Fraud

“Do you know what Ta

Of course I know. I’m the one who set it up. The end of our senior year was fast approaching, and my hatred of her was driving everything I did. I needed one last slap, one last fuck you that would become a long game I could use to finally win this war.

It was the perfect game, one she never saw coming and hadn’t even known occurred after the trap snapped closed to catch her in it.

For ten years, I waited for the day the price for the favor would be called in. Ta

I knew the day would come when I could look her in the eyes and explain how I did this to her. That I’d played a long game that was better than all the stupid and cruel pranks we’d played as kids.

And now that our relationship has twisted to become something other than the hatred it’s always been, I have no idea how to admit what I’ve done.

“No clue,” I casually answer, my eyes locked on the numbers at the side of the door, my hands sliding into my pockets again as we draw close to my floor.

“None at all? I find that hard to believe.”

Glancing at her for only a second, I grin.

“You weren’t exactly important enough for Ta

I can feel her staring at me, and it takes effort to keep from looking back.

The elevator comes to a stop, the doors rolling open smoothly. Reaching out, I hold them open while waiting for Ivy to walk ahead.

I run into her back when she stops suddenly, my eyes lifting over her head to see what caused her to pause.

Warbucks steps up to stand in front of us with Daddy Dearest and Ta

My stare returns to our fathers. As usual, they’re dressed to the nines, their mouths held in disapproving lines as they glare in my direction.

My hand grips Ivy’s wrist to tug her behind me as I step forward, anger slicing down my spine at the way Warbucks slides his eyes her direction.

Both of these pricks see women as nothing more than a pussy to fuck or a pretty face to make them look good, and I’ll slice both of their throats if they so much as think about touching Ivy.

“I’m surprised to see you here.”

My voice is smooth as butter, my fake persona slamming down so hard, I can feel it rattle at my feet.

Warbucks’s eyes turn back to me, the same green as mine.

“Yes, well, I haven’t heard from you since you got engaged. Unfortunately, I also saw that engagement fell through. Imagine my surprise to discover both those details about my son through the news and not from his mouth specifically.”

“I’ve been busy.”

He grins, the expression cutting.

“I came to make sure you’re okay since the article I read mentioned how pathetically sad you are to have broken up with your fiancée.”

He glances back at Ivy, and I have to suppress a growl.

“Apparently you two have made up.” Eyes back to me. “How interesting.”

Rather than playing his game according to his rules, I return the bullshit smile he’s giving me.

“It was all very dramatic and sad, but-“

Ivy steps around me before I realize she’s moving, her hand extended to shake Warbucks’s before I can finish rattling off the crap I was about to spew. Voice dying mid-sentence, I resist the urge to grab her and drag her right the fuck back behind me.

Ivy’s voice is so sweet, it makes my teeth ache.

“Mr. Dane, I don’t think we’ve seen each other since Emily and Mason’s engagement party. You’re looking as dapper as ever.”

I’d almost forgotten how well-versed Ivy is in our social circle’s fake conversations. Which is stupid of me. Of course, she knows exactly what to say.

However, when she suddenly switches into the pampered princess act she’d used on me on our first date, my brow cocks to recognize it.

“And Mr. Caine. It’s good to see you as well.”

Ivy lets out a giggle that makes my ears bleed, a stupid sound you’d expect from a pre-teen more than a woman.

“You know, I never realized how your names rhyme. Dane and Caine. That’s fu

All of us stand frozen as she tilts her head and twirls a strand of hair, her blue eyes batting in Warbucks’s direction.

“Anyway, I’m so sorry Gabriel hasn’t been in touch. I told him to let you know. It’s just that everything was so sudden, and your son is such a romantic. Does he get that from you?”

Biting my cheek to keep from laughing, I relax to see the act she’s putting on is causing Warbucks’s blood pressure to skyrocket. His ruddy cheeks darken in color, his green eyes glaring down at what he assumes is the dumbest woman in the world.

I find it telling that Warbucks never shook her hand despite her reaching out to him, and hasn’t said a word to her in response.

It doesn’t stop Ivy from rushing forward with her one-sided conversation.

“Gabriel and I are just getting back from my father’s office.”

She rolls her eyes.

“Daddy insists I work there for a few hours each week helping update his files, but I think it’s ridiculous. Women aren’t supposed to work, and it really cuts into my hair and nail appointments. So, since Gabriel is such an amazing man, he offered to help me make sense of all that important information. All of it goes over my head usually. He’s even offered to keep helping me since I can’t make heads or tails of what I’m looking at. Don’t you think that’s sweet of him?”

Warbucks’s glare lifts above her head to look at me. “I hate to cut this visit short, but we need to leave. I expect you to give me a call tonight.”

Both of our fathers step around Ivy like she doesn’t exist, their smooth strides sliding past me on their way to the elevator.

I say nothing as the doors open and they step inside, one last glare shot my direction before the doors close and they’re gone.

“Holy fuck. Those guys are two of the biggest dicks I’ve ever met in my life. It must be where you and Ta

Ta

“What the fuck was that?” Ta

Ivy smiles, something unsaid behind the gleam in her eyes as she looks between us like we’re idiots.

“How else was I supposed to hint that Gabriel has access to my father’s files? I set you two up perfectly. Now Gabriel can dig for more of what his father specifically wants since he needs to know what to look for.”

Damn it.

She’s brilliant.

Soft laughter shakes my shoulders to realize it.

Ta

It’s the best compliment she’ll get out of him.

“...but that’s not the only problem we have.”

Not in the mood to hear what else has gone down, I ask anyway. “And what’s our other issue?”

Ta

The muscles over my shoulders lock, and I glare at him.

“What the hell did you do?”

“Nothing,” he lies. “But you might want to go talk to her. Probably right now would be best.”

Fucking hell...

Rushing off to go fix that fuckup, I leave Ivy and Ta