Page 87 of Remembering Passion

He lifted his hand. “I didn’t marry her. The addendum is archaic. It was written by my great-grandfather in the instance that a woman would inherit Sinclair. He didn’t feel a woman could lead without a man at her side. Darius was the first unwed CEO.” Damien shrugged. “He was actually co-CEO with Dad. When I was appointed, my marital status wasn’t mentioned. Nevertheless, the addendum is still there. Gloria told me about it. She wanted Amber and me to marry. She said if we did, she’d show the addendum to the rest of the board, and I could forgo the rest of the probation. I would be CEO, set in stone.”

I swallowed, a sour taste bubbling from my throat. “Oh my God, Damien, she was bribing or blackmailing you to marry her daughter. That’s illegal.” I leaned closer. “Is this daughter so awful she needs her mother to blackmail a husband?”

Damien scoffed. “No. It was more about getting in on the Sinclair dynasty.”

“Oh, you have a dynasty now. But seriously, report her and have her removed from the board.”

“That would cause more problems. She tried,” he said. “I didn’t take the bait. And now, there’s some bad blood between Gloria and me. If we took a vote now, she could convince enough of the others on the board to vote against me.”

“And where would that get them? They’d not have a CEO.”

“Darius.”

Standing, I paced back and forth in front of the window. “You only have five months. In five months, if you’ve survived the probation period, there won’t be a vote. You will automatically be the CEO in good standing.” I hoped I was recalling the probation correctly. “I don’t recall anything about marriage.”

“You’re right. I wasn’t told about the addendum until Gloria…” He paused. “Amber.”

Amber.

Am I jealous?

I was the one who walked away.

I tried to understand. “You’re saying now with your dad’s heart attack, you think it would be good to marry her?”

Damien stood. “No, forget Amber. She isn’t significant other than because of her, I learned of the addendum.” He came closer and reached for my hands. “Ella, I loved you. I love you. I tried to forget, but damn, with you here, I’m remembering everything. I’m certain there are a thousand reasons for me not to ask this, or for you to say no, but watching how amazing you were today... Maybe as archaic as my great-grandfather was, he was onto something. Having someone at your side is important.” He fell to one knee. “I’m not prepared with a ring—”

I took a step back. “Damien, don’t do this.”

He stood, our chests touching. “Call it probationary. In five months, if you want a divorce, I’ll give it to you with a big payout.”

“I don’t want your money.” I backed away and turned all the way around.

Disappearing.

If I look in the mirror, will my reflection be absent?

“Ella.” He reached for my hands. “You’re pale. Is the idea of marrying me that awful?”

“No,” I said quickly. “Marrying you isn’t going to keep me visible—I’ll disappear.”

“Visible.” His volume rose. “Fuck, Ella, you are the focus of the room, the one standing in the spotlight. You’re all I see. You’re visible. I’d never try to make you invisible.”

“Your dad is going to be okay, so this is a moot point, right?”

Damien walked back and forth. When he stopped, he shook his head. “I don’t fucking know. A week ago, Dad was playing eighteen holes of golf and swimming laps in the community pool. Now he’s in a hospital bed. Mom called this morning and said he’s still in pain. They’re adjusting the medications.” He sighed. “Van said something yesterday that I’ve been thinking about. I mentioned the five months. He said thinking about his children, five months can be a lifetime. Five months is forever. Fucking life can change in a minute.”

A lump of emotions formed in my throat as I walked to him and lifted my arms to his shoulders. “You have a lot happening.”

He lowered his forehead to mine. “You’re the only one I have ever been this honest with—the only person I feel comfortable talking with.”

Vulnerable.

Damien rarely appeared less than in control.

I knew what he was saying was true.

Pushing up on my toes, I kissed his firm lips. What started sweet quickly escalated. An isolated spark that ignited an inferno. His fingers weaved through my hair and our faces turned one way and the other. My breasts flattened against his chest as our hearts beat in double time against one another’s. It wasn’t long until our tongues joined the tango.

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