Chapter 0113

The door to Kent’s office is wide open when Daniel and I arrive, so we step in, still holding hands.

Daniel pushes it closed behind us and I spend a little longer than necessary looking at the dark wood of

the closed door, remembering what had happened there only a few hours ago.

When I turn to look at Kent, I anxiously take a step closer to Daniel’s side. Is Kent seriously going to tell

Daniel what happened last night? I hope, fervently, that he won’t. Daniel would feel so betrayed, and I

can’t hurt him like that.

But Kent gives nothing away, standing there behind his desk, his arms characteristically crossed over

the hard muscles of his chest. My eyes flit over his body and I despite myself I can’t help remembering

the hard contours of his form pressed against mine – the feel of him hard and ready for me –

I gulp, dragging my eyes back up to his stern face, refusing to let my mind go there.

“Come,” Kent demands, glancing towards the two chairs set in front of his desk. “Sit.”

Daniel and I do as we are ordered, walking quickly across the room and settling ourselves in the chairs.

He gives my palm a little pulse with his fingers before dropping my hand, silently letting me know that

our agreement still stands, that we’re on each other’s side.

God, I hope that by the end of this meeting that’s still true. Anxious, I fold my hands in my lap.

“We have decisions to make,” Kent says sternly, looking first at Daniel, and then at me. “After Fay’s

embarrassing display yesterday,” he continues, fixing his eyes on me, “I frankly don’t see any point in

going forward with this charade of an engagement.”

My mouth drops open in shock and I hear Daniel give a little cry of protest.

Kent holds up a hand, though, silencing him and continuing. “It’s not as if you, Daniel,” Kent says,

“have done very much to ensure her fidelity. I’m aware that the two of you don’t have much of a

romantic connection, and I’ve never cared about that, but you’ve certainly taken no pains to ensure that

your bride is content enough to keep in line.”

I glance over at Daniel and see that he’s blushing at this, chagrined.

“We can be better,” I hear myself blurt, speaking without thinking. “Daniel and I will spend more time

together – we’ll make sure that we’re seen in public, having fun, being…being romantic…”

I bite my lip, wondering, really, how much it will take to wipe the memory of my date with Ivan from

people’s minds. But then, at the thought of Ivan, my stomach turns over a bit. Despite his betrayal, his

public display of what I thought was a secret date, I have to admit that I am attracted to him.

Is this really what I want? To be tied to Daniel in a loveless relationship, when someone like Ivan…

My eyes travel to Kent, then, too. Tied to Daniel when someone like Kent…

“No,” Kent answers, interrupting my train of thought, his voice low and flat. “Too much damage has

been done. Your relationship is a laughing stock now. It’s dead.” He flicks his eyes to Daniel then. “I’ll

find you a new bride, soon. One a little more manageable than this one.”

I blush at this, looking down at my hands, feeling terribly guilty. I had thought it was just a date with Ivan

– a little freedom. I hadn’t realized how much I was ruining.

“Dad,” Daniel says, leaning forward in his chair, “this can’t be the end of it – I like Fay – she’s precisely

the girl I want to marry –“

“Oh my god,” I stammer, my eyes going wide as I look up at Kent in disbelief. “Is this – is this for real?”