Page 98 of Married to Lies

Aleyna opened her mouth to argue, but Simon waved his hands to stop us all. “She’s only here as my guest. But Aleyna, sweetie, no recording in the house so the guys can keep their privacy. Understand?”

I stared at him, wondering where this gentle, diplomatic side had come from. Simon was a shrewd, brilliant, hard-ass. Not whatever this was.

Aleyna pouted, but let the subject drop. Glancing at the spread of pastries and fruit on the kitchen island, she said, “Want me to get you some breakfast to go with your pills, Daddy?”

“That would be great,” he replied with a warm smile.

Aaric and Cruz exchanged another look, and a stupid childish feeling of being left out rose up in my chest like reflux. I swallowed it down, imagining the disparaging words my father would have for me if he knew.

Simon tapped his wrinkled, spotted fingers on the table. “I see you’ve all gotten started without me.”

Bryce said, “We were just wondering amongst ourselves why you’re here when you should be at home recovering.”

I pressed my lips together, still frustrated that he refused to tell us what was going on last night. Simon only said that it had been a long trip and that he and Aleyna would like a good night’s rest before getting into the details. Despite our protests.

“I was granted an early release from the hospital because my recovery is going so well,” Simon said with a nod that made his chin wiggle. “Besides, if I’m going to be miserable, might as well do it with a view.” He gestured out the windows.

Cruz studied him with an arched eyebrow. “Are you sure your recovery’s going well? You look like shit.”

Simon chuckled heartily and then dissolved into a coughing fit that made his splotchy face turn purple. Aleyna scurried to get him a glass of water while Aaric patted his pack. When Simon finally caught his breath, he said, “Guess it’s hard to argue at eight thousand feet.”

Bryce lifted his hands and let them fall in his lap like Simon was only proving his point.

In response, Simon said, “Aleyna’s been taking such good care of me at the hospital that the doctor released me for travel on the condition that Aleyna joined me. She’s the reason I’m here.”

Aleyna brought him a cup of coffee and a plate of fruit and pastry with an ingratiated smile on her face. “I’m happy to help, Daddy.”

He reached out and hugged her while she pressed a kiss to his cheek.

My eyes narrowed, wondering what she was playing at.

Aaric said, “Are you sure it’s a good idea for you to be out and about without the drug dealer who tried to poison you in jail?”

Simon’s lips pressed together. “It’s just the seven of us here, and you have security outside. Who’s going to harm us?”

No one wanted to meet each other’s eyes. There was a very real possibility that Aleyna would want to harm him to protect her inheritance.

Dipping my head to Aleyna, I said, “How can we have the type of retreat you require without privacy?”

Simon said, “Aleyna’s got plenty to keep her busy. She won’t be in our hair.”

“Right,” she agreed from the bar where she was doctoring up her own coffee. “I have a manicure, a pedicure, a facial, a salt soak, a mud⁠—”

“Enough.” I cut her off. “Now that you’re here, Simon, why don’t you tell us if you approve of Aaric’s plan.” I got my folded joke of an itinerary out of my pocket and passed it to him. He opened the paper with shaking hands.

His brows puckered, forging deep lines on his forehead, and then he set it down. “You five are the head of this business. Wherever the head points, the business will follow. This bonding time is crucial to ensure you’re all close and oriented toward the same mission. A head divided only means the body will fail.”

I glanced around at my co-founders. We were already more divided than we’d ever been before. It would take more than a miracle to bring us back together.

44 Rei

Conrad demanded that I meet him at the office at nine to give him everything I had on Quentin. I promptly went to the bathroom and emptied my bowels because my IBS knew the only “dirt” I had on Quentin was protected by my NDA. Conrad was a loose cannon, and that news would surely cause him to explode.

While I waited for George to pull up in front of my house, my entire nervous system was on fire. I felt shaky, on edge in a way I’d never been before.

A news notification came up on my phone, and my knees swayed. It was an article about my wedding day. Why hadn’t I thought our marriage would be newsworthy? MyHome’s PR team had probably drafted the release themselves. A wedding announcement would also protect Q and me from attacks.

I felt so stupid. All this time I’d been worried about Conrad leaking my identity, but my marriage would surely accomplish that on its own. It was just a matter of time before someone from my old life connected the dots.