“He told me if we placed, I have to sign over half the ownership of the company. If I don’t do it, he will expose everything I’ve done. He’s been watching us, Spence. He has a whole exposé written up and ready to go. He threatened me in London, trying to get me to be a part of his story, to say that I was lying about what he did to me as well. When I said no, he came to the ball and blackmailed me. He knows everything.”
“He threatened you in London?! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to throw you off before the final round, not that late in the game. I needed you focused.” I nod, still trying to convince myself it was the right thing to do.
“Okay... so... what if we just give him half the money or something?” Spencer shakes his head, not quite believing the situation I’ve put us both in.
I spit out a humorless laugh. “As soon as it dries up, he’ll want more and more. I don’t have a choice... Malcolm is publishing his article on Monday, so Wyst’s statement will go live tomorrow.” I swallow a shaky breath. “But even if I did have a choice. It’s the right thing to do. We can’t keep lying like this to everyone.”
“But we did it... The plan worked,” Spencer says feebly.
I feel drunk, like my head is so woozy my neck can’t hold it upright. I fold my cold fingers over one another in my lap, finally looking up at my brother.
“It’s too late. I’ve already set it in motion by telling Oliver. I can’t go back now.”
Spencer’s eyes turn from a soft garden green to an angry poison. “Are you serious?”
“It’s time, Spence.” I gesture around the lobby of the five-star hotel we can’t afford to be in. “This has all gone too far. I have to tell Dominic before Oliver is obliged to. I’m doing the right thing,” I conclude, mostly because I need to hear someone say it.
“Because it went so well the last time you did the right thing.” He leans forward, lowering his voice. “This should be a joint decision between the both of us. Don’t let that arsehole force your hand again.”
We stare at each other, trying to telepathically come to the same conclusion as we always do. But the look in his eyes suggests he’s just as confused as me. My own green eyes flare back at me.
He looks away. “I can’t believe you would do this to me.”
I scoff out a laugh. “What?”
“You weren’t even going to consult me?” His eyebrows try to reach the ceiling.
“Why would I need to?” I blink at him. “Wyst ismy company, Spence.”
“Because you were the one who dragged me into this! You made me commit fraud for you! And that makes me a part of Wyst whether you like it or not. All I’ve been doing is working hard to make up for your mistake, to getyour companyout of a pit, and you don’t even tell me when you’ve thrown everything I’ve done down the drain because what? You feel bad?” He lets out a long overdue breath.
For a second, all I can concentrate on is subduing my prickling eyes. “Because this whole thing is a farce. We’re lying. AndMalcolm is going to expose us if I don’t do it first. I don’t have a choice.” I rest my head in my trembling hands, trying to ignore the tourists side-eyeing us as they roll their suitcases past.
“Is this why you didn’t tell me? So you could know for your own ego’s sake if Wyst would place in the top three before you came clean?”
“I didn’t tell you becauseyouare not a real CEO;youare not the real founder. You just had to play your part, which you did brilliantly, so, thank you. You can go home now.” I point to the door.
He rolls his eyes. “This is all you’ve cared about, and now you’re throwing it away? You know you haven’t even asked me how my audition went, the one I had to rush through to be here foryou.” He throws his jacket over his shoulder and turns.
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. “How was it?” I say after him.
“It was great! I fucking nailed it!” he shouts over his shoulder as he walks away, leaving me in Oliver’s shirt and shorts and with my ballgown slung over my arm.
Chapter 30
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