Page 84 of Married to the Frenemy

“You hired the runaway bride?” I ask.

“Yup. And now I need to go help her.” He jumps up from his chair.

“You’re not getting out of this.”

“It’s nothing,” he says as he hurries inside.

Which makes me think it’s not nothing. I love my brother, but he’s not the type of person who’d hire someone who can’t even change a goddamn tap.

Chuckling to myself, I return my attention to Maggie as she pokes her head out of the clubhouse. The instant she sees me, she waves enthusiastically. It both warms my heart, yet breaks it at the same time.

How did I get here? How did I go from avoiding all personal attachments to becoming like a father to a precocious four-year-old little girl who I’d do anything for?

“She’s a cute kid, if I say so myself.”

I whip my head to the left as a man in a suit lowers himself into the chair that Jude just vacated. In an instant, all the warmth drains from my body as I glower at Oliver.

“Then again, I might be a little biased.”

I shoot to my feet, clenching and unclenching my fists. “What the hell are you doing here? I told you?—”

“Ah ah, Mr. Lawrence. I’m not an expert, but I don’t think any judge would take too kindly to reports of you attacking an innocent bystander in front of your stepdaughter, especially given your…history.” His voice drips with condescension.

“What do you want?” I seethe, hating that he’s right.

“I want you to sit down so we can have a little chat.” He grins a conniving grin.

“I have nothing to say to you.”

“If you don’t, I’m happy to go tell that little girl exactly who I am.”

I immediately still, sucking in a sharp breath.

“I’m guessing by your reaction, Haley hasn’t told her yet.”

I don’t move for several long moments, my jaw twitching. But he’s right. Haley hasn’t told her about him yet. She hopes to protect Maggie from this prick for as long as she possibly can. So instead of giving him yet another bloody nose and making things even worse for Haley and Maggie, I return to my seat.

“What do you want?” I hiss out again.

He relaxes in his chair, an air of superiority about him. What I wouldn’t give to wipe that cocky look off his face.

“I want you to retract your offer to buy Vivanza.”

I blink repeatedly, his words catching me off guard. Why would this asshole care about me buying the vineyard? How would he even know?

But as I study his appearance — coifed blond hair, clean-shaven jawline, and designer suit that makes me question whether he’s ever gotten his manicured hands dirty — it finally clicks. Especially when I notice the monogrammed cufflinks.

The man I saw storm out of Grady’s office a few weeks ago wore an identical pair.

“You were in talks with Grady,” I exhale, realization hitting me like a punch to the gut.

His lips curl up in a sinister sneer as he shifts his gaze forward, watching Maggie with immense interest.

It makes me want to break every bone in his body. At least I find some satisfaction over the fact that there’s still a subtle bruise around his nose and eye from our last encounter.

“Do you believe in karma, Mr. Lawrence?”

“I do, and you better believe it’ll eventually come for you after the way you treated Haley. Unless I get to you first, that is.”

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