Escorting the Groom (The Escort Collection 4)

Serena shrugged. "He knew what he was getting into. He went to Harvard, you know. It's not like he can claim ignorance as a defense."

I poured myself some more champagne. This lunch wasn't going how I'd planned. "Forgive me for being ignorant, but what does this little tragi-comedy have to do with Blake and her questionable work background?"

"At your wedding, I drank my face off and then confided in Robert. You know how when I get drunk, my stupid conscience tends to show up?"

That elicited a small smile from me. "Actually, I had no idea it ever showed up."

"Ha ha. Anyway, I told him what I'd found out about Blake. I said I was considering exposing her in order to inherit the whole trust. But then Robert said if I did, he'd go public with the whole story—about me offering to pay him to marry me."

She looked sad again, and her throat worked as she had another gulp of Veuve. "He said I deserved it—for being such a hypocrite. He even said he'd hire a legal team to keep me from my inheritance."

"Why would he get so involved?"

"He said that you looked happy, and that Blake seemed nice, and that no matter what your actual arrangement was, it was none of my business because I'd cheated the terms of the trust, too."

"That's a pretty strong stance."

Serena nodded, looking defeated. "I'm pretty sure he hates me."

"He doesn't hate you," I said. "He probably just wants to see you grow up at some point."

That sparked some interest in her eyes. "So what exactly did Robert say when you talked to him last night?"

I shrugged. "Nothing."

"Don't be such a guy!" Her face regained some of its usual agitated animation. "So, why don't you think he hates me? He obviously hates me."

I sighed. "He didn't say anything specific, but he's obviously trying to keep you in line."

"I don't know why. We've been done for a long time." Serena pursed her red lips.

I couldn't believe that I had to spell this out to her. I, who had the emotional intelligence of a Neanderthal. "News flash—it means Robert hasn't totally given up on you yet, although I'm not sure why."

She appeared slightly mollified. "Oh. Huh."

"So, let's get back to the trust. I want to be clear about this. You're going after the trust provisions themselves so that you can inherit the money no matter what Robert does. And you're going to leave Blake and her situation out of it. Right?" I looked at her menacingly.

She nodded. "I won't say a word about Blake. I actually like her. I'm kind of psyched I don't have to ruin her life."

"So why don't you just let it be? Why go after the provisions at all?"

"It's a safety net," Serena said. "Robert said he wouldn't do anything unless I contested your inheritance, but that's not good enough for me. I need a guarantee that I'm getting that money. I totally need to renovate my townhouse—it's so out of date!"

Talking about the money and renovations seemed to restore her, as did another sip of champagne. "The good news is you're in the clear. My hands are tied, so I won't say a word about Blake. And if it turns out the trust provisions are void, you don't have to stay married to her, either."

Serena watched my face, which I hoped remained impassive. "Not that you mind being married to her." She was fishing, but I didn't take the bait. I motioned to the waiter for what was surely an outrageous lunch check.

"You should know—it was nothing personal against Blake," Serena said. "She gave me some good advice about how to deal with Robert. I'm a little bummed I have to split the trust with you, but… I figure Mom would have wanted it that way."

A flutter of something I didn't recognize flashed in my chest. Was there actual hope for my sister? I decided to get out of there before this got too touch-feely. I rose from the table. "Keep me posted."

"Aren't you giving me a ride home?" she called.

"I think you need to walk. That bottle of champagne was about six hundred calories."

I wasn't sure, but I thought she might have given me the finger as I left.

I stared out the car window, unseeing, as Ian brought me back to my office. I should be relieved by the conversation with Serena, but instead, I felt ill at ease. She'd basically told me that I was going to inherit my share of the trust no matter what, and that I didn't need to stay married for the rest of the year. A few short weeks ago, I would have been thrilled with the news. It would have made all the difference in the world to me, because then I wouldn't have had to pay an escort two million dollars to marry me.