Page 136 of One Wealthy Wedding

“You’ve done so much,” I whisper. “You had nothing, and you did it alone. And I don’t know if I can do the same, as badly as I want to.”

Theo sets me away from him. This is it. I was too fucking honest, and I went too far. Now he’ll hate me because being jealous of this man who grew up taking shit from my father and working three jobs is ridiculous.

“You’re not alone,” he says.

My thoughts screech to a halt. He doesn’t look angry at me.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re not alone,” he says. “You have me. I’ll help you. Whatever you need. I’m good at this.”

“Theo, I—” I can’t take your help. You’re going to leave again, and I’ll be all alone.

“You don’t need to do everything yourself, Cat. CEOs have executives behind them. You’ll have me.”

“For the next ten months,” I say quietly.

“For the next ten months, and after, if you still want my help. I can be an adviser to Peterson International.” He smiles at me.

An adviser. I haven’t really let myself picture the end of this marriage, but now I am. Theo, a face in the tabloids, a man I used to know. Theo, a voice on the other end of the phone, talking business with me before he goes on a date with some perfect, accomplished woman.

“Stop frowning.” He presses a finger to the wrinkle between my brows. “It’s a Friday. There’s nothing you can do today. We’re going on a yacht, remember?”

“Should I?” I bite my lip. “I should study. I can do more studying, and the better grades will help. I can ask Callie to put out a nice article about me. I can—”

Theo silences me with a kiss—a soft, sweet kiss that has me swaying toward him. It ends far too soon. I blink up at him.

“No panicking. It’s a Friday. Better grades will not help. What will help is selling this marriage so that I can help you take down your father.”

“You’ll help me?”

“I just said that. Whatever you need, Cat, I’m here.” He spreads his arms wide on the back of the couch, like he can be a bastion of strength against all the ills of the world.

I should say no. I should do this on my own, because Theo will be gone in ten months, and I’ll be alone again. I didn’t fight before, when I was trapped. I should fight now. I should push back against this intrusion, because he’ll be gone soon.

But someone to shoulder some of this for me…It’s too tempting to resist.

“Thank you,” I say.

He gives me that cocky grin. “Gregory Peterson won’t know what hit him. Now get dressed. I ordered breakfast, and I’m going to need my fuel for today.”

41

Theo

I’ve been to the marina at this yacht club a handful of times, but never because I’m renting a boat.

“I’ve never been on a yacht before,” Cat says. She’s traipsing down the dock ahead of me in a long white dress I had her buy, tipping her face up to the sun.

“It’s pretty fun. They’re usually decorated like a cocaine dealer from 1980s is the owner, but I enjoy them.”

She laughs. “You’re such a snob.”

I shrug. “Yeah. I am. Now that I can afford it.” After years of having very little, I take pleasure in making my own choices and living large.

“What’s the first thing you bought when you made money?” Cat asks.

“I gave most of my money to my mom, actually. She deserved it. She cried when I gave it to her. And then I made her quit the next day.” The memory slices through me, bittersweet. One of the best days, and one of the worst.

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