Page 23 of Takeover
What was he talking about?“I was there.Dad planned to pair you with Morgan.”
“Just because that was his plan doesn’t mean that wasmyplan.Your father has been putting out feelers for over a year of a partnership with Becks.With one small caveat.Any part of Becks had to be kept in the family.I knew what his price was.When your father suggested a partnership, I assumed he meant you.Which was the only reason I agreed.”
“Me?Why?”
He lifted a brow.“Other than you have something I want and I was willing to do anything to get it?”
I knew why but to hear him say it burned.“So romantic.”
“I never claimed to be romantic.You have something I want.I can provide you with something you need.I wasn’t going to let anyone else have the opportunity.”
This is for your employees.For Morgan.
"Right.Fine, we're here.We’re having lunch.People can see us.What is it going to cost me personally?"
The smile he gave me was all teeth."Oh, I probably should have warned you.This isn't the sort of situation where you will be able to see me every third week or so publicly for about thirty minutes and then escape from it.This isrealin every sense of the word.You and I are getting married, but before that we’ll have a big splashy engagement party to celebrate our union."
I squared my shoulders."Exactly what do you mean byevery senseof the word?And is an engagement party really necessary?"
Hetskedat me."Formybride, it’s necessary.Like I said, this is what your father requires for me to get what I want.I agreed.I stick to my commitments.If I’m to do this, I’m doing it all the way.So get used to it.We’re going to move this along as quickly as we can.Given that I shun the spotlight, it’ll be easy enough for the public to believe that we’ve been seeing each other for a while and no one knew.”
Everysense of the word?Like a real marriage?Likereal, real?I tried to shut down the immediate fluttering in my belly and commiserate throb between my legs.“You really have thought this through.”
He leaned forward, pinning me with his wintergreen gaze.“You have no idea.”Sitting back, he added, “First thing’s first.We’ll do an announcement.My team is already on it.I’ll send it over today so you can approve it.It’ll be basic yet tasteful.Not a lot of flair.”He reached for his jacket then pulled a box out before sliding it over to me.“Of course you’ll need this.”
I stared at the box.Holy hell.“You really have thought of everything.”My heart skipped beats, but not in a fun, happy way.More like in a terrified running-too-fast-being-chased-by-a-lion kind of way.
I reached for the box and stopped breathing as I opened it.
The ring was a four carat stunner of a brilliant cut diamond in a pavé band.Simple, elegant, classic, beautiful… and cold.Impersonal.Like looking at a magazine cut out.
“So this is for me then, is it?”
He nodded.“Yes.If you prefer something else, I can have it replaced.”
I stared at the glittering diamond, unable to eat a bite of the salad in front of me.“It’s beautiful.”
“Of course it is.Put it on, please.”
“You don’t want to do that part?”I asked cheekily.
He lifted a brow, gaze intense on mine.“Do you want me to?”
Goddamn.Being the subject of all that intensity was… discomfiting.All I could do was stare, but he was deadly serious.
“No, I’ve got it.”He only marginally relaxed his shoulders when I picked up the ring and placed it on my finger.
It felt like it weighed two tons, and I could barely lift my finger.
“I emailed the contract.Did you look over it?”
God, my head was spinning.This was moving too fast.I just needed to pause for a moment.I dragged in a deep breath."You mean the email I received three hours ago?I’ve been a little busy.I haven't had the chance to go over it fully."
"Okay, well then allow me to enlighten you,wife.Our marriage comes with a very distinct nondisclosure agreement."
“Futurewife.And that's probably pretty standard.I don't want the world knowing."I added with a whisper, “It’s humiliating enough.”
"Right.Among other things, there's a prenuptial agreement in there."
