by Fiona Cole
The box clicked closed a little harder this time.
I needed to shut those feelings down. I hadn’t lied when I told Verana that I wanted a true marriage, but it might have been the only thing I’d been truthful about. When she’d asked what I got out of marrying her, I’d created a reason on the fly. Both of which I listed were true, but not the real reason.
In fact, I needed to make a phone call to set one of the reasons in motion.
“Archer,” he greeted.
“It’s me.”
“Is it done?”
“I’m sending the file now.” I typed in his email and sent the signed contract.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you get her to sign it?”
I chuckled. “I added a clause in the contract I knew she wouldn’t agree to, leaving me to redraft a copy. When I did that, I added a new clause at the end, buried in jargon, stating she’d sign over her shares to me upon our wedding day. It was a risk, but I banked on her having gone over it with a fine-tooth comb the first time and only glancing for the one change when I brought it to her to sign again.”
“Damn. That’s ballsy. You’re a lucky son-of-a-bitch.”
“I’m beginning to think I am.”
“And if she finds out and sues your ass for fraud?”
“I guess I’ll cross that bridge if it comes up.”
He grunted but let it go. “I’ll need about two weeks once I have the shares if all goes to plan over the next month—which it should. But she can’t interfere. If she were to fight you on this, it could drag it out long enough to give Mariano a fighting chance.”
“I’ll come up with something. Take her away on a honeymoon.”
“Have you heard of phones?” he deadpanned.
“My buddy, Xander, is a tech genius. I’ll have him rig something to keep her out of communication. I’ll make this work.”
“We’ve worked a long time. I hope it does.”
“It will,” I said before hanging up.
If I said it with enough conviction, fate would make it happen. Not that I believed in fate. You made your own, and I’d be damned if I didn’t lock in the most secure plan for it to all fall in place.
Conversation done, I sat back and wondered what she would do when she discovered the truth—that she played a role in me finally crumbling her family’s company under my feet? Not that it mattered. We’d made a deal. She was mine for five years, and I had to constantly remind myself of why when the appeal of having her preceded my thoughts for revenge.
So many factors were in play, and I had to remain focused on the goal—I had to keep a distance.
I had to admit that having her by my side filled a hole I hadn’t known was there—an emptiness I never planned to fill, so I never acknowledged its existence. But when I imagined Verana on my arm at events, I thought of my mother and my grandmother and how they’d stood by the men in our family. When I pictured myself, I always stood alone. Now, I had Verana, and it sparked an emotional response I needed to shut down. I planned to keep her physically close enough to not run but use my coldness and previous arrogance to put a barrier around the possibility of falling into a trap of wanting her for more than sex.
No woman had lured me away from my revenge—not even close. She wouldn’t either. I’d be the asshole she accused me of, and if I could slowly chip away at her resolve to not fuck me, then even better.
It wasn’t just me I was thinking about. I had a company, and my grandfather. One of my meetings this morning was with a caregiver in New York. He wouldn’t be thrilled to leave his warm ocean and southern hospitality, but I couldn’t have him so far away either.
I’d make it work.
I’d make all of this work.
Starting with making it official.
Snagging the box off the desk, I headed toward her desk.
I walked across the floor with purpose, garnering other employees’ attention.
Debra noticed my approach into the main cubicle area and came out of her office. “Mr. Rush. What can I do for you?”
At that, Vera lifted her head and met my eyes. Something about my face alarmed her, and her eyes widened as she scooted back like she wanted to bolt.
“I’m good, Debra, thank you. I’m just here to speak with Vera.”
“Ms. Barrone?”
I laughed softly, like I found her correction to Vera’s formal name cute. “Yes, Ms. Barrone. Although, not for long,” I muttered, really amping up the show.
If I thought she looked alarmed before, it was nothing compared to the way her body tightened, and her jaw clenched. The soft smile I gave her probably set off even more alarm bells, considering we mostly glared at each other.
I locked the soft look in place, adding adoration in there too as I approached her desk.
“Vera,” I started, closing in. She shook her head just the tiniest bit, and I almost laughed at her desperation to make my attention on her in the middle of the office stop.
The whole floor was absorbed into our perceived private moment. The phones placed on mute, keyboards quiet with frozen fingers hovering above the letters, barely even any whispers or breathing, everyone on edge and holding their breath.
“Mr. Rush,” she choked out, her hands clutching her armrests.
“Vera,” I said again, revealing the black box from my pocket.
“No,” she whispered so quietly I barely heard.
Ignoring it, I dropped to one knee, creating an echo of gasps from around the office. “Since you started here, I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you. We tried to keep it professional, but the feelings between us couldn’t be stopped. You’re smart, beautiful, and represent everything I want in my life.” Cracking the box open, I congratulated myself on coming up with a mostly truthful proposal. “Verana Ma—” I stumbled over the name and decided to leave it off as to keep with the truth. “Verana, will you marry me?”
