Contractually Yours: Chapter 8

“I’m so sorry.” Bianca rushes over as I step out of the elevator in Peery Diamonds’ North American headquarters the next morning. “I don’t understand how they can twist a picture between you and Sebastian kissing into you stealing him from Gabriella Ricci.”

“I would’ve been shocked if they hadn’t. There’s nothing to be done about it, so don’t worry.”

“They’re saying that she’s ‘too heartbroken’ to make an official statement about the incident. It sounds like you put her in the hospital or something!”

“Pfft. Let it go.” I try for blithe unconcern, like I always do when stuff like this happens. It’s better than showing how much it hurts.

To bolster myself for the day, I picked out one of my best outfits—a gorgeous teal Versace suit that never fails to make me feel untouchable—and extra-tall high heels in sunflower yellow. On my throat and ears are diamonds—because when a girl’s feeling down, nothing cheers her up like some impeccably cut stones. “This isn’t my first rodeo, Bianca.”

“Yeah, but he’s your fiancé. It’s so unfair what people are saying about you.”

“As opposed to when?” “Bitch” is among the kinder words strangers fling at me online.

Bianca purses her lips. “We should announce your engagement soon.”

“Why don’t you contact Sebastian’s people and see how they’d like to proceed?”

We walk together toward my office. My eyes narrow when I spot Roderick walking toward us from the opposite end of the hall.

He hasn’t changed much over the years—just some silver at the temples and extra lines around his eyes and mouth. For a jerk, he’s aged pretty well. He should’ve acquired some scars or something to reflect what an awful human being he is inside.

I study his Brioni shirt and slacks, the A. Lange & Söhne on his wrist and the huge yellow diamond on his finger. His face is radiant—he probably had a facial in the last couple of days.

Familiar resentment stirs again. How much of my money has he spent on himself? What else is he doing with it behind my back? He doesn’t limit himself to extravagant shopping sprees. He also uses my funds against me: hiring people to look for a spineless husband he can pair me up with, retaining lawyers to foil my attempts to audit my own finances. Donating to Nesovian politicians who openly state women shouldn’t have the same property rights as men.

It’s appalling, but my hands are tied until I’m married and can audit everything to see what he’s done. Nesovian laws are lenient toward trustees—so long as they aren’t caught. The politicians are sexist enough to keep the laws the way they are, but image-conscious enough that they don’t want scandals arising from the improprieties of male trustees.

Roderick probably thinks he has enough time to find me a husband he can manipulate. I can’t wait to see his face when he realizes he’s wrong.

“What are you doing here, Roderick?” I say as I enter my office.

“What am I doing?” He follows me in, leaving the door open. “I’m entitled to be here.” He doesn’t try to force me to address him as “Daddy” or “Dad” because he’s finally accepted that I’m never going to.

Bianca hovers. So does her assistant Julio, who’s trotted over. The former is worried, and the latter is half concerned, half anticipatory. The fact that Roderick and I don’t get along is no secret.

I put my purse on the desk and turn to face Roderick. What wouldn’t I give to wipe that smug look off his face. “You don’t hold any position at Peery Diamonds.”

“Sure I do. I’m a consultant, remember?”

“A ‘consultant’ with nothing useful to contribute.”

“Plus, I’m your father and proxy, so I have a say here.” He shoots me a superior smirk.

Asshole. I can’t wait to reincorporate the company in the States.

“And I have an appointment with Darren,” he adds.

“About what?” I say, wary at the mention of the CFO and my former fiancé. What are they plotting behind my back?

“About you. How long are you going to hold a minor indiscretion against him?”

“It was neither minor nor ‘indiscreet.’ He was screwing his assistant in his office. You do remember that, right? You’re not that old.”

“So? You did that model… What was his name again?” He snaps his fingers. “Filip Novak?”

“Filip and I went to a gala together once. That’s it.” And it was after I caught Darren with his assistant. It’s hardly the same thing, but somehow it’s turned into a “Lucienne’s fucking a model behind her fiancé’s back” scandal. I was frustrated but resigned because things like that happen to me all the time, and Bianca was furious. Darren practically sagged with relief that he didn’t look like a complete asshole. “But good old Roderick. You’ve never been interested in the truth, just what’s most convenient for you.”

“And you’ve been nothing but shameful,” Roderick says with a harrumph. “Filip, and now Sebastian Lasker? At least Filip wasn’t taken. Do you have to go stealing men from other women, too? Gabriella Ricci doesn’t deserve this.”

Wow. “When did you become so concerned about Gabriella Ricci?” Assuming he even knows her well enough to feel anything one way or the other.

I shouldn’t be let down that he hasn’t said a single kind word about me, but a tight knot is lodged in my chest anyway. The only comfort is that it’s grown smaller over the years. “Instead of wasting your breath on me, you should have your ‘thou shalt not steal other women’s men’ lecture with your precious Vonnie.”

He blinks in confusion. “Why?”

