“That’s very generous of you.”I was instantly suspicious of the stranger’s motivations to help us.
Too many years around men like Ian had twisted me into assuming every person I met was only out for themselves.But then, Hans had already proven me wrong on that point, hadn’t he?He’d reminded me that there was a whole world outside Ian’s reach where people were sometimes kind and charitable.
Not everyone is terrible.The words echoed around my head.I have to learn to trust again.
“Seestrasse?”Caroline was on the phone again, looking up the location of the street on Google Maps.
“Yes,” the man replied.“Between Erlenbach and Herrliberg.”
“We’d only need a very short-term lease.”She didn’t even glance up from the screen as she spoke.“Can you be flexible about that?”
“Shouldn’t we start by asking your name, Sir?”Pride was bubbling inside of me at the way Caroline had taken the bull by the horns, but I wasn’t even considering doing business with anyone unless I knew their name first.
“Of course.”Rising from his chair, he strode the short distance to our table and thrust his palm in my direction.“I am Fabian Schmid.”
“Fabian, I’m Adam Clément, and this is my wife, Caroline.”
The words were out of my mouth in a heartbeat, Caroline’s eyes widening as she acknowledged our abrupt fictional marriage.I hadn’t intended to ensnare her as my wife, especially in such a mundane and unromantic fashion, but the reasons we were in Zurich needing a house were going to be difficult enough to explain to Fabian.Better that he assumed we were wed.I hoped he might ask fewer questions that way.
“It’s a pleasure.”Fabian’s grin seemed sincere as he motioned to the chair beside me.“Can I sit?”
“Yes.”Caroline caught my eye, bemusement gleaming in her gaze at our sudden betrothal.“Please.”
“So, what brings you both to my lovely city?”His gaze scanned us while he waited for one of us to reply.
“We’re here on honeymoon.”Caroline practically beamed, conveying her alleged joy about the event rather too convincingly.
Had I known how good she was at duplicity until that moment?Mirroring her smile, I recalled the time she’d kept Fern’s whereabouts from me, but I couldn’t think of another instance when she’d lied.
“Congratulations!”Fabian clapped his hands together excitedly.“Marriage is such a fundamental institution.But wait,” he paused.“You don’t have your wedding rings on.”He gestured to our hands, which were bare of gold bands.
“We’re unconventional.”Taking Caroline’s lead, I leaned back in my chair.“We don’t need rings to prove we love each other.”
“Exactly.”Caroline took my outstretched hand.“Plus, this has all been such a whirlwind for us.We haven’t really had time to think about trinkets yet.”
I respected the way her lie at least leaned into the truth.We had known one another for a relatively short time, and amidst the conflict and destruction of Fortorus, what we’d experienced together had been close to a proverbial ‘whirlwind’.A few months prior, I’d never even heard of Miss Craness, but sitting there in Zurich with Fabian, she was the center of my whole universe.
“Ah, how exciting!”Fabian seemed genuinely pleased for us.“So, you’re here on honeymoon, but you have nowhere to stay?”
With that one question, Fabian identified the crux of our untruth.Even a short-lived engagement would have involved us planning somewhere to stay in Switzerland.
“That’s my fault.”I scowled, playing the same card as Caroline because there was some truth to my lie.
Iwasresponsible for us being there.I had been an architect of Ian’s empire, and by the same measure, I’d decided to get us both out of his ticking time bomb.Our current homelessness was on me.
“The website I used to book our hotel turned out to be a scam site, and now we have nowhere to go.”I squeezed her hand.
“It’s the last thing we need.”She shook her head sadly.“As things stand, we’ve lost all that money.”
“I’m so sorry,” Fabian frowned.“And if I’ve heard you correctly, then you’ve lost your bank cards, as well?”
I sensed that Fabian could see right through our flimsy web of excuses, but we were in way too deep to go back.If he did have somewhere for us to stay until we had an opportunity to go elsewhere, I was prepared to suck up his cynicism.It was a small price to pay for comfort and safety.
“We left them at home.”That much was true.Whatever bank cards I’d once owned were all still in my safe at my old unit.
“It’s not been the best day for us.”Caroline sighed wearily.“But it’s okay because we have each other.”
I turned to gaze at her, moved by how she’d expressed the sentiment.Our reasons might have been made up, but I knew our feelings were real.
