Page 8 of On His Bride's Terms

He went on.

‘I won’t lie. We would restructure—we’d have to. The reason your father came so close to handing over his majority share was because you’re haemorrhaging liquidity. This way your father would get to see out the business he’s cultivated his whole life and can ensure it lasts on into the future.’

‘Positively altruistic,’ Faye commented dryly.

Primo shook his head. ‘Not at all. I fully expect it to become a thriving profitable company again, but if it doesn’t I will carve it up and parcel it off without hesitation.’ He smiled, and it was a shark’s smile. ‘However, I have every confidence it won’t come to that. Your father’s company has just diversified too much. It needs to focus on what it was always known for before, as an iron and steel foundry.’

Once again a little jolt of recognition went through Faye. That was what she’d been saying to her father for years. But he’d always tell her that she couldn’t possibly understand the intricacies of a billion-dollar business. He’d never resented her for being an only child and a girl, and not being interested in taking her place on the board, but she knew he’d been disappointed the business would essentially die out with him.

But maybe now...it wouldn’t.

As if hearing her thoughts, Primo added, ‘Your father isn’t going to live for ever, Faye. By doing this deal with me, he’ll protect the MacKenzie name and reputation after he’s gone.’

Faye’s insides twisted. She knew her fatherwasgetting old. And tired. His weariness was what had led to his making a bad decision to trust someone else’s advice.

But this was only part of the reason Primo Holt was here.

‘And that, I presume, is contingent on our marriage?’

‘I’m not saying the marriage is a prerequisite for the business deal...but, as I’ve pointed out, it would ensure a certain level of loyalty and security and commitment to a long-term investment that can’t be bought or negotiated.’

Faye pretended to sniff the air. ‘Maybe I’m going a little crazy, but I could swear there’s a smell of...ofblackmailin the air, with base notes of cynicism.’

Primo let out a bark of laughter. ‘Hardly! I’d call it...an incentive.’

He looked at her, eyes twinkling. She was amusing him.

He said, ‘I don’t know how you can be born into our world and not be cynical. At least then one isn’t at the mercy of delusion and disappointment. I wouldn’t be offering to marry you if I didn’t feel like we’d make a good couple, Faye. Two of America’s foremost families forming a union, both personally and professionally, would be considered quite a sweet incentive by most.’

Sweet.A little shiver went through Faye. Nothing about this man saidsweet.He conjured up words likehard...ruthless.Notsweet.

She looked at him, more curious than she’d like to admit considering the subject of this conversation. ‘And what doyouget out of the marriage?’

‘Reputational stability. I’m thirty-five. My single status has been having an adverse effect on some of my deals lately. I’m not considered trustworthy. It’s old-fashioned, and a bit archaic, but it’s there. And I want to marry someone who is my equal, not some debutante.’

Faye wasn’t sure if she should feel flattered or not. But she had to admit that she liked it that he wasn’t one of those men who seemed to think it would make him look more virile to marry a woman a decade younger.

‘Why haven’t you married before now?’

He answered without hesitation. ‘It’s not an institution I have any interest in. I have no delusions about love, or romance. I saw only toxicity in my parents’ marriage, and I’ve never had any desire to risk repeating that. However, I have always known that one day I would have to marry, and the longer I remain single, the more speculation about my personal life is eclipsing the business—and that’s not acceptable.’

He continued.

‘As much as I see it as a necessary evil, I do think that with the right kind of wife one’s standing, socially and professionally, can be enhanced, and that’s what I’d be hoping for.’

Wow, that’s cold.

Faye hadn’t expected such a brutally clinical answer, but at least he wasn’t pretending that it would be anything but a marriage of convenience.

She said, ‘As I’m sure your team informed you when collating their dossier on my suitability, Iwasmarried and I am now divorced. I don’t particularly want to repeat the experience.’

‘It wasn’t good?’

No.She’d believed herself in love with her husband, and he with her, but she’d been wrong. Getting divorced within a year of her wedding day had been humiliating and hurtful.

Faye lifted her chin. ‘Not particularly, no. Hence my lack of desire to jump into another marriage.’

‘This would be different.’

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