KING: Las Vegas Bad Boys (16 page)

It’s like something connects in Ace’s mind, and I know he’s putting pieces together.

“Fuck you, man,” Ace says. “Does Claire know this is just a way to prove to your dad you’ve grown up? Because you can’t fucking hurt her, just for some money.”

“It’s not just
some money
, Ace; it’s The King’s Diamond we’re talking about. But don’t worry. It’s real. I’m gonna marry that girl.”

“You better not mess with her or I swear to God it’s over, between all of us. You can’t recover from this kind of mess. I need to trust you, Landon.”

“You can trust me.”

Ace nods, and I do, too. I mean everything I’ve said.

I’m gonna prove to Claire what kind of man I am. And then I’m gonna marry her.

* * *

T
he lunch buffet is awkward
.

Fiona tries to discuss her wedding plans with Claire and Emmy, but neither of those girls are as caught up in flowers and venues as she is. Mostly because Emmy is already married and Claire is only fake getting married.

Tess is the only one who seems to want to engage. And she isn’t engaged.

Geoffrey looks agitated with everything my father says, and Mum gets pulled away with a call from the Garden Society.

Ace looks at Geoffrey with appropriate disdain and picks at his fish until finally Mum returns and Father announces the family summit can begin.

“Your friends need to leave,” Geoffrey tells me. “It’s sensitive family matters we are discussing.”

“Everyone is welcome; I don’t want any secrets,” Dad says. This piques my interest. Combined with Geoffrey’s seemingly underhanded comments to Dad, and their obvious disagreement about the family business, I’m starting to get a little anxious about this meeting.

“This is such bullshit.” Geoffrey clenches his jaw and I watch as Fiona grips his hand.

“Actually,” Ace speaks up. “We’ve had a long night and we’ll check into a hotel for a few hours. Maybe you can call us when everything is more settled?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll get you set up in some guest rooms,” Mum says. “Come with me.” Tess, Emmy, and Ace follow my mum out without argument.

“I’m going to get some papers in my study prepared,” Dad says. “Will you four join me there in ten minutes, with your mother?”

We nod, the mood suddenly tense. Fiona and Claire exchange a look, and it’s the first moment something other than hostility has seemed to move between them.

Geoffrey walks to the bar and begins pouring Scotch into a tumbler. “Want some?” he asks.

My eyes narrow in on him. I can’t think of the last time Geoffrey was anything but short and sharp.

“Sure,” I say, walking toward him tentatively. “So, do you know what this meeting is really about?” I take the glass from his hand.

He snorts. “Yeah, I know what the meeting is bloody about. Don’t know why he asked you to come here and discuss it, though.”

The last thing I need is for my brother to tell me I’m not good enough. That he already has the company in the bag. At least let me fight for it.

“I’m so tired of this bullshit,” I tell him. “When will you stop holding my past against me? I’ve grown up, and have just as good a chance as you to be Dad’s successor. I’m his son, too, you know.”

“Successor?” Geoffrey looks perplexed. “Look, I don’t know what you’re smoking these days–goodness knows I tried to find out when you arrived. But you are totally off your rocker with this one.”

“Was that the same time you looked for shit on Claire? Enough, Geoffrey. Just let us be. I don’t know why you’re so intrigued by my personal affairs, but it’s pretty fucked-up to pull Claire into this, too.”

Mum walks back in, and Claire and Fiona shoot us furtive looks. “We’re going to the den now,” Fiona says. “Will you boys be joining us?”

I add another inch of Scotch to my glass and follow Geoffrey out of the dining room.

We file into the den and find Dad sitting at his large oak desk, glasses on. To my surprise, papers are everywhere. Dad has always been fairly organized, and I suppose I thought things might be tidy and in order before he passed the business on.

“So, everyone is here, and the dreaded conversation can be had at last,” Dad says. “Sit, sit,” he directs. We find seats in the leather chairs of his massive study, and I pull Claire’s hand into mine.

“Why did you tell Landon you were choosing a successor?” Geoffrey starts before Dad can say anything. “Why do you insist on creating more drama?”

“Don’t talk to Dad like that,” I say, surprised by my brother’s tone.

“Oh, God, Landon, you have no bloody clue.” Geoffrey leans back, eyes closed.

“I wanted both my sons here, is that so terrible? And that was the only way I could tempt Landon. It worked, didn’t it?” Dad asks Geoffrey. “I wanted him to be here, considering....”

“Considering what?” I ask. Claire’s hand tightens around mine; she’s begging me to keep my cool. “You are being such a prick, Geoffrey.”

“No, he isn’t,” Dad says. “Not entirely.”

