My entire face feels molten as I look around the room. “Oh God.”
His face nuzzles the top of my head, and I swear I’m practically levitating at this point. For someone who has no interest in being in a relationship, he is doing a great job faking it. It has me questioning everything about us up until this point because where has this man been? And more importantly, why does he keep him hidden?
Why does it matter? This isn’t even real.
The thought sobers me, and my stomach sinks with disappointment. This is nothing but an act for everyone else’s benefit. I might have gotten caught up in it for a moment, but I need to remember why I agreed to this. This isn’t a real relationship. No amount of forehead kisses or intimate touches will change that.
Stick to the program and you won’t get hurt.
I repeat the motto over and over again while Declan moves us around to the song. By the end of our dance, I feel stronger than before and ready to separate fact from fiction.
Bring it on.
It takes me another thirty minutes of silently standing by Declan’s side before I can finally make it to the bathroom.
I cup some of the cold water from the tap and press it against my cheeks.
“You got this, Iris. Don’t let them get to you.”
Easier said than done. While no one spoke to me besides a quick greeting, they were quick to assess me like a lab rat. The number of women checking out what drink I was sipping and whether my bloated stomach was due to pregnancy or pasta was astounding. I’ve never been self-conscious about my figure, but the way they were analyzing me had my skin growing hot under my silk scarf.
They don’t matter. I roll my shoulders back and touch up my lipstick before exiting the bathroom.
I take a step toward the ballroom before I’m taken off balance by someone grabbing onto my elbow.
“How much is he paying you?” Declan’s father turns me around so I can face him.
I tug my arm from his grasp. “I have no idea who or what you’re talking about.”
“I’m willing to pay you double whatever he offered to make this engagement cease to exist.”
My eyes widen. “Excuse me?”
“You can’t be this dense.”
“Make sure to speak plainly since I struggle to keep up with high concepts.”
“Obviously Declan must have been desperate if he chose you of all people.”
The audacity of this man. “I’m a lucky woman. Marrying your son is like a Dreamland story brought to life.”
He makes a noise in the back of his throat. “Don’t flatter yourself. Declan is only marrying you for his inheritance.”
“He’s what?” I hitch my voice at the perfect time.
“You didn’t know.” His brows pull together.
I’ve got him right where I want him. “What are you talking about? He never mentioned anything about an inheritance.” I will my bottom lip to tremble, and the results are miraculous.
“The only reason he put a ring on your finger is because he wants my position. Without you, he has no chance at becoming CEO.”
I blink twice. “What?”
His bitter laugh makes me want to recoil. “You can’t actually think he wants to marry you for love?”
“If not love, then what for?” My hand presses against my chest, clawing at the material of my dress as if I want to rip my heart out. If Cal were here, I imagine he would hand me a golden trophy for my performance. Maybe Declan would even give me a raise.
“What else? An inheritance. Without a wife and a child, he has no way of becoming CEO.”
“Are you serious? What is wrong with you people?” My pitch rises like I might break out into tears at any moment.
He tucks his hands in his pockets. “Unfortunately.”
“How did you find all this out?”
His brows pull together. “How I found out doesn’t matter.”
I withhold the bodily urge to roll my eyes. “Do you have proof? You can’t believe I’m dumb enough to take your word over my fiancé’s?”
His eyes narrow ever so slightly as if to tell me yes, he thought I was that dumb. At least his assumptions about me make this whole conversation that much more victorious.
“He and I had a discussion about all of this when he sought out my advice. I tried to warn him to not go through with this, but he didn’t listen.”
Boom. I catch him right where I want him. There is no way Declan would ever speak to his father about his inheritance, which means all of Seth Kane’s assumptions are based solely on speculation. I almost laugh at my discovery, but I’m not ready to break character yet. I’m having all too much fun playing with Chicago’s biggest asshole.
I dab at the corners of my eyes. “Excuse me. I’m just feeling so overwhelmed suddenly.”
Mr. Kane shakes his head as if he is truly disgusted by Declan’s life choices. He doesn’t have two legs to stand on given his history, but he puts on a good show. One almost better than mine. “My son should know better than to play with an innocent woman’s feelings. I thought I taught him better than that.”
I don’t even know where to start with that comment.
Don’t let him get to you. He’s only trying to scare you into calling off the marriage.
I steel my spine. “There’s only one person playing with my feelings, and I’m staring straight at him. Thanks for all the information though. I’m sure Declan will be interested in hearing all about your attempt to ruin our engagement.”
His face morphs into something straight out of a child’s nightmare. “You think you’re clever?”
“Oh, I know I am.”
“I was trying to save you from a loveless marriage, but it seems as if you two deserve each other.”
“I sure hope so, seeing as we’re getting married.”
“He will never love you. He is incapable of it.”
“If I wanted some fatherly advice from a deadbeat dad, I’d call my own father.” My dig is meant for him and all the shit he put his children through.
His jaw clenches. “This isn’t over.”
I offer him a beaming smile as a few guests walk past. “I sure hope not. I thoroughly enjoy watching you make a fool of yourself.”
I leave Declan’s father behind, stewing in the shitstorm he created.
“Your father knows,” is the first thing I say as Declan enters the car.
Harrison, Declan’s chauffeur, shuts the door before entering the private driver’s cabin.
His head tilts. “What do you mean ‘he knows’?”
“Let’s just say he and I had a heart-to-heart after he cornered me near the bathroom.”
His look of disgust mirrors mine. “Tell me exactly what he said.”
I break down the entire conversation, from the assumptions his father made to the way he offered to pay me double to call off the engagement.
Declan remains tight-lipped throughout the whole thing until I finish.
“He has no evidence.”
I twist my hands on my lap. “Doesn’t mean he won’t stop until he finds some.”
“Then we will give everyone a show they so desperately want.”
“But aren’t you worried he might do something irrational?”
His eyes light up with challenge. “I’d like to see him try. There is nothing I’d like more than to tear him down once and for all.”
A shiver skates down my spine. “So what’s our plan then?”