“Hello, everyone!” Carl shouted. “I’m here in Seattle with Jan Fisher, Laney’s father, to finalize the acquisition of Meráki Fashion."
“What?” Laney mewled. “Wait—no.”
“Dad,” I called. “Please, don’t do this?—”
“I’m so pleased to collaborate with Blackguard to ensure my late wife’s legacy,” Jan was saying. “Toni would be thrilled toknow work will live on without any more sacrifice from Laney. Thank you, Mr. Black, and especially to Owen Black for making this happen.”
Owen. Owen?
There was no altruism in this move. Otherwise, we would have been consulted about it. Buying Meráki was about securing Laney’s fidelity to this family. I knew my father, and from this moment on, Meráki would be a tool for manipulation—if Laney did as he wanted, the company would thrive. If not, he’d let it wither on the vine.
And by arranging for it, Owen had positioned himself in our father’s eyes as a rival for the seat. Someone who was still willing to fight dirty to win, whether it was in a backyard or at a wedding reception. He would be as ruthless as it took.
The question was… was I?
Jan bent to sign the papers, and a tiny, nearly incoherent moan slipped out of Laney’s mouth, and not the kind I was so fond of.
I turned to where Owen was now standing beside our father, his glass raised. I glared. He grinned.
“You fucking snake—” I started.
But the microphone was his now.
“Congratulations, little brother,” he said. “It’s all done now. You got the girl. Secured her allegiance. Proved you’re CEO material.” He turned toward the guests, many of whom were board members eager for more. “I think we can all agree that Ronan will always do what it takes for this company. Won’t you?”
I had never wanted to kill anyone more.
Then Laney’s hand pulled from mine, and my attention was right back where it belonged.
“Laney,” I tried to take her hand back, but she wouldn’t let me.
“Don’t.”
Already, Megan was making her way through the party, which had thankfully finished its applause and was back to a general din.
I didn’t have much time.
“Laney, please,” I tried again. “I didn’t know?—”
“Is that why you wanted to stay married?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “For this? For the company?”
“What? No, of course not. I—come on, Meráki is a pittance compared to my family’s holdings. For my father, buying it’s like buying a bag of apples. It means nothing to him or the board.”
“Nothing.” Her eyes were full of tears now. “What about the board, though? Owen said something about our marriage and your—and the position as CEO.” When her eyes met mine, I honestly thought my chest was going to crack open. “Tell me the truth, Ronan. Did you want to stay married so you could be CEO?”
“Laney?” Megan had reached her. “Laney, are you okay? Do you want to go?”
Laney ignored her, still watching me. “Answer me.”
Instinct warred within me. It would be so easy to lie. I could blame it on my father and Owen, tell her that was their jaded view of things and that it had only been about love for me, just like it was now.
But she was asking for honesty. And I found that in just a few weeks, something really had changed in me.
Honesty, she’d asked for.
Honesty was all I could give her.
“It was part of it,” I admitted. “The board is full of old conservatives. Liza told me that being married was a good idea before they voted to confirm me as CEO. But Laney, it’s not the only reason?—”
