What’s not beautiful is what she’s wearing. A bright red Christmas sweater. What the hell would she be wearing that for? To make it worse, she was wearing forest green pants and red heels.
From the disdainful look her father was giving her, he wasn’t too pleased with her choice in outfits either.
Had I missed something in looking into her? There’s no way. I knew she did volunteer work at the local children’s hospital, maybe that’s why she was dressed the way she was. To make the kids there happy?
“Reggie, what can I do for you?” Grant asks, his question pulling me out of my thoughts.
“I came to see if you could possibly come to an alliance of sorts,” Reggie says, hands in his pockets as he looks around the space.
“What are you suggesting?” Grant cocks a brow and glances at me for a second before refocusing on the older man.
“Your father had the bright idea to decide to retire, and I’m thinking of following suit, but my daughter can’t be left alone to her own devices. I say we merge the two families with an arranged marriage.”
“What?” Emerie snaps, eyes widening as she snaps her attention to her father.
“You want me to marry your daughter?” Grant demands tersely.
“I don’t expect it to be you, but possibly one of your brothers,” Reggie remarks.
“You can’t be serious, Father,” Emerie shouts, going from wide-eyed surprise to downright furious. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but I’m not marrying him or anyone else.”
“Quiet, Emerie,” Reggie orders, his tone firm.
“I will not?—”
“My brothers are not going to agree to a marriage between your daughter and them. No offense to you, beautiful,” Grant says, interrupting the father-daughter argument before it can begin. “Reggie, what makes you bring this offer to me. We’re not exactly friends.”
“I bring it to you because, as I said, I’m looking to retire and my daughter cannot run a business she knows nothing about,” Reggie affirms what he said moments ago.
“I’m not marrying anyone,” Emerie reiterates.
“Silence,” Reggie snaps, shooting the woman a glare.
Somewhere deep down, a part of me didn’t like the way he spoke to her. Nor did I like the way he glared at her.
“You’re willing to marry your only daughter off to ensure an alliance with the Devore family, all because you want to retire?” Grant asks, ignoring the exchange between father and daughter. Though I know him. I know the way his mind works. When he looks in my direction. I get the sense he’s going to do something I’m not going to like.
“I could easily give the business to one of my men. I’ve thought about this, however, I feel this move, bringing the two families together, would see that my business thrives.”
“What makes you think that I won’t just overtake your business and run it to the ground?” He wouldn’t, I knew that. Grant was a solid businessman. He knew when something was profitable. Both legit or not. He’s making it into something even better than it already is.
My gut is telling me there’s more to this business than what Reggie is letting on.
“We could just take the business from you and not have to do any of this,” I remark, my eyes glued to Reggie, but I could still see Emerie as well.
Her eyes were on me. She was watching me now.
“You would have a war on your hands if you tried.” Reggie sneers, eyes flashing with anger.
“Father.”
I noticed she didn’t call him Dad or Daddy. It was Father. There was more to her than what I’d found on her in the times I’ve watched her. I’m missing something and don’t like it.
“I have a solution to all of this,” Grant announces, clapping his hands together, glancing between all of us.
“And that would be?” Reggie demands, his eyes going back to my boss.
“You want your daughter to marry into the Devore family? Fine, she can marry into it by marrying Calder here.”
