Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 15397 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 77(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15397 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 77(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
“Is he going to make you sign a prenup this time?” Even my stepmother’s mouth drops open at Carmela’s blatantly rude question right at the table.
Before I can answer, a hand slams down, making the whole table shake. Some of the glasses fall over and their contents spill onto the silk tablecloth. Everyone but me gasps and the room goes silent.
“No, I trust Blakely and I’d never ask her to do that.” His eyes flick between my father and Carmela’s husband. “Only a man who fears losing his money more than his wife would have her do that. If she were to sign anything it would be that our marriage is unbreakable even by a judge.” He leans back, lifting his hand from the table. “See, I can give veiled insults, too.”
“Daniel,” my father warns.
“John.” Daniel throws back his own warning and he sounds deadlier.
“She isn’t your wife yet. If I were you, I’d watch myself,” my father says, and my eyes widen.
“Oh god,” I whisper, knowing this isn’t going to end well.
Carmela and my stepmother are still silent, and Carmela’s husband doesn’t say a word.
“I’m sorry, Blakely,” Daniel says to me as he takes my hand and squeezes it.
My heart skips a beat and my eyes follow him as he stands from his chair and towers over me. I don’t know how he does it, but he seems bigger than life right now as aggression rolls off him. He turns to face my father and leans in closer to him.
“I warned you about acting as if you have control over her.” Daniel’s voice booms through the large ballroom.
My eyebrows draw together, not knowing what he is talking about. I look to my father, whose face is turning red. I’m not sure if it’s embarrassment or anger.
“That’s rich coming from you, Daniel. Since you found out you’re not really married you look like you’re about to lose it. You can’t handle it, can you? You have to make sure everyone knows what’s yours. You’re fucking crazy,” my father sputters and glances around the room at the scene that’s developing.
“He’s not crazy,” I breathe out, but no one hears me. Okay, maybe he’s a little crazy, but I’d never fault him for that because I feel the same way about him.
“I wouldn’t expect you to understand. You weren’t so lucky in love nor do you understand devotion. It’s funny how that’s translated to your life in business and why I keep having to bail you out of trouble,” Daniel says to him.
“Daniel?” I say, and he looks down at me. His eyes meet mine and I can tell with one look that what he said is the truth. But why would he be bailing my father out of trouble? I know he doesn’t care for him. The truth comes quickly because everything he does comes back to me. He loves me and he would do that to make sure nothing in my world was touched.
“Why are you so high and mighty?” Linda scolds. “I saw the email he sent you. I know you took John up on his offer for you to have her as mistress for repayment.”
I jerk back as though I’ve been slapped. I stare at my father in shock and wait for him to call Linda a liar. The seconds drag on, and the longer it takes, the louder my heart beats.
“I didn’t think you’d actually do it,” Linda says with so much smugness in her voice. “They said you were trustworthy and always did the right thing. That you were an asshole but you were honorable.” She shakes her head and I see her cheeks become red with anger. “But you saved his ass once again! You should have let him fall on his fucking face!” Linda screams and stands up from the table. I watch and for the first time in my life I see true emotion cross her face.
My father looks as shocked as everyone else at the table except Daniel.
“I would be a fucking fool to have not taken her, not that it matters. She wasn’t yours to give because her soul belongs with mine.” His words are filled with possession and my heart calls to his.
A moment of silence goes through the room and I look at my father. “Do you have anything to say?” When he says nothing an arm comes around my waist and without looking I know it’s Daniel. He pulls me to my feet and my back rests against his front.
“You don’t deserve her,” he says, his deep voice vibrating against me and giving me strength. “She’s the only reason I haven’t let everything in your world crumble away while you toss money at all your shitty investments.”
“You offered me up like a piece of property? That’s all I am to you,” I say, and the room is so quiet now everyone can hear me.