“To what, spy on my father?”
“Nothing so drastic. Merely to allow him to see our alliance is real, our love is explosive and to convince him that attempting to go against me in business won’t be in his best interest or that of his daughter.”
If this wasn’t so appalling, I’d find it amusing. I laughed anyway even as several knots formed in my stomach. “You truly don’t know my father very well. He won’t listen to me. You’ll be wasting your oh-so precious time.”
“Oh, I think he will, especially when he knows I could ruin him and his reputation.”
“The banter is getting on my nerves, Christian. Why don’t you get to the point?”
“I do appreciate someone who prefers cutting through the murky bullshit. I learned that unfortunately on Saturday night you bailed your brother out of jail.”
Oh, my fucking God.
Just when I didn’t think I could abhor him more than I did, he upped the ante.
As he’d done before, he allowed the knowledge regarding the horror of the past two days to slide straight into my mind. I looked away, incapable of saying anything and trying to avoid tears forming in my eyes. I’d allowed myself to believe he wasn’t a jerk only to find out that instead he was a monster. The hurt was raw, eating at me. I’d allowed him to touch me.
Kiss me.
I’d allowed him to fuck me.
What was wrong with me? I was usually a much better judge of character. “How dare you try and use something so personal to get your way? What happens with my family is none of your goddamn business.” I tried to keep my cool as well as from issuing any display of emotions. That’s what predators did. They fed on fear and weakness. He deserved to see neither. Using something so tragic to get what he wanted was the most reprehensible thing anyone had ever done to me. The man reminded me of my father.
Cold.
Brutal.
Heartless.
“Unlike before, he wasn’t simply charged with possession,” he continued, ignoring my request. “This time it was possession with intent to sell. Now, I’m no attorney, but from what I understand, he could be facing serious prison time.”
My stomach was ready to revolt.
The shock showed on my face and in my shaking body. I was hot, so much so, I could spit fire or eat nails. “How. Fucking. Dare. You.”
Great. Now I was repeating myself while rage and hatred churned. How could anyone be so horrible?
“How dare I? I didn’t hide the fact I don’t want any scandals in my life or surrounding my business. But I do know and admire that you’re a very good person. You give to charities including animal shelters and my guess you’d strip the shirt off your back to give to a homeless person. Very admirable. That means you want to help your brother. Correct?”
He was making this so easy to hate him. “Any decent human being would. Oh, that’s right. There is nothing decent about you.”
“Maybe I came off a little too strong, Vanessa. For that I apologize. What I’m trying to say is that if you help me, I’ll help you.”
I rubbed my finger across my lips, studying him intently. “You know, I’m trying to figure out which part of this disgusting scenario is worse. Marrying you for money or selling my soul so you can destroy my father.”
“Please. I don’t need to destroy him. That is unless he gives me no other choice. I simply need him to back off, determining Florida isn’t going to become his latest foray into expansion. In return, you’ll have a substantial payoff that will allow you to have choices in where you want to take your life both professionally and personally. In addition, I know some doctors and psychiatrists who are involved in perhaps the best drug rehabilitation facilities in the country. There’s usually an eighteen-month wait list, but given my connections, I’m certain I can fast-track Donovan’s entrance.”
I shook my head, incapable of forming a response let alone thinking clearly.
“Of course, we’ll need to worry about potential prison time. My corporate attorney and best friend will be authorized to find him the most powerful and influent defense attorney in the city and he knows everyone.”
The savage thumping of my heart was never ending. I finally locked eyes with his again, trying my best to keep from scratching his face or acting out on some other childish behavior. “You’ve thought of everything. Haven’t you?”
This time his laugh was more genuine and he took the time to scratch his head as if partially confused. Right. “No, I can honestly say I haven’t, but that’s what attorneys will help us weed though. Granted, that will need to be done quickly as I want to announce our engagement by Wednesday.”
At least this time I kept my mouth from dropping open. “What’s so important in your little piss-ant world that you need to ensure everyone in town knows we’re engaged?”
“Other than enjoying how jealous my friends will be?” The man was practically glowing. He lost his rather evil grin, turning more serious. “Because I need you to attend a meeting and dinner with me on Friday. It’s very important to me.”
