Page 47 of Ruthless Financier
“Congrats.” She playfully elbowed me and walked beside me as we headed out onto the sparkling pool deck, with backlights and low lights that brightened the dark sky, like we were in some movie. This spot made her sparkle. And my body and soul craved her.
Part of me wanted to believe we had a future and this wasn’t just a contract. I’d never had a real partner.
She stopped and stared at the bar made of marble, where guests milled about, and said, “The poolside bar is beautiful. And look at the moon reflecting on the ocean over there.”
Beyond the shimmer of moonlight, the ocean was dark, but a couple of cruise liners were bright beacons in the distance.
I glanced behind her and saw the one dark cloud of a man I’d avoided seeing socially for years. I tapped Indigo’s side and said, “It’s the perfect spot for a reckoning.”
He was older, gray-haired, but still had those perfectly white shark teeth and an unnatural, almost orange tan. I tensed as Indigo asked, “Is that what this is?”
Protecting Indigo flashed in my mind and I squeezed her side as I said, “That’s my father.”
She turned with me to look at him, and whispered, as he approached from across the pool, “He’s much skinnier than his online pictures.”
I tore my gaze away from the man I couldn’t stand and smelled the fresh rose air of Indigo as I asked, “You hadn’t researched him?”
She shook her head and said, “Not really. He wasn’t a potential client, but he is your father, so I only read the first few clicks.”
Footsteps came closer and we both turned. She held out her hand like she was at a board meeting and said, “Hello, Mr. Donovan.”
He shook hands, but then reached for her left hand and turned it upright. He met my gaze. “Why does your bride not have a ring, Jacob?”
I stepped in front of her to keep her out of whatever he’d say. “It’s on the agenda. I’ve not let her leave my side much to pick out what she wants.”
“I remember when your mother and I were like that.” My stomach twisted. I was nothing like him. He pretended to be nice to Indigo as he said, “My son is not treating you right.”
She tapped my chest and smiled. “Jacob is amazing actually. I’m very lucky.”
“Possibly.” My father took a flute of champagne, sipped it, and then said, “He does suffer from middle-class beliefs about love and honor. I’d expected him to get married much sooner.”
His words made no sense. I refused any champagne and the waiter left as I said, “Success delayed the inevitable, it seems.”
“Like stealing Sun and Moon Trust to have something on Grant?”
He knew. I straightened my spine. His gaze narrowed and he asked, “So, Indigo is the love of your life and you’re happy, planning to spend the rest of your days together?”
When I gazed at Indigo, I saw my heart inside her chest. Like she got me in a way no one else ever did. My lips curled higher as I said, “I can’t imagine anyone else.”
His teeth showed, glistening in the light, as he said, “Even if I offered her more money than you did?”
She backed up and her face went white. “There is no money on the table.”
“So you married for love?”
“Love …” She trembled a little and I knew my father didn’t believe her even when she said, “Yes, of course.”
He stared at her like he saw weakness. Like he could see into her heart and knew that I wasn’t there. For a second, I wanted to toss him in the pool to block his view.
But then he said, “Glad to know that my new daughter-in-law and you have all the qualifications to take over my banking empire. I’m retiring to let you run it.”
Retiring? Did he think he could control the empire from some angle I’d not covered?
Indigo had a frozen grin pasted on her face. “My husband will do amazing at whatever you leave him. Jacob is brilliant.” “That’s why you’re both in charge. You’ll be a lovely new CEO.”
My entire body stiffened. This was a game. For years she’d toiled to earn cash for her family. If he put her name down as CEO, then he thought he could manipulate her.
My father didn’t even blink when he said, “Your husband has been buying out my board. I’m sure he can help you navigate the business, as you’re the love of his life.”
