“What are you going to do?”
“I’ve got a month to take him down. I get this right, and I win.”
“And if you get it wrong?”
“We’re both in danger, and I can’t ask that of you. The fair contest part is over. This is likely to end in bloodshed.
“I can’t ask you to stay. If you want to go home, I won’t stop you. There is no risk from Oswald, so your need to be protected from him has gone.”
“You make it sound like it’s a good thing he was killed.”
“I am simply stating facts. If you want to go home, you can. I will not stop you.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Make sure my brother doesn’t win. If he takes over, the whole empire will be ruined. We don’t just own your magazine. We own dozens of businesses. Everyone will end up laid off if he’s in charge. He has no business strengths beyond his ego and no strategy beyond cunning. He will burn through all the money in a couple of years if that. I know him. I know what will happen.”
She examines me, a smile forming on her lips. “You look good in your wedding suit.”
It’s not the response I was expecting. “You looked good in the wedding dress. How come you took it off?”
“Because I couldn’t look after Alicia in it. I could hardly bend.” She takes a deep breath. “Do you want me to leave?”
“Honestly? No. I’ve gotten used to having you here, and Alicia loves you. But if you stay, you could be in danger.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t think anyone would ever hurt me when I’m around you. You wouldn’t let them.”
“You have a lot of faith in me.”
“Based on experience. Can I ask you something?”
“What?”
“Did you feel something when we kissed during the wedding?”
I want to deny it, but I can’t. Not now. “I did.”
“What was that?”
“I don’t know, but it’s not something I’ve felt before.”
“You ever think maybe we could make this work?”
“What?”
“The marriage. Us. You ever consider we could make this marriage work? Like really work?”
“You’re tired. You should go to bed.”
“Not going to answer then. There’s a surprise.”
“All right, you want an answer? I’ll give you an answer. Yes, I think we could make it work. But only if I can deal with my brother. I doubt we could make it work if I’m locked up, and you’re unemployed because the magazine’s folded.”
“Tough to do. It’s normally two hundred pages plus.”
“Very funny.” I get to my feet, lifting her up and holding her hands. “How about we agree to see what happens during this month? The first hint of danger, I get you to safety.”
“What happens when the month is up?”