“Not like that. That’s just terrifying.” Something about the way he said it is gnawing at me. “Is that true? Is he being investigated?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know that?”
“I know things.” He picks up a strawberry. Studies it. “Should I be concerned about your sister’s financial future?”
“Should you—Julian, you can’t just drop that Chris is a criminal and then ask if you should be concerned.”
“I didn’t say criminal. I said investigated. There’s a difference.”
“Oh, well, that’s much better. I’ll include that in my maid of honor toast.” I sit down across from him. Forget about taking the photo. “Is Violet in danger?”
“Financially? Possibly. Physically? No. He’s not that kind of criminal.”
“There are kinds?”
“Many kinds. Chris is the boring kind. Offshore accounts. Shell corporations. Nothing creative.” He sets down the strawberry. “I can have my legal team look into it if you’re worried.”
“Your legal team.”
“I employ twenty-three lawyers. They’re very good at what they do.”
“Which is?”
“Making problems disappear.”
The way he says it—casual, certain—sends a chill through me. But it also warms me up. Because he’s offering to protect Violet. Offering to use his resources to help my family.
My family who he only met yesterday.
“Why would you do that?” I ask.
“Because I don’t like seeing you worried.”
“But this is fake, right? You don’t have to care about my sister’s financial security.”
He looks at me. “Who says I’m faking it?”
The air between us shifts. Becomes dense.
My phone buzzes. Violet’s name flashes on the screen.
VIOLET: Beach day! Everyone’s meeting at 10. Bring your mysterious boyfriend. Mom wants to interrogate him properly.
“We have a command performance,” I say. My voice sounds strange. “Beach. Ten AM. Interrogation included.”
“I’ll prepare my answers.”
“You’re not nervous?”
“Should I be?”
“My mother once made a grown man cry by asking about his investment portfolio.”
“I have an excellent investment portfolio.”
“That’s not the point. The point is she’s terrifying, and she will find your weakness and exploit it.”
