“I have to go to Boston in an hour,” Greg droned. “This better be quick, and it better not be bad news. Tristan, who one would think would be concentrating on completing his college degree, has instead informed me he’s been playing online poker and won an alligator.”
“Why would you accept an alligator as payment?” I said. “They aren’t that expensive.”
“Do not buy an alligator,” Hunter warned me.
“I’m not buying an alligator!”
“Then what are you doing here? We have the dinner with the Schultzes tonight.”
“About that—”
“Do not,” Greg hissed, “screw this up.”
“I’m not! I’m the one who is saving this contract.”
Should I tell them?
“I have something to tell you…”
My older brother stared at me, gray eyes flat.
It isn’t too late to come up with something else.
“Spit it out.”
“Avery is not my girlfriend.”
“Excuse me?”
“Did you break up with her?” Greg said, cold anger settling over his features. “I warned you. Fuck. I knew you couldn’t handle it.”
“No, she’ll be at the dinner. She just…” I winced. “She and I made a deal that she would be my girlfriend so I could win the contract.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Greg said after a moment. “Are you insane?”
“It worked, didn’t it? I’ll have the love of my life at the dinner, and we’ll win the contract.”
“And what is she getting?” Hunter asked, eyes narrowed.
“She’s going to inherit her family home,” I told him. “It’s a business move.”
“Oh yeah, and what happens if she falls in love with you?” Hunter said. “Then what? Then she refuses to divorce you, you lose half your company—”
“Avery’s not like that!” I protested.
“You don’t know what she’s like,” Greg snapped. “You don’t know her at all.”
“Seriously, what the fuck, Blade?” Hunter ran a hand through his hair.
“I’m being honest! I told you the truth. I could have lied,” I protested.
“Congratulations. You’re only marginally a psychopath.”
“Hey, look at what Hunter did to Meg,” I countered. “It’s not like I pretended to love a girl and lied to her. Avery and I are on the same page. She’s great, she smart, she’s flexible.” Hunter raised an eyebrow. “No, not like that. I’m not sleeping with her.”
“There’s video of you two in bed together.”
“Yes,” I explained, “to trick Garrett. Speaking of, this cannot leave the room.”
