Page 22 of Takeover
As soon as he saw me approach, he slid out of the booth, looking like sex on a stick had just been delivered to my doorstep.
Three-piece suit with a vest.He'd taken off the suit jacket though.Leaving himself in a vest and a crisp white shirt with rolled-up sleeves.He looked young and casual.But there was something so elegantly aloof about him.God, why couldn't I look away?
When I reached him, he leaned down for a kiss on the cheek, and I realized just how tall he was.I had worn heels, nothing too outrageous, but I wanted to really give myself as much power as possible.I’d put on vermilion red Manolo sling backs, paired with a Chloé pencil skirt that went below my knees but hugged every curve, and a petal-pink pixel top tucked in.
"Thank you for meeting me," he said, his voice a mix of gravel and smoke.
"I didn't know I had a choice."
When he brushed his lips over my cheek, I caught a whiff of his cologne, and the hint of citrus, musk, and spice hit me straight in my core.
And I could have sworn he might have sniffed my neck, like he was scenting me or something.
Holy shit.
Once I was seated, he took the seat next to me and signaled to the waiter to take my order.I, unfortunately, was too distracted with the decor of La Table Ronde.
The Round Table.Exclusive, French, expensive.The average person couldn't reserve a table here, so I'd never been inside.And it was a stunner.Like something out of Gatsby.Opulent all at once with its chandeliers and its architecture.It was gorgeous.
After the waiter came and took my order, I finally lifted my gaze to meet Atticus's.He was watching me intently."What are you doing?"I asked.
"Besides looking at my wife-to-be?"
Just hearing those words sent a shiver through me."Yes, I know that, but why?"
"You're going to have to get used to me looking at you."
Dear God.There was no getting used to that.I pressed my thighs together, hoping to alleviate the ache."Am I?"
"Yes, we're about to get married shortly,” he reminded me.As if that was necessary.“You should act like you’re used to it."
I frowned at that."What do you mean, shortly?"
"Weren't you the one who proposed to me?I assumed you had a timeline in mind."
My mouth fell open."I didnotpropose."
He sat back and gave me an insolent smile."I seem to recall you proposing.You stood up and said, 'I'll do it.I'll marry him.'I didn't ask you."
I sputtered."M-My father was about to marry off my little sister.She's onlyeighteen.What was I supposed to do?"
He chuckled softly, making the butterflies in my belly dance."You're so easy to rattle."
"I am not," I muttered through clenched teeth.
"If you say so,” he said with a wink and a grin.
I had work to do, and I needed to get back to it.It was better if we got this over with."You requested my presence, so what am I doing here?Look, I get that you want to back out, but I don’t see another way.Not with my sister on the line and?—"
He sat back and crossed his arms."For starters, I don’t want to back out.I made the deal.The software comes with you attached.Second, since we need to convince the world we’re madly in love, it's probably important for people to see us out and about together so they'll believe it."
I frowned at that."What does it matter what people believe?"
"Not people.The Pendragon board.Let’s call it a family dispute.My father wants back at the helm of Pendragon.It was a tough vote to get him out and wrestle my company from him.Part of the reason he was ousted, were dirty deals, deceiving shareholders, and allegations of sexual misconduct.Even then, it was a fight and he still has friends on the board.Friends who can push for a vote of no confidence if they get even a whiff something is off, which would leave him a window to return.”
“This sort of arrangement is not that uncommon,” I said.“It is humiliating to be the second choice, but it’s a business merger, so it’s not that surprising.”
His eyes narrowed ever so slightly.“Who said you were the second choice?”
