Page 19 of Robert

“I will be.”

“You like her that much?”

He smiled a little grimly at the understatement. Each time he saw her it was as if his emotions were galloping through the gate. He was in love with her and somewhere between now and the time when she decided to stop the charade, he was hoping to convince her to stay with him. “I like her that much,” he confirmed.

“And does she feel the same way?” She demanded. “I spoke to her earlier and the only word that came out of her mouth was admiration of your success. Not love or like or anything that should justify you marrying her.”

“I can live with that for now,” he told her mildly as he picked up his glass and took a sip.

“She is too beautiful.” Cat muttered, rolling her eyes at the amusement lurking in her brother’s hazel eyes. “Brian was tongue-tied the entire time, and I caught him staring at her several times during dinner.”

Robert’s eyes narrowed. “That’s not something you should be telling me.”

“Oh, he is not lusting after her, I get that. But you cannot help but stare. Is it the fact that she is so beautiful?”

“That’s part of it,” He told her quietly, “she is an intelligent woman and her confidence is inspiring. And she is a particularly good conversationalist.”

Cat was trying to understand why her usually sensible and pragmatic brother was rushing into marriage.

“Was it what I said before? About you needing someone?”

He shot her a retired look as he took a drag on the tobacco. “Darling, I am doing this for me. You should be happy for me. I thought you would be.”

“If I thought you were doing this for the right reason, I would be dancing around the room.”

“I am doing this for the right reason. Trust me on that. Now,” he continued briskly, “do I have your support?”

“Of course you do. If she hurts, you…”

“Stop.” He ordered quietly. “I am thirty-five years old and have been pretty much on my own since I was sixteen. I have fought hard to be who I am right now. I always know what I want. And I want her. I would like you to respect my decision and be happy for me.”

She backed down, reluctantly. He was right. He had worked so hard and even now with all the fortune he had accumulated, he still went to his company each day at the crack of dawn and mostdays did not leave until everyone was gone. She wanted more for him. A wife, children, a family of his own, other than her.

She would often think about him here in this lovely apartment and wished he had someone to share things with. But she had her doubts about that girl and could not forget that she had been a part of his misery during his childhood. She was afraid that Sonya Beaumont is going to hurt him.

“Okay,” she told him quietly. “I am behind you as always.”

“Good, now come and kiss me goodnight. I have to prepare for a meeting in the morning.”

Chapter 5

She had chosen the dress carefully. The eyelet pearl pink material was stunning and had cost her a pretty penny. It was not really a marriage, but she had to pretend it was.

Her mother had a very distinct attention to details and would be looking at everything.

She had met Robert formally when they had lunch at her place and he had been charming to her, winning her over.

Sonya had gone over the details again with Michael and had made him promised to keep everything to himself. After today, she was going to have the freedom to do whatever she wanted, in terms of the charities she was in charge of. She could go all the way; do things she had planned.

Patting the smooth chignon, she stepped back from the mirror, she took a deep breath and went to grab her wrap. They had decided to have the ‘ceremony’ early enough to give them a chance to go on their ‘honeymoon’.

That was something she had not quite worked out yet.

“We could say we are putting off the honeymoon until later, she had suggested.

“Or go to a cabin out of state that is owned by the company,” he had suggested.

“It would be casual.” He added. “I have some work to finish up and I assure you that the view is spectacular. You could take walks and commune with nature,” he added teasingly.

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