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Air e

T he restaurant was sparsely populated, but I still wasn't comfortable speaking to her where people could see us. I found a table for two in a secluded corner and sat down. Aelin followed suit. She was unhurried as she sank into the chair opposite mine. Her wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses covered her face enough for me to feel a little comfortable, but not too much.

"What are you doing here?" I whisper-shouted.

"Can't a girl say hi to her cousin? There's only three of us Burgesses, and the third one is on the way to the grave. "

"You ignore me my whole life and now is when you decide to get in touch! Color me suspicious."

"Come on. I was here watching the match and happened to bump into you, that's all. What did you think? That I was stalking you?"

"Why didn't you answer my calls?"

She took off her glasses and placed them next to the menu on the table. "I wanted to call you, but you know how granddad is. He didn't want me talking to you."

"You're the reason I'm even in this position! You disappeared—" my voice echoed in the empty room and I caught myself, "you disappeared and I had to marry your husband in your place!"

"And it looks like you've been doing the job quite well. You seem to be enjoying it."

My eyes narrowed.

"I saw you humping dear husband in that little grove."My cheeks flushed and she cackled. "You should see your face. Honestly, I didn't think you had it in you to be so scandalous." She laughed again, her white teeth flashing. She looked skinnier than I remembered her being. If the rehab story was true, it seemed like she needed a refund because the place didn't take care of her well. Her eyes were hollow and her cheeks a little less plump. But then again, the weight loss could be deliberate. Her chipped nails desperately needed a manicure, yet her dress was as immaculate as always. It looked like mine, but only in a different color. Blue instead of yellow. I gave myself an A plus for being able to mimic her in that department.

"Are you back? Is that it?"

She removed dirt from her nails and said, "You seem to be enjoying yourself."

"You can't just replace yourself, he will know."

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure he loves your boring pussy, but don't worry, I am not here to steal your man."

I took a deep breath. "Then why are you endangering me and ruining grandfather's plan?"

She frowned. "Since when did you care? Anyway, I'm not going to ruin things unless..."

"Unless what!"

She opened her mouth, only to shut it immediately and glance at her side. I followed her gaze and saw the server who had materialized beside us. With a bright smile, she asked, "Afternoon. How was the match?"

"We don't want anything, thanks," Aelin said.

The woman's mouth turned into an 'o' and for a moment I was afraid she had recognized Aelin, but she said, "Are you two twins?"

"Yes. Long lost and would rather be left alone," Aelin replied, her tone dismissive. The woman caught on quickly and said with a smile plastered on her face. "Great. I'll be by the bar if you need me."

As she walked away, Aelin said, "Don't worry, we won't need your fat ass."The server was hardly fat. She was more on the plump side, but I guess Aelin considered that overweight. She and Jacqueline would get along swimmingly.

She turned to me. "As I was saying, I'm out of money and I want some."

I felt a wash of relief. "How much do you need?" I had been saving some of my allowance. What Nolan gave me was too much, and I barely used it, if at all. "I have a thousand dollars I can give you right now."

Aelin rolled her eyes. "What would I do with a thousand bucks? Granddad cut me off and I am practically out of spending money."

"He cut you off?" Kenneth Burgess loved Aelin more than me or anyone else. He was a bitter man, but he had a soft spot for his granddaughter. His true granddaughter, I heard him once say. He was even planning on leaving his fortune to her, so cutting her off seemed off. Especially in these circumstances.

"He said I can't withdraw any more funds from the trust until the deal is settled."

That's not being cut off, that's just asking to spend within reason. "Why don't you ask him for an allowance?"

"Are you listening? He won't give me any for the rest of the month. And why are you interrogating me? I could blow up your entire cover by simply showing my face."

"And blow up grandfather's plans? I thought you, of all people, wanted the deal to go through."

She pressed her back into the chair. Not fooled by my bluff. "I saw you two, together. I don't know what's going on, but you've caught feelings, cuz. You were looking at him like he was a meal to devour. Giving him puppy eyes. I know a woman in love when I see one."

"That's where you're mistaken." I was not in love with Nolan. Yes, I was finding him more attractive by the day. Yes, he was warming up to me, and we were finally acting less like adversaries and more like friends, but that didn't mean I was lovesick.

"Am I?" She folded her arms. "Maybe, but you care for him. You care enough to not want this twisted little thing going on to blow up."

"And why are you trying to sabotage it? Once the deal is done, you will inherit the Burgess fortune."

"True. But that's after the old man kicks the bucket and that's a long time coming. I need money now."

Aelin was daring enough to do it. Maybe if I gave her something, she would go away, I thought. That's the better outcome, right? "What's your price?"

"One hundred thousand dollars. "

My jaw dropped. I have a lot of money in my account, but if I gave her that much, I would wipe ninety percent of my balance. But it's not like I use it, anyway. "Fine. I will wire you the money."

"Do it now."

I took my phone from my purse and listened as she rattled her bank details. A few minutes later, my bank account was light and money was on the way to Aelin's. Her phone dinged, she took it out of her purse, and smiled. "Thanks cuz. But should I thank you? He is my husband, after all, and it's technically my money."

"Will it be enough?"

"It should cover it for the meantime."

"What are you and grandfather planning exactly?"

Aelin frowned. "He hasn't told you yet? Wow! And you agreed to it without knowing what you were getting into? You're something else. A little too trusting, if I may say so."

"He promised to pay off my debts if I say yes."

"Ah, yes, that silly little Art History degree you took."

"Fine Arts, and I was fine at my regular job until you disappeared."

"I was in rehab. Bettering myself, not that you care."

"Really?" My eyes narrowed. She shifted in her chair. She looked less confident than before, and something about our conversation shifted. Aelin was bullying me and yet she was the one who could not step up to the plate. She was acting all high and mighty, and yet she was the same person who had mowed down a group of children. The same person who called CPS on a friend out of spite. I folded my arms, mimicking her pose. "Did you get in before or after you tried to kill your boyfriend? You were hiding from the press, weren't you?"

"Oh, come on! It was an overdose!" She spoke so loudly that several guests turned in our direction. She lowered her voice. "I can't believe you, of all people swallowed that bullshit."

"Well, it's been following me around since I'm walking in your shoes. Not to mention your DUIs and you calling CPS on your friend."

She frowned in confusion, and then her face dawned as she remembered. She chuckled. "How did you know about that?"

"Your friend confronted me in front of Nolan's family and I had to take it because I didn't know what to do or say."

Aelin smirked. "But none of them suspected anything? Look at you. You are wearing my shoes quite well."

"Fuck off, Aelin."

She chuckled and got up.

"What are you doing?"

"Leaving. That's what you wanted, right?"

I nodded wearily.

She flashed a smile that did not reach her eyes. "See you later, bitch."