Page 67 of The Girlfriend Clause
Our shame would remain a secret between Christian, my sister, and me. Nobody else would ever know.
“We’re in,” I said.
It was about time we had a break from the drudgery.
This was going to be fun.
Chapter 14
Liam
“This is theugliest painting I’ve ever wanted to own,” Dex murmured, leaning in close. “Look at that brushwork. It’s almost… angry.”
“It’s a horse,” I replied.
“An emotional horse.” Dex sipped his champagne and turned to face the room. He was loving his newart aficionadopersona, which didn’t suit him at all. “Speaking of questionable creative choices, who the hell are all these people? It’s like Oxford again, but in bohemian fancy dress.”
I scanned the gallery, not for the first time wondering how I’d let Bonnie send me here. I was supposed to be prepping for an emergency board meeting. Instead, I was surrounded by people treating art like stocks, and a friend who was in denial that his actual name was Dennis.
“I feel like I’m at a school reunion for people I never liked,” I said.
“Mm-hmm.” Dex nodded approvingly. “You’re blending in nicely, though. Expensive-looking. Very collector-core.”
“Yeah? At least I don’t look like I’m auditioning for ZZ Top.”
“Wha—you don’t like the beard?”
“Oh no, I do. But mainly because you look like a 1970s vagina.”
Dex choked on his Dom Pérignon.
In the distance, a metallic crash sounded, and heads turned toward the kitchen. Odd—it hadn’t come from the kitchen at all, more like the side entrance.
Everyone went back to their drinks.
“No sign of Hugo,” I said, surveying the room. He’d probably been cornered by health-tech bros explaining how their app was going to fix the NHS. Heaven forbid I might have to mingle.
“You sure this is the best way to catch up with him?” asked Dex, looking past me.
“No. But it’s the one that won’t get me yelled at by Bonnie.”
She’d made it clear that I wasn’t here to ask for anything. I was here to look safe enough that Hugo might consider helping me—and Novexia—when it mattered. Hugo wouldn’t back someone who looked unstable—or worse, uncontainable. If he was going to back my name, I had to be a sure thing.
A bit of a rebrand for me, unfortunately. But that was the game now.
“A little bird told me Ben’s coming tonight?” Dex raised his brows.
“He is.”
“Didn’t know he was into works of art?”
“Only living ones.” He’d probably show up with the latestSports Illustratedcover girl on his arm.
Ben’s flings always seemed so vacuous. Was that whatI’dbeen like for so long? The thought didn’t sit well.
Andrea’s face flashed briefly into my mind, her eyes accusing. She seemed like she really hated me. If only she’d let me explain—but she’d already made up her mind. I was Wilhelm von Roth. Capitalist douchebag. I pushed the thought away—I had to focus on Novexia tonight.
“You’re a fine one to talk, Liam.” Dex nudged me. “In the meantime, do you want to look at another horse?” He pointed his glass toward a piece that may or may not have been an ox.
