Page 10 of Defiled Innocence

“Marrying you gives me controlling shares of the company. Anything less than that is a waste of my time.” An arrogant grin tugs up the left side of his mouth. “Also. It’s time I marry and start having children.”

I stare at him. My jaw slackens.

“And I suppose I’ll do?” The ice in this man’s veins could air-condition the entire building.

“Lucas talked about you many times over the years. You are intelligent, have a good work ethic, and are young enough to give me many children.” He lists these things as though he’s checking off a job requirement form.

“Give you children…” I blink, unsure how to combat his level of crazy. Maybe I should have Ramon talk to him. This man may need a lot of counseling.

“Yes.” He nods, like there’s nothing else to say to that.

“Maybe you’re too old to have kids, ever think of that?” As insults go, this is pretty weak. But it’s not my fault.

He has me all flustered.

Because not only is he saying the most outrageous things, his eyes warm as he says them. The few men I’ve dated in the last few years have been annoyed by my goals. He seems to appreciate them.

Dmitri takes one small step forward, putting him too close to look at unless I tip my head.

“My age isn’t an issue,” he says. “Men can have children much longer in life than women. Unfair, but true.”

“I’m not having children with you.” I want to yell it, but it comes out soft. It’s because he’s crowding me.

How can a woman think with him so damn close?

“I’m not marrying you, Dmitri.”

“Then you will lose the foundation.” His statement is given in such a casual, ‘too bad for you’ sort of way.

My hands ball into fists, and I’ve never wanted to stomp my foot so hard in my life. A full-on tantrum. That’s what I want to have right now.

I want to throw myself on the floor, kicking and screaming about how unfair all of this is.

I’ve lost everything. Lucas has ripped everything from me with no warning. And now this Neanderthal won’t help me get it back.

If I’ve ever earned the right to have a tantrum, this is it.

“Amelia.” His soft voice pulls me from the storm I’m letting myself get pulled into. “You have no real options here.”

“There’s always options.” I swallow hard. When I look up into his eyes, I’m unsure of myself. I want to hit him, but at the same time I want him to touch me.

A sense of humanity. Something to tether me while the winds of my panic and grief try to tear me away. If I could have a connection, something that’s real and tangible, maybe everything wouldn’t feel so outside of my control.

There has to be a way out of this; I just haven’t found it yet. “The only option you have now is to decide if you want to have a large wedding in a church or if I should have a judge meet us at the house to perform a small ceremony.”

I blink.

He’s talking about the wedding.

My phone goes off in his pocket again, and I’m whisked away from the cloud of insanity this entire conversation has thrust me into.

“I have to get back to work,” I say, pressing my hand against his chest. Damn. Stone has more give than this man.

“You need to make a decision.”

“I told you. I’m not marrying you.” I swallow hard when he leans into me. His mouth is only a few inches from mine.

How the hell did I get here?

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