Beautiful Liar (7 page)

“Wow!” Jas breathed. “This place is unbelievable.”

I didn't reply. I
was determined to appear indifferent to everything tonight, so I might as well start practising now.

Ahead of us, a door swung open. A snooty blonde emerged from what looked like a guest powder room. Unlike Jas, she wasn't beautiful, but she was attractive in that expensive, well-groomed way—hair extensions, spray-tanned limbs, and a toned body no doubt courtesy of a personal trainer. She wore a tiny sequinned backless dress that looked like it cost a small fortune, and even though I hated to admit it, she carried it off. It was something to do with the arrogant tilt of her chin.

I'd seen her around at the club with Alex. She must have recognised us, too, because she stopped in front of us and wrinkled her nose.

“Who the hell invited the help?”

“Alex,” I said, enjoying the O of surprise her mouth formed. “He asked us personally. Said it wouldn't be the same without us here, didn't he, Jas?” I knew it was hypocritical to suddenly be bragging about Alex's inviting us, after I'd been wishing he hadn't. But I didn't like the way the blonde was looking at us as though we were scum.

I pushed past her before she could say another word, and grabbed Jas's hand, pulling her after me.

“Who was that?” I asked.

“Victoria Cavendish—or Tori, as she's known. Her dad's in property. He owns half of London. She's a big spender at
the club, and an even bigger bitch.”

Somehow it wasn't hard to believe that last part.

It was only as I walked purposefully along the hallway that I realised I had no idea where I was going. But I used my common sense and followed the noise.

At the end of the corridor, we entered a vast, open-plan living area. Like the hallway, the walls and floor were gleaming white, which along with the double-height ceilings, created a feeling of space and light. A statement staircase led up to a mezzanine, where I presumed the bedrooms were, and a huge set of patio doors stretched the length of the room, providing magnificent views across London. It was exactly the kind of place I imagined a wealthy playboy to live.

The décor was equally impressive. Low-slung cream-suede couches surrounded the biggest plasma screen TV I'd ever seen, and a pool table took up one corner. At the far end of the room, there was a state-of-the-art kitchen, and that's where everyone was—about twenty people crowded round one side of the kitchen island, while Alex played bartender on the other. He was standing on a chair, and had a line of shot glasses in front of him.

“Come on, Noble!” someone called.

“Just do it already!”

To the sound of cheers, he picked up a bottle of Sambuca, and poured it back and forth across the shot glasses, filling them to the brim. The catcalls increased as he grabbed a
lighter and ran it across the top of the clear liquid, creating a line of blue flames, like candles on a birthday cake.

He held up his hands, letting everyone admire his handiwork. Then a second later, he grabbed a beer mat, slammed it on top of the first glass to extinguish the flame, and downed the shot.

The group let out a roar of approval, and then they all followed suit. There was a glass for me, but I didn't walk over to join in. I'd never been one for drinking. Seeing my mother's battle with alcohol had made me wary. I never touched spirits, and I was probably one of the few nineteen-year-olds who'd never been drunk.

I'd assumed Alex was too caught up in his guests to notice me. But now he looked over in my direction. He held out one of the shot glasses, but I shook my head, and looked away. I wasn't sure why he was paying me so much attention, but I certainly didn't want to encourage it.

“Oh my God!” Jas squealed. “This party is going to be amazing.” She clutched at my arm. “Thank you so much for this.”

Seeing how happy Jas was, I found it hard to regret coming.

“Hello, ladies.” The male voice was slightly nervous. We looked round and saw a tawny-haired, ruddy-cheeked young man, who'd been with Alex my first night at the club. In chinos, a pink shirt and blue blazer, he looked almost a
parody of a country gent. “You two work at Destination, right?” He stuck out his hand in a slightly formal manner. “I'm Hugh.”

He shook hands with both of us, but his interest was most definitely in Jas—and I didn't blame him. With her jet-black curls and smooth coffee-coloured skin, she was by far the most beautiful girl in the room.

