Page 9 of Risking it All

I walked into the room to find my dad seated at the head of the table as usual. Aside from the feast presented on the table, the room was set up like a conference room with folders at each place setting. No one seemed to be as interested in the food as they were about getting down to business.

My dad stood to his feet as I walked into the dining room. For a second, everything stopped moving. There were eight seats at the table, but only six of them were occupied. My parents, both of my dad’s lawyers, and two other men that I didn’t recognize. Both men paid me a furtive once-over before turning their attention back to my father. I felt the weight of his scrutiny as I walked deeper into the room.

“This is the same girl that was supposed to marry the Fuller kid a few years ago?” the one in the dark-rimmed glasses asked.

“That’s her. She’s let herself go a little bit, but that’s her,” my dad replied with a shrug.

“Just talk about me like I’m not standing right here,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“She’s a spicy one,” the other guy noted with a grin.

“That’s why we’ve had so much trouble moving her. That and the fact that the Fuller boy just up and decided he didn’t want her. She still won’t tell the truth about that situation.”

“You don’t have to move me like I’m property. Furthermore, I didn’t do a damn thing, and I wish you would stop blaming me for everything that goes wrong around here.”

“Enough!” my father snapped.

The younger of the two men chuckled and leaned back in his chair.

“Sit,” my dad said, waving his hand toward the empty chair to his right.

Without another word, I lowered myself into the chair.

“Zenia, I’m Roderick St. Thomas. We haven’t had the pleasure of meeting in person,” the young and amused one said.

“Hi,” I replied.

I had to admit he looked even better in person. Roderick wore a perfectly tailored suit, an expensive watch, and was overall put together. Being put together didn’t mean anything. Looks weren’t important. I’d seen plenty of fine-ass fuckboys in my life.

“It’s nice to finally meet my future wife.” He smiled as he extended his hand for me to shake. A handshake usually sealed a deal, but I wasn’t ready to commit to anything.

A look of disgust quickly covered my face. My dad caught it before I could wipe it off and hit my knee.

“Nice to meet you,” I mumbled.

My dad’s hand gripped my knee, but I refused to play nice. There was no use in pretending. Everyone in the room knew I was there under the threat of violence or worse.

“I was hoping we would get some time to speak in private before the exam,” Roderick stated.

“Exam? What exam?” I asked, looking over at my dad.

“Zenia, the preliminary health exam is required before every marriage. You know that.”

I scoffed. “Health exam? You mean I have to be violated and prodded again to make sure I’m still a virgin.”

Roderick laughed. “Phrase it however you choose. It’s part of the process. I can’t just trust that a thick and pretty thing like you has never had sex in your whole twenty-eight years of living, especially when you didn’t think you were ever going to get married.”

“I can assure you that she’s pure. Even so, the doctor is already here. He will complete the process after dinner.”

“Nobody around here gives a damn what I want.”

Roderick snorted a laugh. “I actually love my women strong-willed. I’m going to have a ball breaking you down.”

“You’re not breaking a damn thing!” I spat.

“Zenia, enough!”

“She’ll learn her place,” Roderick declared.