–Grace: I’m stuck in traffic. Gonna be late.
–Me: No problem. Drive safely.
–Grace: Thanks. At least I have the ring!
I smile. I didn’t have time to do the proposal in person, thanks to the emergency situation in Paris. So having a ten-carat solitaire ring from Sebastian Jewelry hand-couriered to her was the next best thing. It’s not unique like themoi et toiengagement ring Lucie got, but it’s a classic. And sticking to the classics is best when you’re trying to spin a lie.
But my family also knows that I don’t do vanilla. So I added my own touch by having our names engraved inside the band:Grace Lain & Huxley Lasker, Always forever in love.
And we’ve texted our basic information—birthdays, where we grew up, favorite foods and colors and music, things that a couple would know. It’d be pretty shitty if we got caught over some minor detail, but minor details are how projects cohere or fall apart.
–Grace: Also, I need to talk to you about something important. Can we do that tonight?
–Me: Of course. Before or after the dinner?
–Grace: Doesn’t matter.
–Me: Let’s play it by ear, but it’ll probably end up being after. Doubt my family will give us a private moment once we announce the engagement.
–Grace: Sounds good.
Grandma’s housekeeper Sally bustles out from the long corridor toward the dining room. Comfortably plump, she’sbeen with the family for decades. Her silver hair is cut short, and her green eyes have lost a bit of their intensity, although she still misses nothing. “Huxley! Welcome. Everyone’s here.”
“There are more cars than I expected for a family dinner.”
“She invited the Webbers.”
“Did she now?” So Grandma has managed to strike first. Too bad I’m going to strike harder.
Sally gives me a professional smile. “They’re practically family at this point.”
“Of course.” It’s just like Grandmother to count her chickens in front of me to pressure me into doing what’s necessary to hatch the eggs.
“Emma is here as well.”
“She is?” Emmett said his mom was in Playa del Carmen for the month to celebrate her birthday. I sent a present to the resort for her.
“She was visiting Jeremiah, who decided to invite her over.”
“Ah.” Mom might be friendly with Emma, but she didn’t invite her over for no reason. She knows I’ll behave if Emma’s around. The woman is like my second mother, and my family knows she’ll be a buffer if I become upset enough to lose my cool.
“I know the way,” I say before Sally offers to show me, like always. She seems to think everyone is a baby she needs to hover over. It’s ridiculous to see the way she fusses over my mother, who is one of the most menacingly competent adults ever.
The long table is laden with drinks and platters of caviar, cheese and crackers. Guess we’re toasting the family alliance. From the expectant vibe in the air, it’s obvious I’m supposed to pick my bride tonight.
I can’t wait until they realize I’m here to deliver thecoup de grâceto their scheme.
One side is occupied by Grandma, Mother, Emma, Uncle Prescott, Aunt Akiko and my cousins. The other side is Andreas—then his oldest son Bill, his wife Patricia and their son Alaric. To the latter’s right are Nelson and Karie and their children—Mick and Vivienne.
The setup looks like a two sides girding for battle, but it’s actually a transparent attempt to lower my defenses. My family has no clue I’m in the process of hiring John Highsmith to undo the entire contractual fuckup. They’re feeling secure, no doubt, thinking I’m trapped and they’ll be getting greater control of Huxley & Webber and a bigger slice of the firm’s profits. What I don’t understand is the motivation on the Webber side. Are their girls so terrible that this is the only way to unload them? Surely Vivienne can findsomebodyon a dating app.
Or is it for the other one, who spends money like water?If she’s pretty enough, she can get a sugar daddy. SoCal is full of them. The Webbers can start with their billionaire client list.
Emma looks a little uncomfortable surrounded by all the legal sharks. A lithe brunette with a face more beautiful than most movie stars, she’s too kind and gentle to be tossed into the upcoming battle. From the way she’s looking around the dining room, she isn’t sure why my mother invited her.
Vivienne leaps to her feet. “Huxley! I justknewit!” She runs toward me, her arms spread wide.
“Knew what?” I step back just as she’s about to wrap her arms around me. She ends up hugging the air.
