Chapter Seventeen

Holly peered into the mirror hanging above the mantel and touched the bags under her eyes. The last thing she wanted to do was smile and playact all night, but it was Friday.

And Julian was coming over for a family dinner.

“You can do this,” she said to her reflection. She’d spent the past two days trying to find a way to come to terms with everything that had happened, and now she was out of time.

He’d be here any moment.

Lillian appeared in the reflection and she turned away from the mirror. “You ready for this?” her sister asked.

She crossed the living room to the French doors that led out into the garden and stared out at the darkness. “Fine,” she said.

“He’ll be here soon.”

“I know.”

Her sister hesitated. “Is there anything I can do to help you?”

“I just—need a minute.”

Lillian nodded. “It won’t be a long evening. I’ll cut it short. And you don’t need to worry. He won’t notice anything is different.”

Her heart cracked at the words. “Yeah. Got that.”

“Sorry.” Lillian sighed. “Looks like I’m as good at cheering you up as I am at saving the company.”

“It’ll all be fine,” she forced herself to say. “We’ll get through this. Excuse me.”

She slipped through the doors before Lillian could say anything else. Her sister meant well, but there was nothing to say.

The cool night air washed over her as she crossed the patio and gripped the rail, looking out over the dark garden.

How was she supposed to get through this evening? It would kill her to smile at Julian and pretend they were meeting for the first time.

Her chest throbbed.

Grow up. Lillian’s plan to save us all is gone. There’s nothing we can do. This is between Julian and my father now.

All she had to do was stand by and watch the man she was crazy about marry the wrong woman.

Despair gnawed at her. Every Christmas. Every Easter. Every family dinner would be torture for the rest of her life. She’d have to look across the table at Julian fawning over Lillian without ever realizing the one he’d first kissed wasn’t sitting by his side.

I can’t do it.

The very idea turned her stomach.

Which meant she needed to leave. She was caught between too many lies. The man she was crazy about only saw her as a business tactic, and her father had no qualms about using her as a tool without telling her what was actually at stake. It was too much. When this was all over with and the rings had been exchanged, she was done. She’d run as fast and as far as she could get.

I hear Asia is gorgeous this time of year.

A one-way ticket to the other side of the world was just what the doctor ordered.

That was, assuming she survived the next week until the wedding.

Sound from behind her caught her attention. Drifting closer to the large windows, she looked into the living room and watched as Julian step through the door.

Holly stumbled. She’d thought she could get through this. Really, she had. But seeing him here, in the same room as Lillian, ripped her heart in a way she’d never anticipated.

Standing outside the window, she watched her sister greet her lover. Saw his easy smile as he looked down at the woman he thought he knew.

That’s not me. Why can’t you see that?

But he never would. And here she was again. Literally standing on the outside looking in at the life she wanted.

Put the company first. Focus on the people you are saving. They’re all that matters now. It’s just one night. You can get through this.

Somehow.

John entered the room, saying something that made Lillian gesture toward the patio.

That’s my cue.

Taking a deep breath, she touched her glasses to make sure they were in place and opened the French doors.

“Good evening, everyone,” she said, stepping into the room.

Black eyes clashed with hers, freezing her in place.

See me.

“Holly come meet your sister’s betrothed. This is Julian Worth.”

On leaden feet, she crossed the room to him and held out her hand. “It’s wonderful to finally meet you, Julian.”

For a split second, she could have sworn barely controlled rage filled his eyes before his expression smoothed into a friendly smile.

Did I just imagine that?

It was the only explanation.

“Nice to meet you. Why haven’t we crossed paths before?”

“Holly was away traveling for the company,” John said. “We’re thrilled to have her back.”

“I see.”

Julian reached out to take her hanging hand. But the second he touched her, she realized her mistake. Fire shot through her veins when their fingers brushed.

Mine.

Except he wasn’t. Not anymore.

