I shake my head. I did what I thought was best and that will forever be my pain to carry.
“So, she kept those test results all these years.” Willow rests her head on my shoulder and I stroke her back as she tells me what she found out. “Just to have leverage over Derrick and his father. Just in case she ever needed it to win the game. That’s all she cares about. Everything is just part of her game. Even me.”
“Not anymore.” I shake my head. “Never again, Princess. Daddy’s never leaving you again.”
Right then, Willow’s phone rings. I reach into her bag and turn the screen up to see Margaret’s name and number.
Willow looks at me. Her eyes darken as I turn the phone so she can see who’s calling, and her voice comes out in a powerful burst.
“Put her on speaker.”
I hit the button and Margaret’s voice seeps out of the phone like poison. I’m on guard, ready to pounce and protect my girl, but I can see in Willow’s eyes a tigress has been released and it’s my job to stand behind her now and let her go.
“Willow! What have you done? I just got a call from Pierson Marcus! I told you what would happen if you didn’t—“
“Shut up, Mother.” Willow sits up straight on my lap. Her hands coming to rest on my shoulders. “It’s my turn to talk and your turn to listen.”
Silence. Willow’s tone was enough to quiet a battlefield. She takes a deep breath, then continues.
“Listen, because this is going to be a short, one way conversation and you need to hear what I have to say.” Willow shifts her hips, consciously or unconsciously rubbing herself on my erection, raising her bravado another octave. “You won’t expose me or Pike. You will also not be getting your new client. Your managing partnership or anything else upon which I was the fulcrum of your plans. Because I know about the DNA test. I have the physician's report. Okay, so Derrick may not have had intercourse with me, but you knew there was sexual contact. You knew it was his semen they found on me and you did nothing! You did less than nothing, you made me feel like I was the wrong-doer. The liar. When all along you had the proof! And you know what? I was sixteen years old. And Derrick was eighteen. You know, even if I couldn’t prove he took advantage of me when I was impaired, it’s still statutory rape, mother! And you didn’t report it. Failing to report felony sexual abuse on your own daughter?”
She knows if this gets out her career is over. The physician’s report shows she had knowledge of the sexual contact. Derrick never denied it happened, just denied the little detail about consent. That’s enough right there to ruin her.
Margaret screams. “You’ve ruined not only my deal, but you’ve ruined Pike’s merger as well, Willow. You may think you’ve won, but you’ve ruined everyone with your little show. Pike——”
“Margaret.” I brush my fingertips along Willow’s cheek as I chime in. “After all these years, you should know me better than that.”
Silence on the other end of the phone as Willow leans down to kiss my cheek and nestle her head into my neck. I draw her tightly against me before I deliver the final blow.
“Your little group of investors? They were more than happy to accept double the share price of their position with Axis and controlling shares in Richards’ Holdings. They all sit on my board now. Oh, except Pierson Marcus. You are more than welcome to represent him. Only, since he was also privy to the DNA test and the events of that night, he may need a different kind of attorney as I don’t think you two will be in any position to be concerned with my little merger if you are facing criminal charges. Oh and one more thing, you should be smarter than to text a threat to lie about criminal activity in order to get what you want Margaret. That little blackmail text you sent me, remember? This deal means nothing to me. Less than nothing. Winning isn’t important to me, Margaret. Money means nothing to me. Willow means everything to me. So in the end, I win, because I have everything I’ve ever wanted or needed right here.”
Margaret continues in her high pitched panic. “You can’t do that! You’ll pay for it in the press. Taking advantage of the daughter of your former wife? They’ll have a field day.”
“She’s not going to be my former step-daughter for long, Margaret. She’s going to be my wife. And I’m going to plaster that little announcement all over the media myself. I’m proud as fuck of Willow and what we have together. I’ll never hide her away. So don’t think that gives you any leverage here. Because as soon as Willow gives me the nod, our wedding announcement is about to become public knowledge.”
Margaret’s voice is screeching as I hit the red button and end the call.
Willow sits up straight on my lap, grinding her crotch over my erection with a smile that lights up my heart.
“Are you asking me to marry you?”
“Not asking, princess. Informing. I’m decisive. And I’ve decided. My private jet is waiting to take us to Las Vegas. We’ll be married by lunch time. How does that sound? Or do you want a big wedding? Mother-of-the-bride and all the trimmings.” My sarcasm is met with a playful whack on my shoulder with her fist.
I let one hand drop from her hip and reach into my inside jacket pocket, pull out the worn, rust colored leather box. The gold embossing is weathered but it still shimmers on the antique leather.
“Marry me, Willow Bainbridge. Make me the happiest Daddy on the planet.” I flip open the box. Inside is an emerald cut diamond. It’s the size of a dime, surrounded by smaller emeralds and mounted on an antique filigree white gold band.
“Oh my God.” Her eyes tell me she knows exactly where the ring came from.
“You don’t think I would ask you to marry me without talking to Maisy first, do you?”
Her lips come to set on mine as I take the ring from the box and slip it on her finger.
“When? How?” Her eyes dart from my face to her hand, then back.
“Princess. You know I’m always two steps ahead. When I went to LA the day after we were together at Club Tower, I stopped first and went to see your grandmother. I knew that night I would never let you go again. But I also know how much Maisy means to you, and I wanted her blessing. She gave me that, along with her engagement ring from your grandfather. Told me to take good care of you or she would come around and kick my butt.”
I hold her hand up and kiss the ring.