But the VP role hadn’t been announced yet, and he’d never gotten close enough to any woman in Hollybrook for Jay to be seen as romantic competition. His address also wasn’t listed in the company directory and he had never given it to any of his “dates.” He had been discreet. He had always been discreet, even with Jay.
Michael had figured it out and his stepmother certainly had, so he supposed others harbored their suspicions. But they wereonlysuspicions. Conjecture didn’t hold up in a court of law.
Even he knew better than to say “maybe it was your mother” when Jay looked so fragile, though. Besides, the photos had clearly been taken with a tele-photo lens and those weren’tcheap. Even if Daniellehadoutsourced, a good photographer was likely more than she could afford.
So he had moved on to the next best solution, grabbing her on their way out the door.
“Bring your dress to work. I’m marrying you today.”
“W-what?” She eyed him incredulously. “I thought we agreed that we would wait until after all of the interviews were over so there wouldn’t be a conflict of interest.”
“That was all you. Now, the situation has changed. You’re worried about your reputation—and the public perception is very different for a mistress versus a wife.”
“But that’s a terrible reason to get married!”
“There are no terrible reasons. Not where you’re concerned. Besides, you’ve always known that I can be a little bit mercenary. I’m just staying true to form.”
Jay hadn’t denied his words. She knew what he was like. And he knew whatshewas like. Watching her fret, he was filled with the suspicion that if he allowed Jay to her own devices, she’d be on the first bus out of town, and he had no intention of letting that happen. Shewouldbe walking down that aisle with him, even if the “I dos” had to come with their last dying breaths.
By the time he got back to his desk, he had a whole page of emails waiting for him. He jotted off a few quick replies to the ones that seemed most important before redelegating the rest. Then he pulled out his phone.
Did you try the dress on?
Yes, she responded.And it fits. I didn’t think it would.
Hehad. As soon as he’d seen the dress draped over the back of the embroidered chair in his bedroom, he’d known. Shewouldn’t have arranged the drape of the skirt so carefully if she hadn’t fallen in love with it.
I removed the outer skirt, she wrote.It’s one of those day-to-night dresses. For dancing, I think. Did your mom get married in the 80s?
She did. She told me once that she wanted to look like the princess in Swan Lake.
There was a pause.Do I need to sign anything for your lawyers? Like a prenup?
You tore up a check for ten million dollars. If this is some kind of long-con, you’re playing it so well that even I can’t see the angle. And any lawyer I hired to verify the contract would probably cost more than you’ve ever allowed me to spend on you. So no, Jay. You sign nothing.
That’s surprisingly idealistic for a cynic like you, she responded.
I’m a romantic. Also, if you ever try to fuck me, I’m just going to fuck you back.
I know.She sent an eye roll emoji.Nicholas Beaucroft fucks everyone twice as hard as everyone else who tries to fuck him.
Say that to my fucking face tonight without stammering over the fucks. I want to hear it.
She sent him a middle finger. He sent her a diamond, an eggplant, and a bird.
I’m going to make you say it. ‘Daddy fucks me twice as hard as any man who’s ever tried to fuck me, including my ex who couldn’t make me come.’
I’m going to unmarry you.
Then I’ll just have to marry you again with an even bigger ring and think of some even filthier things for you to say to me on our next honeymoon.
I don’t recommend that. The diamonds fell out of my stupid rich person nails. You’re already coming into this marriage at a $20,000 net loss. :(
A snort escaped him.
He heard her laugh echo through the office, though she quickly tried to stifle it, looking around self-consciously as she covered her mouth in a gesture he recognized all too well because he had seen it every time her mother dressed her down for being herself.
I’m going to kill her mother.
