Chapter 14: King of Deception: Chapter 14

When Gris finally leaves, I call Luke back.

Because we’ve got a few things that need to be said.

I have no idea if Gris was being so careful with me because he actually cares or because he wants exactly what Preston wants, a piece of Kincaid Enterprises.

I’m young, I’m inexperienced. But if I was naïve, I’m not anymore. Still, I think it best if I don’t divulge too many details to Luke about what Gris and I have been doing.

Gris and I have a mutual destruction arrangement, which I appreciate. I’m not tipping my hand yet.

Look at me getting all savvy.

I pick up the phone and call Luke. He picks up on the first ring. “Bug.”

“I think it might be time to retire my childhood nickname.” I’m in sweats still. Preston told his mother I was sick, so I find myself with a free day. I think I’ll use it. “We both know I’m not your Bug anymore.”

“Bella,” Luke whispers, sounding pained. “I just wanted to protect you.”

“Is that what you’re telling yourself?” I scoff. “You sent the man who wants revenge on Mason right to my door.”

He’s silent.

“What did you think might happen?”

“He’s got a certain way with the ladies. I thought he might show you there were other options besides Preston.”

I shake my head. “You sent a playboy…” I ought to remember that, because that’s exactly what Gris is. “To break up my impending marriage. Ask yourself, and I want you to really listen to the answer… how are you better than Mason?” And then I hang up.

Luke doesn’t call back.

But now I’m pacing around my apartment, and I finally change out of my sweats and put on a little pair of shorts and a tank top. The marks on my arms have faded.

I pull my hair into a ponytail and grab my purse, running to the grocery store and grabbing some of my favorite foods. Stuff I haven’t been eating, because of the wedding.

Then, when I’m back, I eat a nice lunch, a giant chocolate chip cookie, and change into my bathing suit, heading out to the apartment pool.

I’ve got pale skin, unlike my brothers, so I bring sunblock, I’m not looking to burn myself. I just need some quiet time.

That’s when my phone rings.

No one is out here, I’m alone, but I still groan when I see Mason’s name pop up on my screen.

Mason is a force. Unlike Luke, who took my anger, I’m not sure how this is going to go.

But today’s the day for it, so I pick up. “Hey, Mason.”

“Arabella,” his deep voice reverberates through the phone. “You left early last night.”

“I…” I take a deep breath. “I’m not marrying Preston.”

Silence meets my words.

“I’ll keep up the pretense if you want me to, at least for another week, but no more.” There. I’ve said the words.

“What’s changed?”

“What?” I expected him to refuse. Or yell.

“What has changed? I know it’s something. You’ve been different since you got back…”

I look down at the phone. I know I hit Luke with that comment about him being like Mason, but Luke would never talk to me like this. He would appeal to my heart, not try to get inside my head. In the past, I’ve crumbled during conversations like this with Mason. But I don’t want to. Not this time. “I’ll answer your question if you answer mine. What happened between you and Luke?”

“I told you—” he grits between his teeth.

“You haven’t told me anything. And I don’t know why I should share with you when won’t with me.”

“Christ, Arabella.” Frustration colors every syllable.

But he isn’t the only one who has had enough. “I’m not marrying him for Kincaid. I’m not going to be fodder for the company.”

“Is that what you think I would do?”

“It’s what you did to Luke, isn’t it?” The words fly out before I can stop them.

Mason lets out a string of curses. “Did Luke tell you that?”

“Of course not. Luke would never do that.”

Mason is silent again. I know he’s doing mental math.

“I’ll attend a few more events in the coming week if you need me to, but work quickly to gain those investors you need.”

“You do not get to tell me how to run the business.”

“And you don’t get to tell me who I should marry.”

He curses again. “We can’t afford Luke’s shares. I’ve invested all of our capital and more into the tunnel.”

I never hear Mason talk like this. I know I have been a beneficiary of Kincaid Enterprises. I’ve given nothing back. It’s why I’ve been silent for so long as this whole situation has unfolded with Preston. “I’ll help however I can, Mason. But I can’t marry Preston. We don’t even like each other and I think he might actually hate me.”

“Why would you say that?”

“I don’t know. He can’t even fake being nice to me. All he does is yell and sneer all the time. I’m not even sure why he asked me to marry him, though if I were to guess, it was probably to gain access to the company.”

Mason rumbles into the phone.

“And I only said yes because I was afraid. But I need to stop making decisions based on what scares me.”

“Bella,” Mason draws in a deep breath. “If I’d known any of this…”

“I get it, Mason. I don’t mean to make your life more difficult.”

“Let me consider our options. Just don’t do anything.”

Everybody is thinking. Making plans. While I’m supposed to sit here and wait. I click off my phone, setting it back in my bag.

I think I’m tired of waiting. It’s time for me to make some plans of my own.