Page 8 of Defiled Innocence

Do they tailor-make shoes? Fashion has never been of any importance to me. Lucas was the one who like the finer things money bought. I couldn’t care less about material things.

Losing one’s mother and being nothing but a hindrance to one’s father did that to a person. Who cared about things when the basic needs weren’t being met?

In the end, it’s me that retreats a step, but that’s fine. Space is a good thing in this situation.

It will keep me from slapping him.

“First of all, we’re not getting married. Second, give me my phone!” I thrust out my hand, palm up, and wiggle my fingers at him.

He stares at it.

The silence stretches.

Then, while I’m still wiggling my fingers, he tucks my phone into the inside pocket of his suit jacket.

The jacket fits him too damn well. I can make out his muscular form beneath it.

“Did the attorney not go over what happens if you don’t marry me?” he asks, his accent lightening now that I’m not accidentally insulting him.

“He did.” I drop my hand to my side.

Maybe he can be reasoned with. I just need to calm down. Even if my heart is jackhammering in my chest and the urge to kick this man in the shins is nearly overwhelming.

A calm head will solve this.

“If I don’t marry you, then I lose the full inheritance.”

“Not entirely,” he cuts in. “You’d still be entitled to a small trust, a hundred thousand dollars, if I remember the number right. But more important, for me, I wouldn’t receive the majority shares of the Moreau Investment Firm.”

I roll my eyes. I don’t give a god damn what they do with Lucas’ investments or his firm. It’s the foundation that’s important.

“I don’t really care about any of that.”

“Oh? So you don’t want the multimillion-dollar inheritance your brother left you? You don’t care about that?”

“Of course I do, but I’ve managed just fine without all of that this far.” My phone rings, drawing my attention to his breast pocket. “I need to get that.”

“No.”

Just that.

Just one word given hard and full of an authority this man does not have over me.

“No?”

“Yes. No.” He nods.

The phone continues to ring. It could be a problem at the center.

My jaw clenches.

The sooner I get this finished, the faster I can get back to work.

“Okay, let me get straight to it then.” I scramble to remember the little speech I had prepared for when I arrived.

I had it memorized. I practiced it over and over on the cab ride over, but as soon as I entered the office and saw him, it all just flew out of reach.

Anger mixed with surprise at how attractive he was messed up my entire plan. But I had my head on straight again and getting back to the plan was best.

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