Yes, because I was enthusiastic for the opportunity to vomit all over Fournier.Veryfucking understandable.
“You don’t think Alex will…” I trail off helplessly, not certain I have the brain power to finish such a complex thought.
Van Wyk makes a noise to communicate his awkwardness. “He might not see it the way I do… the way Bastien does.”
Was that an olive branch? Was that Van Wyk inferring, somehow, that Ihaven’tblown my chances with Fournier? Oh, lucky, lucky me. What am I expected to do, sneak around the house after nightfall and find my way to Fournier’s bedroom?
This isn’t right. It’s too clumsy, even for Van Wyk.
It has to be a test.
Of what?
My pulse spikes. Whatever I say next matters, and I don't know the rules yet. But I don’t have the luxury of fear.
I focus as hard as I can, my thoughts racing, trying to get ahead of the conversation.
Van Wyk undermines Alex; I don’t engage. Van Wyk provokes; I encourage. Van Wyk offers…
He wants me to show Alex I’m not loyal.
Why? What does he gain?
Is itmehe wants to out, to turn Alex against me, or is it Alex he wants to weaken by showing me to be unfaithful?
Or both. Ultimately, they both hurt Alex.
But Fournier wants Alex—that much was clear. There was respect there, in the end. If Van Wyk is drinking Fournier’s loyalty Kool-Aid, he wouldn’t act against Alex—
Shit.
It’s me he wants. It explains the dance. He didn’t dance with anyone else. My skin crawls, and it takes all I have to keep my fear from showing.
I thought he was engaging because I spoke to Amelia. But that wasn’t it.
Somehow, he knows.
Or maybe he just suspects. Same end game.
I’ve been quiet too long. He’s appraising me, eyes giving nothing away.
If I give in to that Fournier offer, it’s the trap. He wouldn’t buy it; he’d think I was trying to getclose. Damn, that’sit. He thinks I’m investigatingthem, nothim.
That was his first test: undermining Alex, giving me the opportunity to jump on it. And I brushed straight past it, playing it cool. Exactly what he expected, but notwhyI did it. Now he thinks I’m not here for Alex. He thinks it’s Fournier I want.
Backtrack.But how?
“I don’t think Alex would like that.”
Van Wyk nods thoughtfully, as if accepting it at face value. “You could tell him you’re doing it for him.”
He almost sounds like hewantsme to sleep with Fournier. Hell, maybe Fournier put him up to it. Is that all this is? Am I wrong?
No… it’s too convoluted. If that were the case, with a man like Fournier, the offer would be more blatant.
I’m certain I’m right.
A middle-ground. I hand him Alex,withoutthe interest in Fournier, and Van Wyk’s left with nothing on me. His focus shifts to Alex, suspicion dies, leaving me to get to Amelia, and maybe—just maybe—get what I need. Something to use.
