Sebastian snorted.
“You have to admit that wedding planning made her completely insufferable,” I argued.
“I think weddings don’t bring out the worst in women. I think terrible women let their guard down while wedding planning, and you see their true colors,” Sebastian said.
“Camilla sure showed me who she is.”
“Is she still trying to get back with you?” Sebastian asked.
“Yep.”
“And you’re not going to do it.”
“I mean…” I ran a hand through my hair.
“Dude.”
“Of course not, but, dude, the Svenssons. I’m trying to work her cousin, but I’m concerned. I can’t have the Svenssons cutting me out of that deal. Otherwise, I’m going to be stuck owning magazines. I need to do more big real estate development. Camilla’s father owns all that land, and I was banking on having access.”
My friend was slowly shaking his head.
“If you get back together with that witch, I’m throwing you in a river.”
* * *
The issue,I thought as I stood in the Sutherland Bank lobby waiting for Camilla’s father to see me, was that I wasn’t sure I was going to attract anyone any different than Camilla.
There’s Ivy.
All the women who wanted billionaires were shallow and vapid and loved nice things. They were flighty and disloyal because all they cared about was money.
Ivy doesn’t. She’s not impressed by your money or expensive cars.
Maybe I needed to give up on marriage and relationships. I could have a series of girlfriends who I only invited to my less-nice penthouse, but I would live in a better, bigger penthouse with a family of Roombas. The girls would be easily impressed by the nice real estate and random expensive gifts I would give them, and we’d have a no-strings-attached relationship…
Or maybe you could just ask Ivy.
Maybe I wouldn’t do that.
“How’s my future son-in-law?” Orson Sutherland boomed, walking out into the lobby.
“Camilla said you two talked the other day. Good, good. I’m glad you two are going to put the past behind you.”
I gritted my teeth. I wanted to tell him off, tell him exactly what wasn’t going to happen with me and his daughter. But I desperately needed him to sell me that property.
“Teddy mentioned that you had a business deal with the Svenssons,” Orson continued as he took me back to his office.
“Yes, I’ve mentioned that to you,” I said as we both took a seat. “They’re building a large development near the harbor, and they’d like those parcels we discussed to link to the HighLine.”
Sutherland grunted and leaned back in his chair. “I have to tell you, I don’t understand why you’re so worked up over this. You ruined a nice wedding for nothing.”
“Camilla ruined the wedding,” I countered.
“You ran off!” he said, stabbing at the table. “I’m sure if you’d just talked to her, you could have calmed everybody down. Instead, you let her spiral out of control. Family is important to me. My daughter’s happiness is important to me. Once you have kids, you’ll understand.”
“I would disown my daughter if she turned into a cheating whore,” I told him flatly.
Sutherland glared at me. I clamped my mouth shut.
