Page 38 of Intrigued By Love

How the fuck I’d survived childhood with her was beyond me.

Oh, that’s right, they hadn’t raised me.

“Jackson, it’s time you stopped this shipbuilding nonsense and take the reins of the company,” my father said. “I’m getting old and I want you at the helm.”

How many times was I going to have this conversation?

“I made my position clear the last time we spoke. I do not want Burton Productions, nor the strings that come with it.”

“You’d turn your back on your inheritance. You’d let it pass to your cousin Richard?” My father seemed as baffled now as he’d been the last five times I’d had the same conversation with him.

Richard was a good man and deserved it. He’d worked for my father from the time he’d graduated from college. He also could manage my parents in a way I could never do.

“Yes. Richard loves the business and has doubled profits since he’s taken the lead on the majority of projects.”

“This is all because of that no-name tramp he’s seeing again. I will not have it.”

“Mother, I’d watch what you say when it comes to Kailani Alexander.”

I would never understand why they even bothered to come to this wedding when they couldn’t stand Kai or any of her family. No, that wasn’t true. It was about saying they were part of something exclusive, something only those in the “in-crowd” were invited to.

What would my mother say if she knew the only reason Thad had invited them was out of courtesy to his parents and the long history our families shared. Everyone, including Justine and Kristy Oliver, knew what my parents thought of Kai, and as an extension any Alexander, including Lina.

“I’m only stating the truth. She isn’t one of us, no matter if Thad has raised her status by marrying her sister.”

If this was anything like what Kai had experienced, then I couldn’t blame her for leaving, especially when I kept trying to fix every little issue my parents had.

“Talking to you is useless. You’re never going to see that insulting the woman I plan to marry is an exact way to keep me from having any relationship with you.”

I turned my back to them and started down the path to the main building.

I heard my mother shout, “If you choose her, don’t ever come crawling back to us.”

I ignored the words and looked at Thad and his parents, who waited for me. They were my family. And the one the Alexanders had adopted me into.

Chapter Fifteen

Kailani

“Thanks, Raquel. I swear you’ll get a raise for putting up with my crazy family,” I said into my phone as I made my way to the reception hall.

Thad and Lina were ready to make their grand entrance as husband and wife, and I was due at the head table to finish out my maid-of-honor duties.

I’d helped Lina change out of her gorgeous white ultra-feminine wedding gown with lots of flowing fabric and into something befitting the Hollywood starlet she was, a super sexy, form-fitting gown with an open back and sky-high heels.

“I won’t say no to a raise, but I think you deserve one too.”

“I’ll be sure to pass on the evaluation to the Lykaioses.”

“I already did.”

I stopped midstep. “Please tell me you didn’t actually do that.”

“Is there static on the line?” Raquelshhed with fake static. “I can’t hear you, boss. I’ll catch you later.”

She hung up and I shook my head. I couldn’t be sure whether she’d done as she said or was pulling my chain.

Slipping my phone back into my clutch, I made a quick stop in the restroom to make sure my makeup was still up to snuff and then walked toward the side entrance to the ballroom.

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