Page 52 of Wicked Lord

“Peter Dupont.” Micah’s hazel eyes drilled holes into my skull. “You were there the night he fell off that cliff, right?”

A cold sweat slicked my skin, and the Snickers dropped from my hand, hitting the floor with a thud. “Yeah, I was there.”

“Could her disappearance have anything to do with his death?”

CHAPTER 22

INTO HIM

Lorelei

I stared at the smartboard as the professor droned on about angel investors and venture capital, but all the words blurred into the background. I hadn’t been able to focus since that incident with Cordelia the other night. As hard as I tried to rationalize my insane behavior, there was no logical answer besides the obvious.

I was jealous.

Jealous of Cordelia’s little grubby hands all over Axel.

My fake boyfriend.

Fake, damn it, Lorelei.

Thank God Axel was convinced it was all part of the act. He was ready to hand me an Oscar for my performance, but the terrible truth was, it had only been so convincing because I hadn’t been acting.

My plan was working too well.

Not only was Cordelia crazy envious of my relationship with Axel, but she was also trying to get him back.

What if it worked?

What if Axel reneged on our deal and ran back to Cordi, leaving me in the brutal hands of Brock?

“And that is all for today…” The professor’s dismissal broke through my spiraling thoughts.

I grabbed my notepad, which was completely bare of notes, and shoved it into my backpack before stomping out of the auditorium. Damn it. How could I have let my mind wander for the entire class like that?

Entrepreneurship was the one non-bullshit class I was taking this summer. I needed an A to keep my grade point average at a 4.0 for my major. If everything went to shit with Axel and we lost all our money, I’d need that perfect GPA to secure a scholarship.

Nausea crawled up my throat at the thought of being that girl. The poor scholarship kid. This was clearly karma coming to bite me in the ass for torturing Lexi last semester.

“Hey, Lore!” Tate sauntered over as I reached the quad and flashed me a fake smile.

Dammit, she was the last person I wanted to deal with right now. “Oh, hi there, Tate. What’s up?”

She prattled on about the next Zeta event and how we could make it ten times more fantastic than the last. Too bad I could give two shits about that right now. I had more pressing matters to worry about.

I glanced over her shoulder at the sparkling sea and pristine yachts below as she yammered. Just a few months ago, I’d been dreaming about an idyllic summer on a boat with my wealthy arranged fiancé until I discovered what a monster I’d been promised to.

Damn, how had I fallen from grace so hard and fast?

“So anyway, are the rumors true?” Her inquisitive eyes locked on mine. “You’re really dating Axel Vanderhart? Whathappened to your oil tycoon fiancé and your life as a trophy wife?”

Rolling my eyes, I gave her a nonchalant shrug. “I told you, Tate, a girl’s gotta keep her options open, right? Brock’s going to be gone all summer, and Axel is a good distraction.” I lowered my voice and leaned closer. “Besides, he’s amazing in bed, so…”

A sharp cackle burst from her Chanel glossed lips. “I’ve got to hand it to you, Lore, you seem to have it all perfectly planned.” A devious grin lit up her light eyes as an engine roared just behind us, and an elegant Rolls Royce pulled into a reserved parking spot. “Unless you don’t.” She ticked her head over her shoulder, and her smile grew wider. “I found him wandering around the Zeta house looking for you. I hope you don’t mind. I told him you’d be here.”

Ice rushed my veins as Brock stepped out of the backseat, and cold blue eyes latched onto mine.

Shit.