Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
My laugh is cold. “You better believe it, darling. You didn’t expect hearts and roses, did you?”
“Don’t call me that.”
I open the door and bundle her inside. “I’ll call you whatever I like, and you’ll say thank you and please.”
Angry tears glimmer in her eyes, turning the violet color of her irises brighter than sparkly tanzanite. I close the door on her face lest my control wavers, feeling every bit the asshole Sandy accused me of being.
We drive home in another brooding silence. After seeing her inside, I show her how to operate the alarm system and leave her with an instruction to let the moving company in. Then I drive to the office, considering my options.
If Gus disagrees with this wedding, today will end in bloodshed. Although I won’t hesitate to do what I must, I prefer not to go on the run so soon again. I’ve only just settled. The farm has never been for me. That’s Ian’s dream. Whatever Gus’s answer will be today, nothing will prevent me from putting a ring on Violet’s finger tomorrow.
As for Elliot, killing him is too easy. Too merciful. I have other plans for him.
Thinking of rings, I dial Damian’s office. His secretary tells me he’s not available, so I leave a message.
It’s almost eleven when I pull into the parking lot in Midrand. I make my way straight to Gus’s office. From across the floor, Elliot spots me through the window in his door. He’s on his feet and outside his brand-new office before I make it to Gus’s doorstep.
“You’re late,” he says.
I push past him. “Sue me.”
He’s lucky I’ve decided not to kill him.
I knock once and enter Gus’s office.
He looks up from his computer, his glasses balanced on the tip of his nose. “You’re late.”
Elliot files in behind me, presumably to check if I’m going to spill the beans. I’m not a fool. It’ll be my word against Elliot’s. Calling Gus’s only son a liar without proof isn’t the way to win a war, and as the only proof I have implicates Violet, I’m in a catch-22 situation.
“I had business with Violet to settle,” I say.
Elliot rushes to his father’s desk. “What business may that be?”
The cocksucker hasn’t been in his new position for a full day and he’s already pretending to be calling the shots.
“I’m marrying her.” Just to be sure there’s no mistaking my intention, I add, “Tomorrow.”
Elliot doesn’t look as surprised as I expected him to be. For lack of a better word, he looks relieved.
Gus considers the announcement for all of one second before he says, “Fine. Thanks for informing me. Next time, follow protocol and take a day off. Consider this a warning. I won’t let it slide again.”
The ease with which he agrees takes me aback. Violet may not be his flesh and blood, but he raised her. No matter how fucked up his marriage is, he loves her mother. “Fine?”
Gus looks at Elliot and raises his brow. “Did you want something too?”
“Just to say congratulations, it seems.” Elliot salutes me as he walks to the door. “Sorry I can’t make it tomorrow. I have meetings scheduled.”
“You weren’t invited,” I say to his back.
“Cut out the cock fight, guys.” Gus removes his glasses and pins first Elliot then me with a stare. “You report to Elliot now, Leon. Elliot, behave like a leader if you want your employees to respect you. Leon remains one of our most talented programmers.”
Elliot grins. “As I said, congratulations.” He pats my shoulder and leaves.
I barely resist the urge to grab his wrist and break his fingers.
“Fine?” I repeat when Elliot is gone. “Just like that?”
“What do you want me to say?” Gus turns his attention back to his computer. “I don’t care who Violet marries. She’s damaged. She can’t make a good deal. You’re doing me a favor by taking her off my hands.”
In other words, letting me marry into the family—his words—were never about giving me the recognition I deserved. Not that recognition was my reason for wanting to marry Violet. No, Gus was only too happy that someone was willing to take over the responsibility of providing for her. Conveniently, he made it seem as if he was doing me an honor.
Providing for Violet will be an honor. I’ll do it with pleasure too.
The kernel of dislike I felt toward Gus when he told Violet her ambition wasn’t important blooms into full-blown aversion. Clenching my fingers, I look at the man I considered a mentor. Not so long ago, I admitted to Damian that Gus was like the father I never had. If this is how little he values Violet, I’ve been a poor judge of character. I’ve wrongly assumed he gives a rat’s ass about my future in this company. I was a fool to believe Gus was intelligent enough to realize Elliot could never have written that program. Or maybe he simply chooses to turn a blind eye because blood will always be thicker than water. Violet doesn’t matter to Gus, and she never will, just like I don’t really count in his book.