Page 79 of Twisted Control

“We only had one date,” I manage, my voice sounding disturbingly like a squeaky toy. “Don’t you think going public this soon is a bit…premature? What if things don’t work out?”

“They will,” Dad says with absolute certainty. “This will be excellent for your image, sweetheart. Everyone will see that you’ve moved on. Including Max Carter and that woman.” He says the last part with pure venom.

My stomach drops.

Max and Heidi are going to be there. Brilliant. Just what this nightmare needs.

Dad continues, looking enormously pleased with himself. “And speaking of moving on, Blackwood will attend the Gala but he’ll finish up this week. Things have quieted down, and frankly, he’s bleeding me dry.”

I freeze, fork hovering uselessly in the air.

This soon? It’s barely been a month. I knew this day would come eventually, but I thought we’d have more time. Drew keeps saying things about us being together openly when this ends. No more hiding. No more sneaking around.

The idea sends a confusing whoosh through my chest—half thrill, half sheer terror.

I’m not ready for that. I’m nowhere near ready. But the thought of Drew just leaving? Of not seeing him every day, not having him here?

That feels even worse.

“I think he should stay a little longer,” I say carefully, trying to sound casual. “Just to be safe.”

Finn’s sharp gaze snaps to me instantly. I immediately regret opening my mouth. One wrong word and that nosy idiot will start connecting dots I cannot afford him to see.

Dad waves a hand, completely oblivious. “There have been no new threats. You’ll be fine. Especially once the world sees you on Charles’s arm. No one will dare speak poorly of you again.” He smiles, proud of his own genius. “Charles also has a major announcement coming up with his new venture. There will be worldwide press. You’ll be right there beside him, showing everyone that the Whitmores always come out on top.”

I force a tight smile, my appetite officially gone.

“Wonderful,” I say.

After dinner I escape to my bedroom, still trying to process the absolute circus that is my life, when my door swings open without so much as a knock.

“Excuse me,” I say, flopping dramatically onto my bed. “I could have been changing.”

Finn sits on the foot of my bed. “Relax. There’s nothing to see anyway. You’re flat as a board.”

God, he’s vile. Not just to me—to pretty much everyone. And yet he still gets away with it because he’s ridiculously handsome. The kind of handsome that gets him into every VIP room in the city, and has models and socialites throwing themselves at him like confetti. It’s deeply unfair.

He drags a hand through his hair and suddenly looks older than twenty-eight. He looks all tired and edgy.

“So,” he says. “Charles, huh?”

I shrug, trying to sound casual. “Could be worse.”

Finn stands up and starts pacing, then stops. “I need you to keep an eye on Teresa Richie at the gala. Watch how she behaves with her husband.”

Oh my god.

The older brunette is Teresa Richie?

The absolute idiot.

“Why are you so interested in Governor Richie’s wife?” I ask, even though I already know the answer.

He hesitates for half a second, then his expression hardens into that signature cold, entitled look.

“Because she told me she’s leaving him,” he says, voice dropping. “But she won’t let me come to the gala. She demanded I stay away. So I need to know if she’s actually acting like it in public, or if she’s still playing the perfect little wife for appearances.”

For a split second, something raw flickers across his face. It’s not quite vulnerability, but close. A flash of real fear. Like the thought of her choosing her husband in public would actually destroy him. It’s gone so fast I almost think I imagined it.