Claire’s eyes meet mine, and we’re both obviously confused. Fiona is looking at her hands and Mum is, too, not wanting to look anyone in the eyes.

Shit, everyone knows something Claire and I don’t.

“What is it, then?” I ask, my voice rising. “You two,” I say, pointing to Dad and Geoffrey, “are bickering incessantly about the business. Dad, you’ve brought me here under apparent false pretenses. Mum just wants everyone happy, and somehow Fiona finally got an engagement ring, after asking for five bloody years.”

“Just stop fighting,” Mum cries.

I shake my head, furious. “It would be easy to stop if Geoffrey didn’t do things like hire an investigator to look into my business the moment I arrived.”

“Well, I wouldn’t do it if I trusted you. God, Landon, for ten years you’ve been a flake, and we can’t have that sort of drama around when the shit hits the fan. I needed to be sure there wasn’t something bigger brewing with you. The press is going to be all over us as soon as the truth of the situation is revealed. The last thing we need is some lewd story of you in the center of it.”

“What shit?” I ask, incredulous at the code he is speaking in. “What fan? What bloody situation?”

The room goes quiet, and a silent conversation takes place between Mum and Dad and Geoffrey and Fiona.

Finally, Dad speaks.

“I know Geoffrey and I fight ... but the truth is, Geoffrey has been our saving grace the past two years. And things have been tricky.”

“Tricky?” Geoffrey guffaws. “Is that what it’s called? Dad, you live in a fantasy land. You and Mum are going to be sorely disappointed, when you’ve traded everything we have right now for a flat in a dodgy part of town. You’ll wish you’d gone with my plan, when everything else is gone.”

“Gone?” Claire asks. “What will be gone?”

Fiona looks up at her, her face sour and clearly upset. “Geoffrey is trying to keep The King’s Diamond from going bankrupt.”

“Bankrupt?” My voice betrays my absolute shock. “The company is going bankrupt?”

“It already is,” Dad says.

I
’m not money hungry
. I mean, yes I’m here at the castle because of the potential paycheck … but my entire life doesn’t typically revolve around cash flow.

But for this family, money defines them.

I could earn a lot more money if I worked different hours of the day, but being home with Sophia has always meant more than a bigger paycheck.

Except for when Landon offered me this proposition. Because getting paid two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to be his fake fiancée was a chance at a jackpot. It would be like winning the lottery. It would change everything. So, yes … in this singular instance money means more than being home.

But The King’s Diamond is bankrupt.

No matter how convincing Landon and I are … there will be no chunk of change to take home.

There is no money, period.

So what the hell am I still doing here?

Landon’s dad, Arthur, seems to have admitted defeat; his head rests in his hands as if he can’t bear to look at us.

Landon doesn’t hide his emotion. He’s livid. He keeps making these incredulous sighs that aren’t helping anything. His mother, Helen, sits wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.

Geoffrey and Fiona have their faces pinched, tight and disapproving.

I’m trying not to hyperventilate. I left my daughter—traveled across the world—for a lie. I feel like a fool.

But as my eyes meet Landon’s it’s clear that, besides being angry, he’s also embarrassed. He looks away from me as fast as he can, which is something that has never happened before. Usually it’s impossible to break from his gaze.

“Is everything
really
gone?” he asks his dad, disbelieving. “Because the house, the property, the staff, everything appears unchanged.”

“The business is a separate entity from the family estate,” Geoffrey explains, not letting Arthur get in a word. “Mum and Dad are well-secured; they’ve worked hard all their life, invested well. Even without the business, they can continue living here using their savings, or downsize and allow more money to be in their will after they’ve passed away. They’ll be fine.”

“Can’t they leverage the castle?” Landon asks.

“They could, but Mum and Dad don’t want to risk the house. It’s the business that’s dying. The business that is dead.”

“Not dead,” Arthur interjects.

“It’s true, Landon. It
is
nearly dead—we can hang on for a few more months, but we’ve got to prepare for the worst,” Geoffrey says. “Look, I wish the news were better, and I’ve been working my ass off to keep things afloat. Ask Fiona. I work fourteen-hour days so that Dad and Mum can continue living a fantasy. But it’s done. Dad doesn’t want to take the business into a viable model—”

“Correct,” Arthur says. “I don’t want The King’s Diamond to go down in history as being a strip-mall discount jeweler with shady importers selling inferior diamonds. The King’s Diamond represents history, heritage, something treasured. If it can’t be what it has been, I don’t want it at all!”

