I saw it clear as day. Belle had always been sharp, smart as all hell. It didn’t surprise me in the least that she caught on before I had to share the rest.
“They want us to merge enterprises, don’t they?”
I nodded.
She thought about it for a second. “We don’t need to get married for that to happen.”
“There’s more.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “Then out with it! What else could they possibly want?”
I abruptly stood and leaned over her desk. In one swift movement, I was in her face, catching her off guard. She faintly gasped close to my mouth, only triggering all the times I’d evoked this same response out of her. It simply reminded me what her lips felt like against mine.
Soft.
Smooth.
Filled with inexperience and lust.
The last thing I wanted was to miss this opportunity where her defenses were down against me, so I spoke with conviction…
“They want you pregnant with my baby.”
Chapter 2
—Belle—
Instead of shoving him away, I pushed my chair back. I hit the bay window that overlooked all of downtown behind me, needing a moment to collect myself.
Especially, my thoughts.
“Oh my God.” It all came crashing down around me like a ton of bricks. “They want a bloodline heir, don’t they?”
He nodded.
“This can’t be happening.”
“It is. And the sooner you realize that, the easier this next part will be.”
I said the only thing that came to mind, “I can’t go in there.”
“Whether you want to or not, you’re going in there. There’s no escaping this. There’s no running away from me, kitten.”
My eyebrows pinched together. “Why on earth would they think I’d agree to this?”
“Because we’ll be partners in this merger. Inheriting everything.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It was like I was suddenly dragged back to that young girl who had no say in her life.
Her future.
I’d spent years proving myself to my grandfather that I could work for him. Graduating from high school and college with honors, making the dean’s list every semester. Sacrificing my personal life for the reward that someday I’d inherit Montgomery Enterprises.
Not because I was bribed into receiving what was rightfully mine, but because I’d earned that title of CEO.
As if reading my mind, he observed, “I know how you feel, kitten.”
“Do you? Because from where I’m sitting, you look content as ever.”