ecrets Benea

ap under the weight of the deception we were about to undertake. Yet, for the first ti

o navigate our circumstances and find a way out of this ar

round of public appearances designed to cement the image of our so-called "fairy tale romance." I sat

before hanging up. He didn't so much as glance my way as h

I asked, trying

sion unreadable. "Business doesn't

efore I could respond, my father walked in. His presenc

k. "We have a charity gala tonight. The press wi

ched into fists beneath the table. "Of

is jaw tightened, a flicker o

-

ala was being held at an exclusive event hall downtown, and as Alex and

d settling on my lower back as

ring on a smile that felt as fake as th

, and the soft hum of conversation mixed with the clinking of champagne gla

ifted seamlessly into his role. He charmed the guests effortlessly, his

felt like

ng woman approaching. She was tall and willowy, her emerald-green dress hugging her

said, his tone p

he asked, her gaze

, placing a possessive han

quickly masked it with a dazzling smile.

lp but wonder what history she and Alex shared. I gla

ce," Alex said, his tone dism

e recovered quickly, giving me a

to Alex. "Old acquaintance?" I echoed, my vo

twitching into something that wasn't

. "Hardly. But if you're going to parade your

an admission of guilt or just his way of ending the conv

-

talk. By the time we returned to the estate, I was exhausted. I kicked off my

ie as he poured himself a glass of whiskey.

, breaking the silenc

is drink before meeting m

nt," I muttered, more

expression hardening. "I don't owe you an expl

"Fine," I said, standing. "Keep your secrets. But don't

leave, his vo

ad

ee a flicker of something in h

ve everything you se

t of his whiskey and walked away, leaving

-

s were hiding. I decided to start by digging into the merger itself. If I could underst

he estate and headed downtown to the library. It was one of th

Enterprises and the Vance Group. But the more I read, the more confused I became. On the surface, both c

mething they weren'

I didn't notice the man watching me f

Benn

standing over me. He had an air of authority about him

ng?" I said

den. I'm investigating some discrepancies in the Vance Group'

, and I stared at him,

e talking about," I said

ing. "Maybe you don't. But if you find

d away, leaving me with more q

t. Whatever was happening behind the scenes, it was bigger than just a marriage o