AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No,” I say, staring back at her. “I didn’t lie to you about not wanting a physical relationship with you so that you’d say yes.”
“Ah.” She laughs. “So we’re back to denial. Got it. It’s getting late.”
“I said that to convince myself, not to convince you. Because I know that if I’m able to convince myself that I don’t want to tear that dress from your body and fold you in half while I’m buried fully inside you for eight hours straight… it’ll make this marriage a helluva lot fucking easier.”
She blinks a few times and while I know I shouldn’t have said it, I think it might have had the desired effect because when she replies, it’s not at all what I’m expecting.
“So, should I sign the contract now or…?”
I shake my head, standing and reaching a hand out toward her to help her off the stair. “Let’s have dinner here tomorrow night. We’ll discuss everything in more detail. I’ll have Mac, my other driver, pick you up at your apartment at six.”
“Sounds good.” She smiles up at me as our fingers stay tangled together once she stands. It’s like we’re waiting for the other person to say something. “Would it be weird if I stayed in your guest room tonight?”
I open my mouth to answer her when a thought occurs to me. “How did you get past the gate earlier?”
She shrugs. “It was open.”
“Interesting.” I make a mental note to ask Oliver about that tomorrow, very unlike him.
“So.” She claps her hands at her sides. “Can I stay or…?”
“In that dress?” I say, looking over at her, “not a chance in fucking hell.”
“Well, you’re in luck,” she says, reaching behind her back, “because I don’t have anything to sleep in so the dress won’t be an issue.” It’s only now as she begins to struggle, I realize her fingers are searching for the pull of her zipper. I take a quick step toward her, grabbing her hand and tugging her against me, stilling her movements.
I stare at her again, a hunger in my eyes I know is obvious. Her lips are parted, her laugh from just seconds ago now silent as her eyes drop down to watch my teeth run over my bottom lip. “While I realize that you get some thrill from teasing me about what I said before, I suggest you get it out of your system now or I will make damn sure it’s out of your system before you sign that contract.”
“Or what?” She narrows her eyes at me and I realize this is going to be much harder than I realized.
“Or the deal is off. My way”—I wink at her—“no highway option with this opportunity.”
I stare out my office window, waiting for Oliver to pick up on the other end of the phone.
“Good morning, sir,” Oliver says. “Did you forget something?” Considering I’ve only been out of the house the last two hours, it’s a genuine concern.
“I didn’t. I wanted to tell you not to worry about things with my trust and marriage. I’ve got a plan in place.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, a woman named Stella Porter will be joining us for dinner. I was hoping you’d have Mac swing by and pick her up at her place at six.”
“As you wish, sir. And should he bring anything with him? Flowers? Wine?”
“No,” I say curtly, not wanting him or her to get the wrong idea. “It’s a business deal, Oliver, not a date. I guess daddy dearest never planned for me to just offer a woman a marriage contract to bypass his stupid clause. By the way, did you leave the gate open last night?”
“No, sir. I believe Mac went out after me. I’ll check with him.”
“Thanks.”
I’m sure he’s confused when I hang up, but I plan to explain things to him later. Right now, I focus on convincing myself that Stella is far better off marrying me than working at that hole-in-the-wall club. And after our deal is over, she’ll be set for life if she invests wisely. I have no doubt a woman like her already has a plan.
I laugh to myself, imagining my dad’s face scrunched in anger at the thought that I was able to game the system. But just as quickly, the sweet taste of victory turns bitter. A small pit forms in my stomach, a scowl furrowing my brow. I had thought I’d be marrying Eleanor until she made the decision for me when she left me. I glance at my phone at the thought of her, half expecting to see a missed call from her or a text but there’s nothing. When she stormed out of my house that night for the last time, I made a promise to her and myself.
“I won’t chase you, El. If you don’t love me, then there’s no point.”
“I know that, Atlas. That’s one of the reasons I’m leaving. Nothing, not even me, will ever be as important to you as your job.”
I stare at her, my brain telling me to say ‘you know that isn’t true,’ but it is. Even if I wanted to argue with my own damn heart about it, I’ve shown more attention to Knight Enterprises than I ever have to Eleanor. Her icy-blue eyes narrow and she purses her lips.
