Page 2 of Discretion at Its Finest

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll figure something out beforeheeven has the chance to step in,” he gritted out.

I could only let out a small breath as I nodded, hiding my trembling hands behind our son.

Gregory glanced down at his phone and cursed silently as he grabbed his jacket.

He looked over to me and must’ve noticed the subtle look of fear on my face. “I’ll fix this.” His voice was firm, sure of himself, like he always was.

I forced a smile. “I know.”

He stepped closer, pressing a hand to my waist. “As long as I have you two by my side, Gen…”

My breath caught just for a second, but then I nodded. “Always.”

He kissed my cheek like that was enough, like my promise meant something. “I have to run. I’ll see you at dinner. Stay out of trouble, little guy,” he said, tickling Eugene’s side before he stepped out. I gave him a forced grin, looking over my shoulder as I watched him exit.

He was always in denial of how bad things were, always trying to prove he was good enough, always trying to bemore than second best.

He was lying to himself. Things weren’t just bad; they were horrible.

“Mommy… wanna go outside,” Eugene mumbled as he pushed away his plate, his fingers still stained with the orange juice.

I blinked back into reality, plastering on another smile as I picked him up. “Of course, Lovebug.”

Because that’s what I did: I smiled, I reassured, I played my part.

Gregory wasn’t the only one lying to himself. I was in the same boat. Floating in delusion and denial, all to mask the utter fear of what was soon to be inevitable. Gregory may not have told me everything, but I knew he was out of options. That’s the only reason Raymond would step in… why he would wanthimto step in.

His name didn’t need to be spoken. He was just that powerful, influential, dangerous… He was the only person Gregory despised more than himself and his own failures. And he was the man I feared. The man I lied to. The man who could takeeverythingfrom me if he knew the truth.

Looking down at my son… looking down at myeverything,I watched as he lazily picked at my robe as we stepped onto the patio. Placing a tender kiss on his head, I breathed him in deeply.

Instead of facing the truth of the matter, I lied to myself that Gregory was going to get everything under control. That once it all was fixed, we’d go back to planning our wedding for next year and be the big, happy family Jamie and Raymond planned for us to be.

The morning breeze swept over the patio, warm against my skin, as I held Eugene close. He lay his head on my shoulder, babbling softly as I swayed with him.

I wanted to stay in this moment, pretend that nothing outside of this space existed.

I could lie to myself all I wanted. It wouldn’t change what could come. Whatwascoming…

My grip tightened around Eugene as I stared out at the perfectly manicured garden, the hedges sculpted with careful precision, a false sense of control.

Just like this life Gregory had built for us, and the lie I had built for myself.

And soon enough, I would have to face the lies that I’d said over the years. The lies that helped casthimaway and almost cost me myeverything. But for now, I’d live in the lie, in my delusion, for a little longer. Just until I couldn’t anymore.

Chapter two

Reid

Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, I leaned back in the rear seat, looking out the window over the water. This city, this state, was so fucking small. Owning everything and everyone in it got old after some time. The money, the power, the status… all of it meant something once. But after years of calling the shots, of controlling every deal, every outcome, it all started to feel the same.

Predictable.

Everything had become predictable. Even the wins. I’d built empires in places others have failed, reinvented what was given up on, and taken control of California’s precious Silicon Valley in only a few years’ time.

They called me ruthless. I preferred efficient.

In my world, you either dictated the game or you became the pawn that got sacrificed first. I had no use for pawns. Only kings. Only power.