He thrummed his fingers, his eyes shifting to his son’s.
“What?”
Garrett inhaled sharply. “Fine. She’s yours. I’ll do what I can to move up the date, for now, just send the 10 million.”
Thomas straightened then. “What are you doing?”
“I’m selling Scarlett to someone who actually sees the value in her.”
He stood abruptly, the chair sliding back against the carpet. “You can’t do that,” he snarled. “Do you know how much work I put into her to turn her into somethingdesirable?All the hours will be wasted if you just give her away.”
“I’m not giving her away, Thomas, I’m selling her. The church would greatly appreciate the money, and I’m sure their offspring would prove far more useful than yours. I mean, look at him.”
Thomas turned to me.
I rose a brow.
His expression twisted in disgust. “He’s put four years into this church,” Thomas went on, turning back to his father. “I’ve dedicated my entirelifeto this place. The blessing was meant for me.”
“Then may God forgive us of our sins.”
Thomas rushed the desk, slamming his hands down. “You willneverget the chance to fuck her if you sell her to him. None of the Leaders will. He won’t share her like I swore I would.”
“Son, you will learn that no pussy is worth 12 million dollars. It’s rather immature of you to even be fighting me on this when that money will go straight into the church that you will inherit.”
“And give to who, father?” he seethed. “Without a wife, I won’t have children. Without children, I won’t have anyone to hand it off too when God finally takesmehome.”
“There are plenty of others willing to bear the children of the Pastor,” he said tiredly. “Look around you. Many Pillars have married Favorites after only a few weeks. You can do the same.”
“But they won’t be the children of the Blessed One. Those are the offspring we need for the Church of Daylight. We need her to produce at the very least a girl and boy to give to the church for all we’ve given to her. For all we’ve provided her.”
I pulled out my watch, the secondhand ticking away, the gears moving slowly. She was probably dressed by now. I snapped it shut. “I don’t have time for this. Is the deal done?”
“Yes,” Garrett said.
“No!” Thomas snarled at the same time.
I slid the watch away. “You’ll get the money the day I marry her. I want his key revoked. I have that right.”
“You do,” Garrett agreed.
“You can’t do this!”
His father stood. “I need your key, Thomas.”
He straightened, stepping away from us both. “No.”
I shrugged and pulled out my phone. “I’ll have the locks changed within the hour,” I told Garrett.
Thomas’ face was bright red, his hands clenched, his eyes wild. “Don’t you dare.”
But I already sent the message. “Don’t worry about the compensation, Garrett, I’ll cover it. A small price to pay. I’m also going to make a request, as she is now my betrothed.”
Garrett waved on.
“I want her all to myself,” I told him, feeling the rage build in the room. “I will not share her with anyone else. No more meetings with Leaders or with the sons of the Leaders. She is mine.”
“Father!”
