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They’re all billionaires and considered royalty to the likes of me. That’s even up against my father’s power and influence.
And this is Hunter Le Blanche?
The eldest Le Blanche son who I’ve heard people refer to as the Shark.
Well, he’s not going to eat me.
“I’m not doing this.” I’m sure that’s not what I was expected to say, and I couldn’t sound more rude and unlike myself if I tried. I also know I sound like Layla, but I don’t care. I love Ryan. So how the hell can I marry someone else?
To my surprise Hunter smiles back at me, actually looking like a predator toying with his prey—aka me.
"Looks like you’ll have to discuss this in private with your father.” His smile fades to a hard stare before he looks at Dad. "We’ll catch up once you're done."
“Of course.” Dad gives him a clipped nod.
Hunter walks away. I watch him until he turns the corner, then I look from Dad to Kimberly, who stands. She moves toward me and touches my cheek lovingly.
Kimberly was never seen as a replacement for my mother. No one can replace Mom but Kimberly has done her best to be a mother to me. She’s trying to give me the same motherly warmth now.
"I'm going, too, but I'll be around to talk after if you need me,” she says, giving me that look of understanding I’ve always been grateful for. I just can’t summon any other emotion besides anger right now.
She leaves, closing the door behind her. All that’s left in the room is Dad, me and the ginormous elephant of a problem.
When I shake my head Dad pushes to his feet, towering over me with his height and authority.
“How could you do this to me?” My voice comes out anguished, filled with my pain.
"It's a good opportunity that can't be passed up."
“But I love Ryan, Dad.”
This is the first time I've ever voiced my feelings about Ryan to him, but I’m sure he knew. All you'd need to do is look at me when Ryan is nearby and I'd become an open book. A romance novel telling the tale of every princess who only had eyes for her prince.
Dad lifts his chin and hardens his stare. "Be that as it may, Hunter is the kind of man who can give you the life I want for you. On top of that, he has all the right connections that would enable me to be top of my game in the run for governor."
“Business, Dad? You want me to marry someone I don’t love because of business?” My lips tremble and the bitter metallic taste of disappointment fills my mouth.
“Marrying Hunter Le Blanche makes sense. For him and for me. He's about to become the CEO of Le Blanche Global. Your union would be mutually beneficial on all sides. Unfortunately, Ryan doesn't come from a family like Hunter’s.”
Meaning unimaginable wealth. I can’t even argue with him, because Ryan's family owns a farm. You can’t compare a farm to a global multi-billion empire.
"We've all had to do things we don’t want to do for the greater good,” Dad continues. “In this family, for us to be as successful as we are, duty must always come first."
“What about Layla? She never thinks about duty.”
“Layla has made her choice.” He clenches his jaw and disappointment reflects in his eyes.
“But I’ve been so good, and this is what you do to me? My life has just begun, Dad. I’ve been counting down the days for Ryan to return."
He maintains that hard stare, and I hate it. “This is the way it has to be. You are a Bianchi. You come from a family where there are expectations. As the head of the family, I’ve worked incredibly hard to get where I am today. I’ve had to make sacrifices too to meet those expectations. You know this.”
I’m compelled to nod, because I do know how hard he’s worked.
Dad is the first in our family to achieve so much and become part of the US government. He’s achieved goals and dreams that my grandfather died chasing.
I also know he’s including Mom’s death in that statement about sacrifice. We come from a family with deep roots in old Italian traditions and laws regarding the transfer of wealth and inheritance.
Dad was a mess after we lost Mom, but when my grandfather demanded he remarry because it was required to keep our business going, he did it. He married Kimberly a year later in an arranged marriage.
