Page 102 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

I couldn’t help but be suspicious of what Frazier was fishing for. Why the hell did he want me to marry Tristan? It wasn’t like either of them could take the company from me if that happened. Was it to do with the company or something else?

“I merely worry for you. A woman at the head of such a large company. And now I see John is protecting you.”

Is he for real? Sexist pig. Not sure why I’m even surprised. He makes me sick.

“Ask Uncle Charlie about that, he’s the one insisting on me having a bodyguard.”

“And so he should. The person who murdered your parents is still out there.”

If he didn’t keep stating the fucking obvious, I was going to lose my shit. As if I didn’t know that.

“Well yes, but that doesn’t mean they are after me as well.”

“They could be. I’m trying to look out for you, Avery. You’d be the perfect wife for Tristan. He needs a woman who won’t let him walk all over her.”

I tried not to throw up in my mouth. What he needed was to be put down for what he’d tried to do to me, but we don’t get everything we want in life. I don’t know when my shift in mindset happened, but I no longer saw things as black and white. All of them should go to prison. That was the law. Except that wasn’t enough justice for me. They needed to pay for what they’d done. And they needed to pay with their lives.

“You know Tristan and I don’t get along.”

He scoffed, raising his eyebrows.

“Do you think that’s how marriage works?”

“You know, I thought the whole point of it was for two people who loved each other to make the ultimate commitment.”

He laughed, throwing back his head.

“You really are innocent of this world. In this business, marriage is never about love. It’s about who gives you the most power, advantage, money or social status.”

It didn’t come as a surprise he thought this way about it.

“Tell me, Frazier, what does Tristan bring to the table?”

He steepled his hands together, dark eyes appraising me.

“All of those things and more.”

I fought back the urge to roll my eyes. My inheritance might be tied up in a trust until I was twenty-five, but I was one of the richest women in the world. So they definitely couldn’t bring money to the table nor power. Frazier was talking a whole bunch of shit as usual. Did he really think I was that stupid and naïve?

“You’d do well to seriously consider it. There are many threats in this world and we wouldn’t want you to end up like your parents.”

A chill ran down my spine at his words.

Well, that’s not creepy or threatening at all.

“Is this all you came to speak to me about? A phone call would’ve sufficed.”

Did I care that I sounded borderline rude?

Not one bit.

Frazier could get fucked. We had to do something about him. I was tired of being threatened by everyone around me. It was like a never-fucking-ending cycle. Something had to give. I’d speak to Aiden about it later.

I’d only been back in the world for a few weeks and I’d been threatened by Frazier, had Tristan attempt to rape me, had Chuck all over my movements like I was some kind of criminal and I’d been kidnapped. My track record was not looking good.

Frazier stood up, staring down at me with unnerving intensity.

“Just think about it, Avery.”

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