Page 75 of Ruthless Wars

I push off my desk and give them all a reassuring smile. “It means our growth will be a little slower, but steady and deliberate. And I have a merger on the horizon, one that’s going to make the six o’clock news. But I’m not saying a word until then. You’ll just have to wait and see.”

Looking at their confused faces, I wish like hell I had a mic to drop.

Chapter Forty-One

Margot

Preparing for a press conference is starting to become second nature, but I’m still nervous and edgy, and desperately trying not to fidget with my cell. I can hold it together one last time.

Coop’s text let me know he’s en route but might be a few minutes late. The butterflies in my stomach settle a little once I take a few sips of water.

Evie and Jean are here—as always—but I’m a little surprised to see Richard and Jaclyn standing by. It’s great that Dad’s here, though, to witness my last hurrah before I step away from Long Multinational for good.

At six o’clock sharp, I take the microphone at center stage in our auditorium, meeting a series of flashes from cameras that seem a little outdated, but probably will catch every last pore and wrinkle. High-definition, here I come.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “I wanted to discuss a few things that seem to have been newsworthy lately. First, there’s been a question of my former marriage to the viscount of Florentia. We were married, and divorced, this past year. There is no more I can say on that topic.”

I pause for a breath.

“The second question that seems to be on everyone’s minds is my association with Liam Cooper Byrne. Mr. Byrne and I—”

Coop’s voice booms from the back of the auditorium, not needing a microphone. I can’t believe my eyes when I see the handsome man on his heels, and my heart overflows.

He brought Wyatt, which is a shock enough, until Coop says, “Mr. Byrne and Ms. Long are getting married.”

Stunned, I pull in a breath as my stomach flutters at his words. We haven’t spoken about marriage at all. Not once.

All the cameras pivot to Coop, splashing him with flashes as he makes his way to the stage. To me. Allison and Austin are rushing to keep up, as well as Allison’s mother, whom I met briefly at the hospital. And then there’s a man who’s not in the hurry everyone else is, but looks so much like Coop and Austin, it has to be Aiden.

When Coop arrives at the stage, I silence the mic to have as close to a private conversation with the man as I can in front of my family, his family, and a few dozen reporters and photographers.

He’s managed to trim back so much of his gorgeous stubble, his appearance stops me cold. Despite our attentive audience, I can’t help myself. I cup his jaw, rubbing my thumb against his cheek.

“Did you give me a proposal that I accepted?” I ask, narrowing my eyes playfully.

“I just opened the negotiations,” he says, “starting with my own demand. You’re free to counter.” Without the slightest need for permission, he snags my hand, slipping a ring on my finger that fits perfectly.

I glance down at the brilliant cushion-cut stone that takes my breath away, nearly carrying me away in the moment. But I can’t marry him. Not like this.

“Coop, I don’t want to fly from one marriage of strategy to another. If this is about the deal—”

The frenzy of flashes and questions don’t stop him from planting a dizzying kiss to my lips that I’m in no hurry to end.

“Marry me,” he growls seductively to my lips.

“Make me,” I dare him back. There's a long moment between us where I already know, but I make him suffer anyway. "Is this why Wyatt wasn't returning my calls? He was coming? For this? But we were in a fight."

“Yes, ” Coop fesses up, amused. "Even after I told him the trip might be in vain, he decided to come anyway. Said these things have a funny way of working out."

“That's code for 'I'm texting Paco.'”

“What's code for 'Margot, will marry me?'” His forehead presses to mine, and his words are on my lips. “You’re the only woman I want—that I’ll ever want. We both know you’re mine. This just makes it official.” He gives me another long, sweet kiss. “Well, temptress? How about it? Spend the rest of our lives driving me out of my ever-loving mind with your sweet stubbornness, addictive lips, and insatiable passion?”

Breathless, I pull in a few sips of air before I answer. “I’d like to finish the press conference, if you don’t mind.”

By his arched brow and sexy half-smile, I know I’m torturing him. But that’s what wives do, so he’d better get used to it.

“Fine,” he says with a huff as he releases me.

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