Masquerade (Swept Away #2.5)(3)

My mother noticed the change in me right away, though to her credit, she didn’t say anything. She waited for my relationship to take its course, because she knew, as most adults do, that teenage love rarely lasts. Josie and I dated for three months. I lost my virginity to her, I spent all my weekends with her traipsing through museums and stores, and it was only when she asked whether my father could pay for our first trip around the world that I realized all that glitters is not gold.

“But your dad is Jeremiah Bradley, right?” She flipped her long blond hair and looked at me quizzically. “That won’t cost him anything.”

“I never said that.” I frowned and leaned back, her touch making me feel more uncomfortable than happy at this point.

“I know you didn’t say that, but it’s true, right? That’s the rumor going around school.”

“There’s a rumor about me?”

“You know rich kids always gossip.” She shrugged. “That’s why we’re different. We’re there because of our brains, not our money.” And she was partially right. Josie was a scholarship kid and her immigrant family lived in Queens. However, I hadn’t gotten in due to my grades; I was attending the prestigious Harrow Meade Academy because of my father. Just like my younger half brother, David, was. Even though he and I had nothing to do with each other. We knew we both existed, but there was no relationship or bond between us.

“You want me to ask my father to pay to send us abroad?”

“Yeah.” She looked happy, not noticing the withdrawn expression on my face. “Twenty grand should cover it.”

“Okay.” I nodded and jumped up. “Let me see what I can do.” I kissed her on the cheek and went home early for the first time in months. My mother knew as soon as I walked through the door that we’d broken up, but she didn’t say a word. Not for two months, and then she sat me down and told me that there are wolves all over the place, people who will fake excitement and happiness to be with you, for a price. That I should never let my guard down. I just sat there and nodded. She was correct, of course. Josie hadn’t really cared about me. She’d only been after a way to get some money to start the adventures she’d always been talking about. This later proved to be true when she started dating a female cousin of the Vanderbilts and went on a family ski trip. Josie and Sarah were the talk of the school, as there had never been a public lesbian couple gracing our hallways before. A couple of kids who knew I’d dated her teased me and told me I’d turned her gay, but I didn’t respond. I knew the truth. Josie was the kind of girl who would be into anything and anyone for a price, and that had nothing to do with me.

*

Ring ring. I pulled into my parking spot as my phone rang. I looked at the screen and picked up the phone.

“Jakob speaking,” I answered in a clipped tone.

“I know that.” David’s voice held a hint of amusement as it always seemed to.

“How can I help you, David?” I stifled a sigh. He was my brother, but there was no brotherly love between us. To be fair, our relationship might have been different if our father had treated us both equally. However, he hadn’t, and David had a superiority complex that infuriated me. I couldn’t stand him.

“What are you doing this weekend?”

“Not sure. I’m thinking of going boating.”

“Where?” David sounded interested.

“The Caribbean.”

“Oh, yeah, you just bought that hotel, didn’t you? Where is it again? St. Croix?”

“Yes, I bought a hotel, but it’s not on St. Croix. It’s located on a private island near the British Virgin Islands.” I felt a smug smile on my face as I spoke.

“Oh, yeah, you have two, right?”

“Two what?”

“Islands.”

“Yes, the hotel is on the developed land. The other island is smaller and undeveloped.” I paused, my brain ticking over. “What’s the purpose of your call, David?”

“Can’t I see how my brother is doing?”

“What do you want?” David was like a little child, transparent when he wanted to get something.

“We’ve got a problem.”

“What problem could we possibly have?”

“There’s a woman trying to shake us down.”

“Shake us down?” My voice was dry. “What does that mean? Did you get someone pregnant?”

“She’s been asking about the company and Dad. Her dad used to work for Bradley, Inc.,” He paused. “She’s been trying to get her hands on some shares so she can get into the shareholders’ meeting next week.”

“Okay?” I stepped out of my car and stared at the sleek lines of my black GranTurismo Maserati. It was worth every one of the hundred and fifty thousand dollars I’d spent on the car. Though next time I was going to have to make sure I didn’t drive the car when I felt like I might be around a crazy woman. I didn’t want any scratches on my baby.

“We think she’s coming for shares in the company.”

“Okay?” Once again, I didn’t know why he thought I cared.

“And she could cause trouble for us if she digs too deep.”

“What do you mean?” I sighed as I ran my fingers along the side of the car and then walked into my building.