Page 67 of 2 Books in One Bundle

‘I had to marry, Gianni,’ she forced out. ‘David was his mentor and he had standing with the board. It’s a family company and being oriented around Christmas, that’s what they require from their future CEO. A family. Me having to marry you at the last minute—’

‘Was not ideal,’ Orion interrupted with the same maddening calm. ‘Which was why, if you’d given me a moment, I would have told you that I’ve also been on a video call with the board of Kendricks’ this morning.’

Isla’s stomach dropped away. ‘What?’

‘I met with them to discuss the sale of the company to me. I wanted to tell them personally. Also that I planned to keep the company intact for the next year at least, and to give them some explanation for our marriage and why it occurred in the manner it did. Be assured.’

Shock coursed through her as she stared at him. ‘You couldn’t have waited for me so we could have told them together?’

He only stared back, completely at his ease. ‘I wanted to spare you the awkwardness of lying about how in love with me you were.’

Isla opened her mouth then shut it again, not knowing at all what to say to that.

‘I know that many of them don’t have confidence in you,’ he went on smoothly. ‘That they’re concerned you don’t have the backbone they need in a CEO. You’re too quiet and not authoritative enough. Too much your father’s yes man. And I find that puzzling because the woman I married yesterday wasallbackbone. There was nothing quiet about her when she grabbed my tie and kissed me.’

Isla could feel colour creeping up her neck and flushing her cheeks. She’d never had her weaknesses catalogued so completely one moment, before being refuted the next.

She looked away, unable to deal with the directness of his gaze, staring down at her hands clasped in front of her instead. ‘That’s because I was angry with you. I have to lock that down in the boardroom.’

‘Why? Anger can be a useful tool if you stay in command of it.’

But that was the problem, wasn’t it? She couldn’t stay in command of it. She had a problem with her temper and if she wasn’t careful, it got away from her. It had lost her that one family years earlier, and earned her father’s disapproval when she’d first started working at Kendricks’. She’d tried to bring up the subject of lifting wages for the lower-paid workers in the company, and had been roundly dismissed by the board. And she hadn’t thought. She’d argued and had ended up shouting, before leaving the room in tears. David had been horrified, but not more horrified than she was at herself. She’d kept herself under strict control ever since. Not that she was going to explain that to him.

‘Yes, well, be that as it may,’ she said coolly, lifting her gaze to his once more. ‘It was my responsibility to speak to the board, not yours.’

He shrugged, as if it was of no consequence. ‘Perhaps, but it’s done now. They were happy with my explanation so there’s no need for you to contact them. And our marriage is also done now.’

She wanted to shout at him, but there was nothing to be gained from it, since he was right. ‘So, what? I’m just your wife for ever?’

‘No. I promised your father a year. A year for you to remain as my wife. A year for you to be CEO. And a year for me to keep Kendricks’ intact.’

‘So what happens now?’

‘What happens now is our honeymoon. We can discuss the rest later. So, I’m sorry, Isla, but I’m afraid you’re staying. I have a helicopter flight planned to see some of the major volcanic sites. Also some skating on the lake. You can use your bikinis for a dip in the hot pool near the lodge, since the water is heated by a natural hot spring related to the volcanic activity in the area. I should imagine you’d like to see the northern lights too. Oh, yes, and I was thinking that we could also do an overnight trip to Amsterdam. I’m told the Van Gogh Museum is a must-see.’

The tension inside her pulled tighter. He’d taken control of the situation and of her so easily, and now she was here, in his territory, and it seemed to her as if he wasn’t going to let her leave.

‘Let me get this straight,’ she said, ignoring him. ‘You’re going to keep me here in this lodge, against my will, and we’re just going to...what? Go on little trips?’

He lounged back in his chair, the dark gold of his eyes gleaning wolflike in the wan, snowy light coming through the windows. ‘I’m not keeping you here against your will, Snow White. You can leave at any time. However, you’ll need a pilot since the lodge is only accessible by helicopter. Also, the weather forecast isn’t looking good for the next couple of days, so you’ll probably end up staying anyway.’ He smiled faintly. ‘Why not enjoy yourself while you wait?’

A shiver went through her at that smile and the suggestion of heat in his voice. Oh, yes, she could enjoy herself. Especially if it involved—

But no. She couldn’t get sucked intothatand the way he made her feel. She wasn’t sleeping with him, not again. And as for the ‘excursions’...

Something pulsed inside her, an ache she hadn’t realised was still there. She’d been the only child of a single mother who’d died of cancer when Isla was four. Her mother had had no family and so Isla had been placed in a children’s home. It hadn’t been awful but it hadn’t been great, either, and to distract herself, she’d often dream of what her future would look like, the places she wanted to go, and the things she wanted to do. The experiences she wanted to have.

The girl she’d been would have loved visiting a volcano and seeing the northern lights. Going skating and lounging in a hot pool and seeing the Van Gogh Museum...

He’s right. Why not enjoy yourself? Especially if you have to stay here a few days anyway.

She took a slow, silent breath. Arguing with him would only set her temper off and she couldn’t afford that. So would it really be so bad to stay here with him? For a little while at least. She’d already planned for a week of honeymoon anyway so she wouldn’t be losing anything. She was annoyed with how he’d taken charge, it was true, but she wasn’t going to let him get his own way. She couldn’t, not if she wanted to develop more of the CEO edge the board was hoping for.

Perhaps she could start that edge now. Perhaps, if he was going to demand some things of her, she’d demand something of him right back.

She eyed him. ‘And what about our marriage after this so-called honeymoon is over?’

That faint smile was still playing around his mouth and she decided right there and then that she was going to knock it off his face as soon as she could. ‘What about it?’

---