Page 142 of Pretend To Be Mine

“I knew it was you.”

I turned to find Annika standing there with a knowing smile on her face. “Annika.”

“Are you in disguise?” she asked with a smile.

I grimaced. “I guess it didn’t work.”

“You have a signature style, even in how you dress yourself.”

“I was just leaving.”

“No, you weren’t.” She kept her hand on my wrist. “You were panicking and running, which is very you, but also very stupid right now.”

“I can’t be here. If people recognize me it’s going to be a nightmare.”

“They won’t. Not in the dark, not in the crowd.” She tugged me further into the shadows, away from the main pathway where stragglers were still finding their seats. “But Elizabeth, you need to stay. You’ll want to see this.”

“See what? The grand finale of the event I helped ruin?” My voice broke slightly. “Watch Adrian succeed despite me being a disaster?”

“You didn’t ruin anything.”

“Why should I stand here and watch him up there, knowing I’ll never be part of his world again?”

“Because Adrian has something to say. Something you need to hear.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You will. Just stay. Please.” She squeezed my hand once more, then released me. “Hide in your shadows if you must. But watch. Listen. And try to keep an open mind. Trust me on this.”

Before I could respond, she disappeared into the backstage area, leaving me alone with my confusion and my nerves.

The lights went fully dark. The crowd settled into expectant silence. The music shifted into something dramatic.

The show was beginning.

I pressed myself further into my corner, making myself as small as possible. Just watch, Annika had said. Just listen.

So I would. One last time.

Then I’d figure out how to pick up the pieces of my shattered life and move forward.

47

ADRIAN

Istood behind the curtain with sweaty palms and a queasy stomach. The crowd noise was deafening. Everyone in front of the curtain and behind were amped up. It was the last night, and as much as I hated to admit, all the drama Clara caused had only stirred up interest in the show.

It sounded like a hive of bees out front. Everyone was buzzing. They were all here to see the Blackwell brothers succeed or fail spectacularly.

And they wanted to see if I would address the scandal. Our PR people were freaking out. All day yesterday, late into the night and first thing this morning, there were emergency phone calls and Zoom meetings. I had pushed everyone off. I didn’t need this managed.

It was my life.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. Another message from Briggs, probably asking where I was. I’d been hiding back here for the past twenty minutes, trying to work up the courage to go through with this.

“You sure about this?” Sebastian appeared out of nowhere. I saw the concern on his face. “It’s not too late to just do the standard welcome speech. Keep it safe.”

“I’m sure.” My voice came out a lot calmer than I felt.