Chapter 4 Web of Lies

# Chapter 4: Web of Lies

The rest of the reception passed in a blur of forced smiles and barely concealed panic. I danced with elderly uncles, clinked glasses with college friends, and cut the five-tier wedding cake—all while feeling Gideon's eyes tracking my every movement. The threat on my phone seemed to pulse in my clutch like a living thing.

"You're awfully quiet," Gideon remarked as we swayed to another slow song, his hand resting possessively on the small of my back. "Second thoughts already?"

I forced a smile. "Just overwhelmed. It's been a long day."

His fingers tightened almost imperceptibly. "Indeed. Full of... surprises."

Over his shoulder, I caught sight of Cameron watching us, his thin lips curved in what might have been a smile. When our eyes met, he raised his champagne glass in a silent toast.

"Cameron seems pleased with himself," I murmured.

Gideon's jaw tightened. "Cameron is useful, but he sometimes overestimates his importance."

The tension between them was interesting—a potential weakness I could exploit. I filed the observation away for later.

"I need to use the restroom," I said as the song ended.

Gideon's hand lingered on my arm. "Don't wander off again, darling. People will talk."

The warning in his voice was unmistakable.

In the elegant bathroom, I locked myself in a stall and finally allowed myself to shake, pressing my hands against the cool marble wall to steady myself. The threatening text glared up at me from my phone screen. Where was Talia? I hadn't seen her since our meeting in the corridor.

A soft knock on the stall door made me jump.

"Maren? It's me."

Relief flooded through me as I opened the door to find Talia, back in her bridesmaid dress, her expression tense.

"They got to Alex," she whispered, checking under the other stalls to ensure we were alone. "Security escorted him out. Cameron's people, not the hotel staff."

"He said Emmett had proof hidden in his apartment," I replied, keeping my voice low. "But he was cut off before he could tell me where."

Talia cursed under her breath. "We need to get back there, search more thoroughly."

"I can't exactly disappear from my own wedding reception," I said, gesturing at my elaborate gown.

"No, but you can disappear from your honeymoon." She pulled a folded piece of paper from her clutch. "Your flight to Paris leaves at 11 PM. That gives us a narrow window after the reception ends."

I stared at her. "You want me to ditch Gideon at the airport?"

"I want you to stay alive," she said bluntly. "He knows you're suspicious. The honeymoon might be when he decides to arrange another 'accident'."

The thought sent ice through my veins. Would Gideon really harm me? The cold calculation in his eyes when he'd gripped my wrist that morning suggested he might.

"There you are!" The bathroom door swung open to reveal my mother, slightly tipsy from champagne. "Everyone's looking for you! It's almost time for the send-off!"

Talia and I exchanged a quick glance before plastering on smiles.

"Coming, Mom," I said. "Just helping me with my dress."

As we followed my mother back to the reception, Talia whispered, "Text me when you reach the airport. I'll have a plan."

---

The traditional send-off was a flutter of rose petals and cheering guests as Gideon and I ran to the waiting limousine. Camera flashes popped around us, capturing what appeared to be a perfect fairy tale ending.

Inside the privacy of the limo, Gideon immediately poured two glasses of champagne, handing one to me.

"To us," he said, his eyes never leaving mine. "And to our future... partnerships."

I clinked my glass against his, taking the smallest sip possible. I needed to keep my wits about me.

"You've been distracted all evening," he remarked, loosening his bow tie. "Care to share what's on your mind?"

I chose my words carefully. "I'm just processing everything. It's been an emotional few weeks, with Emmett and then the wedding..."

At the mention of my brother, something flickered in Gideon's eyes. "Yes, Emmett's absence was felt today. He would have been quite the protective brother-in-law." His tone was light, but there was an edge to it. "Always looking out for your interests."

"That's who he was," I said, studying Gideon's face. "Protective. Thorough. Especially when something didn't add up."

Gideon's smile didn't waver, but his posture stiffened slightly. "Business rarely adds up perfectly. That's why we have accountants." He reached for my hand, his thumb caressing my new wedding band. "But tonight isn't about business, is it? It's about beginning our life together."

His fingers entwined with mine, a gesture that once would have made my heart race with affection. Now it felt like a python slowly constricting its prey.

"Of course," I murmured. "I can't wait for Paris."

---

The airport was crowded despite the late hour, travelers rushing to catch red-eye flights. We breezed through the priority check-in and security, Gideon's hand firmly on my lower back, guiding me.

"I'll get us some coffee while we wait," he said once we reached the first-class lounge. "Espresso?"

I nodded, watching as he walked to the bar. The moment he turned his back, I pulled out my phone to text Talia: "At the airport. Boarding in 40 minutes."

Her response came immediately: "Bathroom. Second floor. Now."

I glanced at Gideon, still chatting with the bartender. "Need to freshen up," I said, touching his arm as I passed. "Back in five."

His eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded. "Don't miss our flight, Mrs. Blackwood."

The second-floor bathroom was nearly empty at this hour. I pushed through the door to find Talia waiting, dressed in jeans and a dark jacket—nothing like the elegant bridesmaid I'd last seen.

