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“It’s my job to protect you. It’s a mother’s job to protect her children.” She clenched her jaw. “Why did you keep me in the dark? Why not tell me you were getting married and you were going to take over the company? Wait, who’s Bones?”
The door to the office opened and Bones strode inside. He marched over to the end of the table, pulled out a swivel chair and maneuvered it so it was next to me. He placed his hand possessively on my thigh, immediately drawing my mother’s attention.
“Mom,” I began. “I’d like to introduce you to Bones. He’s a member of the Tarnished Angels Motorcycle Club.”
My mother’s expression didn’t change, and it wasn’t because of the delicate work she’d had done. “You married a biker.”
I angled my chin. “Yes.”
She looked from me, to Bones, to the hand on my thigh, and then back to Bones. “Thank you for protecting my daughter.”
“It’s my honor,” Bones said, his voice low.
“I could kill you both for depriving me of attending your wedding,” Mom said. “And now with Arnold ousted, this will be a publicity nightmare. Not to mention the press is going to have a field day when news spreads that my twenty-five-year-old daughter with no experience running even a small company just married a biker and then took control of one of the most profitable pharmaceutical companies in the country.”
I winced. “The stock is most likely going to tank and people will flood the market with shares, but I’m prepared to buy them back. I’ll use every penny Dad left me if I have to in order to keep the company alive.”
My mother waved her hand away. “We can handle that together. That’s not my concern. My concern is standing as a united front when the news about Arnold hits. It’ll be messy. What with him being your stepfather and my…husband.”
“You’ve got a plan to spin this, don’t you?” Bones asked.
“I do.” My mother smiled. “We’re going to throw the wedding party of all parties. And if I recall, you look spectacular in a tuxedo.”
Chapter 47
“Your house isn’t safe,” my mother said as we rose from the table.
“We’ve been staying at the clubhouse,” I said.
My mother blinked. “The clubhouse? Right. It’s going to take me a little while to adjust to the truth of his identity.”
“We weren’t trying to hide it from you,” I began.
“Yes, we were,” Bones interjected with a roguish smile. “Just long enough for you to realize I’m the right choice for your daughter. And then we were going to tell you the truth. Honest.”
My mother laughed and shook her head. “Your father would’ve had a field day with this one. Can you imagine?”
I looked at Bones. “I can imagine, yeah.”
“I’m just impressed that you held your own the night of the charity gala,” Mom said. “You actually looked like you enjoyed yourself.”
“I did,” Bones stated.
“I hate to even bring this up, but I have to know the truth—did you sign a prenup?”
“Yes, I did,” Bones said. “You have nothing to worry about. I’m not after Hayden’s money.”
My mother’s expression softened at Bones’ answer. “So, are you returning to the, ah, clubhouse?”
“I guess so,” I said.
“No,” Bones replied. “I’ve taken care of security at Hayden’s house. We can go back there.”
I shot him a look.
He winked.
“Besides, we’re married now,” Bones went on. “There’s no benefit to hurting Hayden anymore.”