“You're Hugh Forbes, right?” Jas said. “Isn't your dad an MP or something?”

Hugh's ruddy cheeks turned an even brighter shade of red. “He's a minister.”

I searched my mind and suddenly worked out who his dad was—a pompous right-wing ass. It was amusing to think of his son having a crush on a former stripper. I wondered what Daddy would have made of that.

But whatever Daddy would have thought, Hugh was clearly smitten. His eyes were fixed on Jas as he said, “I wondered if perhaps I could, uh, get you a drink?” He sounded a little unsure of himself as he spoke, and I had a feeling he was worried about being rejected.

Luckily Jas looked delighted.

“That sounds lovely,” she said, affecting a fake accent. Then she shot me a worried look. “You don't mind, do you?”

“Not at all. Go.” I made a little shooing sign with my hand. “Have fun.”

I watched them walk off, Jas chatting away to an enamoured Hugh. I was pleased to see things working out for her—at least then it wasn't an entirely wasted night.

There was an ice bucket nearby, with a few bottles of beer upended in it, so I grabbed one, as much for something to do as anything else. Everyone was still crowded around the bar, laughing and talking. But I had no interest in joining in. These weren't my kind of people, and I was sure I'd have nothing to say to them.

I noticed then that the folding glass doors led to a terrace. I headed outside, wanting to be on my own. It was ice-cold and pitch-black, a starless night. I pulled my coat around me, blowing on my hands. My breath looked like white smoke in the freezing early-morning air.

I surveyed the terrace. It was huge, at least forty feet long and fifteen feet wide. It had clearly been designed in keeping with the apartment, and there was a modern, almost Mediterranean feel to it. Blue lights beamed up from the huge white tiles.

I walked over to the Ibiza-style rattan furniture, and curled up on one of the sofas, sinking into the soft cream cushions. It was cold, but somehow peaceful out here, with the sounds of the party behind me.

“Mind if I join you?”

I looked up and wasn't at all surprised to see Alex there. He was carrying an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne
and two flutes. He set it all down on the low table and took the chair opposite me. He popped the cork of the champagne bottle and looked at me expectantly before he poured. I held up my bottle of beer and shook my head.

“I'm fine with this.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I've never known a girl to turn down champagne for beer.” He thought about it for a moment. “You didn't down the shot, either.”

“I don't drink much.” I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted—after all, I'd never had champagne before. But children of alcoholics went one of two ways—either totally irresponsible, or too responsible. Given the choice, I'd rather opt for the latter.

I'd worried that he might try to pressure me further, but he didn't. Instead, he took a swig from the champagne bottle—clearly the glasses had just been for my benefit—and settled back in the chair, regarding me with interest.

“So what brought you to Destination?”

I took a sip of beer, playing for time before answering. Obviously his father hadn't told him the whole story, and I wasn't sure how much of it I wanted to reveal. “What do you mean by that?”

His mouth turned up at the corners, as if to say,
You can't fool me
. “From what I understand, my father hadn't heard from you in years, and then you suddenly turn up out of the blue. And what—you expect me to believe you just decided
one day that it would be nice to get in touch? Please. Give me more credit than that.”

He was right—and also far more observant than I'd imagined.

“I lost my job. I needed another quickly, and so I got in touch with your dad. He'd said once that he'd help me if I ever needed him to, and I decided to take him up on his offer.” I shrugged. “So . . . now you know. That's my story.”

“Not all of it.” His eyes were shrewd. “I'm guessing there's more to it than that.”

I didn't say anything, just sipped my beer.

After a moment, Alex gave a soft laugh. “Fair enough. Keep your secrets.” He settled back in his chair. “But just tell me one thing—what did my big brother say about me today? Did he tell you to stay away from me?”

The question took me by surprise. I thought of trying to be evasive, but I'd already used up all of my moves. “What if he did?” I said.

He grinned. “Then I'd tell you to make up your own mind.”

Fortunately, before the conversation could go any further, Tori, the bitchy blonde I'd come across earlier, stepped outside. I never thought I'd be so relieved to see her again.