“I don’t understand,” Landon says. “I was just in the Vegas branch, and the shop looked as it always has. Decadent. Luxurious. When Ace bought Emmy’s ring there a month ago, it was as pristine as it’s ever been. How could everything change in a few days?”

“No, that’s not how it works,” Geoffrey says, shaking his head. “We’ve known the company is spiraling into a deficit, we have just now reached the point of no return. We’ll only now begin consolidating. I realize this is disappointing; we’ve lived our lives assuming one day we would inherit a fortune. But that fortune no longer exists.”

Landon exhales slowly, and he won’t look at me. “I just don’t understand how it could all happen so quickly.”

“It hasn’t been quick,” Fiona scoffs. “You’ve just been absent. For so long. From everything.”

“And apparently Dad brought you here under false pretenses,” Geoffrey says. “But the fact remains, the company is done. And, Landon, you aren’t really a vital member of the conversation as we liquidate. Dad should never have bought you here for this. The truth is, Dad should consider the other options, but he’s stubborn in his refusal.”

“Enough!” Arthur slams his fist on the table. “I’m not taking a company I hold dear and watching as it becomes a joke. I created this company, with values I treasure, and I’d rather lose it than stand by as it becomes a mockery.”

I watch the scene unfold, not knowing what I should do, where I fit into all of this. I shouldn’t be here. I don’t want to be here. This is private information for a family I don’t belong in.

Before I can retreat, however, Arthur looks over at me.

“Claire, I’m sorry the first time you’re here with the family, it’s under such a cloud of disappointment.” Arthur shakes his head. “I know we disagree, Geoffrey, but keeping the moral integrity of the company means more than money.”

Geoffrey sighs loudly; clearly they’ve been discussing this for some time.

“It’s true, Geoffrey; we can’t change what we stand for, just for the sake of money,” Helen says. She sighs and takes my hand. “Never in a million years would I have thought the first time I met Landon’s bride-to-be we would be admitting our family is in ruins. But it’s the truth. The inheritance we wanted to give you kids will no longer be there ... but hopefully our integrity will remain intact.”

I feel my face redden. This whole fake fiancée plan was such a bad idea. Landon’s parents are kind, generous people. They truly believe in love and honor and family ... yet I have allowed myself to deceive them.

My stomach rolls, knowing I’m being a complete fake to people who have welcomed me into their inner circle, their judgment-free zone.

I’m bursting with shame. I need to tell them the truth. Then I can pack my things and go. I don’t care anymore about his parents seeing me as a fraud, how Emmy or Tess and Ace’s perceptions of me will shift. I can be better than this.

I
want
to be better than this. Helen and Arthur deserve that.

“So the money—my allowance, my dividends from The King’s diamond—it’s all going to go?” Landon asks, arms crossed.

I frown at Landon’s words. Is he seriously asking about the money he isn’t even working for? At a time like this?

It’s clear his parents are just in a shambles over this announcement; they must be so sad to learn everything they wanted for their family is gone. Sure, they’re still crazy wealthy ... but everything they worked for is in the past.

“Landon, don’t,” I whisper, tugging on his arm. “Not now.”

“Of course that’s what you’re concerned about,” Geoffrey scoffs. “Grow up, Landon.”

“Fuck off, Geoffrey.” Landon shakes his head. “You don’t know anything about me.”

“You keep saying that, but the thing is, I think I do.” Geoffrey raises his eyebrows at us. “In fact, I think I know a hell of a lot about you both.”

“Stop, Geoffrey, please,” I beg him, suddenly frightened. I want to tell everyone that we aren’t really engaged, but I panic, realizing Geoffrey must know my ugliest secret of all.

And if he exposes it, I won’t have just let down Helen and Arthur ... I’ll have let down Landon.

And why do I care about how Landon sees me?

I don’t know exactly ... but maybe deep down I know I
do
love him. Love the man he could be if he wasn’t so freaking stupid all the time.

But if Geoffrey keeps talking, then the truth I’ve buried for so long is going to come to the light.

“Don’t,” I say again, this time more quietly.

“Look,” Geoffrey says, seeming to change his tone after hearing my hushed word. “I don’t want any more trouble in this family. We all know there’s plenty as it is. Which is why I haven’t said anything earlier. Not even to Fiona. But enough, Landon—I know this relationship is a joke to you anyways.”

“What joke?” Fiona asks, on the outs and not seeming to like it.

But the way he so pointedly speaks to Landon tells me he doesn’t know about my secret ... my stupid, never took care of it when I should have, I’m such a freaking idiot, secret.

The dirt Geoffrey must have is the truth about our engagement.

Which is a relief. Until I see the worn expression on Landon’s face.

