There’s always a price to pay. But this time I wasn’t looking for repayment in the monetary sense; I coveted something much more valuable. I would have caught him sooner, but I’d been wrapped up in my own grief with having lost a brother I never knew existed.
That was until the state showed up at my door with a five-year-old little boy that had a striking resemblance to me. I knew my father had mistresses in his time. But for some reason the thought of him fathering other children had never crossed my mind. I’m thankful that my mom has already passed and is not here to see it. News of this would have killed her.
“He stays on. I told him he could keep his job.”
George's face tightens. He’s going to give himself a stroke if he doesn’t lighten up a bit. “What if he does it again?”
I shrug. Half a million dollars is nothing to me. Plus, the man had been using it to pay for his mother’s assisted living costs. Well, not all of it but the majority. He also has a gambling problem. His daughter gives every extra penny she has to help out.
“I’ll be paying more attention this time and catch it quickly.” I’m taking over the payments for the grandmother's needs for now. Maybe it will earn me some favor with my new wife. There is no doubt she’s going to hate me, but hopefully Ace will soften her a bit. “I would hope this has scared him straight.” I also want to keep him close. If he’s working in one of my offices, I can always have eyes on him.
“Think about this.” George puts his hand on my desk. All I’ve done is think about this.
“Ace needs a mother.” Every little boy does. My father would have been hell when he was home if my mom hadn't been there to temper him. Sometimes it didn't work, and his anger was taken out on whoever was in his path. I run my hand down my face, feeling the jagged scar that stretches down the right side of it.
“I see there is no talking you out of this, but don’t pretend you’re doing it just for Ace.” I won’t. “When is she getting here?”
“She is supposed to be here this afternoon. Carter said she’s still loading up her car.”
“You have someone watching her?” George closes his eyes, taking a deep breath as if talking to me is exhausting him. Her car is a piece of shit. I wanted to make sure she got here safe.
“Of course.” When you have something rare and irreplaceable, you protect it at all costs.
“Shall I prepare one of the guest rooms?”
“No, she is going to be my wife, and she’ll be staying in my bed.” He starts to say something else, but I hold my hand up, stopping him.
There is no use discussing this. “We’ll be married today.” I don’t want to give her time to change her mind. Hell, she might do it the second she sees my face.
“Fine.” He leaves my office. I lean back in my chair, pulling the picture back out of my desk.
“Soon.” I brush my finger across her face, betting everything I have she’s softer than anything I’ve ever touched. “You will be mine.”
2
FAWN
I stare up at the giant metal gate, worrying my bottom lip between my teeth. I can’t believe I’m here. Not that I really had much of a choice. Not when it comes to Grams. I would do anything to help her.
We’ve all heard the story about Rose Point Manor. It sits on a giant hill that overlooks the city below. It has always reminded me of a giant castle. It’s breathtaking. Of course, everyone says it is haunted by a beast. I never believed any of those stories as a child, but now I’m starting to think that maybe they're real. Only a beast would make a woman marry him.
My stomach drops as the giant metal gate begins to open. I sit for a moment, trying to get myself together. I don’t know why I’m procrastinating. There is no backing out at this point. I close my eyes, taking a deep breath in before I pull forward and begin driving down the long, winding road to the top of the hill.
I step out of my car, taking it all in. I thought this place was beautiful from a distance, but up close, it’s even more stunning. It’s hard to wrap my mind around the fact that I’m going to be living here now. I swallow the emotion that’s trying to escape. I’m getting married to a man that I know nothing about. I run my hands down the front of my jeans, my nerves getting the best of me.
The double front doors swing open, revealing a tall, thin man who is dressed in a butler's outfit. I suppose it’s actually a uniform. Do people even have butlers anymore? It seems a little excessive.