Something flickers in her eyes. Surprise… and something else. Something I can’t quite name.
“That’s not a very strategic answer,” she says.
“Not everything has to be strategic.”
“In my experience, everything is strategic. Especially with the Molloy family.”
“I’m not my father,” I say, my voice sharpening like a blade at the mere mention of him.
“You keep saying that. But I’ve only known you for a week. Hours, really. Words are easy. Anyone can say them.”
“Then watch what I do. That’s all I’m asking.”
She doesn’t respond. Just studies me with those penetrating eyes.
Fair enough. I wouldn’t believe me either, if I were in her position.
“What happened?” I ask. “To make you so suspicious?”
She holds my gaze then turns back to the window. “Life. My dad’s world. This world. The things I’ve seen people do to each other in the name of power, money, and family. Trust is a liability. I learned that a long time ago.”
“And your father? You trusted him.”
Her jaw tightens. “I thought I did. Then I found out about the contract.”
“That’s fair,” I say. “But not everyone’s playing the same game your father is. Or mine.”
“You’re sure about that?” She lifts an eyebrow, disbelief twisting her expression.
“No.” I say it firmly. “I’m not.”
She studies me. Looking for the lie. Looking for the angle.
She won’t find it. Not because it’s not there, but because I’ve gotten too good at hiding it.
“Look,” I say. “I’m not going to stand here and promise you everything’s going to be fine. I don’t know that for sure. Neither do you. But I can promise you this. I’m not here to take over your life. I’m not going to get in the way of your company. I’m not going to try to control you.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
“Whatever you need.” The words come out before I can stop them from hitting air. “You want me to stand next to you at public events and keep my mouth shut? Done. You want me to stay out of your way and let you run your business? Done. You want me to punch someone who’s giving you trouble?” I smirk. “Also done. Happily.”
For a long moment, neither of us speak.
“Why?” she asks finally. “Why do you care what I need?”
Because I can’t stop thinking about you. Because you’re the first person in years who’s made me feel something other than numb. Because when you almost smiled at me in that negotiation meeting, I felt like I’d finally won something worth winning.
But I don’t say any of that.
“Because we’re about to be stuck together,” I say instead. “And I’d rather be allies than enemies.”
“Allies.”
“Yeah.”
“Allies share information,” she says slowly. “They don’t keep secrets.”
Guilt twists in my gut. The secret I’m keeping about the gala and my father’s part in the whole thing sits between us like a ticking time bomb.