Pain stabbed her chest as she realized he’d never been hers to start with. She’d just been the right woman in the right city—or rather, her sister had. His company was the love of his life, and she should have known right from the beginning who she was dealing with. She’d let herself get caught up in the romance, and now the music had ended.

Clearing her throat, she pulled her hand back and took a step away from him. “I’m looking forward to the wedding.”

“Are you?” His voice was as deadpan as his expression.

“Uniting our companies will impact many lives.”

“We’re all saints.”

She frowned. Why was he mocking her? “Father,” she said, turning her attention away from Julian. “Last time I checked, dinner was almost ready. Let’s move into the dining room.”

“Excellent. I’m starved. Shall we?”

John led the way to the dining room while Julian escorted Lillian.

Holly trailed behind them, watching Julian’s back. He was close enough to touch, and yet, she’d lost any right to do so.

It was never your right. He was always supposed to be for someone else.

It was her fault she’d gotten lost in her own daydream.

She slid into her chair, far too aware that Julian sat directly opposite to her. By his side, her sister took her seat, unhappiness painted on her features when she thought no one was looking.

Her father tried to strike up a conversation about the business as the first course was brought out. She listened with half an ear; much the way Lillian was. Her fingers twitched with the urge to check her watch every five seconds just to see if time was moving faster than it felt.

“So, Holly, tell me about yourself,” Julian said, interrupting her father.

Her head jerked up, startled to hear her real name on his lips.

“Me?” she squeaked.

He didn’t crack a smile. “If we’re going to be family, then we should get to know each other.” He smiled at Lillian. “Just like we did, don’t you think, darling?”

Darling? He’d never once called her that. She was his sweetheart. That one word, whispered in her ear, could make her shiver in anticipation.

“Exactly my thinking,” Lillian replied with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“The two of you must be very similar,” Julian said.

Lillian snorted. “You’d be surprised.”

“Oh?”

Holly swallowed at his question. “Lillian is far more comfortable in the spotlight than I am,” she explained.

Those intense eyes flicked back to her, pinning her in place.

“Holly prefers a quieter life,” her father cut in.

“But she’s brilliant,” Lillian said, coming to her defense. “She was always five steps ahead of everyone when we were growing up.”

“I see,” Julian said before returning his attention to his meal.

Adrenaline pumped through her body. Why had he focused on her? In the grand scheme of things, she shouldn’t matter at all to him. After all, when they’d been dating, he’d rarely bothered to ask about her sister. What had changed?

He’s just trying to be polite. Impress his future family.

Dropping her gaze, she sawed at her steak a touch too vehemently.

“I was thinking,” John said, breaking the awkward silence, “That we might all want to head up to the Hamptons for the weekend. Give you two love birds a chance to relax before the big day. What do you think?”

Lillian looked less than impressed with the idea, but Julian nodded. “Getting away from the city for a few days sounds like a great idea.”

Over my dead body will I be trapped in the same house as them for an entire weekend.

“Great idea,” she said with a forced smile. “Why don’t the three of you head up tomorrow morning, and I’ll stay behind to make sure everything is set for the wedding?”

Julian cut in before her father could. “Nonsense. With the amount we’re paying the wedding planner, she shouldn’t need you here. Besides, you’re going to be my sister-in-law. I’d like to get to know you better.”

What can I say to that?

“I really think I should stay behind—”

“Julian wants you to come,” John cut in. “We can make that happen. Can’t we, Holly?”

Trapped.

Again.

What else is new?

She smiled tightly. “Of course. Family comes first.”

Her smile never slipped even while she bled inside. No one needed to know how Julian had devastated her.

Why can’t you just look across the table and realize I’m right here?

But he’d only had eyes for Lillian tonight. Everything was back to the way it had always been meant to go. She was the weak link, and soon she’d have no place in this story. All she needed to do was get through the weekend.

The men went back to their conversation. Across the table, she stared at her sister, who wore an identical expression of despair.

This wedding will destroy both our lives.

And there wasn’t a damned thing she could do to stop it.