I blinked at him for a full minute before I found my voice. “I finally understand what women mean when they talk of swooning. That—my heart—me too. I didn’t even think about the last name but yes, I want that too. I want to add that to my list.”
His eyebrows shot up. “List?”
“That’s what I was working on in my session today,” I told him. “A path to how we might do this in a healthy way. What I need to make this work with my abuse. She wants to talk to both of us—she said we don’t have time to do this gently because of the stress of your clock. I agree. We need help to navigate this.”
“Agreed.” He huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. “She makes me—I think we should have couples counseling. Anyone pushed together like this should even if—we’re not even officially dating. We need check-ins.”
I beamed at him. “I have that on my list too.” I hurried towards the kitchen and brought out some food since Creed was always hungry and it was good to have something to munch on when discussing stressful topics.
Plus, I’d been denied so much for so long and never allowed my own choices, so I loved to have snacks now.
“First, my doctor wanted me to give you this,” I muttered, handing him the note I promised her that I wouldn’t read. I frowned when he read it and chuckled.
“I like that you’re jealous, beauty,” he said quietly as he moved closer to me. “She said something nice about you that I fully agree with. That’s why I chuckled. Nothing nefarious. I’m relieved to see how much she’s on your side like I am.”
“Here is my list and some extra notes of ideas on how to make things happen, though I’m open to discussion and your input.”
He took the hint and asked for extra pickles on his sandwich… As if I’d ever forget. He didn’t know his nationality or heritage, but I would answer Italian for all the guesses someonewould give me. Though it could be how he was raised, but he loved all Italian food way more than a normal person.
Including Italian sandwiches. I had half a dozen types of cured meats in my fridge at any given time now and loved making him overloaded subs that he happily devoured.
“‘Keep our finances separate for peace of mind and outside stressors,’” he read, snorting. “Meaning your daughters would eat me alive if we didn’t thinking I’m going to take your money.”
“Neither of us like headaches, and I agree with this new push for women to always have their own money so they’re never trapped financially. One account for household expenses we both contribute to should be more than acceptable and—”
“Iagree, Aurora,” he said gently. “You were just awarded millions and millions of dollars. You should absolutely keep that safe and protected. We sign a prenup—all of it. I’ve talked to Alexis about getting at some of my own funds myfamilyabsorbed that shouldn’t have happened. I didn’t know who to trust, but—she’s good people.”
“Good, I hope she does.” I chuckled. “I enjoy feeding her and her diet is a disaster. I think she will be our attorney just for meal planning and prep.” I cleared my throat, not sure he was ready to hear that part of what I wanted for my future.
But Creed paid attention. “Is that what you want to do? Have a big kitchen and take on clients to be like a private chef?”
I blinked at his finished plate and then at him. “Yes, that’s—I didn’t think of it like that way and such a professional title when I don’t have experience but…”
“You like taking care of people, Aurora,” he said gently. “In a world of too much stress and abuse, youlikeseeing people well-fed and helped. I’ve heard Ellie say how you were the one who organized meals at the coven and always took note of what people needed. You like it. I was going to suggest you starta party planning company with all of your soon-to-be freed relatives.”
I gave him his sandwich and then fixed my own much smaller one as I thought about what he said. It was a very complicated topic.
There was such a huge fallout after my interview and the damage done that too many parties tried to stuff it all back into the dark, but we weren’t allowing that.
And Father finally realized this was serious after he was arrested. He couldn’t legally stop me from testifying if I was called in to answer questions,buta settlement was reached that I wouldn’t push to file additional charges as long as every Graves woman—born a Graves or mated into the family—sat with an independent panel and was asked if they wished for freedom.
Plus, I got a fat payout. Eight-figure payout.
They wanted to give it to me so much each year, but Theresa immediately shut that down knowing the game and that they would spin it as some sort of support like I was an idiot who couldn’t make it on my own. They would be kind and giving charity to their damaged daughter instead ofpayingdamages for their wrongdoing.
So it was four lump payments in the next year or I was free to break the agreement… And I got to keep any payments already made including the fifteen million safely sitting in an account.
The people on my side were smarter and were careful on the stipulations. Plus, Father and my eldest brother Andrew always underestimated women. They thought this would be the end of it for all Graves women, any who left and came with me. No more suing for abuse or damages—none of it.
However, I couldn’t even legally make that agreement for other adult women. That would be fraud. The actual agreement was that I, nor the attorneys involved, would be included in anylegal matters involving the Graves family as long as they held to the agreement.
Or there were no new infractions against me.
Great, there was a whole world out there of other attorneys to help the women I would be saving.
Fools.
He focused on the list as he ate. “I agree with couples counseling and checking in with your doc. No secrets that affect or involve the other. Done. I hate that fucking shit and it protects no one.” He froze in taking his bite. “You don’t want to stay in Atlanta?”
