He blinked.“Well, you want to get married, and you can show your face in society again.”
She frowned.“I don’t understand.”
“Well, you must have been embarrassed about the breakup to hide on this backwards island.”
He really had no idea who she was.She’d spoken to him about wanting to volunteer in the future, and he mustn’t have listened to a word she’d said.
“I’d share some of my money with you.”
Some, not all.Out of morbid curiosity, she asked, “How much would you share?”
Vance pursed his lips as if he was making a hard decision.“Ten percent.”
A bit of her died inside.Was she worth so little?
Agus shifted to lean against a sideboard, listening to every word.Vance had to stop talking about money.She could practically see the dollar signs in Agus’s eyes.
“Firstly, Dad wouldn’t reemploy you even if we did marry.You did nothing of value the whole time you worked there.”
“Surely he wants to please his little girl.”
She shook her head.“I wouldn’t ask him to.You’re a bad investment.”Plus, both her parents had told her how relieved they were that she’d broken off the engagement.
He scowled, the genial bargainer personality glitching for a moment.“I can take you away from this hole, and you can live in my townhouse on Bondi Beach.”
“I like this island.”Bondi was too crowded for her.
“Be reasonable, Mila.I’m offering you everything you could ever want.”
He didn’t know what she wanted.Had never cared enough to ask her.“No.You’re offering me everythingyouwant.We don’t want the same things, Vance.We never did.”
“You’ve got to do this, Mila.”A hint of desperation now.
“Why?There are plenty of women who would marry you.”Plenty who wouldn’t look past the shiny sports car and beachfront townhouse.
“I need a job.”
She sighed.The only reason he’d sought her out was because of her father.“Then I suggest you apply for one.”
“You’re so selfish, Mila.I can’t believe you won’t do this for me.”
And here was the child throwing the tantrum.He’d kept this side well-hidden during their relationship.
She was relieved she’d seen the true Vance prior to the wedding, but the fact their entire relationship had been a lie made her sad.
“It sounds as if your father has plenty of money to help one person,” Agus said.
Her skin tightened at his curious and slightly menacing tone.She glanced up as Agus approached them.
“I didn’t realise your father was so powerful,” Agus added.
Mila glared a warning at Vance, but he didn’t notice.“My father doesn’t have power.He owns a business.”
Vance snorted, oblivious to the threat in Agus’s words.“A multi-million dollar business.”
She slapped his thigh hard, trying to conveyshut the hell upin her gaze.“It’s irrelevant.Agus doesn’t need the details.”
Agus chuckled.“If I remember correctly, you also said your mother was a team leader at an organisation.”
