Page 208 of The Unwilling Bride
“We’re considering pulling the investment in The Edge.”
That gets my attention. I sit up straight. “What? Why?”
“The marriage is fake. You deceived us, Hamilton. The board of directors is livid. The investors have been burning up the lines to me all morning.”
I jump out of bed.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I begin to pace the room in frustration.
He pauses. “You haven’t seen the video, I take it?”
“Which video? What are you talking about?” I come to a stop in front of one of the floor-to-ceiling windows.
We were so into each other last night, I forgot to draw the curtains before we got into bed. Now, I stare down at Hyde Park. The blue light of dawn outlines the trees and the lone early morning joggers who make their way through it.
“A guy named Sam Miller uploaded it. He’s claiming your marriage isn't real,” Alfie says slowly.
What. The. Fuck.
Miller's the sous chef I fired before hiring Ember. Apparently, his threat was serious. Anger squeezes my chest and thrums at my temples.
“That’s a lie. My marriage is real.”
Somewhere over the last few days, my feelings have become involved. The authenticity of my marriage isn’t just performance.
I’m falling for her. I’ll burn the world down before I let anything hurt her.
Cold resolve fills me.
“Sam Miller is a bitter ex-employee. I fired him, and he's trying to get back at me.”
And I’m going to make sure he never works in this country again.
“Hmm… The video is convincing.” Alfie’s voice fills the space. I hear the worry in it. He wants to believe me. But he's seen something that makes him doubt me.
Why the fuck haven’t I seen this video yet? Probably because my phone was on Do Not Disturb until the alarm went off. It’s a good thing I picked up the phone when it rang.
I need to get into damage control mode immediately.
“I haven’t seen the video, but whatever is on there is false. This, I will stake my reputation on.”
I pivot and head to my closet, holding the phone to my ear as I pull on a pair of pants.
Harper enters the closet space. Her hair is piled on top of her head. She’s already dressed to leave.
The possessiveness I feel takes my breath away. The satisfaction coursing through me is a shock. I want this woman so much. I’d do anything to protect her. I’d burn down the world if it meant I could see her happy.
Somewhere inside of me, a dam has burst. The emotions I’ve controlled for so long are in free fall. But I don’t care. I let the heat from feeling so much course through my veins and fill my cells. It feels good. I feel alive. I feel ready to take on whoever the fuck dared to mess with me and what’s mine.
Harper sees me and comes to a stop. She knits her brows in worry when she sees the look on my face.
“Are you going to believe me or some disgruntled former employee with an ax to grind?” I growl.
The silence stretches, then he sighs.
“You, of course. I need you to fix this.”
