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The door swings open. A couple steps through. Looks at us strangely.
Simon moves away from the door.
I follow.
Fitzgerald too.
We're no longer in view of the show.
Fitzgerald can hurt Simon without witnesses.
Or Simon could hurt him.
I should stop them. Do something. But I can barely move.
Simon knows.
How the fuck does he know?
"I don't have my brother's restraint," Simon says. "I'm willing to stoop as low as you did."
"Simon—"
"Don't bother, Adam. I know what you're doing. I appreciate the ingenuity. But it's too complicated for me." He looks to Fitzgerald. "Better to keep things simple. Better to destroy the person who hurt you the old-fashioned way. Don't you think, Cole?"
"I don't—"
"You were smart. The evidence I have isn't the type that's admissible in court."
The door swings open again.
Cole looks to it, steps backward, runs off.
I watch him race around the corner.
"Don't worry," Simon says. "I have eyes on him."
"Eyes?" I ask.
"Don't play dumb, Adam. You hired someone to dig into this. That's how you found Danielle, isn't it?"
"Yes," I admit.
"You're using her to make him jealous? Is that supposed to satisfy you somehow?"
"Yes."
"Did it?"
I don't know.
"It would be cheaper to have him killed," Simon says.
"Then why haven't you done it?" I ask.
Simon starts to respond. Then he turns to the door.
To Danielle, standing in the cold, in her low-cut dress, holding a glass of wine.
She stares at me, dumbstruck. "I thought… you might need another glass."
"Danielle—"
"Do you want me to take you home?" Simon volunteers.
"No." Her voice is soft. "I…" Her eyes go to me. "This was about him?"
"Yes," I admit.
"The engagement, the photos, the secrets we shared… it was all about him?"
"No—"
"You told me this was for your brothers," she says. "Because they worry. Not because… because you wanted to use me for revenge." She blinks and a tear catches on her lashes. "You could have told me, you know? I would have agreed. But I… you should go."
"Danielle."
"Please, Adam. Go." She stares at me for a minute, then she turns and disappears into the room.
And, just like before, I'm powerless to resist any request she makes in that voice.
Chapter Forty-Two
Danielle
I hold it together for another round of mingling, then I fail to fake a smile. I slip to the backroom. Sink to the cold, hard concrete, pull my knees into my chest, bury my face in the fabric of my dress.
Adam didn't want me because he was worried about his brothers.
He didn't want me because I'm beautiful and passionate.
He wanted me because someone else did.
Was anything he said true?
Did he pick me knowing I'd want to take these photos?
Did he fuck me so I'd want to capture the two of us on film?
Does he care about me at all?
It doesn't make sense.
How can a lie feel so real?
I stay in the backroom, alone, until the show clears. The voices fade, then drop. The lights turn off. The space cools.
Liam steps into the backroom. "Danielle, I should have told you. I don't like when girls cry. I'm not like Adam that way."
I don't say anything.
He offers his hand. "I promised your brother I'd take you home."
"Is he okay?"
"He's making a sale for you, kid." He waves his hand again. "Or do you no longer want a career?"
"Adam—"
"Yeah, Simon filled me in."
"He did?"
"Not the whole story. But enough." He peels my hand from my knees. "I'm not going to leave you here on the cold concrete. So you might as well come with me now."
"I don't want to hear about Adam."
"I promised him I'd get you home."
"I thought you promised Remy."
"I can't promise multiple people?"
"It's not really the intent."
"Two birds, one stone. Come on. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here."
"You don't work here," I say.
"Neither do you." He peels my other hand from my dress. "I'll take you to a bar, take you dancing, fill you with coffee. Wherever you want. But not here."
"What if I want here?"
"All right, let's try this. You look me in the eye and tell me you want to sit on the cold concrete floor. You really make me believe. And I will."
"You're annoying."
"Very true." He bends next to me. "Annoying. And not willing to leave you here."
"So you'll keep being annoying?"
"Oh yeah."
"Fine." I take his hand.
He helps me to my feet. Leads me to the main room. Slides my coat over my shoulders. "I called a car."
"I don't have to go home, but I do need to get into it?"
"Exactly."
I follow him into the stupid car. It's a stupid limo, actually, with bench seats and obnoxious mood lighting.
Who wants purple lights?
I'm not going to prom.
I'm a fucking adult.
I cross my legs. Fold my arms over my chest.
"Adam is an asshole." Liam sits next to me. "I am too. That's how I know." He looks to me. "Home?"
"My apartment, yeah."
He relays the information to the driver. When I shoot him a curious look, he says, "Your brother."
