AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When Atticus just swirled his glass around, I jumped in to answer."Yes, apparently Dad invited him.But I hoped he wouldn't be staying."
Atticus laughed."So you keep saying."
I had to look away before he liquefied my insides with those wintergreen eyes.I was so focused on Atticus that I didn't even hear my father come in.
"Oh, everyone's here."
Clarissa sidled up to him."Yes, love.Would you like to sit in here or head out to the living room for a moment?"
My dad inclined his head toward the living room."Let's take our drinks into the sitting room.Clarissa, darling, if you can check on our dinner and let me know when we're ready?"
Her smile was soft, and she nodded as she trailed off into the kitchen as if he hadn't just dismissed her.I scowled after her and turned my gaze to my father."Dad, she's not the housekeeper.She's your wife.Maybe she wanted to have a drink and sit down too."
Dad just waved his hand."You know Clarissa.She's fine.She doesn't need a drink."
How did he not see the way he treated her?
Dad directed Atticus toward one of the leather chairs as Clarissa handed him a drink.Lance remained standing, lounging in the door frame.Dad took his position in the center of the high-backed chair, and Morgan and I chose the couch.Dad took a sip of his drink and then spoke."Well, I'm sure everyone is wondering why I invited Atticus here.Obviously, Morgan and Gwen have to be here every Friday.Lance, you're here for a specific reason."
"Sir?"
I could see Lance had no idea why he was here.Sure, he accompanied me to Friday night cocktails sometimes, but he wasn't usually in the picture unless we were going out and I dragged him along as a buffer.Dad actually really liked Lance, so he was a great buffer when I needed him."Lance, you're here from a contract perspective.You'll need to work with our lawyers to work out the details."
"Okay.Why don't you go ahead and give me some framing for what we need contracts for?”
"Well, Mr.Price and I met this morning to discuss the possibility of selling a portion of Becks Incorporated."
I shook my head."Dad?—"
My father shook his head."I've already made my decision.But there's one more caveat for me agreeing to sell."
The train is here.
It had been barreling down for weeks, months, years.I had been hoping against hope that I'd be able to do something."Dad, you can't possibly?—"
My father, much like he'd done in our meeting that morning, held up a hand and cut me off."I can, and I will.The caveat is, I'm not looking for an outright sell.I'm loath to break up my company, however, I'd be far more comfortable if we kept things in the family."
What the hell did he mean by that?
He continued."Because of that, we're going to have R&D become a subsidiary of Pendragon.As part of the package, Atticus is going to marry my daughter, Morgan."
Holy shit.My stomach bottomed out.
Pan-de-mo-ne-um.
Atticus cursed.Lance choked out a laugh.The color leached out of Morgan’s face.She opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out was a stuttering, “I-I-I—" and then silence.Her hand fluttered to her throat as she tried to talk, but nothing more came out.
No!Not again.I’d worked for a year and then some to bring Morgan back to herself after Mom’s death.I wasn’t letting him sell her off to the highest bidder.I shoved to my feet."What?You cannot do this.Morgan is too young.And she can’t get married to him.He's a pompous ass."
Atticus lifted a brow."There you go, complimenting me again."
Morgan's voice was timid and pleading."Dad, I'm only eighteen.It's one thing that you're trying to get me to date someone, but marry?I'm not ready to get married."
My father ignored her."Nonsense.You can marry him just as easily as you can marry anyone else.You’ll obviously have a period of getting to know each other as we finalize the details, and after, you can go on a vacation or something."
I couldn't let him do this."Dad, you can't be serious.That's not how it works.Morgan deserves better than that."
My sister stood next to me."Thank you."She turned her attention to Atticus."No offense, but I don't want to marry you."
