Page 2 of Tangled Lies

“Oh, gee. I don’t remember. She’s been so busy today with laundry and cooking that perhaps it slipped her mind.”

It hadn’t. I just didn’t give a flying fuck.

He patted my head like I was ten again.

“Hmm. Of course. So many things to prepare for. Your engagement party is a few weeks away.”

I prayed the shiver of disgust didn’t show and that I’d kept the subtitles off my face. Vapid, fake, darling, obedient girl was all my face needed to say.

“Of course, Uncle.”

I didn’t miss the way he looked past me.

“Where are you going?”

I glanced over my shoulder. I knew I wouldn’t get out of here before he got back. That would have been fate being on my side and thus far? She’d abandoned me years ago.

“Reina’s, she invited me to sleep over at her house. I only have so many more months as a single girl, Uncle.”

His expression didn’t change much, which had to be a good sign.

“Of course. Reina. Her driver is downstairs, or shall I call one?”

I smiled and looked up at him through my lashes.

“Yes, her driver is waiting for me. We plan to stop and get some ice cream on the way back to her place.”

He reached for his wallet and pulled out a hundred dollars. Not enough for me to run away, but enough to show that he took care of me and let me do things that a normal daughter should have. It was more money to go in my get-out-of-Vegas-free fund.

“Please, treat her and make sure her father knows. I really need his cooperation in the coming senate race.”

Treat her my ass. Her father was an asshole, and he didn’t care much about his daughter. Reina had been the one silver lining since my parent’s death. The one person I’d met through my uncle’s connections. The friend that would help sneak alcohol to make every horrid networking event and party bearable. She was the only friend I’d been allowed to keep, and I suppose it was because she was just as desperate to remain out of sight, out of mind, and out of the news. The one person who knew my secrets.

“Of course, Uncle. She always brags to her father about how well you treat us.”

He nodded and turned back toward his office, stopping like I expected. He glanced over his shoulder, feigning like he didn’t control my entire life.

“You will be back before ten tomorrow. We have a luncheon with the Thornes. I’ve ordered you a new outfit, it will be delivered in the morning.”

I nodded. “Yes, of course.”

I waited for him to finish his way to his office and for the door to click shut. Only then did I turn back to my bag. I put on the shoes I’d worn earlier, Mary Janes that just added to this whole look of chaste princess.

If only he wouldn’t have forced this marriage, I might have stayed a little longer.

I checked the ribbon, making sure the mask was secure. Tonight I could be anyone, anyone but the poor little orphan locked away by her uncle.

Reina knocked, the echo of the sound breaking the casino’s penthouse floor’s silence.

“How did you find out about this private game?” I asked as we waited.

She smiled at me and adjusted the top of her sequined dress.

Living in the city of sin you would think this kind of thing was normal, and for some it was. For me? If I wasn’t careful, I’d end up locked away until my wedding night.

“Well, I contacted the guy that has the hookups for all these things when I knew Daddy would be out of town.” She wrapped her arm around me.

“See, Mar, while you’re on lock down, I spend my time networking. I know you need money, and I just love being around all these men. Who knows, maybe we’ll find our future first husbands.”