Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 106150 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106150 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Except everyone didn’t. Rowe was the sort of person everyone wanted to believe could be the billionaire founder of a company—young and angelic, a little outrageous, and drop-dead gorgeous. It didn’t matter what his real name was or where he came from. In fact, that would all add to the mystique. This audience wanted to believe.
When Austin looked around the room for allies, he found none. Even Clarissa was watching Rowe with surprise… but not a shred of suspicion. “My god,” she breathed. “This explains so much.”
“He’s Sterling Chase, alright!” a woman near the door volunteered. “I worked the reception desk at the Coalition for Children gala just like I’m doing tonight and gave him his name tag. And he said he liked playing pranks on his friends!”
“Good god, of course he’s Sterling Chase,” Constance Baxter-Hicks said, managing to sound both imperious and incredibly weary of the conversation. “Why are we even discussing this? I’ve known the man for simply eons. I was friends with his mother back in Illinois—”
“Indiana,” Miranda murmured.
“You know how bad I am with flyover states,” Constance sighed. “In any case, Sterling and I are quite, quite close. In fact, I credit him for my new fashion evolution. We’re having lunch at Jean-Georges next week. Bettina, dear, you’ll join us, won’t you?” She waved to a woman at a nearby table who looked delighted at the invite.
For the first time since he’d stood up, Rowe blinked uncertainly before he schooled his features back into his Sterling Chase expression and nodded politely.
I felt a brilliant smile break out on my face that I couldn’t restrain. The man was impossibly talented. Incredibly dedicated. Genuinely himself, no matter who he was impersonating. And yet he still couldn’t seem to wrap his head around how many people had fallen for him in such a short time.
Particularly me.
Constance winked at me, and I had only a second to marvel that Rowe had been right—the woman knew a lot more than she let on—before she said in a ringing voice, “Why not ask his boyfriend. Bash, darling, you’re on the board of directors at Sterling’s company, aren’t you? Do clear up this confusion so we can move on to the dancing.”
“I can’t believe anyone would accuse Sterling Chase of lying,” I said, rising to my feet and defying anyone to contradict me. “Sterling is the purest soul I’ve ever known and the greatest adventure I’ve ever encountered. That’s what first drew me to him. That’s what made me fall in love with him. It doesn’t matter what name he goes by. Sterling Chase is the love of my life, and I’m proud to serve at his side for as long as he’ll have me.”
Over-the-top? Yes.
Cheesy romantic? Fuck, yes, and Landry’s gleeful smile told me he was memorizing every word of “Big Daddy’s” big love declaration so he could quote it back to me.
But I meant every damn word.
And when Rowe’s big brown eyes went wide and shiny, when his lower lip trembled, then curved into the widest smile I’d ever seen, I didn’t give a fuck who else was listening or what they thought.
Rowe pressed a hand to his heart, right over the pocket where only he and I knew he’d tucked a bunch of brightly colored scarves—a hint of magic, hidden just out of sight. “Sterling Chase loves you, too,” he said softly, and I took a deep breath as something deep in my soul clicked into place like the dial on a telescope, shifting my whole future into focus.
Rowe turned to Austin. “The board of directors has been concerned about you for quite some time. We’ve set up a meeting for Monday. Ask any of them.”
“Oh, yes,” Silas said, his voice rumbling ominously. “I plan to be there, Sterling.”
“Same,” Landry agreed. “Even if I have to cancel my training session with French Alex.”
I had no idea who Alex was, but Landry’s date gasped, clearly impressed.
“But that’s not— The entire board is made up of liars!” Austin insisted. “Bash and the other members aren’t who they say they are. They are the ones who—”
“Please, Austin.” Rowe held up a hand. “You’re only making this worse for yourself. No one here wants to listen to your ramblings. I’m sure at this point there’s nothing you wouldn’t say or do to discredit me or the company, including lying about the board of directors.”
I ran a hand over my mouth, trying to smooth away my smile. The irony was so, so sweet. Austin, the asshole who’d been lying for his own gain for months, was finally telling the truth… but no one would listen.
“It’s not just me!” Austin insisted. “Justin knows! He’s the one who told me. Justin!” He used his hand to shade his eyes from the bright lights in the room. “Justin, I know you’re here! Come tell them what you told me about Sterling Chase.”