Page 63 of Secret Marriage To My Bosshole

As my mother’s face turns a deep shade of red, I realize I’ve never loved anyone more than I love Cora.

Maybe this won’t be so bad.

Cora sits down in the chair I pull out for her. She takes her napkin and spreads it across her lap. “I think we’re going to hold off on having children for a while. Griffin is busy with the office, and I’m looking into my own ventures. When we are ready to discuss having children, it will be between us.”

Dad clenches his jaw shut as he sits down. He glances between us before reaching for his glass of red wine. “And what are these ventures you speak of, Cora? I must say, I didn’t think that you would want to get involved in business after what happened with your ex-fiancée.”

“Dad!” I exclaim as I sit down on the other side of Cora, sandwiching myself between her and my mother.

He swirls the wine in his glass. “I was just asking a question. Especially if she is going to be connected to our family, I would like to know if my daughter-in-law has a good head on her shoulders.”

I hate the way Dad’s gaze cuts to me. He’s always been good at finding and using people’s fears against them.

Cora locks gazes with my father. “I was younger then and didn’t know what I was doing. At the time, I thought my ex was everything to me, and I made mistakes. I’m paying for them now, which it sounds like you already know.”

Though her tone is as sweet as sugar, it’s clear that she is only playing nice. She gives my father a cold smile that could rival his own.

Mrs. Cecilia interrupts the conversation momentarily as she brings in plates of ceviche, setting them in front of everybody before disappearing through the doors again.

The moment she's gone, Mom turns to Cora, ready to take her turn swiping at my wife.

I reach beneath the table and put my hand on her thigh. She bounces her leg and looks at me quickly. Her irritation is clear on her face, but she smiles.

Mom clears her throat. "So, why is it that we knew nothing of Cora or the wedding until a week ago?"

I shrug and pick at the food in front of me. "You and Dad are both busy. I didn't want to burden you."

Dad clicks his tongue. "Don’t you think it will be a bigger burden to me when I get calls from the office about what you're doing with your assistant?"

"I didn't think you'd be getting calls since I'm the one running the company, and I've been diligently weeding out the rats."

Dad's scowl deepens. "You have no right to fire people who have been loyal to my company."

I shrug and pour myself a glass of white wine. "I'm the one in charge of the company right now. And I haven't fired anybody. As it would appear, a good early retirement plan is all it takes to get rid of those who rat out my every decision to you."

Dad's nostrils flare as he turns his attention to Cora. "And I suppose you were the brains behind this? Get people out of the way so you would have access to Griffin? What was the plan then? Get him to marry you so you would get his money?"

I see red as I stand up so fast that my chair falls over. "You will not speak to my wife like you do with me. We've been here for less than half an hour, and you’ve done nothing but insult her."

Mom rolls her eyes. "Please, Griffin. If this is the woman you want to be with, then I think it's only fair for your father to ask these questions."

Cora presses her lips together, grabbing my glass of wine and draining it.

"And this is exactly why I didn't bother introducing her before we married." My voice rises, my careful control of my temper slipping as I look between them. "I thought it'd be good that she meets with you at least."

Dad shrugs and pours himself another glass of wine. "I've had our private investigator look into her. I have all the information I need."

"I doubt that you know everything, and unfortunately for you, I'm not going to sit here and continue to entertain this conversation. Cora shouldn't have to either."

I look down at Cora and hold out my hand. She places hers in mine, letting me pull her to her feet.

Mom sighs. "Griffin, this is ridiculous. You cannot bring home a woman we don't know and expect us to accept her without any information on her background."

“You could’ve gotten to know her over the years when we were growing up if you bothered to pay attention to anything in my life.” I lace my fingers with Cora’s and pull her toward the door.

Mom and Dad stay silent as we leave, their stares as cold as steel.

The dining room doors swinging shut behind us is the best feeling I’ve had in a long time.

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