Page 82 of These Family Ties

I roll my eyes, and order a champagne from the woman who brought me here. “What do you want, Weston?”

He flashes me a wicked smile, tongue flicking out over his bottom lip. “West. I’ve eaten your pussy like it was dessert, I think you can call me West.”

“Just answer the question.”

He lifts one shoulder lazily, taking sip of his drink as he motions for me to sit in the armchair opposite him. “Publicly accept me back into the Harrington fold.”

“No.” I don’t even need to think about it, the word just slips effortlessly from my tongue.

He nods slowly. “I have no issue forcing my way back in, I was just being gracious by offering you the easiest option.”

The pretty woman returns with my glass of champagne, leaving the bottle in an ice bucket on the side when West motions for her to do so.

“I’m not a fool.” I lift my glass to my lips and savor the taste as I swallow the first mouthful. “I welcome you into the family with open arms today, and tomorrow you’re slitting my throat and snatching away everything I’ve invested into Nexus.”

Glancing through the window, I see another beautiful woman on the stage, splashing around in a giant martini glass as part of her act. The music in the private room is quiet, and I see a set of controls behind West. He must have turned the volume down so that we could talk, only quiet seductive hints of the music filtering through the system.

Dark eyes burn into me, as his brow quirks. “We can have a legally binding agreement drawn up stating that beyond my shares, I have no interest in Nexus—no interest in being CEO. Would that make you feel better about it?”

No interest in Nexus? That was a lie. He wanted everything I had, like some spoiled child stealing everyone else's toys in the sandbox. He obviously felt wronged that my father had cut him out of the will and disinherited him. Was he here on behalf of Leon to punish me? It was supposed to be my brother in the CEO chair.

“Why would you do that when that’s clearly your aim?” Frowning, I look at my nephew, trying to find traces of my brother.

His darker hair was laced with threads of gold, the only hint of the Harrington coloring. His eyes were dark brown, so dark they were almost black, making him look demonic as his gaze moved over my body, drinking in every inch of exposed skin like a hungry wolf. The set of his jaw, and the broadness of his shoulders reminded me a little of Leon, but it had been years since I’d seen my brother—my memories of him were hazy and faded. I’d only been ten years old when he’d run away, leaving me all alone in that house.

“I know you don’t trust me, baby.” West leans forward, placing a large, warm hand on my knee. “But my plans have changed. There’s something I want more than Nexus.”

There was no denying that he was gorgeous. The chemistry between us sizzled like charged electricity, crackling and angry, desperate to be released. But it was wrong on so many levels.

Incredible sex wasn’t worth risking everything I’d worked so hard to build.

“Me?” I throw my head back and laugh until tears form. “No one throws away millions of dollars.”

Finishing my champagne, I wipe my eyes. When my laughter stops, West is sitting there looking at me with a serious expression. The hand on my knee reaches for my hand, intertwining our fingers, and for some inexplicable reason, I let him hold my hand. He binds us together, his tanned skin contrasting with my pale creaminess. Were there any similarities between us at all?

“I’m not throwing it away.” He sounds confident, and a little smug as his thumb traces lazy circles over my skin. “I’ll still have shares and my payouts. But I’m prepared to be more hands-off Nexus while my hands are on you. Or in you.”

Rolling my eyes at his rudeness makes him chuckle.

“I want you to be mine.”

“No.” I’d spent too long under someone else’s thumb, whether it was my father’s, my mother’s or the board. I wasn’t going to just hand myself to Weston on a silver platter. I was a grown woman, and I’d fought for everything I had, proving myself every step of the way.

“I won’t budge on this, Delphine. I want you.” His smile is soft as he chews on his bottom lip. How old was he, anyway? He must be under thirty. What did his file say again? He was young and beautiful, but that wasn’t enough to throw away my life for.

“It’s twisted and it’s wrong.”

“As the best things in life often are.” He chuckles again, as if this whole thing is just some simple amusement. “How about a compromise of sorts?”

Narrowing my eyes, I pour another glass of champagne. I needed a lot more alcohol for this conversation. Why was I even listening to this? Was the sex between us good? Yes. Did I want a repeat? If I was being honest with myself, deep down in the dark recesses of my soul, where everything was twisted and damaged…then yes. I did. Was it going to happen? No. So why was I still here? In case he blackmailed me? I was well aware that he could ruin me if he had footage or pictures from Club Toska.

“Give me a year. Be mine, share my bed, my life for a year.” He drains the last of his whiskey and places the glass on the floor near his foot. “We’ll spend time together. You can learn to trust me, and I’ll prove to you I'm not interested in the business beyond my shares.”

I stare at him suspiciously. Why? It made little sense.

He lifts our hands to his lips, placing a tender kiss against my fingers. “And at night, I’ll worship every inch of that incredible body of yours—how do you stay so fit by the way? Pilates?”

“Krav Maga.” I let the implications of that sink in, but it only earns me a smirk. West was cocky, bratty both inside and outside the bedroom, it appeared. “I’m not giving you a year of my life, Weston.”

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