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My whole team would be freaking out.Four years ago, before I joined my father's company, I had a ragtag team of engineers, a couple of product managers, and an idea for the multipurpose algorithm that could be built, not just with facial recognition, but to actually do medical imaging, help with missing persons, teaching applications, etcetera.And surprisingly, we'd done well.But we had run out of money and needed a big investor.Cue my father to act like he was actually being helpful.
We'd been absorbed into Becks Incorporated with all kinds of promises about how we would get to grow and develop.
And we had.We'd also grown a lot larger than I wanted, and there was a lot of bureaucracy.And now to get bought out like this… It was a wound none of us needed.
But that was a problem for another day.Today, my problem was getting to know my new husband-to-be.When I walked into the slick terrazzo entry, the doorman smiled at me.He had warm brown skin, a gap between his two front teeth, and the broadest, sunniest smile I had ever seen."Hello, Miss Becker.I'm Manny.I'm your daytime doorman.Anything you need, just call me and I'll make sure you get it."
I tried to return his smile."You know who I am?"
His smile deepened and that popped a dimple."Yes ma'am.You're the future Mrs.Price."
Why did that make my stomach twist?I had already agreed to this."Oh, um, how did you recognize me?"
"Oh, Mr.Price already sent down your photo."
"My photo?"Where the hell had Atticus gotten a picture of me?
"Don't you worry," Manny added with a smile."You look great."
How I looked in a photo was hardly the problem.The problem was, somehow Atticus had a photo of me?
I'd been in a good deal of shock when I left my parents' house on Friday.Had I failed to notice Clarissa slip him a picture of me?Also, what the hell?
Manny took my roller bag from me."Right this way, miss."
He led me past the front desk and past the security station that required a key fob."I suppose I need one of those?"
"Yes, there's already one upstairs for you.Your key fob gives you access to the private penthouse and to the pool after hours, as well."
"Great, there's a pool?"
"Oh yes, there is.When we drop your bags, I'll give you a map of the whole building so you can't get lost.And if you ever do, or if you're in the elevator and you don't know where you're supposed to be going, just call down to the desk."
"It looks like everything is taken care of."
"Well, we try.And just so you know, there are two night doormen as well, Emilio and Derrick.Anything you need at night, they can handle.The Park Tower is very secure.You will notice blue lights everywhere.Those are safety and security lights.If anything goes wrong or you feel odd about anything, just press one of those, and it'll ring straight down to security.And in your case, if you use your keypad to access it, you'll get patched straight to Mr.Price's personal security.
"I didn't know I would need security."
"You won't, ma'am.This is just to make you feel more comfortable."
"And I do.”I gave him a warm smile.“Thank you, Manny.You've been very helpful."
The ride up to the penthouse took forever.The whole time, my stomach just turned over and over again as I contemplated exactly how I ended up here.Friday night dinner had been normal and unremarkable.Right up until my father dropped the bombshell.
Christ.I had been irritated with Atticus one hundred percent.But what my father had done, the way he’d just handed me over, or rather, the way he'd tried to hand Morgan over, I just couldn't even believe it.
I could still see Atticus with his too-knowing eyes, and his hint of a smile.I was constantly trying to figure out what on earth he was thinking, what he was going to say, what he was going to do.He was just infuriating.Why on earth did he want to marry?
Once the dust had settled yesterday, I'd taken a look at the original contract he sent my father.While it made me sad that I would lose control of most of my hard work, it had been fair.
When the elevator finally slowed, I wiped my sweaty palms on my dark jeans, wrapped my hand around the handle of my suitcase, and waited for the door to open.The door into my new life.I expected to find Atticus waiting for me on the other side, but he wasn't there.
Great, because when your new wife to be is moving in, why on earth would you be there?
I tried not to balk at the bite of rejection.I was used to it.It sucked, but I was a big girl.
Someone came around the corner as I stepped into the foyer, looking around.What was I supposed to do, just casually walk in?
