Lie to Me (Pearl Island Trilogy #4)(75)

“Chloe,” a dark voice said behind her.

Dread raced down her spine. Turning, she found her grandfather towering over both her and Diane. “Yes, sir?”

“We need to discuss this guest you invited,” he told her.

“I apologize if you feel it was inappropriate.” Her stomach tightened as she waited for him to unleash his disappointment in her.

“Actually,” he said with calculated slowness, “now that I’ve had a moment to consider, discovering you’re involved with the man could work to our advantage.”

“Excuse me?” She blinked.

“Yes.” A smile thinned his lips. “I’ve been thinking, you’ve grown into an attractive young woman. I’m sure you can figure out a way to persuade him to drop his claim.”

The words slammed into her, making her gape. Had her grandfather just asked her to whore herself for the family? Why wouldn’t he, though? He’d done the same thing to his daughter.

“I’m sorry,” she said in a small, soft voice at odds with the hurt ripping through her. “I won’t do that.”

“I believe your mother explained the situation to you.” He cocked a menacing brow.

“Yes, sir.” She glanced sideways and saw Diane had gone pale except for two splotches of defiant color on her cheeks.

“I expect you to do what you can to reverse our current circumstance.” John’s eyes narrowed. “Do I make myself clear?”

The words Go to hell stuck in her throat. She would never use sex to manipulate a man for any reason, but saying that to John meant walking away and never coming back. “Very clear.”

“Good.” He smiled, obviously mistaking her words for agreement. “In the meantime, we need to stick with the current plan. Much as it galls me to have that man’s accountant pawing through my business, we need to keep Harold happy. I expect you to do your part.”

“I came, didn’t I?” Chloe pointed out.

“Yes, but I haven’t seen you talk to the man once this evening.”

She swallowed hard. “I’ll talk to him.”

“Good.” John nodded. “See that you do.”

“Yes, sir,” Chloe said in as civil a voice as she could manage. As he walked away with that regal poise of his, she wanted to scream defiance at his back. Or draw a sword and challenge him, like she would in a Vortal world. Real life wasn’t that easy, though. Every choice had consequences.

“Well.” Diane exhaled audibly, massaging the base of her throat. “I should probably mingle, before the dragon lady visits us as well.”

“Probably,” Chloe said woodenly.

“Thank you again for being here,” her mother said, her eyes earnest. To Chloe’s surprise, Diane squeezed her shoulders and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

As her mother moved off, once again the effervescent hostess, Chloe’s heart ached on her behalf.

Rather than approach Harold right away, she rejoined Luc. He managed to distract her so thoroughly with talk of Vortal that an hour passed with surprising ease. Finally, though, she noticed Harold standing off by himself, watching the party with a look of detached amusement. Deciding she’d rather get her duty over with on her own, she told Luc she’d changed her mind about wanting to eat, and asked if he’d bring her a plate.

“Of course,” Luc said, and headed for the buffet.

Steeling herself, she approached Harold.

“I haven’t had a chance to congratulate you,” she said, dredging up her best smile.

“Ah, Chloe.” He beamed at her. “This party is so packed, I was beginning to think I wouldn’t get a chance to talk to you.”

“As long as you’re having a good time, that’s what matters.”

“Bah.” He waved the notion away. “A lot of things matter more than having a good time, but your grandparents have their own ideas about how things should be done.” He shifted so they stood side by side, facing the party. “Diane’s getting through it well, though, so that’s good.”

His comment confused her. Even though she knew Diane was stressing out, she expected Harold to think his fiancée was having a great time. Her mother certainly played the part of the happy bride-to-be as she flitted about the party, the quintessential guest of honor. Sneaking a peek sideways, she wondered if it was possible that Harold saw through Diane’s act to the truth.

If so, why was he going through with this?

“I’m sorry to hear you can’t stay for the wedding,” Harold told her.

“Yes, well, I have obligations back in Galveston,” she said. Even before she’d known what was going on, she couldn’t have brought herself to attend. The urge to warn this obviously nice man away from marrying her mother built in her chest, but the ramifications of that stopped her.

She needed to say something, though. Harold deserved to hear one honest thing spoken from her heart before she left. Turning to him she said, “I want you to know, I really do wish you every happiness.”

Harold studied her from beneath his dark brows. “You are one sharp cookie, aren’t you?”

“What do you mean?”

“I appreciate your concern, and your discretion in not voicing it,” he told her. He glanced down at his drink, then back up, into her eyes. “I promise you, though, everything is going to work out just fine for your mother and me.”