Page 84 of Marrying the Billionaire

Archer

Irub at the back of my neck, wishing like hell I had Serena here to give me a massage. The stress of the last day and a half combined with the lack of sleep has given me a tension headache to rival all others. Her fingers could knock this out with no problem, though. I swear she has magic imbued in them or something.

I attempt to refocus on what our head of legal is saying, but it’s clear I’m not the only one who’s having trouble paying attention. Most everyone currently in the meeting was here with me through the middle of the night, and there are more than a few stifled yawns and drooping eyes around the boardroom table.

To my left, Dad surveys the group impassively, but the tic under his right eye tells a different story.

He’s majorly displeased.

When the head of legal herself yawns widely mid sentence, Dad stands up, everyone suddenly fully awake. “Let’s break for lunch and meet back here in an hour. For those of you who need a nap, take one.” His lip curls the slightest bit, which for him in a room full of people is tantamount to screaming in rage. He usually only leaves the actual screaming for Gabriel. Although now that he’s disowned him, it seems I’ve taken on that role.

“Archer, you can stay here,” he says as everyone files out.

Damn. I was actually contemplating a nap in my office.

He drums his fingers on the table as we wait for the room to clear, sighing as the door shuts behind the last person. “All right. There’s no easy way to say it, but you’re going to the Philippines. Connor can’t handle this on his own.”

My mouth opens and I immediately shut it, afraid of how I’ll instinctively respond,hell nobeing the first thing that comes to mind.

“I need boots on the ground,” he continues, “and it’s a good opportunity for you to showcase your leadership skills.”

This isn’t leading. This is cleaning up his mess. There’s a big difference. As a leader, he shouldn’t have gotten us in it to begin with.

“With all due respect, I’m not sure what I can do over there that I can’t from here in New York. I’m unfamiliar with the project, the local authorities, or the intricacies of the legal issues. My background is in finance.”

“And now the SEC is involved. You know about them.”

What the- “Yeah, how to stay off their radar. By not bribing people.”

His lips thin. “I expected that kind of talk from Connor. Not from you.”

I stare at him, unsure how to take his comment. He wouldn’t expect me to call him out because I usually know better than to argue with him? Because he thinks I’m like him? Because I have shadier morals than my brother?

“Dad, I-”

“You’re going, okay? You’re supposed to be my number one and a chief of this company. End of discussion.”

My jaw clenches, but I nod, accepting it. “I’ll see if Serena can take time off from-”

“She’s not going with you.”

My hands grip each other tightly under the table, nails digging into knuckles. “She’s my wife.”

“This is a business trip. And I said I want you distanced from her. Speaking of-” He pulls out his phone, navigating on the screen until he finds what he’s looking for. “What’s this?” He turns it toward me to show some paparazzi shot of me outside Capital West with Serena, my mouth on hers, cradling her face tenderly before she got in the car.

I clear my throat, trying to find the right way to phraseI’m not ignoring my wife just because you said so. “We had lunch in the private dining room there. I was kissing her goodbye.”

His phone clatters onto the table loudly. “You two aren’t playing house. This marriage is part of a business deal. And more importantly, the agreement was meant for your brother, not you.”

“Well, it’s mine now. I’m taking responsibility for it.”

He squints closely at me. “Don’t tell me you think it’s real?”

I grit my teeth, silent. Does he realize how much I’ve given up for him? Any kind of say at my own choice of career, a stronger relationship with my brothers, a chance to live outside his shadow. And now that I’ve somehow miraculously found something for myself, he’s trying to take it from me?

I’ll admit, Serena and I haven’t known each other long, but she’s already proven herself to be on my side over and over. Looking out for me, doing things for me, encouraging me. Showing genuine interest in me, not just what I can do for her. When was the last time Dad did something for me that didn’t benefit him in some way?

The silence stretches on, but when it’s obvious he’s not talking first, I admit, “We have real feelings for each other.”

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