Page 2 of Lying Lainey

Next, I stopped at the coat check but decided to keep my clutch with me. I had things far too valuable in there to risk letting anyone else hold onto it. With all that out of the way, it was time to join the gala’s guests.

The museum’s main room had been transformed from a mundane space full of education into a glowing golden grotto filled with music and sparkled with the gowns and jewels the women were wearing. This gala was a fundraiser for the new hospital wing they wanted to build, specifically to treat children with terminal diseases—a place meant to accommodate the patients as well as their families.

Taking an offered glass of champagne, I wandered the outside edge of the event, looking at all the photos of the children they planned to help along with their stories. Of course, they made sure to pick the images that made them look the most pitiful or on the brink of death. How else would they squeeze every last penny from these calloused Alpha high rollers?

My guess was that some of these kids weren’t even sick or in the hospital. It’s amazing what the right makeup and lighting can do in a photo shoot. My thoughts on the matter—disgusting. I’m sure it seems contradictory for me to be upset by this when I am a con artist. However, I’ve had firsthand experience knowing what it’s like to be exploited as a child.

At the tender age of ten, I was adopted by a man who turned out to be a fucking con artist. He would adopt various kids and teach them how to be his helper. Depending on the job or scam, he needed a specific look or age. Trent is the man who taught me everything I know and use, even to this day. He used to tell me I had a gift, and if I stopped being such a bleeding heart, I might go places when I was older. The joke was on him since he’s the one rotting in prison for the rest of his life, and I’m the one who put him there.

“Emmalina, my petal, I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long,” Zarin said from behind me.

His sharp scent of pepper and earthy sage made my nose itch, but I’d learned long ago to ignore the scents of others. We might be hardwired to acknowledge them, using it as a barometer of compatibility, but that didn’t matter when I was working. Flicking the switch, I fell into my Emmalina character twisting around to face the man of my dreams.

There he was in a sharp dark gray silk tux that matched his olive skin tone well. Zarin was shorter than me by only an inch or two, but the heels made it more distinct. His black hair was combed straight back, showing off the start of his receding hairline. Warm brown eyes stared at me with such affection, I knew if I weren’t the hardened woman I was now, I’d feel bad for what I was about to do. Sadly for him, the five zeros that came after the three on my contract for this job meant more.

“You’re finally here,” I gushed, grabbing his forearm and beaming at him. “Thank you for the flowers. They were so pretty, and how did you remember my favorite champagne? You’re too good to me.”

“My petal, I keep telling you, it’s like the gods themselves formed you just for me,” Zarin cooed, leaning in and dropping a chaste kiss on my lips.

He was an affectionate man, but when it came to public settings, he was beyond conservative. I thought he wasn’t into me at all, yet the moment we found ourselves in a private area, I saw the Alpha side of Zarin come out. That’s when I knew he enjoyed the hunt and made the call not to sleep with him but make him work for it.

“I feel the same way.” I sighed, looping my arm around his. “Thank you for inviting me to this event. I can’t believe a woman like me gets to be on your arm.”

“Emmalina, how many times do I have to tell you not to listen to what your parents have to say?” Zarin scolded. “Just because you’re a Beta doesn’t mean you have less value in the world. Your late mother was a Beta, and your father loved her enough to bond with her even though the rest of the pack disapproved. They seek to tear you down because they are jealous of what your father got to experience.”

Who would have known that an Alpha such as him would be a champion for equal rights for Betas? It was one of the things I’d learned about him and used to set the trap and reel him in.

“I know you’re right. It’s just I’m scared to tell them about us. What if they cut me off, and I’m left with nothing?” I murmured, adding a slight sniff to up the emotion.

Zarin stopped and tucked a finger under my chin. “Emmalina, I am a man with no pack, no children, and no extended family to look after. If they cut you off and toss you away, it would be my honor to care for you for the rest of my life. When this new drug goes on the market, it will secure my company’s future, and no matter what happens, I’ll be able to take care of you.”

Oh, you poor, poor, romantic fool. In a mere two days, your future will be so bleak you won’t want to get out of bed.

“Truly, I don’t know how I ever got so lucky. Who knew spilling a glass of wine in your lap would bring me so much joy,” I said, letting my eyes brim with tears before stepping back and pretending to wipe them away. “There is no time for silly tears when we have a wonderful night ahead of us.”

Offering me his arm again, he smiled. “I couldn’t have said it better myself. Let me introduce you to a few friends of mine who are in town just for the gala. They run a large technology company in Corzina.”

Even as my expression stayed light and cheerful, my blood ran cold at the mention of that city. Corzina was the largest city in all of Breona and where Trent made his headquarters. A feeling of fear I hadn’t felt in a long fucking time churned in my stomach. What if I knew these men from there? The chances of anyone recognizing me tonight with a wig and contacts on were slim to none, not to mention it’s been twelve years since I’d left Corzina. Once I knew they didn’t need me for Trent’s trial and they could crush him like the cockroach he was, I ran and never looked back.

“Zarin, you finally made it,” a man said, pulling my date into a hug.

Then he paused when he saw me, letting his faded blue eyes trail down my body. His skin was tanned, but almost overly so, like he worked at it with artificial assistance. It made his light blond hair stand out as well as the wrinkles around his eyes and mouth. They appeared deeper and harsher, giving him a hard look. He might be the same age as Zarin or older, it was hard to tell, but I was thankful I didn’t recognize him.

“Who is this?” the man asked.

Zarin reached for my hand, and I gave it to him with a quick, shy smile. “This is Emmalina Cresswell… her family owns Elegant Clear, the gin distillery.”

The man’s pale blond eyebrows shot up. “Is that so? What brings you out here?”

“My family feels that I need more education in learning the business, so I was sent out here for two weeks to learn from the Wentworths,” I explained.

“I see. They are a giant in the business, that’s for sure,” he commented, then offered a hand. “Forgive my rudeness. I’m Reuben Watts, owner of Cyclone Software.”

The shock of his name and getting a waft of raw onions off him must have shown on my face as he chuckled. “I guess that means you’ve heard of us?”

Pressing a hand to my chest, I let out a laugh. “Heard of you… of course, I’ve heard of you. Truthfully, I think anyone who hasn’t must live under a rock. To think there’s a possibility for someone not to use your search engine at least once a day would be ludicrous.”

Reuben laughed at that, a deep belly laugh that had people turning to see what could be so funny. “I suppose you might be right about that. We weren’t always a household name, though. My pack and I worked long hours with blood, sweat, and tears to make it happen. Take this time you have with the Wentworths and make it count, young lady. Who knows what you’ll end up doing with your family’s company one day.”