Page 4 of Robert

“You are still my baby sister, and I am never going to allow anyone to take advantage of you,” he told her firmly, “deal with it.”

“I am worried about you.”

The sudden change of subject had him jolting, a little. “Pardon?”

“You need a woman.”

His smile widened. “I am not short of female companions.”

“Not just someone to have sex with, you need someone special.”

His brows lifted. “I see. You don’t count as someone special?”

“I am your sister. Robert, you should be married, with a family.”

Picking up his glass, he sipped and eyed her over the rim. “Where is this coming from?”

She shrugged. “I am just worried about you that’s all. I love you, but I am not there enough. You live alone in that sterile apartment of yours and you are hardly ever there.”

“That’s because I have a business to run, and that business takes me out of the country every now and then.”

“If you had a wife…”

“You mean someone who is going to be interested in my money?” He asked mildly.

“You are very attractive and not all women are materialistic.”

“As soon as I find one who’s not, I will be proposing,” he glanced at his watch, “I’m afraid I have to run. Stay and finish your meal and have dessert.” He eyed her critically. “You are too thin. Do you need money for groceries?”

She gave him an exasperated look. “Don’t you dare try and send more money to my account. I am probably the only intern with several million in their bank account.”

“Then use some of it.” Pulling her out of her seat, he cupped her face between his palms and kissed her lips tenderly. “See you on Sunday. I love you too.”

She watched as he strode away, unaware or uncaring that he was turning heads. Sitting back down, she finished her meal, her mind whirling.

*****

Slipping out of the designer shoes, Sonya sat on the side of her bed and automatically rubbed her instep slowly. She had spent the ride to her apartment fuming and plotting and trying to come up with a damn solution.

Her mother had gone too far now. She was abusing her position and Sonya was not pleased. She was furious. She did not want to get married. The last thing she wanted to do was become someone’s wife, someone’s unpaid hostess and bed partner. She had better things to do with her life than that.

Flopping back on the pillows, she closed her eyes wearily and took several deep breaths. Her mother had mentioned her high school days and she had reluctantly taken the walk down memory lane.

She had been dreadful. Rich and entitled and beautiful and had taken all of it for granted. She had reigned with terror. Being the most popular, the most beautiful girl in school had gone to her head and turned her into a monster.

She had used people. Given scant regards for their feelings.

After her daddy died, she had had a rude awakening, and it had changed her life. Now she spent her time giving back to society. Her mother had accused her of trying to be a saint.

“Darling, you cannot change the past and why should you want to anyway?”

But Deidre would never understand. She had been horrible to people who were not of her social circle. Especially the scholarship kids. And she was ashamed of herself. Of whom she had been in the past.

Now she was going to have to find someone to marry and she did not have a lot of time to do so. Unless she could pretend to be married to get her mother off her back. The idea had come to her on the drive home. Perhaps she could pay someone?

No, she shook her head instantly. It would have to be discreet. She could have to find someone who would not want anythingfrom her. Someone who would be willing to do her the favor without wanting anything in return.

But who? Sitting up against the headboard, she frowned at the pale blue silk wallpaper. In her line of work, she interacted with a lot of people and just the other day, she had been in a dialogue with Robert Faulkner… Her mind slid to a stop as if a button had been pushed to halt her train of thought.

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