Page 20 of Ruthless Legacy

“Oh, my name’s Eliza.”

“Wilbur’s granddaughter,” he states rather than asks. “Well, Welcome to Hawk Bay, Eliza, you’re earlier than expected. I’m Edward, Archer’s grandfather. I shall look forward to meeting you, Eliza. Now, would you mind putting my grandson on the phone?”

“Of course, and it’s a pleasure to meet you, too.” Grinning widely at Archer, I hand him his phone and he snatches it from me.

“Yes.” His jaw tics as he listens. “I know. I will. I’ll call a meeting.” He taps my waist and lifts me, getting to his feet and placing me back down.

“Aces business, sweetheart,” Seb says with a grin as he gets to his feet and takes a large bite of his burger.

I rise out of my chair behind them. “Well, if it’s Aces business, then Verity and I should be there as well.”

This brings a chuckle from all three of them, clearly finding my suggestion laughable. Archer firmly, but gently, pushes me by the shoulders back down into my seat.

“First, you’re not an Ace. Just because you have the surname doesn’t automatically mean you’re a part of us. You earn that right. Second, female Aces don’t attend our meetings.”

“We should follow them,” I suggest to Verity, as I watch the three boys climb into Archer’s black Audi.

Verity shakes her head. “Hell no. I am not getting caught out snooping on the boys. Besides, I trust them and if it is anything I need to know, they’ll share it with me.”

I sigh, resigned that she isn’t going to change her mind. “So, what’s with you and Rafe?”

Verity looks up from her phone at me with guarded eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know,” I reply with a shrug of my shoulders. “I just got vibes that there is history there.”

“Oh that. Yeah, Rafe is unofficially my fiancé.”

I choke on my drink and bang on my chest to get a breath. “Fiancé? So, he’s your boyfriend?”

Verity shakes her head, putting her phone down and giving me her full attention. “No, we’re not together. Although we hook up occasionally. It’s an agreement between the two families. Once we’re both eighteen, they will announce our engagement.”

I stare at her, opened mouthed for a few seconds, processing this information. “But do you even have feelings for each other?”

Verity considers my question. “Yeah, we care about each other. I mean, I have known him all my life and we’ve known for a long time that it was our family’s intention for us to marry. The sex is good between us when we hook up and we’ve both agreed that until we are officially engaged, we’ll both play the field and enjoy life.”

Wow, I have heard some fucked up things in my life, but this is a new one for me. Arranged marriage. What century are we living in?

“You’re shocked speechless,” she says with a nervous giggle. “Welcome to life in the elite. It happens all the time. Georgie has been hopeful for years that her family could broker a marriage deal for her and Archer. It’s all about mergers and strengthening the power and status of the families.”

I offer her a tight smile, as I don’t want to make her feel uncomfortable. “Do you think it will happen? With Georgie and Archer?”

Verity laughs. “Hell no, Georgie’s family doesn’t have enough pulling power. Plus, Archer is already promised elsewhere.”

A knot forms in my stomach and I’m confused why, as I honestly don’t give a shit who Archer Savage is supposed to marry. “Oh, okay. Who is he promised to?”

Verity shakes her head, her eyes wide and expressive. “Ah, you’d have to ask him about that.”

I nod my head and take a sip of my drink. “Does Rafe know you’re bi-sexual?”

“Oh yeah,” she replies laughing. “He knows.” I get the feeling there’s something she isn’t saying but I leave it at that. She has really opened up to me today and I don’t want to push her.

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