Page 77 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 2

“How dare you!” She gasped. “I’ll have you know that was a five-hundred-dollar bottle of champagne you just wasted.”

“Better than lettingyouget wasted, Mom. What were you thinking? You just had a heart attack. Your heart stopped working. This is serious. You could have died!”

Before I could make it back to the table, she’d stood, leaned over and snatched my full glass, then sat back down.

I narrowed my gaze at her as Memphis made to stand up. “I think I should probably let you two talk.”

“Sit down!” I snapped. “You are a part of this family now. You get to see the good, the bad, and the ugly.” I glared at my mother.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “You see how I’m treated by my own daughter. Let this be a reminder to you, young man. When Naomi wants her way, she’ll do whatever it takes. Even embarrass her mother in mixed company.”

“Pleeeeease,” I groaned dryly and took my seat. “If you weren’t trying to drink yourself into an early grave, perhaps I wouldn’t have to be so dramatic in order to get your attention,” I fired back, my irritation rising to unparalleled heights.

“I didn’t invite you here to discuss my recent health concerns. I’m perfectly capable of handling any medical needs on my own, thank you very much. What I did want to discuss is your impending nuptials. Please tell me the two of you aren’t actually planning to go through with a wedding in less than a months’ time?” She lifted her hand to her chest; a diamond tennis bracelet dangled from her wrist. Something most people would find extremely odd when someone was wearing pajamas.

My mother was a different beast. Like my father, she flaunted her wealth with designer clothes, shoes, bespokejewelry, cars, jets, helicopters, large donations to charities with causes she didn’t even care about. My parents used their show of wealth to control people or make others uncomfortable, and they were damn good at it.

“We absolutely do intend to wed in the next three weeks. Right, boo?” I used an endearment my mother abhorred.

I watched with glee as a grimace stole across her pretty face.

“Uh, yeah, just as soon as we tell my folks.”

Mother reached for a small sandwich and put it on a gold rimmed white plate. She repeated the process with a couple pieces of fruit and cheese. “Eat, please.” She gestured to Memphis.

He instantly loaded his plate with several small sandwiches. A man of his height and weight would need far more nourishment than a few finger sandwiches, especially after his run and our extracurricular activities in the shower.

“You realize the biggest roadblock between you and Naomi getting married is not me, or your parents. It’s Abraham. He has his sights set on a certain life for our daughter. One he has been preparing for since she was in the womb. What makes you think you’re the man that can give her all we expect her to receive? In a relationship with you, Naomi will be the bread winner, will she not?” Her eyebrow arched as she took a bite of one of the bright red strawberries and followed it up with a swig of what was once my champagne.

I gritted my teeth as Memphis continued chewing, wiped his mouth and placed his napkin back in his lap.

“Well Mrs. Shaw, my plan is to support Naomi as the bread winner of our family,” he said with pure confidence.

I reached out and put my hand on his knee and squeezed to show my gratitude.

“Of course, I want to make my own living and contribute to our lives, but I in no way need to outshine what she’salready created and achieved for herself. I’m a simple man. One who sees what he has in Naomi. One who understands the commitment she’s already put into her craft and the successful business she’s created. There’s no need for me to try and rise above it. She’s already hit the sky. My goal is to finish my degree and get a job that suits my interests and passions. Which I already know Naomi will support me in.”

“Definitely, baby.” I rubbed my hand up and down his thigh.

My mother shook her head and made that insufferable tsking sound I despised. I’d heard it so many times growing up, it grated on my last nerve.

“Abraham will not accept your plan. I wouldn’t put it past him to offer you a lot of money to walk away from my daughter.”

Memphis burst out laughing, and I couldn’t help but grin. Mother looked at us both as though we were nuts.

“He’s already offered me thirty million dollars to walk away, ma’am.” Memphis grinned, his gaze flicking to mine. It made my heart so full, knowing he turned my father down. Sure, I’d purchased his hand for ten million, but he could have taken the money and run. The fact that he didn’t proved how interested he was in building a life with me.

“Really?” She smirked and finished what was her third glass of champagne.

“Yup, and I turned him down flat. Please don’t tell me you’re about to do the same, because I gotta tell you, Mrs. Shaw, I’m not going to take it. Whatever you offer will never be enough for me to leave my beautiful fiancée. She’s got me hook, line, and sinker.” Memphis smiled, then leaned over, his face now close to mine.

I hummed as I kissed his lips teasingly, tasting the champagne remnants. “Delicious,” I smacked my lips playfully.

He chuckled and Mother stared at the two of us, watching how we interacted with one another. She poked a chunk ofcheese with her fork and pointed it at us. “If you think my husband is done trying to break you two up, you have another thing coming. What Abraham wants, Abraham gets. Look at me.” She leaned back in her chair. “You think I’d planned to marry your father, Naomi?”

I sat up straighter as my attention snapped to my mother. “What is that supposed to mean? You’ve always said you and Daddy were a love match.”

“Oh good Lord, and you believed that? Have you met your father? He’s an asshole. Rude, high-handed, often cruel to his employees, and has no problem belittling me for every little thing. My weight. How I’m dressed. If he felt I ate too much at a dinner we attended. If I ate too little. It never ends. Nothing is ever good enough for him.”

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