The man nodded again but didn’t stop dialing.
“Damn it,” Mark muttered, backing away before the call could connect.He stormed off, cursing under his breath, and climbed back into his car.
He’d call Joannie.She’d tell him what the hell was going on.
But as he started the engine, he caught sight of Joannie again—being escorted out of the building.
For a moment, he snickered.Serves her right.
Then the truth hit: his last inside contact was gone.
Even Steve wasn’t returning his calls.
His jaw clenched.
No more games.It was time to get dirty.
He didn’t have a plan yet.But he was smart.He’d figure it out.
And when he did, Jemma Stone would regret ever crossing him.
Chapter 39
“We’ll get married this weekend in the backyard,” Saif announced as soon as everyone sat down to dinner.
“We will?”Jemma asked, her voice cool but steady.
Jasper turned sharply toward her.“You are?”
All around the table, forks paused midair.The men scowled while the women hid their smiles behind their wine glasses.
Angela, Saif’s older sister, was the first to break the silence.“I don’t think that’s a great idea.”She gave Jemma an assessing look.“You don’t strike me as someone who wants a huge, lavish wedding.Am I right?”
Jemma swallowed and nodded.“You’re right, but…” She lifted her chin.“I haven’t agreed to marry Saif yet.”
Another silence fell—sharper this time.
Prince Raj leaned slightly forward, glaring at his son.“You haven’t even proposed?”he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
Saif sighed and set his wine glass down with deliberate care.“Of course I’ve proposed.”He turned to Jemma and scowled.“We’re getting married.”
“We need to work a few things out first,” she countered evenly, cutting another piece of chicken as if they were discussing renovations instead of matrimony.
She wasn’t intimidated.Not anymore.
Not after spending the afternoon with Angela and Helen—two sharp, gorgeous, powerhouse women who carried themselves like royalty because, well, they kind of were.Angela, technically some kind of queen, had leaned in and shared stories that painted her fierce-looking husband as an oversized marshmallow when it came to his kids.Tiro and Raj might look like they could level a city, but they’d been sprawled out on the floor with Jayla and the other children, babbling in silly voices and losing at Candy Land.
It was disarming.Endearing.
And made Jemma wonder if maybe—just maybe—Saif was capable of being that kind of man too.
But she didn’t trust it.Not completely.Not yet.She didn’t trust that a man as magnetic and commanding as Saif could look at her and never wish for something shinier, sleeker, easier.
Which was why she hadn’t said yes.
And absolutely why she wasn’t letting him dictate wedding plans like she was already his.
“What do you mean?”Saif rasped.
