I’m seething, but watching my mother’s heart break makes me bite my tongue.
“He wanted you to have that, Blake.”
“By forcing me to get married?”
“Well, if that's what it takes! You’re twenty-five, Blake,” Mom shoots back, fire in her eyes. “Is it so difficult for you to do this last thing for your father?”
Silence falls, and I nod, dragging my hands over my jaw. “It’s not that simple, Mom. I don’t know a single girl who is worthy of being my wife.”
Barbara snorts, horror on her face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do that.”
Mom stares at Barbara curiously. “No, elaborate, Barb.”
I raise my eyes to glare at my mother, but she is still watching Barbara, who looks rather flustered.
“Yeah, why did you snort at me?” I lift an eyebrow in her direction.
Barbara sighs, tugging off her gloves with a snapping sound. “You said there’s no one worthy of being your wife…it’s a tad pretentious and dare I say, egotistical.”
Mom smiles, folding her arms across her chest. “I agree with Barb.”
I roll my eyes, wondering if I should just walk out.
This day is getting worse by the minute.
“It’s not,” I argue. “It’s about the fact that this woman needs to be intelligent, business savvy, and tolerable. That doesn’t sound like any of the women I know.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Mom states coolly. “I’m sure there’s someone with an iota of class that you could make an agreement with, Blake.”
“Right. Just like that.”
“Blake, grow up. You’re behaving like a petulant child! In order to get an empire, you need to either fall in love—” Mom huffs.
This time it’s my turn to snort with laughter.
“Or—” Mom continues, “—you make an arrangement.”
“Forfive years, Mom,” I growl out, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Fivefuckingyears.”
“Marriage is for life. I’m sure you can manage a business arrangement for five years, if you can’t fall in love.”
I’m so fucking tired of fighting for what I want.
I need to get on with this so it’s over as soon as possible.
But who to marry?
Someone who won’t screw me the fuck over.
I can only think of one person, one person I can trust, but she won’t even look in my direction.
Danielle.
CHAPTER 8
DANIELLE
I’m in the office before anyone else, and I head straight to the kitchen.
