Jones cleared his throat. “You’ve come into a great deal of money, which is fantastic. You are set for life.”
“Yes, fantastic,” Jacob echoed. “But with this money… It comes with some responsibility.”
There went my hope for normal.
“What does that mean?”
Jones smiled at me almost sympathetically. “You’re a smart girl, Poppy.”
Neither one of them elaborated.
“Okay?” I didn’t like being toyed with.
Jacob looked over at Jones. “How do we say this gently?”
Jones tilted his head. “Father, unfortunately, left some very big strings attached to that money.”
Then why would the money already be in my account?
Something wasn’t adding up.
Jacob finally sat down in his chair. “Father had some dealings he was working on tying up before his unfortunate demise. Which puts you directly in the center of all of it.”
Which would explain why those two women seemed concerned for my safety.
Jacob continued, “Father was working on a marriage proposal to one of his biggest competitors before everything happened.”
Jones rolled his eyes, bored with the way this conversation was going. “They wanted Jade, thinking the oldest daughter would be entitled to the biggest inheritance. Little did they know that Daddy Dearest had other plans. You are now on their radar and in their sights.”
“They want me for my money?”
“Obviously,” Jacob smirked. “But for more than that. They want you to marry their oldest son, Donovan, next year to join our families and the big deal they have proposed for our firm.”
I pressed my fingers into my temples as the room spun. “An arranged marriage? Is that what I’m hearing? Is this real life?”
They both laughed at the same time, like I was the one saying ridiculous things. Did they not hear what I said? Arranged marriage? That was barbaric, archaic. How was it even legal?
“Don’t look so horrified, sister,” Jones steepled his fingers in front of his face while he watched me. “Arranged marriage is very common in our world. You just don’t know it because of all the contracts needing to be signed.”
“What if I say no?” I had to have a say in all of this, right?
Jacob leaned forward. “There is nono. You marry Donovan Madden, and then everything works out for our empire.”
“I don’t want the money then,” I laughed, and it sounded hysterical. “You both can have it and marry into this crazy family. Maybe they have daughters?”
They shook their heads in unison. “No, that isn’t how this works. The money means nothing to us, but this deal… This deal is everything. It will change history, dear sister. You’re either going to marry Donovan, or Jane will.”
I frowned. Clarity seemed to slap me in the face. “Jane is fourteen.”
Jones breathed through his nose as if this were the most pleasant conversation he’d ever had. “Jane has a small fortune. Jane will also grow into her body and will be worth a lot when she’s older. So, here are your options. You marry Donovan Madden, or Jane will.”
“What if my fortune disappeared?”
Jacob’s jaw went tight as he ground his teeth together. “Then so will you.”
Chapter Sixteen
Ivan
