Page 59 of Why Not Forever?

I make a conscious effort to mirror his body language. He’s relaxed into his seat, his fingertips pressed together. I show him exactly what he’s showing me: I’m in charge here, I know what I’m talking about.

“I was available all day by phone and email. If there had been some important meeting that couldn’t be done over a video call, I could have come in for it, then returned home. My wife was sick. When I got home on Wednesday, she was so sick she’d left the front door open. You were the one who wanted me to marry your daughter. Now you’re mad that I’m actually being her husband? What, exactly, did you want me to do?”

I’m not going to tell him how high her fever was, how worried I was about her, how close I was to taking her to the hospital.

He huffs. “I don’t know, Tanner. I can tell you I never left work because my wife was a little under the weather. And now you’re going to be off on your honeymoon. I wanted to give you this company because I thought it was the most important thing to you. That’s how it should be. You’ll be in charge, not just of this business, but all the people who are connected to it. Consider that.”

He stands as if to go.

“When?” I ask before he can take more than a step toward the door.

“When what?” he responds.

“When are you going to give me the company? The contract states you have six months from our wedding date. Yet here we are two months later, and you haven’t even brought it up.”

He gives me his businessman smile. “I said you had to become a Sterling, not make my daughter a Marcus.”

“It’s not in the contract, Richard,” I counter. “I looked when Vic said she wanted to change her name. What did you want me to do? Tell her, ‘Actually, Vic, you can’t change your last name because your dad wants to give his multi-billion dollar business to a Sterling, but doesn’t want to give it to you?’”

“I’m starting to doubt whether I should be giving you anything at all,” he says. “I’m wondering if you’re even the man I thought you were.”

Of course I’m not the man he thought I was. I’ve been playing a role since the moment I stepped into this building almost eight years ago, showing Richard—and everyone else at Sterling Properties—exactly what they wanted to see. I’d tell him exactly that, except for one thing: Vic. She wants the business, and I’m the only one who will give it to her. We may have a contract, but I’m sure he’ll find a way around it if he needs to.

So I stand, taking a breath as I prepare to lie. “You’re right, sir. I’m sorry. I probably overreacted. It won’t happen again.”

He smiles at me, nodding before leaving my office. I finish gathering my things, and the little origami bunny, and head home.

When I get there, Vic is laughing from the kitchen. The apartment smells amazing. I kick off my shoes and set my keys on the key hook, calling, “Honey, I’m home.”

“Oh, shit,” Vic says. “I’ve gotta go. I’ll text you tonight.”

My eyebrows lift at these words, but then I chuckle as I hear who responds.

“Sounds good,” Lis says. “I can’t wait to hear how it went.”

They hang up what I assume was a video call and Vic comes out of the kitchen. “You’re home earlier than I thought.”

She’s dressed in sweatpants and a sweatshirt, her hair tied back in a messy bun. I’ve never seen her look so comfortable before, not even when we were in university.

“I started a bit early today since you kicked me out first thing. What’s going on?”

“I made dinner,” she says. “To say thank you for yesterday and the day before. Lis talked me through it, so it should be good. No promises, though. It should be ready in about forty minutes, if you want to shower or whatever. I thought we could have dinner a bit early tonight, if you don’t mind. I’m still kinda tired and want to go to bed early.”

“That’s fine. You’re all packed for tomorrow?” She nods as I set my things down by my bedroom door, then walk toward her. I want nothing more than to pull her to me, kiss her, tell her that I had a shitty day without her and don’t want to go back into that office. Ever, if possible. Instead, I smile and say, “You didn’t have to make dinner. I appreciate it, though.”

One thing I’ve learned over the last two months is that Vic likes to eat, but she doesn’t like to cook, so this feels really big.

She smiles at me. “It’s the least I could do. You were amazing the last couple days. I hate being sick. So much.”

“I’m not surprised. I’ll shower and change, then we can eat.”

“You don’t mind staying in on a Friday night? I wasn’t sure if you had any plans.”

I shake my head. “No plans. I don’t have friends, remember? Also, even though you fell asleep through it, I watched your favourite movie last night. Tonight, you get to watch mine.” I wink and am about to turn to get ready to shower, when I pause and turn back. “I almost forgot. I have something for you.”

“You didn’t—”

I pull the paper bunny from my pocket and hand it to her.

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