Page 15 of The Devious Husband

Words. Knowing Dion, very few words will be exchanged if he thinks I’m mistreating his sister. Honestly, I’m a little surprised I didn’t see it sooner. She’s their little angel, and had anyone else messed with her, they’d have found themselves tied up in a warehouse until they swore to never look at her again. I should’ve known they knew about my feelings for her when they not only continued to let me get away with all kinds of shit, but they kept inviting me into their homes too.

I inhale deeply and nod. “Let’s do this,” I say, my voice betraying my nerves.

The Windsor boys throw me varying reassuring looks and lead the way through Anne Windsor’s house, toward her sitting room. “Grandma,” Ares says.

She merely smiles as she takes the six of us in, not a hint of surprise or confusion in her expression as she sits on her sofa with crossed ankles, her hands folded in her lap. The cream-colored pantsuit she’s wearing only enhances her authority, and at last, I begin to understand why she’s always commanded so much respect from everyone who knows her.

“Xavier Kingston,” she says, tipping her head toward the sofa opposite her. “I see you’ve brought reinforcements. Sit, boys.”

We all follow her quiet command and sit down. From the moment I made up my mind, I’ve been rehearsing what I’d say, only to find myself at a loss for words now that the time has come. “I’m here to present you with an offer,” I begin to say, terrified of saying the wrong thing and losing my one chance with Sierra forever.

“No,” Anne says. “You’re here to steal my beloved granddaughter from me.”

My eyes widen, and heat spreads across my face. My surprise must be evident, because she laughs and holds out her hand. I stare at her for a moment too long before I hand over the folder I brought, detailing my business plan.

“I… I’m offering a merger,” I tell her, sounding a little less confident than before. I didn’t think she’d see through me so quickly. I thought I’d catch her by surprise and make her an offer she couldn’t refuse, but I’m starting to think she’s several steps ahead of me.

“I was rather surprised you were able to grow your company into one I could not ignore, one my granddaughter had to be cautious of, when we’ve never had real competition in the industry before. I’ve been wondering why you kept trying so hard, even after you’d virtually dominated the industry,” she says, never looking up from the documents in her hands.

Fuck. I clear my throat and hand her another document. “You are correct to assume that I offer a merger in return for your granddaughter’s hand in marriage,” I tell her. “I’m here today to reassure you it’s a good match in all respects. This merger will turn our company into a formidable force. Though there is significant overlap due to the similarity in some of our acquisitions, there is also plenty of synergy. My portfolio contains malls, amusement parks, and airports — three areas in which Windsor Estate does not yet dominate. Sierra, on the other hand, owns a lot of hospitality and residential real estate. Our portfolios would complement each other’s.”

“Indeed,” Anne says. “In the last three years, you’ve been exceedingly strategic in your acquisitions. Which begs the question, why now?”

I hesitate, unsure how to answer. “I have grown my company to its fullest extent, and I believe both Sierra and I have grown weary of competing when we could be collaborating.”

“Perhaps so, but in that case, the offer need not come with a marriage agreement. Tell me the truth, Mr. Kingston. Does this have anything to do with my granddaughter suddenly being seen around town with Graham Thorne, when she’s never formally dated anyone before?”

I contemplate the various answers I can give her, hyperaware that all five of Sierra’s brothers are in the room with me, by my own stupid request, no less. “Yes,” I answer truthfully.

Lex chuckles, and I don’t have to look over my shoulder to recognize the sound of money exchanging hands. Assholes.

“Very well,” Anne says, completely unfazed. “Then answer this, Xavier Kingston. Do you love my granddaughter?”

Instantly, every hint of laughter and amusement makes way for deafening silence, and my heart begins to race. “I don’t know if it’s love, but I can’t imagine marrying anyone but her.”

She considers me for a few moments. “And you’re aware she can’t stand you?”

I tense involuntarily and nod. I know I’m not exactly Sierra’s favorite person, but she can’t deny the chemistry between us. She might not like me, but she wants me, and that’s something I can work with.

“Your feelings for her, whatever they may be, do not mean you are entitled to hers in return,” she tells me, her tone disapproving. “You could love her with all you have, and she might never reciprocate those feelings. Do you wish to marry her regardless?”

“I do.” I know Sierra doesn’t have feelings for me, but even so, I want her to be my wife. I want a chance to show her that I can give her the kind of marriage each of her siblings have, if she’ll just give us a chance.

“And if, after three years of marriage, you cannot make her happy, do you agree to let her go?”

My entire body reacts to the question, and the word no rests at the tip of my tongue. The thought of having her and then letting her go doesn’t sit well with me, but realistically, I know that if I can’t make her love me after three years of marriage, it’d never happen. “I would set her free, so she can find what I couldn’t give her.”

She nods, but she doesn’t look convinced. “What do you think of this, boys?”

They speak up one by one, surprising me with their answers.

“I approve,” Ares says. “He knows her better than Sierra realizes. If anyone can keep up with her, it’s him.”

“I approve too,” Luca says. “Sierra doesn’t realize it, but he brings out the best in her. No one has ever been able to keep her on her toes or push her to do better, but he does.”

“I agree,” Dion says, and I turn to look at my best friend. “For years, I’ve watched him quietly protect her without ever being overbearing or enforcing his own agenda. He’s always offered her invisible support, never shaking her sense of independence or undermining her strength and business prowess.”

“I’m inclined to approve their match too,” Zane says. “They’ve danced around each other for years. He says he’s not certain it’s love, but speaking from experience, nothing else could possibly keep a man like him so enthralled with a woman he isn’t in a relationship with, one he claims to not even like.”

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