Oh, God. “Your friend is the junior partner who told her about the potential partnership or firing. He made it all up.” He felt like he was going to throw up. “What the fuck, Neil?”
“Knowing how much she holds a grudge, I figured she’d castrate you on sight. But I had to make sure you wouldn’t screw this up for me, so I convinced Ben to tell Blair the story about the partnership. She holds her job sacred, so I knew that even if she were still attracted to you, she’d never act on it. She’d offer up her firstborn child to stay at her firm. I never thought she’d consider dumping her job for you.”
“Why are you trying to keep her so badly? Is this really all about you and me?”
“God, you really are a narcissist. Stealing something you want is a bonus. The thing I don’t understand is why you want her. She’s perfect for me. We’ll live our mostly separate lives, but we’ll both have the professional spouses we need. Do you know how hard it’s been to find someone as detached as her? I’m not about to let that go.”
Garret shook his head, speechless. Then he remembered his original plan. “I’ll give you Nana’s farm if you don’t marry her.”
Neil’s smile fell. “You can’t promise me that. It’s not yours to give.”
Garrett took a step toward him. “Nana told me she’s giving me the farm. The entire thing.”
“She’s giving it to you?” He spat in disgust. “I knew it.”
Garrett held up his hands. “But I’ll give it to you. Everything except the land with the house and the barn.”
Neil’s eyes narrowed. “You would give all that up for her?”
Garrett took a breath, trying to hide his relief that Neil was listening. “I’m in the process of having a contract drawn up.”
Neil studied him for a moment, then laughed. “That’s a good one. You think I’m going to fall for this bullshit?”
“It’s not bullshit. My friend is working on it now.”
“How convenient that it’s not ready yet. You think I’m just going to cancel the wedding on your word?”
“I’m telling you the truth, Neil.”
Confusion clouded his eyes. “You’d really give up millions to keep her?”
Garrett shot him a glare of contempt. “I would ask ‘wouldn’t you?’ but the fact we’re still discussing it speaks for itself.”
Neil rubbed his forehead, then looked up at Garrett, an ugly smile spreading across his face. “Okay. I’ll do it. But . . .” He paused for long enough for hope to bloom in Garrett’s heart. “You can’t have her either.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“If you can produce a contract before my wedding, I’ll sign and call it off. But you have to agree you won’t pursue her. The two of you are over.”
Garrett shook his head in disgust. “You idiot, I can’t put something like that in a contract.”
“I know.” He waved off the issue. “But you can prevent me from releasing indiscreet photos of Blair that could cost her not only this job, but kill her career.”
The blood rushed from Garrett’s head. “What photos?”
Neil smiled, but evil filled his eyes. “I have a tape and photos of Blair. Having sex. I’m sure she would hate to have those get out.”
Horror washed over Garrett. He could barely stand the thought of them having sex, let alone having it recorded for anyone to see. “Blair agreed to film a sex tape?”
Neil laughed. “Agreed? God no. But it shows her in several very compromising situations. And it’s very clear it’s her.”
Garrett shook his head, still in shock. “You would do that to her?”
“I can’t believe you have to ask me that, cousin. You really don’t know me.” He laughed. “But don’t worry. This setup.” His hand waved a circle around the room. “This pretty much makes sure you don’t stand a chance, but just in case . . . I have my insurance.”
“You really are a prick,” he spat in disgust.
Neil smirked. “Tell you what. I’m going to continue with the plan as it stands. But if you show up with a contract before I say I do, you have a deal.”
“You’re presuming Blair will still marry you.”
He grinned. “She will. Now that she’s lost you, her job is the only thing she has left.” Neil spun around and walked down the hall. “See you at the wedding.”
Blair stood in the lobby of Garrett’s hotel, trying to piece everything together. There was no denying there had been a half-naked woman in Garrett’s room. And there was no denying the horrified look in his eyes. The real question was who was Layla and why was she there?
And then there was the inexplicable fact that Neil really expected her to still marry him. Why was he acting so calm and rational? She’d be furious in his shoes, and she didn’t even love him. He claimed to love her, and yet he was acting like sleeping with his cousin was a crime on par with purchasing the wrong toilet paper brand.
But something else was nagging her, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
She replayed their conversation in the bakery . . . and then it struck her like a bag full of bricks.
“Blair.” Neil called her name from across the lobby. She turned to face him, newly amazed by how collected he seemed after the ugly scene upstairs. But that’s what she’d wanted, right? Someone calm and rational.