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Chapter 1
Cash
Thepapersfeeltoolight to be this life changing. With my jaw tight in frustration, I sign my name on each highlighted line. When Cat gives my knee a light squeeze, I glare at her.
“This is going to be great,” Hanson says after I slide the paper in his direction. “We will plan the announcement in a few weeks.”
I raise my eyes and cut him with a stare. “You aren’t really going through with this sham of a marriage? I signed the papers—it’s unnecessary.”
Hanson frowns. “Sintac wants a family business. What’s better than two family businesses that are joined together in holy matrimony? This is a happy time, Cash; get on board.”
Cat sits stiffly beside me. “You don’t have to do this,” I say under my breath.
When she shakes her head and smiles at Hanson, my stomach twists. “We are doing this, Cash. We’re friends. Jay and I are happy. It’s what’s good for both of our companies.”
Hanson’s smile broadens. “See, a family affair. It’s going to be great. So will Grace be there?”
This guy is looking to be punched. “I know what you did. I know you and Grace planned this. I’ll figure out how to prove it and then I’ll get my company back.”
Cat sighs. “Jay had nothing to do with Grace’s tell-all. He stopped it from being aired.” She turns to her new boyfriend and scolds him. “Jay, stop bringing her up. I told you, we’re done with her.”
My stomach flips as I remember every horrible minute of the night before. Finding out that the woman I believed was the love of my life had betrayed me. Seeing my brother’s face after each of our family’s secrets were dangled before the masses. The identity of Chase’s mother; the fact that he’s the product of statutory rape. The news that my brother Carter may have a child. And the horrible truth that the woman who spilled it all was Grace.
He cuts her with a stare. “And I told you, she’s my friend. Shedidn’tdo this. And you don’t need your company back, Cash, because I didn’t take your company. We are merging—you will still have management of your side and Cat will handle the expansion. This is a win-win.”
Irritated, I reply, “If you want this to work, I’d suggest you don’t mention Grace to me again. We’re done. I don’t deal with liars and cheats or people I can’t trust, and Grace is unfortunately all of those.”
Hanson lets out a bitter laugh. “You’re a bigger fucking fool than I thought. That woman gave you everything, and she would have given up even more for you. She practically did. You were off-limits in the interview, Cash. Vanessa played her. And nothing came out. All the secrets remain under wraps.Nothingis coming out. Forgive her or you’ll regret losing her.”
I shake my head, not buying the lies. I saw it in Grace’s violet eyes. She betrayed me. “Let’s just stick to talking about business. Stay out of my personal life and I’ll stay out of whatever fake marriage bullshit you guys are doing.” I push my chair back and walk toward the door.
“Sit down,” Hanson’s voice booms across the room and halts me on the spot.
I wear anger in my gaze. “Don’t tell me what to do.”
“Sit the fuck down,please,” he says condescendingly. Cat meets my eye and pleads with me to listen.
With tense shoulders and a clenched jaw, I walk back to the table and sit.
“Now you are going to have your publicist put out this statement, and if you get asked anything about Grace you will refer to the statement or give nothing but a glowing review of her. Do I make myself clear?”
I don’t even pick up the paper that Hanson slid toward me. There is no way that I’m protecting Grace. “Not going to happen.”
Cat grabs the paper from me and reads it out loud. “A few months ago, I engaged Grace Kensington to help me in my pursuit of a wife. During that time, I was introduced to Vanessa. Although I did not see it going anywhere past the first date, she apparently did not feel the same way. After our date, and after I learned of Grace’s pending divorce, I pursued a relationship with Grace. When Vanessa found out about this, she was apparently angry and somehow hacked my account last night to make those slanderous allegations against Grace.”
Cat scoffs at the paper. My breathing matches her anger.
“At this time, I want to make clear that Grace Kensington was an utmost professional when I was a client. She did not pursue me. She did not introduce me to anyone after I made it clear that I was only interested in her, and she is a victim of Vanessa’s lies. I am profoundly sorry for how she has been affected and hope that Vanessa is brought to justice for her crimes.”
Cat throws the paper down. “This is shit and you know it,” she says heatedly.
I shake my head, even more convinced that Hanson and Grace planned this entire thing. Somehow, she comes out scot-free and he gets my company. Guarantee you in a year he will divorce my sister and marry Grace. The entire situation makes me ill.
Hanson turns his cold stare on her. “This only works if you make that statement. If not, let’s rip up the contract, I’ll go to Sintac, get the deal myself, and move on. You all seem to forget that I don’t need you.Youneed me.”
As much as I hate to admit it, he’s right. My stupid tweet last night made me look like a fool, made Grace look like a scam artist, and gave credence to the previews that the news channel had uploaded before Hanson had the entire thing shut down. The vultures will keep circling if they believe there’s a secret we’re hiding. A cover-up. And there is.
Carter’s child, the identity of Chase’s mother, and her age.
