AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Heard of Merchant Properties?” he asks and I nod because, of course I have. They are the biggest real estate dealers and developers in the country. “Justin is the CEO and the son of the founder, kitten.”
“He’s Justin Merchant?” My voice goes high-pitched, making Dash chuckle. “I thought he was a recluse and an antisocial.”
“He prefers the termselectively socialand he’s not the recluse the media likes to paint him as. He tends to avoid them and they don’t like it.”
“Wow,” I mutter to myself. To think I had no clue who he was this whole time. I’m still distracted and musing over Justin also being a billionaire when Dash interrupts.
“Do you accept my condition?”
After the initial shock, it’s actually convenient if I think about it, and it only seems fair since he met my demands too. “Yes.”
“Good.” His tone is victorious. “We’ll move together tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes. Is that a problem?”
Other than the fact that I’m not prepared to be in such close proximity to him constantly and without barriers. I’ve been alone for years and now I have to share my home with a man I will soon call my husband. My future is turning out to be full of surprises.
“I thought we’d wait until we’re married,” I finally reply, hoping he’ll take the excuse.
“I’m not spending another minute apart from you.” His deep voice is a promise and a warning. “You’re mine now, kitten.”
Chapter Twenty-two
DASH
“I’m guessing congratulations are in order, Stern,” Justin mocks, slapping today’s newspaper on my desk. There’s a photo of Bianca and I standing outside the restaurant, holding hands and staring at each other, on the front page with the bold title “Wedding Bells are around the Corner?”
“And an engagement gift too.”
“Asshole,” he retorts before falling serious. “Is it true or just another media ploy bullshit?”
“What have they written?”
“They’re apparently labeling you a knight in shining armor after someone saw you rescuing Bianca. The person overheard you threaten her father, then announce you’re her fiancé. I’m guessing some poor waiter sold the story for some extra cash.”
The media has become nothing less than a god these days with their eyes and ears missing zilch once they’ve caught you in their crosshairs. No corner in the world you can hide from them. So, it’s no surprise to me that they caught Bianca and I, and wrote the gossipy article in less than three days.
At least they had their facts somewhat correct.
“Sounds about right.” I shrug at Justin, leaning back in my chair. “Veer Chopra is a fucking prick and treats his daughter like a commodity. Me threatening him was an exaggeration, though.”
“Men like him see everyone as a threat if it involves their daughter,” Justin sneers before fixing his inquisitive gaze on me. “Speaking of daughter, when did you fall in love with Bianca and what possessed you enough to propose to her? Just this weekend, you were at each other’s throats.”
“It’s just a temporary business arrangement.”
“Care to elaborate?” he asks, one eyebrow raised.
“Details don't matter. She wanted a fake husband so I said yes when she asked me.”
“You mean, she played you into saying yes?” He laughs out loud. “Is that why you went all ballistic on my ass that night, because you thought she was gonna ask me?”
“Shut up, dickhead.”
“Fuck! That woman is a savage.”
His amusement grates on my nerves, making me grit my teeth while he continues to snort. If he wasn’t my only best friend, I swear I would have buried him six feet under the ground a long time ago.
