To no one’s surprise, Blanche handles herself flawlessly, accepting his counterfeit sincerity with her own faux benevolence. She’s both powerful and meek as she recounts the events of our night with the McDaniel family. She’s able to indulge my father’s narcissism while also managing to take up her own space in a room next to a titan.
“Well, thank you, darling, from the bottom of my heart, for all you did to help.” Father takes her hand in his once more and kisses her knuckles, flashing her a kind smile. “Now, if you don’t mind, my son and I have some business to take care of.”
“Oh, of course, sir.” Blanche gracefully stands from her seat on the desk, beaming up at my father before turning her attention to me. “If you need anything, just let me know.”
The door has hardly closed before the brute force of my father’s hand strikes my cheek. “You son of a bitch. Howdareyou walk into one of the most important meetings this company has ever had with a secretarytrampon your goddamn arm? Do you even understand what you’ve done, boy?”
Checking my face for blood, I look up to stare directly into my abuser’s eyes, like he’s taught me my whole life. “What I did was secure a partnershipyouhave been trying and failing to secure for years.Father.”
A series of sucker punches to my gut breaks my gaze as I fold over in an attempt to protect myself. “No, you idiot boy. What you’ve done is start a rumor that you have a girlfriend. One so serious you’re already thinking of engagement. You know goddamn well that gossip spreads like wildfire in our circles. By the time it gets to Dmitri, you’ll already be picking out linens and naming your second child. Good god, you’re pathetic.”
Father reaches down, grabbing my collar and pulling me back to a standing position from where I’m still hunched over. “Now you listen, and you listen good. I’ve already spoken to the Taranovs and explained that your little tryst was just for a business deal. I suggested we go ahead and move up the engagement. I’m not going to have some succubus fool you into straying from our mission.”
“She’s just an employee I’m fucking around with. You know I like to play with my secretaries. The only reason I brought her to that dinner was because one of their fucking spies saw mecarrying her to my room. I’ll admit that I was caught with my pants down, and she really did save our asses. But she’s just a plaything. Nothing more.”
“Well, regardless, get rid of her. She can continue to work here for a while to avoid the hell of a battle with HR, but find another fuck toy. Your engagement announcement with the Taranov girl will be in two weeks.”
“Two weeks? That’s…that’s absurd! What about the McDaniels? How are they going to react when I’mengagedto Natalya only two weeks after charming them with Blanche?”
“The takeover will be closed by the end of this week. Their signature is final. I couldn’t give a rat's ass what they think after that contract is signed. But hear me when I say nothing, and I meannothing,will get in the way of your engagement. I swear to you, if you mess this deal up, I’ll divorce your mother, find another bitch, and put another heir into her. Do I make myself clear?”
A lifetime of training, and I still can’t make myself look him in the eyes any longer. Hanging my head, I accept my fate. “Yes, sir.”
Father’s maniacal laugh makes me shiver as he jerks my head back up to meet his gaze, squeezing my jaw hard enough that I know I’ll have bruises as he assesses me. “God, you’re pathetic, boy.”
With one last shove, he turns and leaves the room, slamming my office door behind him. I hear him schmoozing with the employees, but I can barely make out what he’s saying as my mind spirals.Two fucking weeks. I was supposed to have at least another year.
And Blanche? It’s a miracle he didn’t make me fire her on the spot. He’s wrong to think there’s more between us, though. It’s just the possession I feel over a good pussy.The best pussy I’ve ever had.That’s all it is. But how can I pull myself to stop seeingher? I’ll share her, sure, but the thought of not having her at all is unbearable. She may just be a fuck toy, but she’smytoy.
She’s mine.
Chapter sixteen
Flipping through each page of the seating arrangement, I stop at my parents' table. Margot and I spent hours last night finalizing this, and she asked me no fewer than twenty times if I was sure I was fine with my parents coming. Each time I assured her it was okay, but after what she witnessed when she met them, I’m sure she’s still skeptical. Looking back, I realize my parents finding out I’m married to a man I’d known for three months might have been a lot to take in. Especially a man who’s ten years older, covered in tattoos, and owns a sex club.
“Ah! Sloane, there you are, darling. I’ve been looking for you!” Blanche flounces down on the sofa beside me, kissing my cheek. “Oh good, you’ve got it! I was sent to find you and this book to give to Rafa so he can get the place settings finished!”
She must notice the reason the folder is open to this specific page, because she wraps her arm around my shoulders and pulls me into her. “I’m glad you invited them. I’ve been so proud of the steps you’ve taken to mend things with your parents. I know it’s not perfect, but these things take time.”
Smiling, I lean into her hug. It’s the most matronly embrace I’ve ever had, and because of that, I cherish our relationship. “Yes, we try to see them more often now, and they’re both crazy about the kids. Of course, therapy has worked wonders on my own trauma. I’m thankful that Ledger and Allie were so insistent on it, or I probably wouldn’t have gone.”
“Oh, how is Allie? I was devastated to hear that she wasn’t able to make it to the wedding.”
“She’s doing wonderfully! She’s a licensed therapist now. She’s got an office in the city, but she’s about to take a little break to spend some time in Paris. She’ll be there for three months, I think. She’s actually staying in Margot’s old apartment! Ledger and I are planning to visit at some point before she comes back.”
“Oh, that would be lovely! Perhaps Margot can get some of her old friends to give her a welcome. Visiting a new country alone can be quite daunting, even for someone as spunky as Allie!”
Laughing, I close the folder and hand it to my mother-in-law. “Can you believe I ended up with her as my best friendandLedger as my husband?Me?Boring, good little Sloane.”
“Oh my darling, I wouldn’t say you were sogoodafter all, and certainly not boring. I’ve heard you girls talk. I know way too much about what you and Ledger get up to.”
“Oh, please, we aren’tthatwild—”
“How many shows have the two of you put on? How many countries? I will say, meeting in a play is a bit ironic considering how many performances I’ve heard about. Did I hear you whisper something aboutalmost a thousandto Margot one day?” My cheeks heat, no doubt flushing to a deep crimson, the color symbolic of what Ledger and I indeed have gotten up to. “Oh, I wouldn’t say a little exhibitionism isthatcrazy…I’ve seen some insane kinks play out at the clubs we go to.”
“No, you're right, it’s not that crazy. I would consider it rather vanilla, actually. My son’s initials carved into your asscheeks, however, are not.” Blanche winks.
“I’ve heard some things about you, too!”
