Fake Marriage Box Set

“Of course I wo

uld,” I snapped.

“Even if it was legal-looking, all nicely typed-up with tables and graphs,” Katherine said.

“What are you getting at?” I asked.

“That's exactly what Renée did,” Katherine said. “She came to your work with the goal of convincing you that her rival wasn't worth your time. But you're so worried about things not working out with Lexi that you started to wonder if maybe Renée's information was right.”

“Lexi and Renée aren't rivals,” I said firmly. “And Renée knows that. She said that she respects that we aren't in a relationship anymore and that we are never getting back together. She said so, in as many words. Your whole argument is invalid.”

“Of course, Renée was going to say that,” Katherine said gently. “Because she couldn't very well say that she was there to try to win you back, could she? You would never have listened to her if she had put it that way.”

“She said she was just trying to look out for me because we'd been friends long before we started dating one another,” I said. “Friends do that sort of thing, looking out for one another.” I knew saying this out loud, made me sound stupid, but at the time I had believed her.

Katherine laughed again. “I don't know what's funnier, you calling Renée a friend, or your insistence that she was just looking out for you. She managed to destroy your relationship, the thing that made you the happiest that I've ever seen you, all in one night. And the two of you were never friends.”

“We've known each other for a long time,” I maintained stubbornly.

“And Renée has only ever been self-motivated and petty,” Katherine said. She sighed. “Are you really telling me that there's nothing about this that seems weird to you? Like how she managed to get a paternity test at all? Where the hell did she get Emma’s DNA, you moron? And don’t you feel the least bit guilty at how much you’ve upset Lexi?”

The truth was, I did feel guilty. I hated the idea of Lexi packing up her bags, almost as much as I'd hated sleeping on my own the previous night. But I couldn't let my feelings get in the way of what I knew to be a logical decision.

“Even if I throw out the evidence that Renée gave me, doesn't it say something about Lexi's and my relationship that I even considered the evidence to be true?” I asked, putting my head down on the desk.

Katherine was silent for a moment.

“It doesn’t say anything about your relationship with Lexi,” she said. “It says something about you. Your suspicion has always been your biggest flaw. And I understand where that comes from. It's also what makes you such a great businessman. One of the many things that makes you such a great businessman, rather.” She paused. “The thing that you have to remember is that, yes, Renée does know you. I get the feeling that she's been watching you for a lot longer than you think. I think she's had her eyes on you since long before the two of you started dating.”

“She does seem a little obsessed with me,” I admitted. “I actually threatened to get a restraining order if she came near me again.”

“And this is the woman you trust over Lexi?” Katherine asked with a sigh.

I’d never heard her sound so disappointed in me. I had no response.

“A restraining order might be a good idea,” Katherine said. “Although, it'll ruin her family's reputation.”

“I know,” I sighed. “And that's the only reason I haven't had the paperwork drawn up already.”

“Your safety and well-being are more important than her family’s reputation,” Katherine said. “Besides, she had no problem destroying your family. The one you built with Lexi and Emma.”

“We don’t know that they’re my family,” I said.

“Come on, Andrew. If anyone knows how to play you and push your buttons, it’s Renée. She knows what your fears are and how to manipulate you. It doesn't mean that your relationship with Lexi is doomed to fail. You need to learn to trust Lexi more, sure. I don't think you would have let her live in your home for as long as you have if you didn't trust her, though.”

“What am I going to do?” I asked. “She's never going to forgive me, after this.”

“There's still time,” Katherine said confidently. “She hasn't told Emma that they're leaving yet. To be honest, I don't think she knows where they're going to go if they leave. You can still catch them.”

I swallowed hard, a sickening feeling in my gut. “You don't think she's going to hate me, do you?”

“Let her know how bad you feel,” Katherine advised. “And talk things out, explain to her exactly what happened and what you were feeling. Lexi has Emma, and she has to carefully think through every decision that might affect the girl. I'm sure she'll understand your fear and suspicion, better than you might think.”

I nodded my head. “Katherine?” I asked, sensing that she was about to hang up.

“Yeah?” she asked.

“Thanks,” I said quietly. I hung up with her and quickly dialed Janice's number. I needed a favor.