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“You married her because you didn’t want to let me down.”
I stared at him, tried to understand what the hell he was talking about. “What?” I asked again, eventually.
“Your father was no role model. Or maybe he was for you, but in whatnotto do. What not to be in a CEO. Because of this, or despite him, you’ve turned into an incredible leader. You have every value a corporation like the James Hotels needs. And Hyport as well.
I blinked at him. Confused. “Um… what?”
He smiled.
Smiled?
“Silas, I’m proud of you.”
My mouth fell open and I stared. And stared some more. The words sunk in and… shit. I looked away. Emotion clogged my throat. Hopping to my feet, I paced his office.
“You’ve never heard that before, have you?”
I shook my head hard but couldn’t face him.
“I’ve watched you for years. Followed how you turned James Corp around. How you grew it. Did everything you’re supposed to do. That was why I wanted to sell to you.”
I spun and faced him again.
I ran a hand over my neck. “Because you’re proud of me? That makes no sense.”
“To you, probably not. If you want to end this deal because of marrying Eve, you’re dumber than I thought.”
My eyes widened, stunned. “Why’s that?”
“Because I know a good man when I see one.”
He stood, came around the desk and set his hand on my shoulder. “Because you’re not anything like your father. You never were.”
I shook my head.
“You doubt me?” he continued. “Believe your wife.”
I blinked, wiped my nose. “Eve?”
He nodded. “She called Kathleen earlier. Told her she wouldn’t give any pink coffee shop t-shirts to anyone who weren’t on Team Silas. Those are her words, not mine. Oh, and she offered a two-million-dollar incentive to the sale.”
“WHAT?” I shouted.
He nodded. “That wife of yours offered up her trust fund to sweeten the deal.”
I laughed, the long-lingering pain of my father sliding away. That feeling was replaced by what I felt for Eve. She would give up her trust fund for me? For the deal? That money wouldn’t cover the price of linens, but it was a sign. A sign she loved me unconditionally. That she’d walk away from what she’d fought so hard for.
For me.
Shit. SHIT!
“I blew it with her. That’s why she stormed out earlier,” I told him, scrubbing the back of my neck.
He stepped back, shook his head. “Son, there’s nothing fake about your marriage. You just have a lot to learn about women. For one, never tell a woman to calm down.”
55
EVE