I want to convey to Landon ... somehow ... that we need to tell his family the truth. But he jerks his head in a
no
, and I pause, the words I want to say so close to spilling from my mouth.

“Geoffrey,” Fiona says, reaching for his arm. “I think right now we’ve had enough surprises today, don’t you think?”

Her words catch me off guard, but the moment she says them I know she’s right. Arthur and Helen are worn out and embarrassed. I don’t need to break their hearts anymore than they already are. At least not today.

* * *

Nothing about this
family summit
is going how I wanted it to. Everything I hoped it would be has been smashed to the ground. I can’t look at Claire–she knows how worthless I am without the potential title of successor. She’ll never want me now.

And she shouldn’t. I have nothing to fucking offer her.

“So how do we move forward?” I ask, once Geoffrey has quieted down.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Mum says, her hand at her heart. “You boys being here, announcing your engagements, is giving us something to be joyous over. At least we have that.”

“And our wedding will be soon,” Fiona says.

“Which makes us so happy, Fiona,” Dad says. “We as so happy for our boys, and for you and Claire.”

Fiona smiles at this praise, and I’m sure she relishes it because Geoffrey doesn’t exactly ooze words of affirmation. “You know, we could push the wedding up, sooner than this winter. This fall. This week!”

“Fiona,” Geoffrey scowls. “This week? You’re being absurd. And seriously, we have enough going on as it is.”

“You know what, Geoffrey?” Fiona says. “I’ve spent years doing everything the way you want. Coming here on weekends, going to the country club with your parents, taking holidays where you work the entire time–and do I complain? No. I don’t. Never.” Her eyes are, shockingly, filled with tears. “And I know this moment is about the business, and the meeting is about what happens next with The King’s Diamond ... but you know what?” she asks. “What happens next for us? I’ve been waiting a decade to marry you. You finally agree ... so let’s just get on with it—on with our lives. Think about something beside the bankruptcy.”

“That sounds fantastic,” I say, wanting to watch Geoffrey squirm.

“Is it?” He turns, asking me. “If it’s so bloody fantastic, we should have a double wedding. Next week, just like Fiona wants.”

“Oh, boys, stop this, it isn’t good for anyone,” Mum says. “Especially not Fiona and Claire. You can’t make jokes about weddings around brides-to-be.”

“Oh, I don’t think anyone is joking,” Geoffrey dryly tells Mum.

“I sure as hell am not,” I laugh, improvising. “Claire and I were going to elope. Now we won’t have to.”

Dad claps his hands, completely oblivious to the sarcastic tone Geoffrey and I have adopted. “This is just perfect,” he exclaims. “I thought the world was collapsing, but look, my family is being brought together. Better than I could have ever hoped for. The tough times won’t define us.”

Mum and Dad leave to get celebratory drinks, and the four of us look at one another uncomfortably. The entire situation got a bit out of hand.

“Perfect,” Geoffrey snorts, looking at me with a smug smile. “Unless you had something you wanted to tell Mum and Dad that would disappoint them after they’ve just been completely wrecked.”

“Oh, fuck off,” I mutter under my breath, and I hear Claire give a sharp hiss. “What?” I whisper to her as Mum and Dad leave the room for a bottle of brandy and cookies.

“A double wedding next week? Landon. That’s insane. We can’t. I won’t.” Her eyes are blazing hot, as if she wants to scream or run. Or both. “I need to go.”

“Listen, can we just ...” I look over at Geoffrey and Fiona who are arguing. I hear snippets of
You really want this? Is this a joke? This is so typical.
But I can’t tell who is seething at whom. A wedding in a week was Fiona’s idea, but I have a feeling she tossed it out in response to being heard for once in her life. “Claire, can we just try for a day or two to play along ... my parents were so scared to tell us ... and now we’ve made them happy.”

“Right, Fiona and Geoffrey seem so happy, Landon,” she says. We look over at the engaged couple, who have crossed arms and pointed fingers and sour faces. “I don’t want to keep lying; it will only hurt people more.”

“Well, fuck, Claire, what do you want to do? Tell them everything? Look,” I say pointing to my parents who are walking back into the den holding brandy and a plate of gingersnaps. “They’re happy. You want to take that from them? Tonight of all nights?”

“Treats,” Mum says, handing out napkins. “Now kids, listen, no one is forcing this. It would be crazy and unexpected and completely–”

“Amazing,” Dad finishes. “Look, this year has been hard. Imagining the transition away from the company breaks my heart ... but you kids finding love at the same time, after I spent a lifetime selling diamonds that are a part of people’s forever—well, frankly, it feels like destiny.”