“Well, your dad is going to be disappointed, Princess. I didn’t even bring one.”
“I’m sure I can find you something to change into. Give me five minutes.” My voice hitched as I spoke because I needed to keep everyone happy this week. I needed to behave long enough so that I could escape back to my life and never have to come here again.
I moved to the bedroom door, but Charlie stepped in front of me, blocking my way. “If you think I’m going to wear your dad’s chinos or your sister’s husband’s suit, you’re sadly mistaken. I’m not pretending to be someone I’m not. It’s not me.”
I leaned in closer, noticing how he smelled of warmth and spice and, surprisingly, I didn’t hate it. “You’re pretending to be my boyfriend. Surely a suit is just another lie to add to the mix?”
“Ah, I get some benefits of being your boyfriend, like sticking my tongue in your mouth and running my hand up your thigh when you need your parents to believe we’re together. But as far as I can tell, there are no benefits to the suit. Unless you’re telling me you’re going to drop to your knees later and give me head while I’m wearing it. Then I might think about it.”
I shoved his chest hard, and he stumbled back, letting out a long, low laugh at my expense. “God, you really are a dick. I will murder Neo for making you come out here with me. I don’t know what’s worse, being here or being here with you.”
He held up his hands in mock defeat. “Your family can take me as I am. You should try the same. I mean, what’s the worst thatcan happen? They cut off your trust fund? You bring shame on the family? You make Daddy cross?”
Before I could say another word, the dinner bell sounded.
Charlie dropped his head, shaking it slowly back and forth. “Oh, my God. I feel like I’m in some sort ofAgatha Christienovel. Will there be a murder at dinner that we’ll be expected to solve before we’re allowed dessert?”
I sucked in a breath, knowing that I was about to be confronted by James and my sister, bile threatening to fill my mouth. “We have to go. Ready to be my fake boyfriend?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be, Princess.” Charlie held out his hand and although I’d never tell him, I welcomed the idea of having a friendly face next to me to ground myself in.
Charlie
I didn’t know Fern that well. I did everything I could to avoid the record label’s head office, so while my band brothers had taken her for lunch, gotten her drunk after work, and were now firm friends, to me she was just someone who busted my balls via text and emaila lot. And while I didn’t know her, I listened to what Archer and Fox said about her—fun, confident, relaxed, easygoing… the exact opposite to the vibe she was giving me right now.
It wasn’t just the outfit that had instantly aged her ten years or the thick makeup that covered her freckles and made her look like a porcelain doll, with bright red lips and fake eyelashes—it was how rigid and up tight she appeared. When the dinner bell rang, I wondered if this was one of those shows where they pranked you with hidden cameras, but as we descended the stairs and I felt the emotion pouring from Fern, I guessed not.
What was that? Fear? Nerves? Worry?Whatever it was, it sucked what remained of her personality, making the personwho had just been promoted to run communications for the entire label wither before my eyes.
We followed another maid to the dining room, and I tried to ignore the memories of my childhood popping back up from the recesses of my mind. A house too big for the number of people who lived there, staff who looked after the kids, being forced to behave in a certain way rather than being allowed to be a kid.Fern must have felt my reaction as she turned to me and whispered, “You okay?”
I nodded, masking the emotion on my face. Something I’d also learned to do in that house.
We were the last ones to enter the dining room. Sitting at the huge, formally set table were her parents, along with another male and a female that I guessed were her sister and the husband. As we sat across from them, the tension in the air was unmistakable.
“Elise. James.” Fern spoke, her voice cordial, but her grip tightened in mine.
Pulling out her chair, because I knew how to be polite, I let her sit first before I took my seat next to her.
“Ferny,” her sister replied, smiling, but I noticed how sad she looked.
“Where’s Ari?”
“Bed. James likes to keep her in a routine. You can see her tomorrow.”
“Is she in your room?”
James leaned back in his chair. “No, Fe. She’s with the nanny. Elise and I need our sleep.”
Fern’s face hardened for a fleeting moment and then flickered back to the emotionless Stepford wife expression she’d been wearing since she stepped out of the bathroom.
“You look lovely, dear,” her mum commented. “Isn’t it nice to be in your old clothes? You must get sick of wearing all thosenasty outfits I see you dressed in when I look at your social media.”
Fern tipped her head just enough to make her mum think she’d agreed.
“You didn’t think to dress for dinner, Charlie?” her dad questioned, as the staff started to fill our plates with food.
“I put a shirt on,” I replied flatly.
