Page 317 of Double or Nothing

Mum follows him, and so does Christopher, loosening his tie on the way, but I pause. Glued to the spot by the front door.

It would take only seconds to open it.

I could run down the steps and down the drive, flag down a cab and get myself over to Chelsea. Jack would let me in. I know he would. He’d make a load of cocky comments, pour champagne and behave as though returning to him was the most obvious decision I’d ever made. Maybe it would be, and maybe I should.

But there’s something else holding me back.

Something more important than any of it.

Dad has Bryce.

He’s the holder of the puppet strings.

“Alice,” Mum calls from the dining room doorway, bringing me back to my senses. “Come on, please. Let’s get this sorted. For all of our sakes.”

I follow for Bryce’s sake, not anyone else’s.

Mum pours herself some water when she sits at the table. Her hand is shaking so bad that the glass knocks against the jug. I hate seeing her like this. Trapped by the powerhouse, even though she’s a part of it herself.

Dad is already sitting proudly at the head of the table. Christopher sits to his left. Both of them staring at me as I take a seat next to Mum and take over pouring her water.

“What has Bryce told Reid?” Dad asks me.

“I don’t know,” I say.

“Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not.”

Dad’s eyes are like hot coals, burning.

“Bryce knows things about this family and my business that could cause considerable damage.”

I shrug. “He helped Jack research the auction. That’s all.”

“That remains to be seen.”

My frustration bubbles.

“Don’t act like Bryce is the problem here. Or Jack. The problem is Christopher. He tricked me into accepting his proposal, and everyone is behaving as though Bryce and Jack are villains.” I pause. “They helped my career. So what? What’s the crime?”

Dad slams his hands on the table.

“The crime is that a Mayfair idiot is fucking my daughter. My soon to be married daughter!”

I suck in a breath at that, struggling for words. It takes me a moment to compose myself.

There are so many things I want to say. So many things that would turn this conversation into a war. So many words ready to explode that they’re twisting in my guts. But so is the image of Bryce at events next to Dad. Working so hard.

“Your soon to be married daughter isn’t a chess piece, Dad. I accepted the proposal because I had no choice. I was put on the spot in front of a whole crowd of people at a welcome home party. That’s got nothing to do with Jack.”

Christopher looks at me.

“Charming.”

“Don’t play innocent,” I say. “You knew exactly what was happening. You knew how to play me to your advantage.”

“This is for everyone’s advantage,” he replies. “No selfishness involved. I have every respect for you, Alice. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”