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“When you were talking to Winston earlier, you said you wanted to rip someone’s head off. Don’t bother denying it,” she says quickly when I part my lips, ready to protest. “I heard you, and you never answered me when I asked earlier. Whose head do you want to rip off?”
“Winston’s,” I automatically say.
She studies me, her expression impassive. “I don’t believe you.”
Damn it.
Can I trust her with the truth?
“It’s none of your concern,” I lie, and damn it, my response only infuriates her.
“Are you going to keep secrets from me, Perry?” she throws at me.
“Are you going to keep secrets fromme, Charlotte?” I throw back.
“I’m trying to open up, but it seems like you don’t want to hear it.”
We glare at each other, the air crackling between us. I can’t reveal everything to her yet. What if she’s actually talking to that McAsshat? What if she tells him everything I told her and he’ll end up with the advantage?
I can’t let her in on the family business information. Not yet. Maybe not ever. Most Halcyon information is confidential. If it fell into the wrong hands, it could cost plenty.
Maybe even everything.
“As a Lancaster, I’m bringing a lot of financial security to your family business,” she says, sounding haughty as fuck. “I have every right to know what’s happening. What decisions are being made. Especially if any of my family’s money is being used in those business decisions.”
“We’re not using your family’s money to fund our business dealings,” I snap.
She grabs her glass and drains it, slamming it down onto the table extra hard. “Then why did you marry me?”
“For the name. For the connections. For the reach. Your family has been around for generations. Hundreds of years. The Lancaster influence is unmatched.” That’s how Winston explained it to me. We don’t necessarily want their money.
Not yet, anyway.
We need their name to open doors and introduce us to even bigger players. Larger corporations. Halcyon will eventually be on a global level the likes that no one else has ever seen.
Certainly not any goddamn Morellis.
“We’re nothing but a business merger.” Her voice is flat.
It feels like she’s testing me. As if she’s looking for me to confirm that we’re something else. Something more.
Are we?
No. Not really. The sex is just a bonus. She’s reading too much into it.
Just like a woman would.
“You knew this from the start,” I murmur, leaning back in my chair. Needing the distance. Anger blasts off her in a wave of heat, making me sweat. And I’m not in the mood.
I’d rather sweat tonight in other ways.
“You feel nothing for me.”
“I like fucking you.”
She flinches. “You’re an asshole.”
“Charlotte.” I lean forward once more, resting my forearms on the table. “You’re a Lancaster. I’ve done the research. You come from a long line of ruthless assholes.”
