“We’re pretending, Griffin. Remember that. But despite all of this being a charade to make you palatable to your partners, I did have a good time. Would it be better if we were really in love? Yes. Was the ring gorgeous? Also yes. Life is complicated.”
His shoulders relax. “Very pragmatic. You're going to be good for me.”
He leans forward and kisses me once more. I really do like his kisses. That's one thing we have—chemistry.
“So what's the game plan for tomorrow?” I ask. “I’m worried I’m not going to play my part well.”
“The most pressing thing is for you to pack. It's Tuesday. I want you ready to move in by Thursday. We apply for the license Friday, get married Saturday. We’ll have a small ceremony on my roof. Do you have anyone in New York you want to invite?”
I sigh. “I don’t know anyone here, Griffin. Nobody I know can drop everything and be here by the weekend. How do you want me to act at work?”
“Like a woman who just had a three-thousand-dollar meal. Like someone marrying a man who stood on a chair for her. Act happy.”
He seems the tiniest bit perturbed that I have to ask.
“I would be happy with a hot dog if it were real love,” I say softly.
“You’re going to be easy to keep.” He flashes me a bright smile.
“Oh, I don’t know.” I give him a smirk and open the car door. “I can pretend to be pretty expensive.”
I walk up the stairs to my building.
“You have a beautiful ass,” he calls out from the car window.
I go inside and slam the door, leaning against it to catch my breath.
11
GRIFFIN
I watch her and her perfect ass walk up the stairs to her sublet.
I'm half tempted to snatch her back into the car and make her come home with me right now. She is infuriating, but I’d be disappointed if she were anything less. I’m changing her entire life, and I don't want to cohabitate with a woman who is so greedy for money and prestige that she would throw away her freedom without a little bit of a fight.
That being said, the first thing that crosses my mind as she closes the door is:What the fuck am I doing?
I have no business bringing this woman into my life. She's beautiful, vibrant, and has an incredible future ahead of her. All I’m going to do is fuck her up.
I've set conditions for our marriage that don't include mandatory sex because I don't think that's fair to her. Yet, I didn’t think about how unfair it is to me. I have to look at someone so fucking gorgeous day in and day out andnottouch her?
I try not to get too tied up in the details. The only thing I need to do is have her sign the contract and go through with the wedding. When I prove to the board I’m married and stable, I’ll be able to focus on acquiring David Mason Enterprises. After that acquisition, I’m going for Carl Besheir’s whole empire.
Being a partner offers the kind of clout I need to establish myself within the Christopher Street Society. We still have a rebellious faction working covertly behind the scenes, trying tooverthrow Massimo, the long-established leader. Carl and his recruits are putting pressure on my friend Beckett to weaponize his pharmaceutical research. Carl is also pushing Marcel to buy up international properties for illicit purposes.
Everything Carl touches is dirty, and he's starting to come after me with deals that don't pass the smell test. Being a partner at Paxton, Gill, and Associates will give me the leverage I need to crush him.
My mind is reeling when I finally lay my head down. I dream of the blonde beauty who has fully captured my focus.
The next morning, she enters my office looking nervous. I get up and close the door, locking out the curious eyes of the bullpen.
“Thoughts?” I ask, leaning against the doorframe.
She is wearing a blush-colored blouse and fitted charcoal pants that are modest but frame her curves so perfectly that all I can think about is unbuttoning them.
“I’m scared,” she confesses.
It’s brave of her to admit that, considering we aren’t married yet and she could still lose the deal.
