Page 46 of Temporary Vows

I have no feelings toward him at the moment. Good or bad. But I suppose his approval is worth something. It may even cushion the blow of my fight with Parker.

Or… this could be a way to keep us apart. Dad knows I’m still raging, and he doesn’t want me to snap.

Yesterday at the office was tense, and Parker kept looking at me like I was shit on the bottom of his shoes. In my younger days, I would have kicked his ass just for that.

Knox walks up to me and plants a firm hand on my shoulder. “What’s the worst thing that could happen, bro?”

“Exactly.” Levi waves the clipboard. “Thebestthing is that you actually find someone you like. If I were you, with the whole Parker situation, I’d want to get a move on it.”

I glare at him.

He’s not wrong. And this—thiswhole thing, and Knox being here—tells me they’re worried. About me. About my standing at the company.

Our father is a no-bullshit man. He’s always been clear from the get-go that when it comes to Vale Global, there are no exceptions. That includes us.

He may have brought Parker in as a scare tactic, but he’s serious as fuck about giving him the COO role over me.

That aside… I should get a move on finding a wife for other reasons.

Elodie Harper is still living rent-free in my head.

I don’t want her there.

Her with her kiss and her scent and her big doe eyes.

Finding a wife sooner rather than later is one way to fix that problem.

“Alright.” I nod once. “Let’s get this over with.”

Chapter 11

Elodie

Ihate coming here.

The street outside Marcus’ building is all cracked pavement, overflowing trash cans, and the sickly buzz of a dying neon sign across the road. It’s the kind of neighborhood people with choices don’t wander into after dark.

It’s barely seven but late enough to be wary.

The building itself looks decent with fresh paint, a clean glass door, and a polished brass plaque that just saysBellview Offices.

It looks like this is where you come to talk about tax returns and contracts, not debts that can get you killed. If you didn’t know better, you might think it was harmless.

But everyone with half a brain in this part of town knows better.

And if you don’t, the two bouncer-looking guys in black suits flanking the main door are a dead giveaway.

They know I’m here to see Marcus, so they let me through without question. I don’t even need to say anything.

I go through the door and climb the narrow stairwell, my heart pounding harder with every step. The overhead lights flicker, humming like they’re as nervous as I am.

Marcus—that asshole—never got back to me.

No message. No call. Nothing.

It’s scary enough to come here, but his silence made it so much harder. Skylar wanted to come with me, but I didn’t want them to see her face.

It was probably stupid. I knew I was being watched, and I’ve been at her apartment for the last few days. They would have definitely seen her.