Genuine Lies

deep breaths. “It connects us, Miss DuBarry, in ways I can’t begin to explain yet. That’s why she told me. That’s why she needed to tell me.”
    But Gloria couldn’t see beyond the insular world she’d built so carefully. The world she saw tumbling around her shoulders. “What are you going to print?”
    “I don’t know. I really don’t.”
    “I won’t talk to you. I won’t let you ruin my life.”
    Julia shook her head as she rose. She needed air. She needed to get out of that crowded room into the air, where she could think. “Believe me, that’s the last thing I want to do.”
    “I’ll stop you.” Gloria sprang to her feet, shooting her chair back into the tangle of cats so that they shrieked in annoyance. “I’ll find a way to stop you.”
    Had she already tried? Julia wondered. “I’m not your problem,” she said softly and escaped.
    But Eve was, Gloria thought as she crumpled back into her chair. Eve was.
    Drake figured he’d given Eve enough time to cool off. After all, they were blood.
    Right, he thought as he carried the dozen roses up to the door. He fixed on a charming smile, apologetic at the edges, and knocked.
    Travers opened the door, took one look, and scowled. “She’s busy today.”
    Interfering bitch, he thought, but chuckled and slipped inside. “Never too busy for me. Is she upstairs?”
    “That’s right.” Travers couldn’t prevent the smug smile. “With her lawyer. You want to wait, you wait in the parlor. And don’t try slipping anything into your pockets. I’m on to you.”
    He didn’t have the energy to be insulted. The wind had gone out of him at the word “lawyer.” Travers left himstanding stunned in the hallway, roses dripping out of his arms.
    Lawyer. His fingers tightened involuntarily, but he didn’t even feel the pierce of thorns. She was changing her fucking will. The cold-blooded bitch was cutting him out.
    She wouldn’t get away with it. Fury and fear sliced through him. He was halfway up the stairs at a dead run before he got himself under control.
    This wasn’t the way. Leaning against the banister, he took long, deep breaths. If he broke in there shouting, he’d only seal his fate. He wasn’t going to let those millions slip through his fingers in blind anger. He’d earned them, by Christ, and he intended to enjoy them.
    There was blood on his thumb. Absently he stuck in into his mouth to suck it clean. What was needed was charm, apologies, a few sincere promises. He ran a hand over his hair to tidy it as he debated whether to go up or wait downstairs.
    Before he’d made up his mind which would be the most effective, Greenburg started down toward him. The lawyer’s face was impassive, though the shadows under his eyes told of a lost night’s sleep.
    “Mr. Greenburg,” Drake said.
    The lawyer flicked his gaze over the flowers, up to Drake’s face. His brow lifted briefly in speculation before he nodded and continued down.
    Stuffy old fart, Drake thought, and tried to pretend his insides weren’t shaking. He checked his hair again, the knot of his tie, then started up with his best penitent expression on his face.
    Outside Eve’s office he straightened his shoulders. It wouldn’t do to look too beaten. She’d have no respect for him if he crawled. He knocked quietly. When his knock went unanswered, he tried again.
    “Eve.” His voice held a gentle thread of remorse. “Eve, I’d like to—” He turned the knob. Locked. Forcing himself to be patient, he tried again. “Eve, it’s Drake. I’d like to apologize. You know how much you mean to me, and I can’t stand having this rift between us.”
    He wanted to kick the fucking door down and strangle her.
    “I just want to find a way to make it all up to you. Not only the money—and I’m going to pay back every penny—but everything I said and did. If you’d only …”
    He heard a door open, close quietly, down the hall. He turned hopefully, blinking a few tears into his eyes. Then he nearly ground his teeth when he saw Nina.
    “Drake.” Embarrassment shimmered off her in waves. “I’m sorry. Eve wanted me to tell you … She’s awfully busy this morning.”
    “I’ll only take up a few minutes.”
    “I’m afraid—Drake, I’m sorry, really, she just won’t see you. At least not now.”
    He struggled to coat charm over anger. “Nina, can’t you talk to her for me? She’ll listen to you.”
    “Not this time.” She put a comforting hand on his.