Burn (Virtues & Lies 1)

Meanwhile, I’m trying not to throw her over my shoulder and be done with all this.

We’re almost on dry land when a reporter I happen to recognise calls my name.

“Leo!” he calls again. “Mr. Fairfax!”

I can hear the shutter of the cameras around us going. The flashes are blinding as I turn back to him.

Francis is doing the walk with Penelope. Freddie is following behind them.

“What do you have to say about the ongoing investigation into Fairfax Capital?” he shouts over the hum of the other reporters. “Is it true that you are being investigated by the FSA for wrongful conduct?”

Wayne steps to us out of nowhere and stands to the side, ready to step in if needed.

I look to Cassie, she’s still smiling, but I can tell that there’s tension behind it. Coiling her arm tighter around mine she comes closer, her front tucking to my side as she rests her head on my shoulder and her other hand comes up to squeeze my other shoulder before slipping down to my waist.

The reporter’s eyes widen as he takes us in and just as I’m about to no comment him, he asks, “How long have you been together?”

“A while,” she smiles looking up at me from under her thick lashes. “Do you know?” she asks me and then turns to the reporter. “He had his sights on me for a while.”

The grown-up man in front of her audibly melts at her drawn out, stars-in-her-eyes sigh. “Really?”

“It’s true.”

“So, do you?” My heart hammers in my chest as he directs the question at me. “Do you know?”

“Oh, come on…” Cupping my cheek, she sucks her lip into her mouth as her eyes trail mine. “It’s not really something I expect him to know.”

I do know. I’ve got every single date engraved in my memories.

“July twenty-eighth.” Her smile falters in confusion. “The Prime Minister’s Garden party.”

“Wow, seems like a very long time to keep things so quiet.”

“That was the first time, I really noticed Cassandra.” Sliding her hand down my neck to my shoulder, her breath hitches like she’s having trouble composing herself. “January eleventh, that was the first time we actually spoke.”

I could go on, but he doesn’t need to know all the details. If she really wants to know, I can list all the dates she asks for.

“We should head inside.” I say, taking a step back to pick up the train of her dress, and as I turn us towards the open doors the reporter says, “Good to see you both.”

I nod back at him and carry on walking until we’ve disappeared into the crowd of attendees waiting to be shown to their seats.

Cassie stops abruptly and turns to stand right in front of me. “The first time you kissed me?”

“Sixteenth February.”

“First time you saw me.”

“The Spring Festival, twenty-fourth March last year.”

“Not the first time you saw me at a party, Leo, the first time you wanted me.”

“Nineteenth September, you were running around the garden with Fleur and all I could think was how beautiful you were and try to understand how you could smile and laugh even when you looked so sad.”

“My grandad had just died.” Her eyes pink with tears that never come. “Fleur spent all her time trying to make me laugh at every opportunity.”

“I like her.” Wrapping my arms around her, I pull her into my chest, right where she belongs.

Chapter 34