Chapter 5

LILY

Pierce Blackwood is a scary man. At some point in our lives, before baby number one had even dropped, I was sure he was going to kill my sister. Very wrong assumption.

But the way he looked at Jace now, I was sure he would commit murder.

“I have no idea what’s going on either, this is ALL her.” Jace answered casually and strolled to the couch farthest away from me, where he sprawled, one long leg crossed over the other.

Stupid big man. How dare he be so comfortable, this was serious!

“Lily!” Myra yelled. I turned, my cheeks red. I had only looked at him for a second. Ah yes…the explanation.

I started with an apology. “I am sooo sorry I roped you all into this, it really isn’t how I thought the night would go.” I took in a deep breath readying myself. On top of my heart wrenching experience, I had to narrate said heart wrenching experience that same night, to everyone in the room (including Jace) AND tell it in a way that gathered enough sympathy to make them all go with my plan.

“Earlier this night I walked in on my boyfriend lick-“ I choked on my words, “ahhh, cheating on me.” I thought about the scene, and the tears that sprouted to my eyes came naturally. No, I could not cry about Taser, not yet.

“Oh honey…” my sister cooed. Pierce joined her on the couch and wrapped an arm around her to comfort her. I swear, these two…

“I was overwhelmed, hurt. You know how that feels…” was I petty bringing up their past rocky moments? Probably. “And then I saw Myra and Jace, and …I panicked, Taser looks up to Jace, so I knew it would piss him off if I…did what I did. So I did.”

Pierce let out a weary sigh. Jace was silent, Angie had disappeared…and my sister looked at me pitifully. The nail in the coffin that she was right about disliking Taser. She would never say it outloud though. My sister was too nice.

“So what are we going to do. Honey?” My sister looked at the expert in all things coverup. Being a multibillionaire CEO, Pierce had his fair share of manipulating media to what he wanted it to look like. Unfortunately I had different ideas of what I wanted tonight to look like.

Pierce shrugged, stroking his beard, “I was on the phone with Wilber before you came in, he says the-“

“I actually have another idea.” I said loudly.

“What is it?”

I glanced at Jace. He needed the most convincing. “I was thinking we could stay in a relationship for a short while.” My sister was the only one with a shocked face. The other two had good poker faces. “It’s not a real relationship! just pretend.”

“Absolutely not-“ …Myra

“Do you even know what you’re asking for-“ …Pierce

“Fine.”…Jace -wait Jace!

My face lit up with hope.

“Did I hear right?!” My sister whisper yelled.

“Just hear me out.” Jace said, sitting up. Their attention was now on him, no longer me, so was mine actually, why did he readily agree? Since he detested me so much.

I wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot pole even if I was paid to.

I shook off the memory.

“I’ve been CEO for a year, and my company’s throwing me under a bus to find my better half.” He said the word like it was poison. “We know that’s not happening, but the world thinks it’ll be a mark in my reformation.” A reformation from party king to sober CEO. It had been a year since his brother died, and I thought he was doing okay so far.

“A girlfriend would get them off my back.” he continued, “I’ve been planning on making an arrangement with someone for a while, I was analyzing candidates which is why I should’ve been at work today. But I’m here, and we have this situation. Might as well get the best out of it.”

Done, he leaned back in his seat. This was working out better than I thought. He was gaining something out of it too…

“I’m not letting you drag my sister into some elaborate scheme.” Myra protested. Pierce was silent, and I was hopeful.

“This was my idea.” I pointed out.

“Pierce…” she pleaded. He whispered something in her ear that made her huff and focus on my nephew.

Was that a win?

“If we…agree to this, you know it’s going to be difficult. For what you’re planning, you need to convince the world that you …love Lily.” I snorted. “And that she loves you.”

Jace hummed. Asshat.

“And that clearly won’t work, you can barely stay in the same room.” Myra concluded.

“He called me a midget the first time we met, and then covered me with non recyclable glitter, he’s hardly great company.” I snapped.

“You say it like I was wrong, short stack.” Jace drawled.

“See.” Myra pointed out.

“But.” I continued, schooling my anger. “This is important to me. And it seems it’s important to him too. Sis, if we call this off, I have to face all my mates like a sad pathetic loser. Pleaseeeee let this happen.” I closed the distance between us and gave her my best puppy eyes.

See how desperate I am.

“Okay.” Myra said with a sigh. I beamed at her, relief flooding me.

“Thank you.”

She smiled at me before her eyes flitted to Jace. “Could you take Ian to bed for me. And check on the others too.”

I understood when I was asked to leave the room, but I wasn’t worried. They had agreed, that was all I cared about right now. I collected my nephew and went up the stairs as I plotted my next move.

Taser had spent four years lying to me. All the things I had endured in his hand and in Evie’s because I thought they were my people. This was a mission to get the old Lily back.

And old Lily was a selfish little bitch. I would make them both regret ever crossing me.