My father pours us each another drink and slides my glass back over to me.
“One more for the road. And for luck.” He chuckles, tapping the side of his glass.
“I do need luck.”
He shakes his head. “You were born lucky, son. You do not need luck. Just look at this.”
He holds up the contract we just signed for the Zurich deal.
“We got lucky with that.” I grin.
“No, we gotyou. I don’t know how you do it, but everything you touch turns to gold.”
“I guess I learn from the best.”
He smirks. “You give me too much credit. Take some for yourself. You should also let your brothers handle the closure of the deal and take a break on your honeymoon.”
“Me? Take a break? Not likely. We’ve been trying to secure Zurich for years. Once the accounts settle, Dorian will coordinate the transfer. Then I’ll close off everything.”
“Locke or Levi can do it.” He nods once.
“And risk them screwing it up?” I loosen my cufflinks, shaking my head.
“They won’t.” He leans back, studying my face. “They’re fully capable of handling a closure.”
“Yes, for hedge funds. Not this. Locke and Levi are like goblins on crack. I can’t trust them with a deal of this magnitude.” Only today, I caught them stealing Judge Jackson’s toupee when he fell asleep during the speeches. So, no thanks. Dorian would do a good job, but I’ve already given him plenty to handle.
“I just don’t want you to take on too much.” He straightens and takes another swig of his drink.
“It’ll be fine, Dad. I’ve got it.”
His mouth curves, faint but knowing. “Always in control. Let’s see if marriage changes that.”
“It won’t.”
He laughs, low and amused. “Careful, son. Arranged or not, marriage has a way of binding more than just names.”
“Maybe I’ll be the one to break the rule.” I brush my fingers over my jacket.
“Maybe.” He knocks back the rest of his drink. “I suppose things will be less stressful now that you’re moving into the next phase of your plan.”
Less stressful? I highly doubt that.
Isla and I have this push-and-pull dynamic that’s as feral as wildfire. It ignites the moment I look at her, then burns hotter the longer we’re near each other.
I can’t control her. She can’t control me. The only time we’re not fighting is when we burn together. The kisses. The touches. The tasting.
God, the tasting.
But the countdown starts today. In six months, I’ll hand the beautiful girl who took my name back to the universe.
That’s the plan for us.
The rest is ugly. Isla will hate me when she learns what I plan to do to the restaurant. And when that time comes, I’ll have to look past those big hazel eyes and remember one simple truth—business is business.
Don appears at the doorway. “The car’s ready, Mr. Vale.”
I acknowledge him with a nod. “I’ll be out in a second.”
