Page 72 of No Ordinary Love

"Is this because you won't date his daughter?" she demanded, and when I shrugged, her eyes sparked with anger. "That son of a bitch. This is unprofessional behavior. Marry my daughter, or I'll ruin you? What is this, the medieval fucking times?"

"You're cute when you're angry." I kissed her nose.

She batted me away with her hands. "You can't let him do that."

"Honestly, Amara, I'm past giving a shit. I've got enough money, andif the board is—"

"Stop." She put her hands on my arms as if holding me still and looked me in the eye. "This isn't about the money. You know, when we met, you told me the best thing about your job and managing LPC was that you employed over three thousand people around the world, giving them a chance to have better lives. That's why you do what you do. You're not some corporate whore."

I wish she'd just admit how much she loved me because she fucking did. My glorious Amara who'd fight the world for me, and I'd do the same for her. I had made mistakes, but never fucking again.

"I know, but I'm tired of—"

"Have you talked to the other board members?" She talked over me.

"I—"

"When is the board meeting?"

"Amara, baby, listen to me—"

"When?"

"Tomorrow at eleven."

She gently pushed me away and picked up her phone from her bedside table. She then sat on the bed cross-legged.

"Rena, hey, so Lucas here tells me Hugh is trying some bullshit to get him fired."

I smiled and watched her go to bat on my behalf. Was there anything sexier than your woman when she was ready to go to battle to defend you?

"You need to talk to the other board members and threaten their asses if they go against Lucas." She paused and then laughed. "I knew I could trust you."

She nodded as she listened to my Grandma and laughed again. "That sounds fabulous. I'd love to be a fly on the wall."

She ended the call and made a face at me. "Why didn't you tell me you already had it handled? Rena said you've strong-armed the board, and Hugh is going to be sorry to take you on."

There were no guarantees, but I was ready to hammer the last nails in Hugh's coffin, maybe even Kath's. I knew she was working with her father to run me out of my own family business with a no-confidence vote from the board. The plan I already knew from one of the board members was to place Kath as the CEO. It was a pipe dream, and Hugh was out-classed. Regardless, it felt damn good to see Amara fight for me.

I kneeled in front of her. "I am so in love with you."

She flushed.

"I want to make love with you tonight."

Both her eyebrows went up.

"Be ready to admit you love me so we can fuck, alright?"

"Someone is feeling cocky."

I grinned. "Tesoro, if Hugh had been in front of you right now, you'd have ripped him a new one. You love me. It's time to let go of your fears."

She nodded and took a deep breath. "I know. But…I don't know if I'm ready."

"Fucking you tonight,Tesoro." I gave her a long, wet kiss and rose to put on my tie.

She watched me in the full-length mirror. "We're meeting Gemma and Basil for drinks and dinner at Magnolia's."

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