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She blinks a few times, the sleep rapidly clearing from her eyes. “Marcus, I…” She sits up, holding the blanket to her chest. “I think I want to try this. That is, if you’re sure.”
I sit up too, my heartbeat accelerating further. “I am. Very sure.” So sure I just agreed to pay Weston Long three million dollars in exchange for one of his companies purchasing her landlady’s townhouse. Is that what’s prompting this? Did the woman already speak to Emma about ending her lease early?
But no, it’s way too soon. Long said he’d need a couple of days to make an offer.
“Okay then.” Emma takes a breath, causing the blanket to slip and expose a pale breast tipped with a temptingly pink nipple. “It’s a trial run. Officially.”
“Yes, a trial run,” I say thickly, and unable to resist, I shoo the cats off the bed and pull her to me.
* * *
By the next morning, I still don’t know what prompted my kitten to change her mind, but I don’t question my good fortune. Instead, I move swiftly to consolidate my victory. As we sit down to eat breakfast, I ask Emma for the keys to her studio, so Geoffrey can send the movers there today.
“They’ll only take the cat maze, your clothes, and some books,” I tell her when she looks panicked. “It’ll be easy to bring it all back if this trial run doesn’t work out.”
She hesitates, then nods. “All right. I suppose we can do that.”
It takes everything I have not to let my fierce triumph show. “Good, it’s settled then. I’ll ask Geoffrey to make room in my closet for your things.” Not that she has a lot. Hopefully, once we’re married, she’ll let me buy her more.
And we will be married soon.
Now that Emma is living with me, it’ll be that much easier to make her fall in love with me, turning this “trial run” into forever.
Finishing her poached eggs, Emma pours herself a glass of green juice and downs it in a few gulps. She seems to really like it, so I make a mental note to have Geoffrey always prepare it for her at breakfast. I’ll also ask him to pack a lunch for her every day; I have no idea what she eats at work, but I’m sure it’s not nearly as good as the gourmet sandwiches my butler makes for me.
“Oh, almost forgot,” Emma says, patting her lips with a napkin. “Janie called me yesterday. She wants us to meet up with her and Landon this week. Do you think you might be too busy?”
I raise my eyebrows at the strangely worded question. “Do you want me to be too busy?” I do have a ton of work and I’m not a fan of the pushy investment banker, but for Emma, I’m willing to tolerate the guy for one night.
Busy or not, I want to get to know her friends.
Emma’s cheeks turn pink. “Well… kind of. I mean, I want to see Janie, but I think her boyfriend just wants to suck up to you.”
That was obvious to everyone last night. “Right. So?”
She looks taken aback. “So that doesn’t bother you?”
“Why would it?” I pick up my fork. “The whole point of having power and wealth is to be in the position where people want to suck up to you. In the business world, it’s called ‘networking,’ and it’s an essential skill for career advancement.”
Emma pushes her plate aside. “But that’s using people. It’s—”
“It’s human nature, kitten. And not just human.” I know where her views are coming from, so I choose my words carefully. “Observe any social animals, and you’ll see it. The weak curry favor from the strong; the unskilled learn from the skilled. Are they using them? Sure. But is it wrong? I doubt it.”
Emma regards me with a frown. “I don’t understand. Are you saying it’s okay if a woman is with you for your money? Or if someone only wants to be your friend to network with your billionaire boyfriend?”
“Of course not.” I push my own plate aside and cover her hand with mine. “There’s a world of difference between deceiving and emotionally manipulating someone, and knowing that a person may be of help to you. I would never be with a woman who only wants me for the luxuries I can provide—not if I’m looking for a genuine emotional connection with her—but I’m more than happy to provide those luxuries for the woman I love and who loves me back… and it’s totally fine if she enjoys that aspect of our relationship. In fact, I’d want her to.”
Emma’s color heightens, and she looks away, her voice strained as she says, “I see.”
“Kitten, look at me.” I wait until she meets my gaze before continuing. “If you don’t like your friend’s boyfriend, I can be as busy as you need me to be. We don’t have to spend time with anyone you dislike. But I want you to know that if your friends or family do need a favor at some point, I’m here for them, just as I’m here for you. I know you don’t want my money or my connections, but you’ve got them.” I pause, then add gently, “Everything I have is now yours.”
