Page 1 of Perfect Liar

PART ONE

Whatever our souls are made of,

his and mine are the same —

EMILY BRONTE

PROLOGUE

WILL

CONNECTICUT, US

For seven years, I had watched her like a depraved stalker. Watching her, wanting her, walking away only to give in and seek her out once more.

But this time, I didn’t plan to walk away again.

The sun continued moving west, and I adjusted my position to stay in the building’s shadow. Beads of sweat ran down the sides of my face and soaked my back.

Ellie James propped open the art studio’s back door and dragged her easel and a metal stool closer. She swept her paintbrush over the canvas, her wrist creating a graceful rhythm while the faint scent of lavender floated out into the alleyway.

She’s beautiful. Mine.

My brother jogged up the backstreet and stopped beside me.

“What do you want, Ethan?” I asked.

“I told you to stay away from her. But you can’t ever fucking listen.”

He stared inside the studio at her.

“Look how she holds her head at an angle, so she can move her eyes this way…she knows you’re here. Christ, you’re probably scaring her.”

And because he didn’t get a response from me, he went on.

“What’s worse, it’s not only you now, because you brought John along and let him get caught up in your obsession. And you haven’t even approached her. Seems like you’re rather content with just following the girl. No, I don’t think so, brother…not anymore…it’s time for you to cut the shit and get over this compulsive behavior.”

A stray retriever mix came out from behind a rubbish bin. He sat down at my feet and leaned his slight weight against my leg. I scratched his head.

“Keep your psychoanalytical bullshit to yourself, Ethan. Why are you here anyway? There’s no role for you on my mergers integration team. Go back to London. Meet with your sources and find me another deal in Manhattan.”

We had co-founded a widely successful private equity firm, which gave me an opening to come to the US when I wanted.

My brother straightened his back, narrowed his eyes.

“We’re all going back on the flight set for tomorrow evening. I want you and our little brother on that plane by nine.”

I jerked my head to loosen a joint in my neck.

“We won’t be there. You go ahead and leave tonight.”

The dog barked for more attention.

Ellie spun round on her stool and stared in my direction.

I put out my arm and pushed Ethan back, forcing him out of her line of vision. I stepped into the light, wanting her to see me, desperate for her to make eye contact with me.

But right then someone inside called out her name. She startled, and her gaze jumped to the front of the room before connecting with mine.