Deception's Game (The Misses Book 2)

Reality Check

Grayson sat in his personal salon getting his hair dyed. If he was going to make his debut, he needed to look more like his father. He wasn’t going to wear contacts to hide his shimmering green eyes, but he was going to dye his hair dark brown to cover the dirty blonde.

Most people did not know that him and Luke were related. They just assumed they were because of how much they looked alike. On top of that, Felix and Luke used the last name Coveet, which was their grandmother’s maiden name. Her parents removed her from the family tree after she became pregnant at thirteen, so the moment she could scrub that name from existence she did. Felix was the only person, until Luke came along, to go by that name.

This was a gift to the Lucias empire. The road Felix was on could easily be separated from the main wing of the family. Grayson was sure that was why there weren’t more serious consequences for him working with the mafia.

Tonight he was finally going to be able to say that she belonged to him. He would finally be able to stand by her side. There would be some questions regarding his whereabouts while Reeza ran wild but he wouldn’t be answering them. It’s not uncommon to be indisposed but he was ready now. Even his father didn’t know her name and he had never met her. So there could possibly be some fainting, maybe some yelling afterward, but he was prepared.

When he sat in the chair looking into the mirror, his father's face looking back at him, he smiled at the smile that he had been unable to conceal throughout the day. His father thought that he was only going to announce his takeover of the Lucias hotel chain, but he was in for a shock. Grayson quietly chuckled. The barber faded his hair to keep him looking young. He didn’t want to look exactly like his father.

Grayson smirked at his reflection as the barber finished cleaning off the hair clippings. He stood up and popped the collar of his button-down shirt. He had known he looked that good as a brunette, he would’ve dyed his hair long ago.

He requested Reeza to meet at the venue and to make sure she stayed tucked away. He didn’t want the press finding out about the surprise beforehand.

——

After Reeza took Luke’s phone call, she stood confused. He had asked her to take Beck as her assistant instead of the most senior administrator. Though it was not in the plans, she didn’t hesitate to make the arrangements. Dialing feverishly, she called Beck. There was no time to waste. She needed to get to the office as soon as possible. Beck reacted to her command just like she reacted to Luke’s sudden request. Her current assistant had already shown up. She directed Patty to give Beck the rundown on what was needed during the press conference as soon as she arrived, under the guise that they needed to make sure at least a few people were cross-trained.

But if she was honest with herself, she didn’t have the slightest idea what Luke was up to. Today was the day that two moguls would announce their planned merger. She was prepared to give Grayson anything he asked of her, even if it meant not tasting Lana’s lips again.

Within a short period of time, Beck was stepping out of the elevator. Her dark pen skirt with black ruffled blouse explained easily why Lana was attracted to her. Her style was elegant but her fashion sense was a little different than most in Lagos. Patty sat in the conference going over what her purpose was or why she was needed there. Beck nodded and took notes.

Reeza stared out of her office window. She hadn't imagined this day would come so soon but it was here and she could embrace it. Once Patty finished, Beck gathered her documents and laptop bag. Before she could stand up, her phone rung. Reeza could tell it was Lana by the change in Beck's demeanor. She walked off into the waiting room and briefly talked to her there.

Reeza walked out and said, "Let's get this show on the road!" Beck said her goodbyes and then grabbed her stuff and stepped into the elevator behind Reeza's body guards.

Once they arrived, they entered from the back of the venue. Beck couldn't help but wonder what this was about. She was only instructed to make sure Reeza looked her best from her teeth to feet. The walk in was intense. Reeza seemed nervous, which in turn made her clutch her bag. They stood off to the side behind some curtains. The sound of cameras flashing and people chatting created a loud inaudible buzzing noise.

Then they heard a man's voice speak into the mic.

"Good Morning, Thank you for joining me during the momentous occasion. For those who do not know who I am, I am Grayson Lucias the 3rd, heir to the Lucias Hotel chain and assorted venues. Today has been in the works for a long time. Not only have I worked hard to make sure I did not disappoint my father. I have also worked to make sure my goal to become a renowned physicist came to fruition. Now that those oats have been sown, I am ready to step into the shoes my father has so eloquently passed down to me as the new CEO of Lucias Enterprises."

The crowd clapped and people started to ask questions.

"Hold your questions because I have one more piece of exciting news." he paused. Beck started to wonder if there was some secret business deal that was going on between Hindrick and Lucias Enterprizes.

" First I want to say. This has been a long time coming. I would like to announce in front of the world my engagement to none other than Reeza Hindrick."

The side curtain opened where Reeza and Beck stood waiting for their cue. The words Beck heard the man speak left her speechless. The woman who played with Lana's heart had already been in a long-term relationship. She followed Reeza for a few steps but remained standing near the back of the stage. Everyone of the reporters were completely silent, which said a lot. Then the cameras started to flash. The clapping and welcoming standing ovation roared through the room.

----

Luke watched the press conference while having dinner with his father. He needed to see if his cousin would react to Beck's presence. When Reeza walked out, his father choked and spit up his coffee. This was a secret he and Grayson worked hard to keep. Luke could only imagine Grayson's father was having a heartache at the thought that he belittled the unknown girlfriend.

"Your cousin caught a....big....fish." Felix slowly said. Then he stood and walked closer to the television. "Beck?" he whispered.

Luke watched his father's face. He looked like he had finally found the love of his life.

While he was testing Grayson's heart, he may have inadvertently challenged his father's resolve to stay out of Beck's life. He didn't know much about their relationship. Only that he occasionally worked with her at the b**m club ages ago.

"Is she special to you?" Luke asked his father.

"special? Hmm..Life only presents you with the trials you are worthy of. And son, I am not worthy." sadness replaced his excitement as he ran his finger across the television where Beck stood. He returned to his seat and continued to eat as if he had not just shown his son a face he had never shown before.

Then his father smiled and whispered, "I see she was able to get a job with Hindrick Enterprises. Good for her." He smiled, then started to eat his salad.

Luke took a deep breath, the pieces were falling into place. His father was the reason Reeza couldn't fire Beck.

----

Lana watched the press conference, still wondering why Reeza interrupted her dinner plans with Beck. When the young man introduced Reeza as his fiancé and long-term girlfriend, Lana just about fell out of her bed. As her body toggled on the edge, her heart beat rapidly. The past several months or so that she had spent with Reeza really were really just a game. She had no intention of fully embracing their relationship. Watching her holding his hand and taking questions from the press felt like the day after Levi's funeral, when everyone fawned over her.

Reeza looked genuinely happy. The pain in Lana's chest did not waver. Even though Beck stood but a few feet from Reeza, Lana could not take her eyes off of Reeza's lips. Tears ran down her face. She wished she could say they were tears of joy. But they were filled with anger, distrust, deceit. She thought about hopping in her car and meeting Reeza in front of her house. Confronting her. She needed to know the truth.

"But do I really?" she whispered to herself. Other than the fact that she was pregnant, there were only a couple of weeks left before she could get her DNA test.