Hang on...
What if this latest development wasn’t quite the horrendous disaster it appeared to be? What if it could, in fact, be the answer to the issue that had been plaguing him for months?
The questions slammed into his head, burying the chaos and turmoil with the cold clear logic that had rescued him from such situations many a time, and he instinctively clung onto them like a lifeline.
Were Kate and this pregnancy to become public knowledge, he thought, strength flooding back to his limbs as his brain started to teem with possibilities, it would definitely make him more palatable to Double X Enterprises’ recalcitrant CEO. Especially if he stood by her. Daniel Bridgeman had been married to the same woman for fifty years. They’d had no children, but his wife was an integral part of his business. She was on the board of directors and appeared by his side at functions. He cited her as being behind every major decision he’d ever taken.
All of the above clearly indicated that the man valued such a partnership highly, so what if Theo presented one of his own? One he had ready-made. Surely that would allay any concerns the other man might have about his so-called ruthlessness and his less than acceptable personality? How much more touchy-feely could you get than a partner and an imminent baby?
So what if manipulating situations and faking a relationship did seem to smack of the ruthlessness and the lack of integrity he was aiming to disprove? The end more than justified the means. For the deal of a lifetime, a deal he’d needed to push through, he could—and would—do anything.
He foresaw no problem implementing this strategy. It wasn’t as if any of it were for real. Once he’d achieved his goal he’d let Kate go and they’d be done. Should she put up any resistance, he had an arsenal of weapons with which to persuade her otherwise. And presenting to the world a facade he wanted it to
see was second nature to him. He’d been doing it for years, ever since he’d learned at the tender age of seven to explain away the bruises and fractures and convince anyone who asked that everything at home was absolutely fine.
It was the best, the only, option on the table, so, ignoring the tiny voice in his head demanding to know what the hell he thought he was doing, Theo hauled his mobile out of his back pocket, hit the dial button and strode towards the lift.
‘Kate Cassidy,’ he said curtly when Bob answered. ‘Stop her.’
* * *
Kate had got as far as the enormous slowly revolving glass door when the concierge caught up with her. Her thoughts on the scene that had just gone down up in the penthouse were mixed. On the one hand she was relieved that she’d accomplished her mission and had escaped unscathed, yet on the other she was gutted. She wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t as if she’d been expecting Theo to break open the champagne. She hadn’t been expecting anything. So the disappointment didn’t make any sense, which was yet another entry in the ever-growing canon of things about herself she didn’t understand.
‘Miss Cassidy,’ called the man, puffing a little as he reached her.
‘Yes?’
‘Mr Knox requests that you wait.’
Kate stilled, her heart irrationally giving a little leap. He wanted her to wait? Why? What could that mean? Had he changed his mind? Did he want to be involved? What?
Well, she was about to find out, she thought, adrenaline surging and her pulse racing as her gaze shifted to the man striding across the lobby towards her. He seemed so energised, so full of purpose now that she found it hard to reconcile this version of him with the rigidly monosyllabic one she’d left up there in his penthouse. It had only been two minutes. What could possibly have happened in the interim?
‘Thank you, Bob,’ said Theo to the concierge before switching his attention to her and virtually lasering her to the spot with the force of his gaze. ‘Come with me.’
Before she could respond, he’d taken her elbow and was wheeling her in the direction of a room off the lobby. He led her into what was clearly a private meeting room, judging by the antique breakfast table and half a dozen dining chairs, and let her go.
‘Are you all right?’ she asked with a frown as she watched him close the door and then turn back to her.
‘Couldn’t be better.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘Marry me.’
Kate froze and stared at him, her jaw practically hitting the floor while her head spun. ‘I—I’m sorry?’ she stammered.
‘You heard,’ he said, something about the gleam in his eyes making shivers race up and down her spine. ‘Marry me.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
‘I’m not being ridiculous.’
Her eyes widened. ‘You’re being serious?’
‘Yes.’
Kate studied him closely for a moment and thought, no, well, he did look intense and steely and he wasn’t the type to joke. But marrying? Her and Theo? What alternative universe was this? ‘Why?’