Page 14 of Why Not Forever?

I turn back to my computer, shutting it down, then standing. Richard watches I grab my things and prepare to leave.

I take one step around my desk before he says, “Wait.”

I pause, keeping my expression neutral, though inside I feel like I’ve won a gold medal. I’ve made Richard bend. Which then makes me consider just how badly he wants me to marry his daughter, and I wonder why. What is this deal really about?

I resume my seat and let him continue.

“You want majority stake, I can understand that,” he says after a moment. “It’s not necessary. When you marry my daughter, I’ll change my Will so you get the final shares I hold when I die.”

I shake my head. “Not good enough. In the intervening years, you and the Board will still hold fifty per cent. We could deadlock. I want fifty-one initially or no deal.”

He stares hard at me for a long moment before nodding. “Fine. But I want you married before the end of the year. It’s time my daughter quits all this nonsense of dating women and beingchild-free.”

He uses air quotes around the wordchild-freeand I raise an eyebrow, but don’t comment. I know marrying me won’t make Vic any less bisexual. And our marriage certainly won’t result in children. I don’t need to explain any of this to Richard. Especially since I think I’ve uncovered the real reason why he wants me to marry her. He’s trying to control her. Or, more accurately, he’s trying to control us both.

“I want it in writing,” I say, instead. “A contract. Fifty-one per cent shares of Sterling Properties, plus the role of CEO, within six months of me marrying Vic.”

He gives me a curt nod. “I’ll have it drawn up tomorrow. You’ll be able to sign it tomorrow afternoon.”

“Perfect. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have a date with Vic tonight.”

I hate the smile he gives me, like we’re conspiring together. Have I played my role here so well that he thinks this is who I am? A carbon copy of him?

Just a little longer, I tell myself. Then he’ll be gone—or as gone as he’ll ever allow himself to be—and we can move on.

After he leaves, I head out, taking transit to Gastown where I meet my brother. He drove out here and will give me a ride home tonight since I usually take the train, and it’ll stop running before dinner is over.

“Explain this to me one more time,” Wyatt says as we walk toward the restaurant where we’re meeting Vic and Spencer.

“I’ve explained it five times already. I marry Vic, Richard gives me the shares, I give half to her, we get divorced. What’s so difficult to understand?”

My brother pulls me to a stop. He and I look a lot alike, the same dark brown hair and eyes, the same height and build, we even both wear glasses and have close beards. Since he was born just over ten months before me, people often mistake us for twins.

“What’s hard for me to understand is how you think this is a good idea. Haven’t you had a massive crush on this woman for like ten years?”

I scoff. “It hasn’t been ten years.”

He raises his eyebrows in disbelief and folds his arms over his chest. “How long ago did you meet her?”

I remember the exact day. It was the first day of the last semester before we started our MBA program. I was rushing to get to class because I’d overslept since I’d had to work the night before. I reached the room about sixty seconds before the start of class and there was one seat left. The one in the front row next to a beautiful woman with black hair and blue eyes. She’d looked at me with that dry humour she has as I took my place.

“Cutting it close,” she said.

I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “I like to live life on the edge.”

She’d scoffed, and we’d been forced to cut any conversation short as the professor began our lecture.

I hated sitting at the front of the class, but I’d sat next to her every day on the off chance I might get to speak to her again.

“It was almost ten years ago,” I admit now because I try not to lie to my brother.

“And how many people have you dated since meeting heralmost ten years ago?”

From when I met her until our one night, the answer is zero. I’d been so focused on school and working, I hadn’t had time. And my feelings for Vic had grown. From the one night with her until now, not many. Every time I’d tried, I ended up comparing the woman to Vic, noting the differences, and the other women all fell short.

“It’s not a problem. This is just business.”

Wyatt’s expression tells me he doesn’t believe me. Which is why I try not to lie to him, because he always knows. I don’twantthis to be business. I want it to be real. I want this one last chance. But I have also made the decision that it is mylastchance. So I tell my brother the truth. “At the end of this, I will let her go.”

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