Page 40 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 4

“Oh, I don’t know. I’m pretty fond of that holding.” He tapped his bottom lip with one finger, his tone sarcastic.

I clenched my teeth while I tried and failed to wait him out. It was all part of his sick and twisted game.

“Instead of going back and forth, we both know what we want.” I seethed internally, using all my energy to appear unfazed and calm on the outside. “You are going to give me back that property, and I’m going to graciously apologize on our family’s behalf to the Taylors once you do and transfer it back to them free and clear. The only reason I am here today is to find out what you want for it, because I’m not leaving here without it.”

That’s when my father smiled. “There’s my girl. Mind as fast and dangerous as lightning, just as I taught you.”

It took Herculean effort not to roll my eyes, lest it piss him off, preventing me from getting what I wanted.

He pushed away from his desk and walked around to his chair. “I’ll sell you the property back…on one condition.”

“I’m waiting,” I stood still as a statue.

“You end this farce of an engagement, and you marry Malik.”

“Not happening,” I snapped at the same time Memphis rose and barked, “Fuck that!” I lifted my hand to stop Memphis from interfering. “Baby, please. I got this.” I put everything I could into one look, hoping he could see all that I tried to say without speaking.

I love you.

Trust me.

“Next offer,” I snapped.

“There is nothing else I want,” he claimed, lying through his teeth. This wasn’t about Malik or even Memphis. This was about me not choosing to accept the life he’d built for me and refusing to fall in line like a good little soldier.

I grinned. “That isn’t true. Never go into a negotiation without having a backup plan. You taught me that. What’s your backup offer,Dad.” I enunciated the last word as a taunt.

His lips twisted and he tilted his head to the side as though assessing whether or not the rattlesnake before him would strike.

Spoiler alert… I bite.

“Anytime,Dad,” I taunted again.

He leaned over his desk, placing both hands to the glass surface. His gaze was that of a world champion boxer, ready to take me down with one punch.

“You come work for me. Take your rightful place as second-in-command, and you can marry whomever you want.” His gazeflitted to Memphis. “Even if he is a gold-digging jock with no future and little to show for the life he’s already lived.”

I winced, wanting desperately to defend Memphis and his honor, but it would only hinder getting what I wanted. “If I accept this offer, the first rule of us working together will be that you never speak of my future husband in that manner again,” I spat.

His gaze slid to Memphis once more.

“Don’t even look at him. Look at me. Eyes on me. I’m what you want.” I pointed to where I knew Memphis was sitting, likely falling into a hole of his own mental misery after my father’s nasty comments. “That man…he doesn’t exist for you. He and his family are one hundred percent off limits. You no longer hurt them to get to me. Do you understand me?”

My father’s smile disappeared, and the hardened asshole came to the forefront. “What you don’t understand, Daughter, is you do not tell me what to do. I am your father,” he banged his hand against the glass desk the same way a judge would a gavel.

I slowly moved closer and stopped when my thighs pressed against his desk, the only thing separating us. Every part of me wanted to jump across that surface and strangle him where he stood, but I wouldn’t stoop to his level. No, I’d beat him at his own game.

“I will come work for you in three months’ time…”

“One. Or the deal is off the table,” he purred manically.

“Fine, I will work for you in one months’ time. Today, not tomorrow, not next week, buttoday, you will transfer the deed of the Taylor property to me,” I growled.

“Agreed.”

“You will leave them alone. You will stay out of my romantic relationships from this day forward,” I added curtly.

“Fine. If you want to ruin your life by marrying beneath you, go ahead,” he said with an air of nonchalance.

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