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Patience stands here looking like I have lost my mind. I take a deep breath in and slowly release it, waiting for her to say something. Anything at all.
“I’m sorry. I think I’ve had too much champagne. Did you just say run away?” I nod and take a step closer to her, lowering my voice.
“We will chat tomorrow, but I think you’re right. Something weird is going on here, and I don’t trust your grandfather or Mr. Reynolds. They have something up their sleeve, and I think we should pack our bags and go before it’s too late. I love you, Patience. Run away with me. Marry me.” She blinks up at me and starts to laugh.
Well, that’s not the kind of reaction I was expecting.
“You can’t be serious, Ki. Why now? Why couldn’t you have suggested this weeks ago or this morning? It’s too late.” She shakes her head and takes a seat on a chair in the corner.
“It’s not too late. We can pack tonight and go. You’re it for me, Patience. Hell, we can even grab Nate. I know you love him too.”
“I signed a contract tonight. If I don’t marry Cal, I will lose everything. The company, my inheritance.” She closes her eyes and shakes out her hands. “You couldn’t claim me before, but now that you fear you’re losing me… You, what, suddenly want me? Want to marry me?” She laughs again, but I know she’s holding back tears.
“We can fix this. You can marry Cal, then we can run. We both know he doesn’t want this marriage either.” I try to think of a way to get her out of this town and away from her grandfather. Moving closer to her, I drop to my knees and grab her hand.
“I love you, Patience James. I will do anything to keep you safe. Just think about it, okay?” She nods and someone clears their throat behind me.
I turn my head and groan with relief. “They are about to do the toasts,” Cal grumbles and shuffles closer to Patience. She’s still sitting and seems to be lost in her thoughts. I climb to my feet and offer him my hand to shake.
“So, I guess I should be welcoming you into the family, since you’re marrying my step-sister,” I say calmly and he laughs, shaking his head.
“I know about you and Patience, Kian. You are far from step-siblings.” My eyes widen and my hand shakes. Oh fuck. Cal smacks me on the shoulder and gives me a wink.
“Don’t worry about it. Patience and I have a plan.” He looks over at her and she glances at him with confusion etched on her face.
“We do?” she asks and he nods.
“Yep. I’ve told you. I already know about Kian, and my brother, Patience. I’ve known for a while now, and full disclosure, if you keep fucking them, then I’m not giving Rooke up, either,” he says with a calculating smile. I grunt with surprise.
“But what about the pre-nup? Is this just a trick to get you full control of my money and company?” she asks, and I start to get mad.
“Is it?” I growl and he shakes his head.
“No. Would I have admitted that I’m fucking a guy? Give you both that ammunition against me, if I was planning to backstab you?” he rushes out in one breath. His confidence is now gone and he looks scared.
“I love him, Patience. I know we have to go through with this sham, but I’m not losing him. I need him.” He glances at us both and I step closer to him.
“Love is love. No judgment from me. We will figure this all out, but for now, you guys need to go do toasts.” He looks relieved and offers Patience a hand, pulling her from the chair. She won’t look at me, and I don’t know if she’s upset about what I said or still just thinking about things.
Whatever it is, I just hope she doesn’t push me away.
Patience
After the toasts, I excuse myself to the ladies’ room. I need a moment. Away from all the people staring at me. Kian asking me to marry him. Cal trying to keep tabs on me. Rooke giving me lustful eyes, and Nate pouting.
I’m just one woman. They can’t seriously think that I’m capable of balancing all this shit on my shoulders? Ugh. I take my time exploring the halls and take some deep breaths, attempting to calm down. I can’t believe how much this house hasn’t changed. My mom practically gutted our house after losing my dad. This place seems like a tomb of memories.
I reach the downstairs bathroom and pause at a soft moan leaving a room as I pass. I smile at the thought of someone getting it on at an event, but when I hear my father’s name, I pause and listen, but it’s hard to hear everything.
There are two entrances to this particular room, so I slip in undetected. A wall is hiding me as a man I don't know and Cal's aunt from Boise are talking.
“I can’t believe Nixon decided to pull this shit. It’s bad enough he took Cal back from us, now he’s marrying him off so he can get the company. He deserves just to have a normal life. At least Nate was able to go off to his grandparents.” She sighs and the guy grumbles.
“I don’t know what Cami and Philippe were thinking. Eighteen is far too young for Patience to be married. I don’t know what her life has been like, but I do know Richard has plans for her as well. And it’s not going to be a happily ever after for her. Either of them. Someone really needs to go to the authorities.”
Someone comes up behind me and touches my shoulder. I jump and glance back at Nate. He seems to be thinking about something, but takes my hand and pulls me out into the hall, making sure to stay quiet. Cal is there and he’s pissed when he catches us.
“Seriously, this is not what I meant about us all being discreet.” I laugh at that and his nostrils flare. I get ready to give him a piece of my mind and Nate snaps at us both.
