Page 30 of The Acquisition

She shook her head. "I don't need the money, Colt. I'm far luckier than most women. I own a substantial portion of a multi-billion-dollar company, I've got a degree from one of the most prestigious universities in the country, and I own my own business. Yes, I'm upset, but I'm not going to twist myself into someone I'm not for money."

"What about for revenge?"

Jana froze, her eyes lit up with interest. She was listening.

"I found the loophole in your trust fund that will allow you to gain full control of your assets before you turn thirty," I continued.

"Judging by the misogynistic clauses I'm already aware of I'm guessing I'm not going to like what you're going to tell me."

Rip the bandaid off, I told myself, I'd prolonged this too long already. "If you are married at any point before turning thirty, you gain full and immediate control of your trust fund."

The silence was palpable, until she started to pace. Then the only sound was the click of her heels on the hard wood floor. I stepped in front of her and put my hands on her shoulders stopping her movement.

"Like I can just find someone to marry me at the drop of a hat," she barked a laugh. It wasn't prompted by humor, but disbelief. "But what else am I to do? I know if I don't get a hold of my inheritance, my father will funnel it into his own accounts. He's driving the company into the ground, and there is no way Maxwell Easton will scale back and live within his means."

"I thought you didn't care about the money," I prompted her. In truth, I wanted to steer her toward this solution. Jana was a runner, and she could come up with a million reasons we shouldn't be together.

"I don't want him to have it! Damnit, I'm part of the family too. He brings in my dumbass cousin and showers him with praise. I worked my ass off for the company, and because I have tits I'm on the outs?"

My eyes strayed down to her chest. Not my fault, she brought them up. There isn't a man alive who wouldn't look when a woman starts to talk about her breasts.

"Colt! Stop staring at my chest. Where am I going to find a husband?"

I dropped my hands from her shoulders and held them out wide. "Right here."

"You don't need the money. Why would you put yourself in that position? What would you get out of it?"

"You." She knew I wanted her. I hadn't exactly made a secret out of it.

"So, you, uh, want like a real marriage?" her voice squeaked.

"We've already discussed the fact I want you in my bed. This isn't news to you. I'm not going to have you marry some random and sneak around behind his back. Because, brat, you will be mine."

"Why does it sound like a term of endearment when you call me that?"

I shrugged. "You keep calling me daddy, you didn't think I'd come up with my own pet name?"

"You're insane. Is this a midlife crisis? We can't get married."

"I'm. Not. Middle. Aged," I said through clenched teeth.

She smirked. Fucking smirked. It was like she was trying to get spanked.

"Whatever you say, grandpa." The humor faded from her expression. "Seriously, though, I can't do this to Evie. She's been through so much. She deserves to focus on being a newlywed and getting ready for the baby."

She had a point, and I hated to admit it. Still, letting her go wasn't an option. I knew Evie would eventually get used to the idea. "So, we don't tell her."

"How is that going to work though? My father isn't just going to be satisfied with a marriage certificate. We're going to have to prove it's real."

It was my turn to smirk at her. "It will be real. He can interview the neighbors."

Her eyebrow curved up. "And what exactly would that prove?"

"The way you are going to be screaming my name, I'm sure the entire building will be able to testify our marriage is real."

"Good lord, you are full of yourself."

My smirk spread to a full smile. "Soon you'll be full of me too."

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