he wants to join Huxley & Webber once his stint as a DA is over. But Huxley doesn’t come across as the type to walk around with his lips smelling like somebody’s ass. He’d break anyone who tried to cross him.
“It’s not a question of power, just deviousness. And they won’t come after me.” He gives me a level look. “They’ll come after you.”
“Me?” I squeak.
“You’re the new element. They’ll test how malleable you are. Then they’ll do everything in their power to bend you to their will, or, failing that, break you.”
And I thought the Webbers were shitty.“They sound positively delightful.”
A wicked grin splits his face. “But I’ve got an idea. You’ll be pregnant.”
“I’ll bewhat?”
“Not for real, of course. But they won’t try to break us up if there’s a baby involved.”
“The line they won’t cross?” If so, they’re better people than the Webbers.
“Correct.”
“But a fake pregnancy? Where are we going to find a baby for that?” I wave a hand. “Even if we end the fake engagement, they might want to be part of our nonexistent baby’s life. I don’t want to continue to lie to everyone forever.”
A shrug. “We can tell them the pregnancy test was defective or something.” He couldn’t care less how his family reacts as long as he gets what he wants. My instinct is right—that he’s unsentimental and much more ruthless than he lets on.
“Aren’t you afraid of disappointing them?”
His eyes narrow, and a stillness comes over him. “They’re trying to screw me over. Disappointing them will be a pleasure of biblical proportions.”
Okay…“So, do I have to fake morning sickness or something?”
“Yes. And you’re going to crave tuna and mashed broccoli.”
“Ugh.” I make a face. “Why?”
“Because that’s what my mother craved when she was pregnant with me.”
“Fine. But if I actually have toeatanything like that, the deal’s off.”
He lets out a laugh that ripples over me like delightful waves. “Deal.”
Chapter Fourteen
Huxley
–3 weeks later
The moment my private jet lands in Los Angeles, I drive straight to my grandmother’s mansion in the Pacific Palisades. Normally I’d avoid a family dinner, but since Grace and I plan to announce our fake engagement and the fake bun in her oven, this will be the best time to do it.
Pounce before they can strike.
Naturally, traffic is terrible. I can’t decide which city is worse—L.A. or Paris. My two-week business trip was tiring, but at least I accomplished the key objective. The client acted like I was his savior for salvaging his disastrous perfume launch. Most think hiring a pretty and popular face is enough. But there’s so much more. The client isn’t in the business of selling perfume. He’s in the business of selling a dream—of beauty, of love and the future.
Grandma’s mansion is the main place of gathering for the Huxley family, and there are at least twenty vehicles parked around it as I pull up. I note the crowd sardonically. Grandma doesn’t collect cars—she doesn’t appreciate them and only has a Rolls-Royce because it’s comfortable and projects the right image.
A huge, ornate tapestry with the Huxley coat of arms hangs in the foyer, so none of us can ever forget the family motto. Silver wolves snarl, while PIETAS ET UNITAS glints in gold.
My phone buzzes with a text.
