Her expression turns amused before she nods. “I found my voice. I don’t take crap from anyone anymore.”
Without thinking, I reach out and stroke my thumb along her bare forearm, appreciating the silky softness of her skin under my touch.
She shudders. I expect her to pull away, but she doesn’t. Instead, her green eyes hold mine.
“Were you forced to cut your hair to stay at the monastery?”
“No.” She runs her free hand through her hair. “I wasn’t trying to become a nun. It was my own decision. However, Keira gave me the courage to do the big chop. She’s also rocking a pixiecut, but she’s a blonde to my jet-black hair.” She lets out a small laugh. “It’s the second most rebellious thing I’ve ever done.”
“Seems like you’re still wearing your rebellious badge with pride.”
“Today, I am.”
We exchange a complicit smile.
Her demeanor changes.
“What is it?”
She worries her lower lip.
“Come on. Talk to me.”
Glancing at her empty glass of wine and back up at me, she looks as if she’s weighing her options.
“What about the press? How are we going to convince them we’re so in love wehaveto get married? I mean, there aren’t any photos of us together—no history of us even knowing each other. It’s pretty hard to hide in the digital age.”
She might not have formerly agreed to our merger-marriage, but her question tells me where her head is at.
“That’s where the PR team comes in. They’ll come up with an airtight story. As long as we follow the script, everything should be okay.”
“This sounds very Hollywood. It’s like we’re actors.”
“In many ways, we are. We’re playing a role.”
“Right.” I detect a tinge of nervousness. Dare I say, self-doubt?
She’s quiet for a beat.
Hesitant eyes meet mine. “Not that I had princess dreams of a regal wedding, attended by thousands, but I never imagined a merger-marriage would be the first time I walked down the aisle. And, I most definitely never imagined tying the knot with a multibillionaire.”
“I never imagined walking down the aisle, period,” I say. “I love my freedom way too much to put a noose around my neck.Luckily, the countdown starts right after we exchange theI do’s. Something tells me we’ll both be rushing to the divorce court when the year is over.”
She nods. “Let’s hope we survive the year.”
After this morning, I have to wonder. But my eyes are on the prize, so I’m more than willing to put water in my wine.
“The incentive is strong for both of us,” I say.
She nods again.
I seek out easy, no strings attached hookups with women who aren’t looking for a forever guy. Sacrificing my freedom, and therefore cockblocking my ability to sink into a warm pussy whenever I want, will be an unbearable challenge. I’d never dream of entering a ball and chain arrangement unless it was well worth it. Securing the CEO position is the ultimate reward.
“Today was about us getting acquainted with each other,” I say, “We can go over the contract and the prenup––”
“Very romantic,” she says.
“Let’s not pretend, Michaela. We both know what this is. I’d be an embarrassment as a COO if I entered a deal without an airtight contract. I highly recommend you hire your own legal counsel. I’m not going to blindside you, but you need the guidance and blessings of a lawyer on the terms of our arrangement and what you’ll get out of it.”
