He stiffens beside me, but I don’t look at him.
This pleases Russell. “I know it’s early doors, but there’s much to learn about our family, which will all come in good time. Just focus on settling in, getting comfortable. And, of course, wedding plans!”
This is the first time the blonde beside him perks up. “Oh, I love a wedding!” She claps her hands together.
Even though there certainly won’t be any wedding happening between me and Caden, I wonder if this girl actually believes she’ll be around long enough to receive an invitation.
I don’t voice that; I just smile sweetly at her. “I’m sure Caden will make it a spectacle.”
He turns his head and flashes me the fakest grin I’ve ever seen on a person. “Nothing less for you, princess.”
I almost crack, almost burst into laughter at how ridiculous this all is.
Russell’s eyes flick between the two of us. He’s a clever man, I’m sure if he looked at us deep enough, he could spot the lies.
“So,” he says, eyes coming back to me, “I suppose you’ll be working on giving me a grandchild imminently, once The Hunt’s over. I bet you two have found it hard to abstain this long.”
This is the second mention of babies from him. The unexpected comment at the engagement party took me aback, and now again. Both times he’s broached such an intimate subject with nonchalance. I can’t decide if Russell’s so forward about this topic because he’s that open and comfortable with his son and me, or if it’s because he’s an inappropriate, creepy weirdo. Or… is he testing me, seeing if I can handle the vulgarity because I’m vulgar myself, not at all a lady and therefore notsuited for his son? And then he’ll call off the wedding, and I can run off into the sunset alone.
I decide to test the theory. “Oh, yes. Caden and I cannot wait to jump into bed together.”
Caden chokes on his drink.
I ignore him and continue, Russell’s raised eyebrows and impressed look urging me on. “We can barely keep our hands off each other as it is.”
Caden wipes his chin. “Alright, princess, I don’t think my father wants to hear about this.”
Russell flicks his gaze to him before returning to me. “Is that so?”
He’s not uncomfortable, but he seems sceptical. Can he sense that we don’t really get along?
“Absolutely,” I push on, “if we weren’t so busy during the day, it’d be impossible to not rip each other’s clothes off.”
Caden shoots to his feet. “Elodie. A quick word.” He grabs me by the elbow and tugs me upright.
I keep my eyes on Russell as I step away, a devilish smile playing on my lips. He’s not giving much away, but if I had to make a guess, I’d say he doesn’t believe me. Well, good. If he knows his son isn’t treating me right, maybe he’d have a word with him.
Caden roughly pulls me through a door, and we’re in what looks like another private section.
He slams the door and pushes me up against the wall. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“What? He asked, I answered.”
“The sarcasm is literally oozing off you. Do you want him to know what this dynamic is really like?”
“So what if he did know? Maybe he can teach you some manners.” I fold my arms.
Caden’s lips pull back into a snarl. “You think he’s so charming, so perfect. You have no idea who that man is. He wouldn’t bother with any of that. He’d send you away.” His aggression mounts, and he stops himself, composure returning before he speaks again. “You want to be sent back to your dad?”
“No, I’d just leave.”
“He’d deliver you back there himself.”
“Why?”
“Because you would’ve wasted his time. He knows what life you had with your dad, and so he’d make sure you’d go back to it. If he thinks you’re giving me any grief, any reason that I might not be in top form, he’ll get rid of you. You think he needs your family? We’re doing this for you, to save your asses. You get sent back to your dad, the business dies and you go back to being broke and on the streets by next week.”
Right. How could I forget?
