Page 31 of His Flash Mate
A hint of frustration crept into his gaze.
“The CEO of Hestian Global is looking for a wife to give him an heir,” he said finally.
“And?”
“And we think you would suit him perfectly,” Charlotte said, speaking for the first time.“It’s a chance for you to gain something from Denis.You’re young, pretty, and smart.Mr.Hestian was specific about intelligence.”
“Why?So his heir will be smart?”I asked.“Let me guess.He’s older, has a string of beautiful but simple exes, and equally intellectually unimpressive offspring he’d gladly shove to the side in favor of a smarter one.Am I right?”
She tilted her head a little, still assessing me.
I looked at Dad.“And I’m guessing Hestian Global has something you want.A contract opportunity, maybe?”
He smiled.“Actually, yes.You’d live a life of unimaginable luxury, and for introducing you to your future husband, I would secure a contract estimated to elevate our stock prices for the next four years.”
“You used Mom, and now you think you’re going to sell me to some gross old man?No.Not in this life.”I stood.“Don’t show up at the house again, and don’t call me.We have nothing to offer each other.”
I looked at the boy.“Hey, Charlie.”
He looked up, surprise on his face at being addressed.
“How old are you?”
“Nine.”
I did the math and snorted.Dad had been fucking around on Mom for more than a year before their divorce, then.
“Be a decent human being, okay, Charlie?”He nodded, then glanced at his mom and dad, confused.They didn’t look at him.Both watched me with disapproval.Poor kid probably only got attention when he was useful to them.
Shaking my head, I left the room.
The valet saw my approach and gave me a commiserating smile after calling for my car.
“Didn’t go well?”he asked.
“Better than I’d thought, actually.At least he didn’t drug me and take a kidney.”
The valet blinked at me and looked at the building again.
“I don’t think they’d invite you here for that.More like a bar on the Southside.”
“True.”
“I hope you get to come back and enjoy a meal sometime.The food’s amazing.”
My car pulled up, and a second valet got out.Even though I wasn’t dressed up, he still held the door for me and closed it once I was seated, treating me with respect.
I smiled my thanks and left, thinking about the kind of service that my dad craved—groveling for attention as he did for those he thought were his “betters.”
No thanks.
I didn’t need people to grovel or beg for my attention to feel important.I wanted to earn my place in this world through my own efforts.I wanted achievements I could be proud of, not marriage connections.
When I stopped at a light, I quickly looked up the CEO at Hestian Global and almost threw the phone out the window.The man was old enough to be my grandfather, had six kids already, and was widowed four times.No surviving wives.
CHAPTERSIX
I seethed allthe way home, and Mom saw my expression the moment I walked in the door.
