Page 22 of Vicious Arrangement
Aria rears back. “What does that mean?”
“We clicked. I was curious.”
“So… you… what? Decided we clicked and you stalked me online and then decided you liked what you saw and thought you’d force me into marriage?”
“Everyone looks up people they meet and like, or go on dates with. It’s a thing. I’m rich. Can’t be too careful.”
“You’re rich? That’s your excuse? So you didn’t orchestrate everything because of that meeting?”
I shrug again and sip my cocktail. “I’m sure you’ve already drawn your own conclusions. Or your grandfather.”
“I just don’t understand. You’re not pitching anything, you… you tell Gramps this needs to happen.” She frowns. “What are you, that bad with girls you resort to threats and blackmail? If you wanted to ask me out, you could have. I would’ve said yes.”
What the fuck do I say? I thought she was hot. I’d have taken her home and fucked her without even knowing about Grandfather’s charming will stipulation. How would she have reacted to that?
I know how I would have. “Should we order?” I flick a glance at the menu and turn it down on its face, bringing the waitress back. “No?” Aria’s face is apoplectic, so I order another drink.
She would have said yes.
But I don’t date, I have sex, flings, trysts.
Aria toys with her knife. “See, I don’t think this is about you being a weirdo?—”
“Thanks,” I say drily.
“—who thinks this is the only way to get a date. I think you’re some kind of arrogant asshole rich fuck who has some other motive behind it. And it’s not destroying Gramps’ business. It’s not me. It’s something else. So I want to know what your motive is. Why are you forcing me to marry you?”
“Maybe I fell head over heels, and this arrogant asshole rich fuck likes to just cut to the chase and take what he wants.”
She nods. “Could be. But I figure with your extreme tardiness you’re up there in confidence.”
The woman’s got brains, backbone, and fire. It draws me to her more, on a different level than the chemistry. Normally, something like that would make me second guess this idiotic thing I’m doing.
But I have to either crumble and go through with the merger, or do this.
Oscar didn’t want me to marry her. He wanted to force me to complete the merger.
So I’m going to squash the merger dead and marry this fucking woman.
“My reasons for wanting to marry you aren’t your concern,” I say.
Aria’s eyebrows shoot up. “You’re kidding, right? Of course they are.”
“This marriage has to hold up under scrutiny. It means we’ve had a whirlwind romance and can’t keep our hands to ourselves. Our personal… merger… needed to happen because of love.”
The word tastes bitter in my mouth.
“Hold up?”
“Yes. You’ll move in with me?—”
“I have a job.”
I ignore her. “Don’t worry, you’ll be well taken care of, trust me.”
“Trust you? I don’t think so.”
I put a pin in that as the waitress comes over. “We’re ready to order.” Aria’s eyes flash pure fire. “We’ll have the thick house cured bacon with salad and the smoky egg sauce, the celery soup with hazelnut pesto, the slow-cooked lamb shank, and the mushroom risotto.” I offer the waitress my most dazzling smile. “And the Montepulciano. Sharing plates.”
