Page 3 of Savage Vicious Heir: Part Two

“My father won’t like to hear that.”

“Lauren,” I sigh, hating that I’m losing control. I usually have a better grasp on myself than this.

But you don’t usually have a girl you care about with a broken heart waiting for you to find her…

“I’m sorry, okay?” I lie. “You’re a great girl, Lauren. Beautiful, smart.” Another lie. There’s a reason her father wants to sell her off to someone who should be successful. “But you’re not what I’m looking for.”

“And there is your problem,” she points out. “You seem to be forgetting that we don’t have a choice in this.”

I just about manage to catch the bitter laugh that tumbles from my lips at her words.

“You think I want to be stuck with you?” she scoffs.

“I’m an Eaton,” I say arrogantly. “I thought that was every girl’s dream.”

Unlike me, she’s unable to contain her bitterness at my comment.“Sure. If you need your ego stroking. This is a business transaction between our fathers, you know that as well as I do.”

“Yet you seem to want it,” I point out.

“Why wouldn’t I? Stick with you and I’ll be set for life. I can think of worse ways to live. Mansion, fancy holidays, everything I could possibly want.”

“What about love?” I blurt taking a left at the lights that will lead us towards SCU and her house.

She lets out a bitter laugh. “What about it? It’s bullshit. Surely you of all people know that.”

My mouth opens and closes a couple of times as I try to come up with a response.

A few months ago, I would probably have agreed with her.

Until watching my boys fall for their girls, every relationship I’d experienced were just like the one my father is trying to set up here. A business deal. It’s the reason why him and Mum are together, my grandparents before them. Scott and Zoey are no different.

The joining of power-hungry families so they can claim even more of the things they love most. Money, power, and respect.

It’s all bullshit.

I knew it before embarking on this thing with Abigail, but now, after falling for her, it couldn’t be more obvious. And I don’t want to live a life that has been planned out for me with a girl who’s been chosen because of her social status. Just like I don’t want to attend a university because it’s expected of me, or study for a degree that will help the family and the business I’m expected to work for.

My grip on the wheel tightens until my fingers begin to cramp.

I want to argue with her. But what’s the point?

She’s fully on board with this.

“I’ll let you fuck other women if that’s what you want,” she offers. “I’m not precious. Of course, I’ll be doing the same. No offence, but you’re not actually my type.”

My brows lift. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard that before. Not that I give a shit.

She’s not fucking mine either.

My teeth grind before I force out. “How generous of you.”

“We just need to make the best of it. We could have a good life together.”

“Yeah,” I muse. In another fucking universe.

Thankfully, the bright lights of SCU come into view up ahead, and I turn into the street where Lauren lives.

Few words are said between us as I pull the car to a stop and she climbs out. She doesn’t even offer for me to come up.

---