"I found something," she said without preamble, pulling out her phone. "A photo from Emmett's cloud backup. Look at the metadata—it was taken the day before his accident."

The image showed a spreadsheet on a computer screen, columns of numbers and transaction codes. At the top was the Blackwood Tech logo.

"What am I looking at?" I asked.

"Financial transfers disguised as routine business transactions. But look at the recipient codes." She zoomed in on a column. "These match known shell companies associated with foreign intelligence operations."

My blood ran cold. "You think Gideon is selling information?"

"I think Blackwood Tech is a sophisticated front for espionage, and the merger with your company would give them access to even more sensitive government systems." She grabbed my shoulders. "Maren, you can't get on that plane. Once you're out of the country, away from witnesses..."

The bathroom door swung open, and we both jumped. A tired-looking woman with a young child entered, paying us no mind as they went into a stall.

"I need to go back," I whispered. "He'll come looking for me."

Talia pressed something into my hand—a small thumb drive. "Everything I've found so far is on here. Keep it safe." She hesitated. "There's more. I think Cameron is playing his own game. He's been meeting with competitors, making side deals. Gideon might not even know."

The information spun in my head. "How do you know all this?"

"I've been digging since Emmett died. I didn't tell you everything because I wasn't sure..." She looked away. "Because I knew how much you loved Gideon."

The past tense wasn't lost on me. Had I ever really known the man I married hours earlier?

"What do I do now?" I asked.

"Get through tonight. Act normal. When you reach Paris, claim exhaustion and stay in the hotel while I keep investigating here." She squeezed my hand. "And Maren? Be careful. These people killed Emmett without hesitation."

As I turned to leave, Talia grabbed my arm one last time. "Wait. There's something else. I found wedding photos already circulating online—professional shots from your photographer's cloud account. They're being shared in financial circles with some interesting commentary."

She showed me her phone—images of Gideon and me exchanging vows, cutting the cake, our first dance. The captions beneath made my stomach turn: "Blackwood secures Reed assets" and "Power merger complete."

"They're not even pretending it's about love," Talia said softly.

I stared at the photos, seeing myself through new eyes—not a bride but a business acquisition. My throat tightened with rage and grief.

"I have to go," I said, tucking the thumb drive securely into my bra. "He'll be suspicious."

Talia hugged me briefly. "Remember—you're Maren Reed. You built a cybersecurity empire from nothing. You're smarter than him."

I nodded, straightening my shoulders. "Reed-Blackwood," I corrected with grim humor. "I apparently sold my company along with my soul today."

---

When I returned to the lounge, Gideon was on his phone, his expression dark. He ended the call abruptly when he saw me.

"Everything all right?" I asked, sliding into the seat beside him.

"Minor business issue," he replied, pushing an espresso toward me. "Nothing that can't wait until we return."

I sipped the bitter coffee, studying him over the rim. "On our wedding night? Must be important."

His smile didn't reach his eyes. "Everything I do is important, Maren. That's how I've built my empire." He leaned closer, his voice dropping. "And now, with you by my side, that empire will be untouchable."

Our flight was called for boarding. As we stood, Gideon's phone buzzed again. He glanced at it, his expression hardening momentarily before he slipped it into his pocket.

"Cameron again?" I asked casually.

Gideon's eyes narrowed. "You seem very interested in my CFO today."

I shrugged, adjusting my carry-on bag. "Just curious about who's important enough to interrupt our wedding night."

As we walked to the gate, Gideon's hand settled possessively on my lower back. "Cameron is valuable but expendable," he said quietly. "Everyone is, when they outlive their usefulness."

The threat was thinly veiled, and a chill ran down my spine. As we handed our boarding passes to the gate agent, my phone vibrated with a text. I checked it discreetly.

From an unknown number: "Wedding photos now trending in financial circles. Gideon's mask slipping. Be careful, Mrs. Blackwood."

Attached was a photo of us at the altar—me in my white gown, Gideon beside me. But what caught my eye was Cameron in the background, his expression not one of celebration but calculation as he looked at Gideon.

I showed my phone to Gideon as we walked down the jetway. "Look at this—our photos are already online."

He took the phone, his expression darkening as he noticed Cameron in the background. Without warning, he stopped walking and deleted the photo, then handed the phone back to me.

"Some moments are best kept private," he said smoothly. "Don't you agree, Mrs. Blackwood?"

As we settled into our first-class seats, I gazed out the window at the twinkling lights of Boston below. Somewhere down there was my brother's apartment with the evidence that could expose everything. Somewhere was Talia, risking her safety to uncover the truth.

And here I was, flying to Paris with the man who had orchestrated it all—a man whose web of lies was beginning to unravel, thread by dangerous thread.

As the plane accelerated down the runway, Gideon took my hand, his grip firm and possessive. "To new beginnings," he said, raising his champagne glass.

I smiled and clinked my glass against his. "And to the truth," I added quietly. "Wherever it leads us."

His eyes flickered with something—surprise, perhaps, or wariness—before his practiced charm reasserted itself. "Indeed," he agreed. "The truth always comes to light eventually."

On that point, at least, we were in perfect agreement.