Page 33 of A Linton Scandal

I was still reeling from what we’d just done on my couch, it was taking me a little bit longer to catch up with Mihai’s thinking. He’d showered, his black hair still had water residue on it. I needed something to distract me from trying to dry it for him. I immediately thought of the ice cream I’d been saving.

He shook his head. “The more I think about it, the more I think it’s better for us to take care of things now. So that whoever is behind today’s incident won’t be bold enough to make another move so out in the open. I think they did it today because they assumed I wouldn’t be paying attention.”

“Or they assumed you wouldn’t care,” I added as I went to my fridge, and opening the freezer I took out the Ben & Jerry’s I’d been saving.

He nodded, eyeing me as I opened the drawer next to him and dug out a spoon. “Yes, especially with the way the people in our circle are. They could have thought that I took you to be an eyesore and I would be grateful to whoever made you disappear.”

I gave a mock shiver. “You rich people are really something else.”

He grimaced as he watched me pop the top off my ice cream and dig up a big scoop. I took a bite with a loud moan of appreciation. “We’re not all ruthless, and it’s not reallyrichpeople. I believe it’s someone who has a vendetta against me personally.”

I leaned back against the counter. “And who would that be?”

He crossed his arms, his expression turning thoughtful. “I took over Linton, Inc. When I was twenty-two, many of the men my father had allowed to stay on the board of directors weren’t pleased since they knew I’d start culling those who’d done too many dirty deals. Stern, Howard and Franc are the primary ones who were the most displeased, and Stern was the one who’d invited me out for drinks that night.”

I flushed thinking back to that night and wondered if I had a time for when I wouldn’t think about sex. Then I thought, it was much better than thinking about Avery waving a knife over my face. Let’s go back to my memories of Mihai dicking me down on the couch.

Before I could say anything though, a knock on the door distracted me. Mihai moved before I could, and opened the door revealing not only Nao, but a group of men wearing what looked to be work jumpers.

Confused, I watched as the man entered, and quickly realized that not only had Mihai meant that I would move tonight but had already called a moving company to arrange it. I watched in stunned silence as the movers started getting to work, they were followed by two smartly dressed women.

“W… what’s going on?” I demanded. I set my ice cream down on the counter. Shooting Mihai an annoyed look. “You were serious?”

He didn’t even glance at me as he answered while signing something Nao had in a folder. “I told you, I think you and our child would be safer living with me. I don’t want what happened today, happening again.” He took the binder from Nao and set it on the counter beside me. Holding out a pen, his eyes determined. “Sign.”

Irritated, I snatched the pen from him and signed the paper, barely paying attention to what it was. “What if I didn’t want to move today?”

He scooped up the folder and handed it over to Nao. Before taking a small jewelry box that Nao handed him. Opening it he took a diamond ring out and gently took my hand.

“It’s only right that a married couple live together,” he explained slowly as if I was a recalcitrant child. He easily slipped the ring on my finger and smirked. “Perfect, it fits.”

I snatched my hand away from him, not even looking at the ring. “Who’s married, we haven’t even exchanged engagement rings. ” I argued, “we need a marriage license, and a notary, and your mom definitely said she wanted a wedding,” I argued. Hell, I hadn’t even told my own mother.

He snorted, motioning to Nao to step forward. I turned my gaze from him to Nao and found that the man held a marriage license in his hands with my signature. Speechless, I stared at them both blankly.

The self-satisfied smile on Mihai’s face nearly provoked me to hit him, but I kept my dignity and only sneered.

I didn’t know how or when, but I would get him back for his highhandedness. Don’t get me wrong, I was grateful for him saving my life a couple of hours ago, but I had obviously forgotten the man’s ability to manipulate and bully things into his favor.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to be a better person.

“We still have to be married, and have it notarized before that even works—” Before I could complete my thought, the door that remained open for the movers and the two unknown women had been packing and moving things, an older looking gentleman entered followed by Callin. The minute I saw him I didn’t even bother looking at Mihai, because I was sure he’d be wearing a shit eating grin and if I wanted my baby to have a living breathing father, I wouldn’t even look at him.

In ten minutes, we were married by Pastor Richards, who had a kind smile as he took a thick envelope from Nao and left. I found myself escorted out of my apartment, by Mihai with a duffle packed with a few of my necessities and my Ben and Jerry’s in hand.

It was the only reason I hadn’t had a mental breakdown.

Once we were on our way, I could feel him staring at me.

“Are you going to remain quiet the entire time?”

I scraped my spoon along the inside of the ice cream carton and hummed. After everything I had been through today, I deserved my ice cream and silence. I gave him a long look, before turning my attention back to the passing view.

He chuckled. Once again, I practiced counting backwards from Ten.

The only thing I allowed myself to think about was how I would tell Noah and Stella about my sudden marriage.

Mihai

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