Fraud

Gabriel

It’s hard to believe Ivy accepts anything I have to say as truth. Not after the years we’ve been around each other and not after the games we’ve played.

The truth is I never want her silent around me.

Okay.

Wait.

That’s a lie.

I wanted her silent the one time she’d convinced me she was a worthless bag of socialite skin, her only value the cost of her upkeep and the clothes she wears.

But now that I know better, and now that I see the opponent emerging that I’ve battled my entire life, the last thing I want is for her to stop talking.

She fascinates me, this woman.

Always has.

Ivy remains quiet the rest of the drive to the airport, but that doesn’t mean she’s given up. Quite the opposite, in fact. It’s almost as if I can hear the gears grinding in her head, can read her thoughts as easily as if they were written on a whiteboard while she plots out her next move in her plan to fight back.

She’s up to something, and I’m looking forward to the grand unveiling, only because for as aggravating as her pranks can be, they are also awe-inspiring.

I love the way her devious mind works. Ivy never does anything standard or ordinary. The pranks she plans against me are an art form, and I admire the way she’s always surprised me as much as I surprised her.

Pulling up to the airport gates, I hand the security attendant my identification and flight plan for him to check over. Satisfied I have every right to be here, he opens the gates and allows me to pull forward.

Within a few seconds, we’re slowly driving down the tarmac, my plane coming into sight, several of the crew ru

Glancing at Ivy, I see she’s not impressed. But then again, why would she be? She was raised in the same life as me, her level of luxury almost equal to the wealth my family has amassed.

If anything, she looks bored, the silence finally getting to me so much that I can’t help but break it.

“Just so you know I’m a member in good standing with the Mile-High Club. If you haven’t joined yet, I highly recommend it.”

She turns her head to glare in my direction, but rather than opening those beautiful lips and spitting back some snarky retort, she rolls her eyes and turns back to the window.

My brows shoot up at that, and I wonder just how long she’ll continue with the silent treatment she’s giving me.

I don’t let it bother me.

“Can I assume your silence indicates consent and excitement?”

Her shoulders shake with a snort, but she doesn’t look at me again or communicate in any way.

That’s fine. As soon as we’re on the plane, I’ll a

I park the car near the plane and get out. Nodding my head at one of the crew, I walk around the car to open the trunk for another crew member to gather and load the bags onto the plane, then round to the passenger side to pull open Ivy’s door.

Offering a hand to help her out of her seat, I smile when she scowls.

“Come along, princess. Your chariot awaits.”

Surprisingly, she takes my hand as she swings her shapely legs from the car and pushes to her feet.

“I’m not a princess,” she argues as we walk toward the plane, the sun glowing beautifully against her tan skin.

“Ah,” I tease, “she speaks.”

Her soft laughter floats through the breeze, tempting me in all the right places.

“Oh,” she volleys back, “he really does want to hear me. I’m shocked.”

Gri

We reach the stairs, and she turns to me before climbing them. Aqua blue eyes hold mine, something unsaid in her expression.

“And you’ve always been the broken prince. Or have you forgotten that part?”

She arches a perfectly shaped brow before releasing my hand to climb the stairs.

Stuck in place by the reminder of how we ended up here, I watch as she ascends, the wind whipping her skirt so that the backs of her thighs keep peeking out at me.

How stupid of her to say what she did. Even if I was the one to start it. The easy humor I’d felt only seconds ago is now lost to memories I’d rather forget.

“Mr. Dane. We’re ready to depart. Just waiting for you to board.”

The wind whips my hair as I stare up at Ivy. She glances down at me, the wind catching her skirt just right to give me a glimpse of her black silk panties.

Holding her hand against her skirt to keep it in place, she tips her chin defiantly, her eyes tangling with mine without apology for what she said.

“Mr. Dane?”

Dragging my gaze from hers, I turn to the crewmember speaking to me. “I’ll head up now.”

He nods and waits as I ascend the stairs.

Ducking my head as I step into the cabin, I see Ivy in a single seat near a window, her ankles crossed demurely, and her posture perfectly straight.

I choose a seat opposite the cabin from her, not that she deserves so much space. My eyes are still locked on her as they shut the door and the engines start.

We both buckle our seatbelts as the plane moves down the tarmac, but Ivy refuses to look at me as we lift into the air, climb to the proper elevation and the plane settles in for the two-hour flight.

I can’t take the silence for longer than a half hour.

“Don’t you think it was stupid to bring that up?”

She still refuses to glance my direction, her eyes trained on the sky outside. “I’m not the one who started it.”

“In fact,” she adds, her eyes finally crawling to mine, “I’m not the one who wants to be here. I was happily living my life ignoring all of you, at least until I was dragged back into your bullshit. I miss the days you were away at Yale. At least, then, I didn’t have to watch my back constantly for fear of you sneaking up behind it.”

Gri

“There are certain things we don’t talk about, Ivy. Or have you forgotten?”

A bark of laughter shakes her shoulders, but the sound is entirely devoid of humor.

“Are you serious? How many years has it been, Gabriel? If anybody should want to avoid talking about that night, it’s me. None of what happened was my fault. But you certainly made my life hell for it, didn’t you?”

She shakes her head.

“It’s such bullshit. Everybody believes the fake mask you wear. The easygoing jokester that doesn’t care about anything. But I saw the truth, and you don’t like it. Is that why I’m here right now? Because I walked out on something I shouldn’t have? You can blame yourself for that. Not me. Fraud is a good name for you, Gabe. I don’t think anybody realizes just how deep the moniker runs.”

She unbuckles her seatbelt and pushes to her feet. The heels she wears only accentuate the shape of her legs, her ta

I can’t help dragging my gaze down and back up again, her eyes narrowed on me because she knows exactly what I’m doing.

“As if,” she scoffs. “That ship sailed a long time ago.”

Without another word, she marches into the back of the plane and enters a room on the left.

It’s exactly the wrong place for her to go, but I don’t mind the choice. The door has a lock but it’s key-coded, the electronic panel on the side a steady green after I get up from my seat to follow her.