Page 40 of Takeover
Micah scrolled through the data."What do you want to do?"
"For now?Float the money to cover their salaries and operations until we hit the final on this deal.I'll send a new contract to Gwen that covers what she'll need for salaries and to continue running until we take over fully."
"Right, done."My brother studied me closely."What's wrong with you?"
"She didn't tell me she needed help."
Pierce just chuckled, and Micah just shrugged."Why would she?"
"Because I'm going to be her husband.We are going to be married.She could have asked me for thirty million dollars, knowing I would feel obligated to give it to her."
"Maybe she isn't the kind of woman who wants your help," Pierce suggested.
"Everyone wants something from me."
Micah shrugged."I don't.Pierce doesn't."
"You know what I mean.Women.Women always want something."
"Well,” Micah said, “it looks like Gwen might be one of the few who doesn't.And maybe you need to treat her accordingly.Besides, brother, you made that choice."
"I made that choice because it came with the software."
Micah cocked his head and gave me a sarcastic smirk."Okay, if you say so.But the moment you found out that the woman from the balcony was Becker's daughter, you were all in."
That itchy, too-tight feeling on my skin was almost too much to bear."What's your point?"
"My point is you finally met a woman who doesn't actually want anything from you, and she's tied to you at no-fault of her own.You're going to have to find a way to navigate around it.You can't just buy your way out.If you want her, you're going to have to do a little work and maybe chill out just a little."
"I am chill."
That statement was the only thing capable of making Pierce tip over in laughter.
Chapter16
Atticus
La Table Rondewas busier than usual when I went to meet Micah after my morning meeting.I found him in our usual corner, a waitress flirting with him shamelessly.As usual, he didn't seem to notice.Just pushed his glasses up and gave her a bland smile.
When I met him, I just shook my head lightly."Poor thing has no idea that you're not even noticing."
Micah shrugged."Oh, I noticed.I'm just looking for something different."
"Well, brother, what was it that society mag called you?Oh yes, filthy rich and nerdy hot.I feel like you can find a woman easily."I shrugged."Or man."
He shook his head."Sorry, I'm more discerning than that.I'll know it when I see it."
"If you say so."
Neither one of us was particularly enthused about this meeting, but Richard Lions was an old family friend.He’d just chosen the wrong side of the board vote to oust my father."Where is Lions?"
Micah shrugged and dug into his light salad.My brother, who was even more regimented than I was about things like food and exercise, indulged himself often because he'd eat a salad at eleven o'clock in the morning, then small meals every few hours or so.And then he'd eat a whole fucking cake about once a month or so.Made no sense to me, but it was none of my business."Your guess is as good as mine.He claimed that this was an urgent meeting."
Lions was a wild card.One who made it clear that we couldn't trust him.But ignoring him could have dire consequences.
I lifted my brow."I have more important things to do."Namely, deal with my soon-to-be wife.I’d cleared my lunch calendar to meet with her, but she hadn't accepted the meeting.
My brother put down his fork."Someone is eager to see his new bride.How’d it go last night?"
