Page 63 of One Wealthy Wedding

“I’m deadly serious.” He points at the paper. “In fact, you can combine car racing and doing something bad, I think. Kill two birds with one stone.”

“Efficient of you.” I fight a smile.

“That’s me. All about…efficiency, baby.” He imbues the words with innuendo, and my smile grows.

He keeps scanning the list, and I know he’s seeing the things I’d rather not talk about.

Take over Peterson International

Open a bank account

Get my own apartment

“You can give it back now,” I say quietly, willing him not to ask.

“What are these?” His eyes meet mine, soft and serious.

“Real things. I opened the bank account already.” I shrug, like they don’t matter. “You know I want the company.”

“Why?” He tilts his head.

“My father is ruining it. Profit is down, they’ve had layoffs, they cut benefits. There was a sexual harassment suit last year.” I could go on, but we’d be here all night. Anger simmers inside me, potent and hot. The company was my mother’s family company, and it should have been mine. Without my father, there wouldn’t have been layoffs, or that woman on the news saying she was the subject of racist jokes at work.

“I’m not surprised,” Theo says. “But I meant why do you want to run it?”

I take a breath to tell him about the diary and how my mom always wanted the company for herself. How it’s been my dream for years and I know I can do it, even if no one else thinks I can.

Before I can speak, his mouth hitches up. “I can’t picture you running a company.”

The breath whooshes out of me.

Theo is just like everyone else. Just like my father. Judging me and finding me lacking.

His eyes widen as he looks at me. “That’s not what I meant.”

“It’s exactly what you meant,” I say with a sense of calm I don’t feel. I congratulate myself silently for keeping it together as I push back from the counter.

“I just didn’t think you’d want the company. It’s not something you’ve ever seemed to be interested in.”

“Did it ever occur to you that I wasn’t allowed to be interested in it?”

His expression takes on a desperate edge. “Fuck, Cat. I didn’t know. I just thought that you didn’t care.”

Of course. I’m still a spoiled brat to Theo. I always have been. I reach over to rip the list out of his hand. The top corner tears off, but I shove it into my pocket anyway.

“You know, Theo. I’ve heard that enough from everyone else. Maybe one day I’ll start to believe it. But until then, I’m done sharing with you.”

I stalk out of the kitchen, but he follows, because of course he does. I make it all the way to my bedroom door before I round on him. Regret is written across his handsome face.

“I’m sorry,” he says.

“What did you say?” Surprise makes me blink. My anger fizzles in the face of Theo’s misery.

“I’m so fucking sorry.” He brushes a thumb over my cheek, where I didn’t realize I was crying until now. “And I’ll help you get the company from him, if that’s what you want.”

“What do you want in exchange?” I cross my arms. This marriage is all about trades. My freedom for the shares. My secrets in exchange for his assistance.

“Nothing,” he says. “I don’t need anything in exchange. Good night.” He gives me a small smile and heads to his bedroom.

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