Page 31 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 3

I shook my head. “You and I are getting married. We’re giving it a real chance. No time limits. No weird rules. It’s me, you, and Emily. Unless something happens where one of us, or both of us don’t want to be in it anymore, then we’re just going to live life. No restrictions. Got it?”

She swallowed, sniffed, and nodded. “But the money, I need it to help my—”

“The second we get married, I’m transferring the full seven million to you. No need to wait. I want to prove that I’m in this. Fully committed.”

She nodded.

“Now, are you ready to eat dessert, say our goodbyes and head to our hotel?”

Her gaze became heated the same way it had earlier in the Louvre. We’d waited long enough to fully consummate what we had burning between us, and I was over it.

“I am,” she reached down and interlaced her fingers with my own.

I bent down and kissed her slowly.

“Dad!” Emily burst our little bubble. “Um, hate to bother you but Mom wants to talk to you.” My daughter’s voice sounded nervous. Something she shouldn’t ever have to feel when talking to her fucking mother.

“I’m busy, honey. Tell her I’ll call her in a few days,” I said without looking at her, instead keeping my eyes firmly planted on the beautiful woman before me.

I could hear my daughter relay what I said.

“Dad, she says if you don’t talk to her right now, she’s calling her lawyers.”

Anger roared through my system like an alpha lion protecting his pride. I reached out and wiggled my fingers. “Give it to me,” I snapped, unable to keep my cool.

Maia moved over to Emily and opened her arms. My girl went straight into them and clung to her for comfort.

“Portia, what’s the meaning of this?” I growled into the phone.

“You’re getting married?” my ex-wife screeched.

I closed my eyes and let out an exhausted groan. “Yes. Not that it’s any of your business.”

“If it involves my daughter, andmy husband, then it’s my business!” she snapped.

“Portia, we’ve been divorced for most of Em’s life. You’ve been engaged more times over the years than I have fingers on both hands. What is this about?”

“You’re getting married. To whom? Some little nobody named Maia. A woman half your age! How do you think that looks to our teenager? Hmm…?”

It took everything I had not to rip into her. But since my daughter and fiancée were only a few steps away, I reined it in.“I don’t have to explain anything to you. I owe you nothing. And Maia’s been more of a mother to our child in a week than you have in the past few years.”

“How dare you!”

“How dare you, Portia. How dare you ignore your own daughter for years and then be angry about a new woman in her life. One that actually gives a shit about her. Now, it’s Maia’s birthday, and we have family waiting. I’ll have Emily call you in a few days.”

“A few days! Fuck that! My next call will be to my lawyers demanding they petition the courts for full custody,” she threatened.

“Good luck with that. You don’t have a chance in hell, but I’m sure Emily would love to see her mother more.”

“Rhodes,please, let’s talk about this.” Portia changed her tune instantly to one that was saccharin sweet. “I want you back.”

Is this woman for real?

“You’re delusional if you think we live in a world where I would ever consider taking you back. Not in a million fucking years. Jesus!” I snapped.

“You’re gonna regret this, Rhodes,” she sneered. “No woman will ever love you the way I do.”

“I don’t even know what to say to that load of crap other than I wish you well, Portia. Call your daughter once in a while. Goodbye.”

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