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She flips through the papers she holds. “Now, the Filbert family—the east coast, not the west coast—has a son who’s about to take over the family business. He’s in need of a spouse to help soothe the shareholder’s opinion that he’s a bit of a wild child. A child of his own will help with that.”
The sinking sensation in my stomach grows. “Mother?—”
“Or there’s the Wellington’s,” she continues without pause. “Their hotel chain has done quite well, and they’re looking to make connections to expand?—”
“Mother!” I yell to stop her.
She frowns at me. “Really, Warren, there’s no need to raise your voice. I’m right here.”
My heart pounds with panic, but I can’t pretend I’m okay with this anymore. “I’m not going to marry one of those men.”
“You haven’t even looked at them, yet.”
“It doesn’t matter.” I back toward the door. “I’m not going to sell myself to the highest bidder.”
Her eyes narrow on me. “You’ll abandon your family, the same way your father did?”
The words land like arrows in my chest, and I stop next to the door, my hand on the knob. “I’m not cutting ties with you, but I’m also not willing to marry for business. I know that worked for you and that Katheryn is happy with a similar arrangement, but I want more from my future spouse.”
“What, like love?” she scoffs.
“Yes, exactly like that.” For the first time in my life, I pity my mother, because she’s never felt a deep, emotional bond for anyone in her life. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so quick to sell her children’s futures to the highest bidder. “I want to look forward to seeing my husband in the morning and when I come home at night. I want someone I can call when I’m happy or sad, to know that they’ll be there for me.”
“Then take a lover on the side, just like everyone else does. Don’t marry for love.” Her lip curls in disgust. “Love is just passion, and passion fades. A marriage made with business in mind will last because emotions aren’t involved.”
But it hadn’t lasted for her. I don’t point that out, though. Nothing I say will change her mind.
“I’m sorry.” I open the door. “This isn’t me abandoning you and Katheryn; I’ll always be a call away if you need me. But I won’t be marrying anyone to help the family out.”
“Warren, come back here,” she Commands, but the words sweep right over me.
She doesn’t have the power to stop me anymore. Not while my Alpha protects me. And that’s what Roman is right now. My Alpha. For better or worse, I belong to him for as long as his Mark lasts. And I now realize I may not be as opposed to it lasting as I told myself I was.
Softly, I shut the door behind me and walk out of the family home. Whether or not I’ll be welcome back is up in the air, but it won’t be me who stops calling.
Before me, my future stretches murky with uncertainty, but I know one thing for sure. Whatever happens next will be of my choosing, and nothing else matters.
10
On Sunday, I go into work and tell Steve and Mia what’s happening. I should have done that as soon as I received the notice that the shop had been sold, but I was too much in my own head to look at those around me.
They take the news of the eventual closure better than expected, both surprising me when they offer to stay on until after the changeover, even though it leaves their futures as uncertain as mine.
On the drive back to my apartment yesterday, I had realized how I let my family drive me into a corner through fear. Marrying me off for money isn’t the family’s only option. Hell, Mother can marry some rich old Alpha if she wants to keep her position in society.
I just wish I realized that from the beginning.
With my degree in business and five years of experience running my a store, it won’t be hard to find a new job. I’ll likely even make more money without the expense of building up my business. It will suck, but I’m not as locked in as Mother convinced me I was.
For the first time since she dropped the bomb on us, my thoughts are finally clear. I’m no longer in desperate-scramble mode. Steve offered me the use of his spare bedroom while I job hunt, and I swallow my pride, promising to pay him back once I figure things out.
I spend the rest of the night packing up my meager belongings. I have another week before I have to be out, and I want to be ready.
When Monday comes, I feel calm. The new owner will arrive to look over the place and hopefully inform us of when he’ll be closing the doors. If it’s an option, I’d like to stay open through the end of the month to have time to sell the products we have on hand and give everyone time to find new jobs. But if the doors close tonight and don’t open again, we’re all okay with that, too.
Not even Roman strolling in for his morning tea can kill my calm.
I take the cup of sweetened earl grey and his two biscotti over to his table and drop them off with a smile on my face.
