Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 45284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
“Tommy…”
“Give me his number. Your father’s.”
He has to know I’d never use his daughter. The thought of it makes me sick. I will make use of her young, fertile body, but not like she’s an object. I’ll be there for her afterward, always, and she’ll never have to question if she’s going to be without me.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
She gives me the number, and I walk over to my desk, making the call.
“I’m going to handle some business in the conference room,” George says. “Leave you to it, but I’m here.”
“Thanks, mate.”
George leaves as I lean back, the phone ringing in my ear. Ami sits across from me, hands squeezing together, rubbing them like she has a tiny magic lamp, but what would her wish be? To be mine forever? It would be easier if I could tell her family that.
“Hello?” a man’s voice answers.
“Hello, sir. It’s Thomas Tithing.”
He clears his voice. “Nice to meet you, Thomas. I’m Charles… Charley.”
“Call me Tommy,” I tell him.
“Sounds good to me.”
Amelia shoots a question at me with her eyes. I offer a thumbs-up. It’s going pretty well. Isn’t it?
“Tommy, you understand why I wanted to speak with you.”
“Of course. Your daughter is important to you. The most important thing.”
“Yes,” he says fiercely.
“And you want to know I’m not some perverted billionaire who will use and discard her.”
Amelia’s hands cover her mouth in shock, but Charley sounds like he appreciates it. A verbal nod, a grunt of approval. “Straight to the point. Good. Yes, that’s what I have to be sure of.”
“I understand how it must look from the outside, sir,” I say.
“I’m only nine years older than you.”
“I still think it’s appropriate to call you sir occasionally out of respect for my girlfriend’s father. It’s the decent thing, but if it makes you uncomfor—”
“No, that’s not what I meant. I understand. So that’s what she is, your girlfriend?”
“I care deeply about her,” I say to her father, but my gaze locks on Amelia. “Honestly, I’ve never cared this much about any woman. Has she told you about the application video?”
“Yes,” he says tightly.
“I know how that must seem, but I knew I was interested the second I saw it. I knew she was the one woman who I’d make an effort for after years of looking. I tried to date once, but I stopped. I never felt anything. I do now.”
“And the age gap doesn’t bother you?”
“No,” I tell him. “It’s a good thing.”
Amelia is watching me closely, biting her lip like in the video. It takes me back to the first time I saw her in her interview video. I stopped and stared at this beautiful, nervous, confident angel filling the screen.
“How’s that?” Charley says, almost aggressively, like he’s thinking the worst.
“If we decide to start a family one day, she’s the perfect age for us to have more than one child.”
Amelia blinks, eyes glistening, and I stare at her meaningfully. I mean this, every word. She reaches over the table and takes my hand.
“Oh,” Charley says. “I see, and you think that’s possible, do you?”
“It is. Looking into the future, I can see a family together, a home, stability, support, and love. I can see it all.”
My voice is choking up, Amelia’s hand getting tighter on mine, squeezing like she never wants to let go. I hold her even tighter.
“In fact, sir, there’s something I’d li—”
… like to ask you. I’d like to ask for your blessing to marry your daughter.
Then Steve knocks loudly on the door. “Sir, we’ve found Loki.”
“Where?” I shout, leaping to my feet.
“I’m sorry?” Charley says over the phone.
“Somebody has stolen my dog. They just found him.”
“Oh, that’s terrible. Yes, go, and thank you for this talk. It’s given me a lot to think about.”
Amelia and I share a small look of victory, but we haven’t got time to discuss what I just said and revealed.
“One of Ollie’s associates has seen him in a crack den and heard barking too. It seems he’s got Loki there.”
“In a bloody crack den?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Where? I’m going there now.”
“You better let us…”
“Loki is terrified. He’ll try to run if anybody else shows up. You can come along for backup, but you don’t make a move until I tell you to. That includes if things get ugly. Am I clear, Steve?”
He looks at me, clearly not happy with the arrangement. It’s his job to keep me safe, but then he nods. “Yes, sir.”
“Then let’s go.”
“I’m coming too,” Amelia says, taking my hand.
“Ami…”
“Please. I can’t stand waiting around to hear something terrible has happened.”
“Fine, but you’re waiting in the car.”
As we walk out, she leans up and whispers in my ear. “Did you mean it?”
I smooth my hand over the small of her back, keeping it there as we ride the lift down. Then I lean close and whisper into her ear, “Every word. Are you open to the idea?”