Page 135 of One Wealthy Wedding

“What?” I stare at his stupidly handsome face, rough with stubble. His hair is wild, and he’s just in sweats. This is the Theo I like. A little bit raw, rough around the edges.

He passes me his phone. “I’m sorry to wake you like this. But you needed to see.”

I scan the article, not sure at first of what I’m seeing. “Peterson International to be controlled by disowned Peterson heiress.” I lift my gaze to Theo’s. Concern is written on his face.

“Your father,” he says. “It’s your father.”

I read the words out loud. “Peterson International, the multi-million-dollar conglomerate, will go to Catherine Peterson, in a drawn-out inheritance battle that leaves the company in the hands of the twenty-eight-year-old former heiress. Ms. Peterson has been the subject of much public scrutiny after her family publicly announced that they were disinheriting her after a series of scandals, culminating in the alleged theft by Ms. Peterson of valuable jewels from her family home. Ms. Peterson is married to Theo Archer, a partner at Kings Lane, who is known for his antics and tabloid scandals across the globe.” Shit. “I’m sorry,” I say.

Theo lifts a shoulder. “It’s not untrue. Keep reading.”

“Gregory Peterson, the current CEO of Peterson International, has said he will do anything to stop the takeover. ‘This is a travesty,’ he said. ‘My daughter has no interest in running a company and neither does her husband. He’s an empty-headed partier, and her takeover attempt, if you could call it that, is just a youthful rebellion. She’ll get bored like she always does, and then thousands of people will be left hanging. It’s a shame, really. We had succession plans in place for my business partner’s son to take it over. For a number of reasons, we think he’s far more qualified. We’re hopeful that the Peterson International shareholders will seek to oust my daughter from the board as soon as possible.’ The share transfer won’t take place until the end of the year, by which point, Ms. Peterson will be twenty-nine and still obtaining her MBA.”

I silently pass the phone back to Theo. “I expected this,” I say hollowly. “I expected—” My voice cracks. “Him to come for me. I kept hoping he’d change, but I shouldn’t have. He’ll do anything for power. I’m just collateral damage.”

Theo’s hand lands on my shoulder. “It’s a pretty crappy way of getting what he wants,” he says gently.

“I’m sorry you’re caught up in this,” I say. Somehow that makes it all worse. Theo is being hurt by this and I have to fix it. I take a shuddering breath. I need to be strong. I’ll be running a company soon. “You should divorce me. My father is going to keep coming for me, and I don’t want you to be caught up in it.”

“We’re not getting divorced.” His words ring with finality and I give a jerky nod. He gives me a faint smile and tugs me toward the living room.

“I have to figure out how to respond. I can’t be weak, Theo. I can’t let him have the last word. The shareholders need to trust me. They’re mostly board members, and they can try to oust me. I need to go—”

“Cat,” he says.

We’re standing in the living room, and I don’t know how we got here. “Yes?” I look up at Theo’s face, soft and serious and still rugged with sleep.

“Sweetheart. Come here.” He sits on the couch and indicates that I sit on his lap. And it makes me so fucking weak, but I do.

When his arms close around me, it’s everything.

“You’re spiraling,” he says. His voice vibrates through the cheek I have pressed to his heart. The strong thump-thump anchors me. His hand strokes the nape of my neck.

“A little,” I say ruefully.

“Tell me,” he says.

“I just—I don’t know what to do.”

He makes a humming sound for me to continue.

“I’m not made for this. I have an English lit degree, for fuck’s sake. I’m near to failing my corporate finance class. I only got an internship because you gave me one. I can’t get a single board member to respond to me. I am not qualified to run a company. What my father’s saying isn’t a lie.”

Despair yawns, ready to swallow me whole.

Theo’s hand stills, squeezing gently. “I don’t think that’s true at all.”

I lean back so I can look at his face. “It is.” I have to make him understand. “I think—” My voice breaks again, and I suck in a shuddering breath. “I think maybe I’m not a very good person. And my father is right. I do get bored. I’ve never accomplished anything.”

“But you are now,” he says.

“I haven’t accomplished anything yet.”

“Be patient,” he says. “It takes time.”

“I don’t have time. Don’t you see that? I’m twenty-eight. My only work experience is at a bookstore and behind a bar. I don’t know how to drive. I opened a bank account for the first time last year so that I could put my tip money in it. I’ve done nothing. I have nothing to say about my life except that I went to a lot of parties and know how to tell a dress’s size from ten feet away. And you…” I trail off. I don’t want Theo to think I’m jealous of him.

“Tell me,” he says. His arms tighten.

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