“I found her in bed with a man who isn’t hers, like a little slut.” I infuse my words with all the contempt I have for him and his children. I want him to lose control and strike me, right here in front of two witnesses. Nesovia might be stuck in the Dark Ages in so many ways, but if Roderick hits me, it’ll strip him of the right to oversee my finances. The country takes physical abuse seriously—probably so it can pretend it’s civilized. Too bad it doesn’t care about emotional or mental abuse.

On top of that, I’d love to see him thrown in jail for assault.

Roderick’s face colors. If he were a cat, all the hair on his back would be stiffening with outrage. I wonder if he’s ever been upset on my behalf? Or if he’s even capable?

He points a finger. “You can’t talk about your sister like that!”

“She’s not my sister, not in any way that matters.” I let my gaze rake over him. “She is, however, your daughter. As for Darren and his ‘minor indiscretion,’ it was a dealbreaker. Grandfather sided with me on this matter because, unlike you, he cared about basic human decency.” I try not to be bitter about the fact that Grandfather’s care for human decency didn’t extend to firing Darren.

A vein on Roderick’s forehead throbs.

“You’re the only one who thinks fucking an assistant isn’t a big deal.” I tap my chin theatrically with my index finger. “But then, that’s understandable. You did the same thing while Mom was alive. So keep your morality lectures to yourself.”

“You can’t talk to me like that! I’m your father!”

“A father who only sees me as a human ATM.” He’s never loved me or cared for me. It’s tragically comical how he focuses on our blood relation when it suits him. “So no, you’re not. Donating sperm doesn’t make a man a father,” I sneer, praying I finally push him over the edge. “And you’re barely a man at that.”

He breathes roughly, his eyes dark as he glowers at me. He clenches his hands into shaking fists, but doesn’t come at me.

How disappointing.

My phone pings. I glance at the screen, dismissing Roderick, since he isn’t going to get violent anytime soon.

–Jason: Sure, I can officiate the ceremony for you.

I smile a little. Jason Choi is a judge in San Francisco and one of my closest friends. I asked him if he could facilitate my romantic elopement in the Bay Area. Jason doesn’t know who the groom is yet—I told him it was a surprise.

–Jason: Tomorrow at around 5:30 p.m. good? Or is that too early? You sounded like you couldn’t wait. But my schedule’s pretty flexible, so up to you.

Hmm. I haven’t been able to decide how soon to get married—Sebastian and I haven’t even announced our engagement. But hurrying things along seems like a great idea. I don’t want to take my time and give Vonnie a chance to try to work her way into his bed. Sebastian seems like a man of good judgment, but you never know.

I can’t afford to have anything derail this engagement. I’ve put up with so much already. Besides, won’t it be oh so satisfying when Roderick finds out I married a man he will never be able to manipulate?

–Me: I’ll speak with my fiancé and get back to you. And thank you! I definitely owe you one. Can you also be a witness to a contract signing afterward?

–Jason: Shouldn’t you sign the prenup before the ceremony?

–Me: Not a prenup. And we can’t sign it until you complete the ceremony.

It’s the document Sebastian has to sign to hand over full control over myself to me. My legal team in Nesovia is going to file it with the proper authorities and work with Huxley & Webber to start moving Peery Diamonds. Just thinking about it makes me shiver with a sense of liberation.

“Are you ignoring me?” Roderick sounds a little pissed off.

“Um. What are you still doing here? Don’t you have to talk to Darren?” Then I start singing, “Birds of a feather, flock together…”

Roderick turns redder. Finally, he storms out, and Bianca and Julio return to their desks.

I turn my attention back to my phone.

–Jason: That should be fine.

–Me: You’re amazing. Love you!

–Jason: LOL. Love you back.

I pull out my laptop and boot it. There are three knocks on the doorframe. I lift my head and see Bianca. Her face is white, except for the red, blotchy spots on her cheeks. Tears are falling from her red-rimmed eyes.

What the hell? “What’s wrong?” She’s too tough to crumble like this.

“It’s my uncle.”

Oh no. She’s close to him. I rise from my seat.

“He was in Budapest with my aunt,” she continues, her voice teary. “For their anniversary. And there was an…an accident, and I… I…” She sniffles.

I hug her, hating that she’s devastated and there’s nothing I can do to help.

She cries harder. “I need to go to… They’re trying to find his body, and…”

“Then go. Take all the time you need.” I reach into my purse and pull out my black AmEx. “Take this with you.”

“I can’t—”

“Just in case. Otherwise, I’ll be worried sick.” I can’t give her the private jet because Karl—of course—is using it. That bastard. As soon as Sebastian and I are married, my parasitical family’s going to get completely cut off. “Fly first class,” I tell her. “And do whatever you need to do, okay?”

“But… You need me here, too.”

“Not as much as your aunt, Bianca.” I pluck Kleenex for her, then pat her shoulder. “I can handle things with Julio. Trust me.”