Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86322 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86322 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Take control of the previous owner’s daughter? Really?
She said it all without even looking at me, blinking her wide, baby blues straight ahead, smiling softly. All of it a charade of good intentions that I was sure everyone in the elevator believed, but I heard the bitchy insinuation and knew better.
Trying to be understanding of her frustration, I adopted a placid expression, mimicking the gentle tilt of her lips, and stared ahead. Despite my best efforts, my icy armor locked in place, and my smile turned more predatory than caring.
I struggled to keep my voice even and calm. “Lucian and I haven’t had a chance to make any solid plans about the date yet. As for the company,” I started, turning my tone hard and authoritative. I twisted to face her, dropping the passive aggressiveness and going for direct. I could handle her bitchiness about a man, but leave my business out of it. “As stated in the company memo, Lucian Daire is a partial owner and will not be capable of changing the name. We will continue to be called Quinn Music Group for the foreseeable future.”
I glanced at Shiloh, finding her brows raised with a look that said, daaaamn, letting me know that maybe I’d revealed more of my irritation than I meant to.
Not that Emily seemed to give a shit. She just giggled…fucking giggled.
“That makes sense that he’s only a partial owner. Mr. Daire can be awfully elusive when it comes to sticking to commitments.”
Her comment annoyed me more than pissed me off, and I struggled not to roll my eyes, letting her believe she’d landed a blow. Her verbal jabs hit more like gentle prodding, making me assume that, underneath her hurt, she was nice, only capable of letting off some steam rather than lashing out with a painful blow.
Then she faced me, and I realized I was very, very wrong.
Despite her continued smile, her eyes hardened like shards of ice, signaling a warning that she was about to be anything but nice.
She tipped her head with exaggerated concern. “How is his godfather, by the way? I heard he wasn’t doing well, and that Lucian was very concerned about…” She brought her finger to her chin, directing a thoughtful look toward the ceiling, as if she didn’t know exactly what bitchy words she planned to say next. She snapped her fingers and smiled wider—her eyes glinting with malice. “I remember. He was concerned about tying up loose ends and fulfilling…obligations. But then again, I’m sure that marrying the heiress to Quinn Music Group helped resolve everything he needed.”
As if she’d timed it, the doors opened, giving her the perfect exit. With one last fake smile and icy stare, she walked out.
Damn.
If I didn’t have to start hating her now, then I’d admire the way she strutted toward the exit.
But after that interaction, I was done trying to be a better woman. That bitch could go fuck herself.
As if we hadn’t had the most passive-aggressive, knock-down, bitch-fight for everyone’s viewing pleasure, I stepped from the elevator, holding my head high, and ignored the curious looks behind me as I mulled over her final comment.
Did she know that my relationship with Lucian was based on a lie? Did she know about the bargain? Did she know that was the only reason he asked me to marry him?
Did she know because he’d asked her first?
I tried to remind myself that he told me he’d never planned to ask Emily to be his wife—that it was only me, but pressure banded around my chest, turning my breath shallow and weak.
Her words played on repeat, and I picked them apart, struggling to understand how she would know if he hadn’t gone to her first.
“What was that about?” Shiloh asked, pulling me from the spiral of thoughts threatening to drag me under.
I inhaled and pulled my shoulders back, stretching my lungs and trying to break through the rising tension.
I wouldn’t let her inability to be a mature woman and keep her catty feelings to herself ruin the excitement I’d stepped onto the elevator with. I wouldn’t let her ruin the happiness I found in going home to a man I was falling in love with. I sure as hell wouldn’t let her ruin my night with him.
My shoulders dropped. Maybe if I said it enough, I’d start to believe it.
I sighed, a frown screwing my face tight. “She used to have a thing with Lucian.”
“Used to? Or still does?” she asked, her brow arching as doubt and concern flickered in her gaze.
I nearly stumbled.
I hadn’t even considered the possibility that he might still be stringing Emily along. What if he kept her on the side in case our agreement didn’t work out? What if—“No,” I objected vehemently, shaking my head. “No. He wouldn’t cheat. Their relationship is definitely in the past.”