“Making some adjustments,” I retort, scoring through another paragraph of text.
I check I’ve not missed any parts I want to remove, then sign on the line and date it.
“There.” I slide it across the counter toward Sullivan and place the pen on top.
“Adjustments?” One dark brow hitches in curiosity. “Enlighten me,” he drawls like a cat toying with a mouse.
I soften my voice. “No one should ever have to go through what your family has. Sterling’s been through enough. And I’ll do whatever it takes to protect him like he’s always protected me since we met.”
I’ll give it to him; his poker face is impenetrable. But I see the way his pupils flare in reaction to my admission. He flicks through the paperwork, looking at the sections I’ve crossed out.
“You sure about this?” he clips.
“Couldn’t be surer.” I smile but am met with eyes that still hold suspicion. Beauforts really do stick together. And it’s painfully obvious Sullivan considers me to be outside of that circle. I can only hope that time will prove to him that I genuinely love his father and don’t have any hidden motives.
“You crossed through all the parts that prevent my father talking about you,” he states.
“That’s right. I won’t talk about him or your family. But I’m not subjecting him to the same silencing. He’s had people make decisions for him before. He’s had his choice taken away. If things ended between us…” Pain sears through my heart, the thought is crushing even though my soul tells me it will never happen. “If things ended, then I want to give him freedom to say what he wants about me and talk to whoever he wants. Because I willnevertake away his choice.”
We fall into silence, until I ask. “How’s Sinclair?”
“Still mad at you.”
“Oh,” I murmur.
It’s been so long, and I miss her friendship. The thought of her never coming around to the idea of me and Sterling together hurts me more than Sullivan asking me to sign an NDA. I’m happy to sign it and move on. But nothing I’ve said in texts or voicemails has made a difference to Sinclair. What if she never accepts our relationship?
I turn away to return to my meditating, needing the calm more than anything.
“Wait!” Sullivan barks. He slides the paperwork back into the envelope and buttons his suit jacket.
“Do you need me to sign something else?”
“That won’t be necessary.” His jaw clenches.
“Okay then.” I turn away and his low-spoken words sink into my back.
“I’ve spent three years answering questions from people about how my father is. And ‘fine’ is not a word I want in my vocabulary when I have to answer them. Do you know what I told someone who asked yesterday?”
“What?” I frown, turning around.
“I told them he’s the happiest I’ve seen him since that day. That he’s inlove.” He grimaces at the word. “Now… you’re the divine power facilitator, as you call yourself, so garner that power and facilitate whatever the hell it takes to make sure I can always tell people that.”
“I will, I promise.”
He nods curtly but says nothing.
I stare after him as he strides away, the sound of the front door closing echoing through the penthouse.
25
STERLING
“Are you serious?”Rory’s eyes bug out in his head at the open briefcase filled with neatly wrapped bills.
“Deadly.”
He looks at me before his gaze drops to the money on the bed in his hotel room. I’d have liked to have gotten here sooner—every second he’s in New York near Hallie is a second too long—but it took the bank awhile to get half a million in cash ready on the spot.
