Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 37270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 149(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 149(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
“Uh… I think we should all sit down,” Mark says, taking charge in a way that nobody’s arguing with.
I’m wearing the clothes I came in with, which Mark laid out for me—a good idea, so I look “normal” for my dad’s first impression. He asks me quietly how things have been, whether I like Australia so far.
“It’s okay,” I murmur, playing along. “I’ve seen one or two things I really like so far,” I explain truthfully.
As Mark clears his throat to speak, my dad spots the giant diamond engagement ring on my finger, his face contorting for a second before he looks puzzled.
“Honey, that ring’s a little gaudy, don’t you think? You don’t want someone mugging you for a glass trinket like that,” he cautions me, always playing the “dad knows best” card to perfection every time, but this time he’s wrong.
“We’ll get to the ring, Steve,” Mark says in a deep tone, snapping my dad’s attention back to him. “What we really need to discuss is this property acquisition. According to Melissa, you have no legal right to her share, and frankly, I don’t think pressuring her in any way is a positive step.”
“What do you mean?” my dad gulps. “You didn’t—? I mean… Melissa?” Dad asks, looking at me for an answer.
“The house was—is—going to stay in the family, Daddy,” I remind him. “It’s what Mom wanted. You know that. Why would you try and weasel your way into getting me to sign it all away?” I scold him, feeling my emotions rising hot.
He opens his mouth to defend himself, but he knows I’m right. Plus, his eyes, like mine were when I first saw it, are fixated on the ring on my finger.
“Mark? What the hell’s going on?” he finally asks, sounding like he’s found some of his own fire after all.
My eyes dart to Mark, but he smiles instead of launching into my dad and telling him what a bum he is for what he was trying to do. He makes a large pyramid with his fingertips in front of his face as he eases himself back in the enormous leather chair behind his desk.
“What’s going on, Steve, is that I have a new proposal. A better deal. One that benefits everybody,” he says calmly as if the ink’s already dried.
“I’m listening,” my dad says, making me see in a second which side of the family I get my huffiness from. My dad, for all his assuredness, can be pretty immature.
Mark eyes a folder on the desk. “The housing development project… the whole thing… It’s yours,” he says with finality, moving his hands only long enough to slide the folder symbolically to my dad’s side of his desk.
“What are you talking about, Mark? Is this some kind of joke?”
Mark’s not laughing. He crimps his lips and shakes his head. “No, Steve, I’m deadly serious. The whole thing’s yours, but—” he adds, making my dad groan.
“I knew there’d be a catch!” Dad chuckles, wagging his finger at Mark. “Honey? What’s all this about?” he asks me as if I have a clue what Mark’s up to.
Mark speaks over both of us, laying it out for my dad crystal clear.
“You can have the project and all the profits for all I care, Steve, because we’re gonna be family,” he announces, beaming a smile in my direction, making my heart thrill, partly with shock, but mostly because I love hearing him talk like this about me.
About us.
“A promise is a promise, Steve. That’s what Melissa’s taught me these past couple of days. She promised her mom the house would stay in the family, and I’m just making sure that happens, as well as claiming the girl I love.”
“What the hell?” my dad snarls, sick of the mystery games. “How in god’s name, let alone why would you wanna be a part of my family?” he gasps with frustration, still not getting it.
“Wait. Did you just say ‘love’?” my dad asks, swallowing hard and sinking back into his chair.
“Melissa is my fiancée. We’re to be married as soon as possible,” Mark explains, cocking a brow at me and making me bite my lip, making me want him right here, right now. Right on that huge desk of his.
“M-married?” Dad groans, looking up at the ceiling before turning to me. I hold my hand out and show him the ring, his jaw literally sagging as it hits him.
When a man like Mark says he’s gonna do something, it’s already done. I can see it register in my dad’s eyes that the ring, the new deal proposal, and his news of our engagement are definitely real. Mark wouldn’t waste time playing it any other way.
I expect my dad to lose his temper—to call Mark names and order me home with him, but he surprises all of us by going suddenly quiet. He looks more nostalgic than upset.