Page 52

He tosses a manila folder on the walnut desk. The contents spill out, and once the grainy photographs register, my stomach drops to the floor. It’s photographs of us from that day at the cliff.

Us hiking up the path, partially hidden by trees but enough clarity in most of them to make out each of our faces.

Then there’s some of us at the top of the cliff, shot from the side and so far away that I can’t even imagine how they were able to capture us at such a distance. We both look miniscule—exactly as I felt in that moment—that at least in those ones, you can’t truly identify us.

But the ones that make my palms sweat are the ones of us as we get out of the water. Wet clothes cling to my body, hiding nothing beneath them. Every inch and curve of my body is displayed, and I fight the urge to cover myself now. But in the photo, blissfully unaware, our smiles are bright and we’re walking far closer than two coworkers should.

Than a future brother and sister-in-law should.

“Oh my god,” I breathe out when I see the one at the bottom of the pile. My hand shakes as I move the others out of the way to get a better look. I wish I hadn’t.

In it, Beau holds my hand, guiding me to the car. Even from afar, you can’t miss my flushed cheeks and the cheeky smile on Beau’s face. You can’t tell if the car is empty or not, but it doesn’t matter. People will draw their conclusions.

And they’ll be right.

“Oh my god,” I repeat and sag against the arm of one of the chairs stationed in front of Beau’s desk. “How did they—I thought we were alone—I didn’t see anyone.”

Beau crosses his arms, looking gravely at the photographs laid bare between us. Our secret little getaway, one of the happiest moments of my life, now the very thing that might set everything tumbling down.

“I thought so, too. Gabriel didn’t see anyone following us, and from the ground assessments he and the team made when we arrived, there wasn’t anyone around. They must’ve been hiding in the cliffside to the north.”

“How could they do that?”

“You’d be surprised at the lengths they’ll go to in order to get their shot.” He laughs bitterly.

Panic forces itself up my throat and threatens to explode all over the invasion of privacy in front of me. “Who saw these?” I ask, the words barely audible.

Beau leans against the desk. “Faraday intercepted them before they could reach Edwin.”

Before they could reach Lock. Before they could reach Harold and Hilda. My parents.

I press a hand to my heaving stomach and wish I would’ve skipped breakfast this morning.

“Faraday took care of it,” he adds. “We paid the sum the photographer was looking for, and he handed over every copy he had of them to us. These”—he gestures between us—“are the last physical copies that exist. And as soon as you leave, I’ll be personally taking them back to Faraday and he will burn them in his office fireplace and sweep out the ashes himself. All digital files have been destroyed as well.”

“Are you sure?”

“He’s the only person I’d trust to handle it. If he says it’s done, it’s done.”

I don’t doubt him. From the way Beau speaks about Faraday, I know he’s earned his trust. Might be one of the only people in his world he trusts.

Beau straightens and tucks all evidence of our day away. “This is your new reality, Briar. I hate to say it, but this is not the last time something like this will happen to you. It’s been happening to me my entire life. Even when you think you’re having a private moment to yourself…” He trails off, glaring at the folder as if he could set the pictures aflame with his gaze alone. “My first kiss when I was fourteen was leaked from pictures at the park. These people, they don’t—” His chest heaves before he regains control. “This is your future. Even if you think no one’s watching, someone always is.”

I ache for him having lived his entire life under a microscope. How invasive to have your most private and formative moments out there for everyone to see. “I’m sorry, I really didn’t think⁠—”

“It’s not your fault. The blame lies with me. I know better.”

“So do I,” I say. “So do I.” I never should’ve left that day with him. “Is this why you didn’t show?”

He runs his hand through his hair. “Yes, and also because I thought it would be best to give you space.”

I look down at my hands. My nails are in dire need of help, but they are the victims of my anxiety lately.

Beau rounds the desk and stops in front of me. “Are you alright? I heard you went on a horse ride with my brother the other day.”

“How’d you hear that?”

“Staff like to talk.”