He brought a ring with him.
Abell wasn't playing around. He'd said he meant to marry me, to use me to keep his money, and he was serious. I was nothing to him, but... he was nothing to me. A guy like him was bad news.
All he wants from me is sex. The visual that brought—his muscles flexing, his cock ruddy with desire—had me shivering. All I want is...
What?
My company, I told myself. I can't lose that. But marrying Abell and being forced to give his father a grandkid, that was too much.
The memory of sleeping with Abell had me recalling the condoms spilling from his bedside table. I couldn't imagine needing so many.
If I marry him, I won't be seeing condoms.
Abell would fuck me, filling me with cum. That taboo realization had my heart throbbing almost as much as my clit. Stop it! You can't sleep with him!
But I did have to marry him. It was the only way to keep everyone happy.
Could we both get what we wanted without compromising?
If I talk to Abell, tell him I'll marry him as long as we never consummate it... Could that work?
I walked towards my bathroom, pulling my clothes off as I went.
We could lie.
Gripping the doorway, I grinned. It'd be easy enough. Get married, then say we're 'trying' to get pregnant, but it isn't working. That happened to people all the time! How could we be blamed if it didn't work out? Surely, the contract wouldn't be broken because of a 'biological' issue?
Feeling like a genius, I turned my shower on until the room billowed with steam. I hurried to wash up, eager to remove the day-old sweat. I know what I have to do. The plan I had gave me a sense of control.
After almost giving in to Abell like I had...
I needed all the control I could get.
****
When my alarm went off the next morning, I was ready for it.
Jumping out of bed, I stretched my arms wide, yawning. Through the white curtains of my bedroom window, the sun was a welcome beacon.
Yesterday, I'd awoken in a stranger's bed.
That had been the start of the worst day of my life.
But today, I thought, beginning my precise morning routine, Today, things will be different.
I wasn't excited about my plan, but it was a plan. That counted for something.
Having a way to make this mess result in some resemblance to the future I'd meticulously worked towards gave me a bit of strength.
In my mirror, I brushed my hair until it shined. I'd always struggled with frizz, so I made sure to take extra time to get every strand in place. When I was finished, I'd tied my hair back in my typical bun; shiny and immaculate.
I'd laid new clothes out last night. That way, they wouldn't get wrinkled. Even so, I ironed them for the second time. When I was done, they were stiff enough to cut a muffin in two.
Speaking of which.
Dressing carefully, I grabbed myself a cup of coffee from my pre-programmed machine, and then a cranberry muffin from the counter. I loved sweets, but thanks to my 'attentive' (as she called it) mother, I'd developed an odd relationship with them.
She'd tried to ban them from my life. In subtle retaliation, I indulged in the treats whenever I could.
Who could blame me?
Desserts are fucking delicious.
Washing my hands, I did a final check in the mirror. Yesterday, my parents had seen me in a state I never wanted to repeat. Being prim, proper, it reminded me that I was a Halloway.
I had power, I had money, and I'd do what I had to in order to keep it.
But I'm not like him, I told myself firmly. Abell wanted everything for himself. I wanted to be CEO not just for me, but for Gram, too. I planned to keep my promise to him, to make his life better.
That was what made me less selfish than Abell.
I clung to that fact fiercely.
Shoving into my jacket, I hurried out the door. I knew the exact time I had to be at the metro, and no way I was missing it. Today, I'd show my parents what I was made of.
I was a Halloway.
And we always achieved what we worked for.
****
My heels chopped along the sidewalk as I exited the subway. I was striding, head held high—and then higher—when I spotted Halloway Inc.
The building, my building, stood tall in the middle of the city. The red brick was brighter than the other structures surrounding it, a fact I was always delighted by. This was a company to be proud of.
It'll be mine. Clenching my fist, I exhaled. The sight of the building had renewed my determination.
Crossing the street, I shuffled through the automatic doors. The front desk was a half-moon of white wood, the man behind it busy talking on the phone. I knew his name was Conroy, I made it a point to try and learn the names of every employee.
I waved at him as he caught my eye. His pleasant smile was my reward.
Turning the corner, I power-walked down the hall, ready to enter my mother's office.
But I didn't need to go that far.
She was standing right in the hall.
My heart stuttered, confronted by the woman who had controlled me my whole life. I'd never known someone so intimidating. Don't be scared, just tell her what you're going to do!
Forcing my head higher, I cleared my throat. “Mom.”
Turning, she stopped staring at her phone. She was rarely without the thing, always typing away or talking to someone. “Nichole,” she said, lifting an eyebrow. “Good to see you're here on time today.”
Crinkling my mouth, I bit back the comment I wanted to let fly. Focus. “Mom, listen. I need to talk to you about yesterday.”
Her chest flared with her deep breath. “Yes. I imagine you do. Go on, are you here to tell me how horrible I am again?”
The muscles along my neck and shoulders turned to steel. It was a wonder I could talk at all. Faced with her doubt, I wanted to show her she was wrong. She clearly thought I was a coward, or worse, a selfish brat.
But I wasn't.
I wouldn't be.
“I decided to agree to the marriage,” I said flatly.
I'd hoped for her to be shocked. It would have been delicious to see that expression on her puckered face. I wasn't that lucky today, though. Fuck, was I ever lucky?
Tilting her head, she stared down her nose at me. “You're serious, aren't you? You're really going to do this?”
The smile I offered her was sour. “What choice do I have? Marrying Abell Birch is the only way to keep the company in our name, and for me to become CEO like I'm meant to be. I'm not losing that.”
I've given up so much. What's a little more?
She considered me for a long while. I wondered what she saw, what she thought about my decision. Her face was a polished mask, and it never flinched, not even when she pulled a piece of paper from her purse and handed it to me. “You'll need this.”
I blinked at it. “What is it?”
“Everything that needs to get done before the wedding.”
The piece of paper was a detailed schedule. Food tasting for the reception, flowers for the ceremony... this was the outline for my own misery. I was being forced to wrap myself up in a pretty bow to be thrown to the wolves—or wolf.
One with frosty eyes and a killer body.
Reading the list, I shook my head in mild disgust. “You have appointments already lined up. You assumed I'd say yes to this blackmail.”
“I took precaution. It's good to be prepared.”
“Right,” I said, tapping the spot that mentioned Macy's Bridal store. “It's important to prepare your daughter for her funeral gown.”