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Just thinking about the way Gwen had pressed her lips together and refused to let me have her sister… I still didn't understand why it made me want to grin.She had basically called me a thieving monkey dick, and I’d actually found it damn hilarious."I have it under control, Micah.This way, I can keep her close.Keep her off Dad's radar.Simple."
"Um-hm."He didn't look like he believed me."It doesn't hurt that she's completely bangable though, right?”he asked with a sly grin.
My lips twitched."Don't talk about your sister-in-law that way."
Micah rolled his eyes."It’s actually relevant that she’s bangable.You know this has to look real.That pesky little provision from Grandad.The board has no choice but to uphold it.If the board gets one whiff things are fake, we’ll have problems.You will lose your voting shares to Dad.And there are those who sided with him who are still on the board.They’d love any reason to bring him back.So they'll be looking for any whiff of impropriety.You have to make it look real."
And that was the kicker.As far as I was concerned, thiswasgoing to be real.It was going to be more difficult reminding her that her future depended on this."It will be real."
My brother lifted his brow."Okay, if you say so.As long as you keep the goal in mind, we won't have problems.I'll do my best to keep the board off your ass."
"That would be appreciated."
"What is it about her, anyway?"he asked.
I drained my third glass of scotch and slammed it back down."I have no fucking idea.She's a fighter.She absolutely will not say die even when it's in her own goddamn best interest.She's the most mule-headedly stubborn woman I have ever met.It doesn't make any sense."
He watched me closely, his green eyes narrowing."But keep your wits about you.Don't fall for her.We don’t need complicated."
"That’s never going to happen," I denied firmly.
"If you say so."
"I do say so."
He nodded slowly."I'll get the paperwork to you.Get her to sign the contract and the NDA.We have secrets to protect."
“I already have Pierce working on that and a full brief.”
“At least you haven’t completely lost it.”He paused and rubbed his chin.“Are you going to tell her about the clause?”
The invisible elephant.
I could feel my throat closing.“No.It won’t matter to her anyway.”
“Everything matters.Watch yourself, Atticus.”
I watched my brother stroll out of my living room down the hall toward his room.And I could feel the tethers of control start to roughen around the edges, like someone was gently pulling the strings that kept it all together.I dragged in a deep breath.I knew what I was doing.I was in control.Total fucking control of the situation.This would be easy.All I had to do was get her to follow the fucking script.
Chapter9
Gwen
You agreedto marry a perfect stranger.One you're not even sure you like.
After I arrived home last night, I'd really sat with the weight of what I had agreed to.I was going to marry Atticus Price, and I didn't even know the man.
I woke to a text from him, or at least I assumed it was him.
Unknown:Lunch at La Table Ronde at twelve.
Me:Who is this?
Unknown:Your husband.
I spent the rest of the morning focused on those two words.Your husband.And now that I was walking through La Table Ronde on my way to meet him, I felt like I was walking the plank, praying for some fairy godmother or Tinkerbell to come along, sprinkle dust on me, and tell me I didn't have to jump off.
But there was no way out.This.Was.Happening.
