I felt Penn's eyes sweep over me for the twentieth time as he helped me out of the limousine later. My cheeks were hot from the glances he'd given me in the car. Xavier and Alice were happily whispering and shooting us knowing looks. My gut twisted as I thought about how disappointed they would be when they found out it was all a lie.
"I'll save you all the formal introductions," Penn said. "Just look around and enjoy yourself. I'll get us some drinks."
He left me standing in the arched doorway to the ballroom, and I was glad the dress I chose fit to perfection. It didn't matter that I was now alone or that I was the only woman not sporting blinding amounts of jewelry. I smiled back at the heads that turned my way smiled. I knew how to handle a crowd like the one at the country club. Joshua had taught me well.
Still, I found myself drifting away from possible conversations. I slowly and casually made my way to the open patio doors. The party spilled out into the night and some guests were even strolling through the darkened gardens.
"You read my mind," Penn grumbled. He appeared at my elbow and handed me a crystal flute of champagne. "Did you write my name on any silent auction items?"
"No, but I should have," I said.
Penn chuckled at my prickly tone. "You'd do that to the penniless black sheep?"
"Oh, is that who I'm with?" I asked, keeping a pleasant smile in place. "I could have sworn you were my perfect and perfectly fake fiancé. Thanks for the drink."
"Now what are you mad about?" He sipped his champagne without batting an eye and surveyed the room. A half dozen faces nodded to him.
I studied him. "You seem to know a lot of people here. How long ago did you cut yourself off from your father?"
"Not soon enough," he muttered. "I can't believe they are getting married."
I watched Xavier and Alice strolling arm in arm and felt a twist of jealousy in my chest. They deserved their happiness, while I was faking mine. It was becoming more than I could bear.
"Now that your mother is feeling better and they have a wedding of their own to plan, don't you think we could tell the truth?"
Penn shook his head. "Not yet. It'd look bad."
I wondered if he meant he would look bad, but his friends joined us and saved me from my dismal thoughts. Phillip, determined to be happily single, brought another round of champagne while Bill and Tamara stood smiling at each other.
"I know, right? They're disgusting. Happy couples are so strange to me," Phillip said.
"That doesn't mean you're giving up on being part of a happy couple, does it?" I asked.
"No, I'm not going in for the Penn Templeton everyone-for-themselves outlook on life." Phillip laughed and took another sip of champagne. "Oops, I mean… Are you having a good time?"
Phillip's slip-up nagged at me, and I couldn't keep up the polite conversation. "No. I'd never thought I'd prefer some back country camping site, but this just seems so forced."
I didn't know Penn had been listening to our banter until he leaned over my shoulder. "It's not so bad. Phillip can teach you all his fun society games, like test-the-hair-extensions and spot the Botox injection site."
I turned to Penn. "Is your last name still Templeton?"
Alicia appeared at Penn's elbow and slipped an elegant hand through his arm. "You don't know your fiancé's last name?"
"Stay out of this, Alicia," Penn warned.
"Out of what?" Alicia tossed her glossy hair. "It's ridiculous for her to pretend she doesn't know you're Penn Templeton, owner and CEO of the largest and most successful outdoor sporting goods retailer. His biggest success is in research and development."
The willowy heiress winked at me as if the whole subject was incredibly boring and old news. I struggled to return her nonchalance, but my stomach took a sick dive. I handed Phillip my glass of champagne and staggered backwards out of our conversation.
"Oh, darling, that dress is fantastic, but you don't look so good," Phillip said.
Alicia tittered. "What an actress! I am impressed. As if you don't know every dime of his multi-billion dollar fortune. Penn's only been all over the headlines since his company made the Forbes list."
My mind ground in tight circles. I had been in Monterey with Penn and had completely left off keeping up with headlines. My whole summer had been Penn, the mansion that I now realized he had bought himself, and those visits out to Pinnacles. I clung to the tattered memories of our nights around the campfire there, but they burned away under my fierce blush.
"Am I just some joke to you?" I asked Penn. "Is that why you've been making such a big deal out of me liking nice things? You can have anything, custom-made or designer, so you think it's childish of someone to actually want something?"
Penn's mouth was a stern, suspicious line. "Frankly, I'm surprised it took you this long to find out. I don't mean to brag, but Alicia was right, my name has been making headlines."
"I wasn't paying attention to headlines. I was helping you through a family crisis, or was all that just a big joke, too?"
My voice was getting too loud. I spun and headed out the patio door. "Don't follow me. I just need some air."
I heard Alicia's silken voice as I retreated. "I knew you two weren't really engaged. Honestly, Penn, she's not your type at all. I can't believe your parents ever fell for it."
"They fooled me," Phillip said.
I sucked in my breath and refused to cry. I couldn't let Penn and his friends get any more entertainment out of the poor girl from South Dakota.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Penn - 18
I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my hand, but I had to admit that I was relieved. Now Corsica knew who I really was, not the penniless black sheep of my family. Except now she saw me as a liar, instead of a self-made man.
"She really didn't know who you are?" Alicia tittered again, as if it was the most unbelievable thing. "I thought all gold-diggers went straight for the ego, but it seems your country girl was taking a different route."
"I never told her my last name. It never came up," I said.
"And not much of a conversationalist, either. Poor Penn," Alicia purred.
I shook her off. "You couldn't wait to tell her, could you? You knew and you waited until it would be a big scene."
Alicia smoothed back her hair and surveyed the room. Half a dozen men smiled, nodded, and beckoned to her. "I couldn't let her get her claws any deeper into you. Now you're free to pursue other things. Or people."
"You're right," I snapped, stepping around Alicia to follow Corsica. "I'm free of a silly lie and now Corsica can get to know the real me."
All I heard from Alicia was a sharp intake of breath. I was sure she had never expected the conversation to end that way. Alicia had preened and posed, sure I was going to shower her with thanks and love. It made my stomach turn.
Still, she had a point. It was freeing now that the truth was out. Now Corsica knew I was a billionaire, not that it mattered much. She wasn't going to see any great change in me. I just had to make certain I didn't see a change in her.