“What on earth are you doing out here, darling?” She walked over, pouting at Alex while ignoring me. “It's absolutely freezing! Come back inside and warm me up.”

It was little wonder she felt cold. In that silver sequinned backless dress and matching heels, she wasn't exactly dressed for outside. Her long blonde hair swished around her delicate shoulders as she grabbed Alex's hand and tried to drag him up.

“I'm fine out here for the moment.” He pulled his hand gently away. “But you should go back inside. I'd hate you to catch your death of cold.”

It was said so charmingly that she had no choice but to do as he suggested. But she didn't look too happy about it.

“Fine,” she snapped. “But just to let you know, I'll probably head off soon.”

It was obviously a threat to see if she could get him to follow her in, but Alex appeared unmoved. When he didn't react the way she'd hoped, I watched her flounce back inside.

“I don't think your girlfriend's too keen on you staying out here with me,” I said.

“She's not my girlfriend. We're just friends.”

“Friends who sleep together?” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. The last thing I wanted was for him to think I cared about his love life.

“Something like that.” He waited a beat. “You don't approve?”

I tried to look nonchalant. “It's really none of my business.” I should have left it there, but my curiosity got the
better of me. “I just don't understand why you'd rather sit out here with me, when you could be inside with her.”

“I would've thought it was obvious.” He leaned forward and stared at me intently. “I've never met anyone quite like you before. I find you intriguing.”

I swallowed, hard. It was difficult to know what to say to that. Alex's eyes were so fixed on mine that it was unnerving. I sat back, trying to create a distance between us, and forced a smile in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“And here I was thinking you were just slumming.”

He smiled at that, but his eyes were shrewd as he said, “Oh, I think you know there's far more to it than that. As much as I like Destination, I rarely go there twice in a week. I was only there tonight because I'd met someone who interested me.”

I felt a shiver run through my body. I was beginning to feel out of my depth. I didn't have much experience with the opposite sex—I'd never had the time or the inclination for a boyfriend—and someone like Alexander Noble didn't feel like a good place to start. My life was all about responsibility and staying in control. I didn't want to be with someone who spent their time drinking, taking drugs and sleeping around.

“Look.” I gave a deliberately world-weary sigh. “I don't know what your game is, but let me set you straight right now: I have no interest in being another notch on your
already well-scored bedpost. So whatever you think you're doing here, there's no point. I'm not interested.” Before he could say anything, I swigged down the last of my beer, and stood up. “Anyway, I should see where Jas has got to.”

I'd worried that he might try to stop me, but instead he gave a brief nod.

“Of course.” He grinned. “Although I'm not sure she'll appreciate you interrupting her and Hugh.”

I tried not to show my surprise that he'd noticed them together. Was there nothing he missed?

I jammed my hands into my jeans pockets and headed back inside. It took all my effort not to look round and see if Alex was watching me.

I found Jas on one of the sofas, straddling Hugh. His hands had pushed up her dress and were splayed across her exposed thighs. A group of guys were standing in the corner, watching them and laughing, while a separate group of girls were looking down their noses at Jas. I felt bad for my new friend, being made a spectacle like that.

“Jas!” I called out loudly as I walked over. “Have you got a second?”

Luckily my voice broke her out of what she was doing. She pulled away from a protesting Hugh, her cheeks flushed. I took the opportunity to grab her by the arm and drag her out into the hallway.

“What were you and Alex doing out there?” she giggled
before I could speak. Her eyes looked glassy, and I could tell she was already tipsy.

“Just talking.”

“Yeah, right.” I could see the scepticism on her face. “A likely story.”

Tori was standing just inside the doorway, eavesdropping, a frown on her pretty face. I felt bad then. I might not have liked the girl, but I had no desire to hurt her, either.

“Honestly, it was nothing. He was just being polite.” I hoped that was enough to reassure Tori that I was no threat to her. “Anyway,” I said quickly, changing the subject, “I'm going now. Are you coming with me? I can make up a bed for you in my room.”