Page 11 of To Have and To Hold

“Is this a black-tie affair?”

“Yes, why?” Linnel frowned.

“Then I better go shopping after to get my tux for tonight.”

“I don’t think that’s a good—” Coco tried to interject, and he turned facing her, his mood darkening suddenly.

“My fiancée is not attending a party without me.” A feeling of possessiveness surged through him.

“Now listen here—” Linnel spluttered out.

He saw Vye elbow her husband and another look passed between them.

“Fine, you can attend but no announcement of you being her fiancé at this party. We want this engagement… marriage business between you to be low-key, the less people that know the easier it will be for her to get it annulled once she leaves and less questions.”

The possessiveness shifted to sudden elation instead.

“Dad, what are you saying?”

Linnel looked at his daughter with sadness, anger, and love. “I will agree to you being his fiancée and marrying him on a couple of conditions.”

“Name it, sir,” Colin enthused. A sense of victory was within his grasp now.

“You do not announce you are getting married to anyone except our and your families. It’s done in front of the justice of the peace and annulled as soon as possible.” Linnel moved into Colin’s face for this one. “And you leave my daughter’s virginity alone.”

Colin’s body stiffened in surprise, and he glanced at Coco, whose face gave away nothing. She met his look with one that said it was none of his business. He knew in high school thatshe’d wanted to wait, but he didn’t think that once she left high school that she would still be serious about it and would one day meet someone to give it to.

Was it possible she was a virgin or as usual a father’s wishful thinking of his daughter?

But to Linnel, Colin said nothing, his jaw clenched tight.

“Well, do you agree?” Linnel stayed in Colin’s space, pushing for a response. Both Coco and her mother tensed. He knew Coco knew that he didn’t like ultimatums.

Her mother cleared her throat and Linnel’s spine stiffened. “Oh, look at the time, we must hurry, Linnel. Remember we, uhh ,have something to do before getting ready.”

Her father and mother shared another look, then her father suddenly looked excited. “We will continue this discussion later.” He gave Colin another hard glance before turning to Jackie. “You’ve done so much for us already, but do you mind calling us an Uber, Jackie, to take us back to the hotel? We have taken up enough of your time and thank you for picking us up at the airport and bringing us here to see Coco.”

“I can take you back to the hotel, Mr. Hunt, it’s no problem. I need to head home to change and get ready for later this evening. Thank you for including me in the invitation to meet the High Commissioner from Barbados.” She paused to address her friend and boss now. “Unless Coco still needs me to stay and help her in the office until she’s ready to go?”

“No, I think I’m all set to go home and relax before getting dressed for tonight too. I will lock up and head out soon.”

“In that case, then we can all head out together; we can wait until you’re ready to go too.” Jackie offered.

Colin caught the look of dismay on her parents’ faces.Wait did they want to…

He turned to Coco, her eyebrows rose, and her lips twitched and he suppressed a grin. Jackie was about to put a spoke in their plans to have some alone time together before going to the event tonight.

“Jackie, Mr. and Mrs. Hunt must be tired and need of rest. I’ll stay with Coco and help her to finish up here, and then I will drive her to her place before heading to mine to go and change for the welcome party.”

All eyes turned to him.

Coco’s father bristled and opened his mouth to argue, but snapped it shut when he heard.

“Linnel, remember what we discussed.” Her mother gave her father a frown and a hard stare.

His glare back at his wife said,I don't like this, but I will go along with it for now. He let out a sigh when her mother continued to give him that look. “Fine I’ll make some calls and let them know we have a plus one with us tonight.” Soon after, the Hunts left the boardroom, following Jackie’s lead.

****

---