“What has Adam got to do with it?” I asked, not realizing my cousin had shares in my father’s business.
An argument about shares and majority control started, and I just wanted it to be over. Clearly, Jasper and his father were attempting to take over my father’s company. And after what he had told me at dinner, I knew it was all down to money. Money to pay off his father’s debts and cement his own future.
So, in a nutshell. Jasper had been blackmailing me to marry him so he could inherit my shares and take over the company.
As the two Remmington men started talking over each other, my father turned to me. Apologising for involving me and saying that he was sorry for being so blind. Snippets of conversation started to penetrate my thoughts, and I felt like the naivest person alive.
The ugly truth of what both Jasper and his father had been planning for the last few months circled the air around us like a cancer. Only I knew the other reason: Jasper had also wanted the union to hide his sexuality. The plan to take over the company came after Theo’s decline into gambling addiction, but of course, that hadn’t come up.
And then my father revealed something else incriminating. “So, you decided to reinitiate marriage to Storm to inherit her shares. All with the intention of taking control of the company. Well, you failed to carry out your own due diligence, as that wouldneverhave happened anyway.”
“How do you figure that? We still have a signed agreement. If either of you fails to honor that? You must compensate me. That was the deal.”
“Look, I don’t think we need to be hasty. We should go somewhere where we can discuss this, Dominic,” Theo cut in.
“I want what was promised,” Jasper rasped.
“At this point, I’d pay you anything to get you out of my little girl's life,” my father announced, running a hand down his dress shirt.
“Done. I want Storm’s forty-six percent.” I felt Reed strain beside me, like he wanted to take Jasper’s throat in his hand. I placed my hand on his arm, clutching my dress with the other.
“And that is why you should have done more research, Jasper. Storm doesn’t have forty-six percent in Remmington Summers Consultancy.”
“Excuse me?” Jasper grunted.
“That schedule isn’t the most up-to-date version,” my father explained with a smug expression. “In fact, it’s years old.”
“What are you saying, Daddy?” I asked, turning to face him.
“When I found out I had a son, I split Storm’s shares between bothmy kids.”
“What?” Jasper snarled.
“Are the board aware?” Theo added with a surprised look, rubbing his forehead, almost struggling to get his words out.
“Yes. Both Storm and Phoenix have an equal share. So, unless you were planning on marryingbothmy children…” There was no need for my father to finish that sentence. I felt frozen and didn’t move an inch.
“Is everything OK here?” a member of staff suddenly muttered from beside my father. I glanced around. We had caught the attention of some of the guests. There were a couple of women ogling Reed, and another cluster of people talking behind their hands.
“Yes, it’s fine,” I replied, with a forced smile. They collected some empty glasses from the table and moved away.
“Nothing is fine,” Jasper fumed, stepping towards me, straightening his jacket. “You’re even more of a useless cunt than I first thought.”
Reed’s body stiffened beside me, and my father shifted on his feet. There was a surge of movement as both Hudson and Nix moved. Everything seemed to go in slow motion. Harper and Molly appeared instantly, both moving to grab Hudson,who was the most volatile. Phoenix cracked his knuckles but was held back by our father. “Easy son, he isn’t worth it.”
I was aware of lights from people's cell phones behind us as the scuffle broke out. We were being filmed.
My entire nervous system went into overdrive as I moved to block Reed from grabbing Jasper.
“Please don’t, as Daddy said, he isn’t worth it,” I husked, my body jarring back and forth as I attempted to keep my balance. My mind was screaming.
“Yes, you heard the bitch. I’m not worth it. Or maybe I am. Why don’t you do it? Hit me. Let the entire world see what a thug you are.”
I knew Jasper was egging Reed on. People behind us were desperate for the drama, and capturing one of the NFL’s top players fighting on camera would go viral.
“If you’ll excuse me, I have an important call to make,” Jasper sneered, removing his cell from his jacket.
Panic kicked in as my gaze swung to Reed’s. “Reed? Remember what I told you.”