Hands flew to mouths like some kind of romcom. All while Vera watched the ring in the box like it’d explode at any minute.
Seconds ticked by, and my hands grew damp with each moment I had to wait to hear her say yes. What if she changed her mind? What if she made a fool of me in front of my own employees? My muscles tightened like a corkscrew waiting for her answer.
Despite knowing what she’d eventually say, I sighed, my muscles releasing like Jell-O when she finally whispered, “Yes.”
Applause broke out, and I slipped the ring on her delicate finger. I took advantage of her distraction with the ring and gripped her other hand, pulling her to her feet and right into my arms. Pushing my luck, I leaned in for a kiss, only to catch the corner of her mouth when she turned at the last minute.
“Careful, Vera,” I muttered against her ear. “We have to make them believe.”
She pulled back, her hand covering her face like a kiss with her fiancé pushed against her modesty. When she looked up, the smiling bride-to-be with fire in her eyes, she gritted out between clenched teeth, “Well, darling, they know you and what a dick you can be and how many women you’ve fucked. No one would blame me for not wanting to kiss you in fear of getting a disease.”
I barked a genuine laugh. I couldn’t wait to make her eat those words, along with my cock.
“Mr. Rush, I had no idea. Congratulations,” Debra said genuinely. “You too, Vera.”
Everyone rushed to give hugs and their own words of cheer. They all called Verana, Vera, and joked with her as friends. I hadn’t realized how much she had made herself part of this company until then. I’d been so focused on what her friendly actions secretly meant that I’d missed how real they were.
For the first time, guilt pricked at my conscience, but I shoved it away. It was business, and we each got something from the transaction. She’d proven more than once she could handle herself, and she’d handle this too.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to celebrate with my fiancée in private.” I delivered the words with an illicit wink, bringing gigg
les from the women.
“Nico,” Vera scolded, only adding to our familiarity. She slipped, using the shortened name more and more, and I liked it.
I shamelessly shrugged and tugged a wooden Vera behind me.
“What was all the cheering about?” Ryan asked.
I held up her hand. “Vera has agreed to be my wife.”
Ryan’s brows shot high, and his eyes slid closed like the information was too much to process. With a small shake of his head, he finally opened them but looked no less shocked.
Giving him a pointed stare, I gritted out, “I was shocked too. How did I get so lucky?”
Pulling himself together, he offered Vera a smile. “Congratulations, you two.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“Please, hold my calls. My fiancée and I need to chat.”
As soon as the door closed, Vera yanked her hand from mine and crossed her arms, making her breasts plump up under her blouse. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I won’t hide our marriage, Verana. This is where we both work. How long did you think it would take for them to find out? Besides, you’re mine, and I want everyone to know it,” I added, rounding my desk, giving a pointed look to the ring.
She scoffed and rolled her eyes at the precious stone. “Where did you get this? A gumball machine on your way to work this morning?”
“It was my mother’s, which was her mother’s. I got it from the bank the morning after you signed the contract.”
All cockiness drained from her face. “Oh.”
I sat in my seat and shifted papers around but didn’t see any of them. Instead, I focused on her taking soft steps to the chairs across from my desk and gracefully sitting on the edge. Her fire from moments ago gone, lost under her gaffe.
She studied the ring and twisted it this way and that. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
My heart lurched, wondering what my mother would say at seeing it on her. Would she approve?
Shoving the emotions aside, I changed the subject. “Have you told your father yet?”
“No. I haven’t seen him since our last encounter.”
“And Camden?” I asked, still not looking up but feeling the tension from across the desk.
“No.” When I didn’t speak, she filled the silence, her nerves palpable in her shaking voice. “I’m a little nervous to face my father again, and it seems too big an announcement over the phone.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“No. That’s okay,” she laughed unexpectedly, finally pulling my attention up. “No need to place you in the middle of it.”
“I’ll face it eventually as your husband. We’ll face it together.”
She sobered, and a softness I barely caught glimpses of entered her gaze. Warmth bubbled uncomfortable through my chest, and I shook it off, looking back down at nothing.
“We’ll go after work.”
She stiffened again, back to her stubborn, annoyed self. With a nod, she left, taking any warmth with her.
Pulling up to the regal brownstone, I wondered if it was the end of the line for going incognito. Would Lorenzo recognize me? Would he see my father and grandfather he so cruelly almost destroyed in my features and know? Would he see me and raise his guard higher than I could get past? It would be one thing for me to swoop in to take his daughter, but if he knew I had even the slightest desire to do it to his company too, the game could end before I was ready.
I banked on his arrogance and the view of my company being too small to be threatening. Even if he did recognize me, he wouldn’t know I was gunning for him.
Coming with Vera was a risk, but the slight tremor she tried to hide behind a ramrod spine had me wanting to be by her side. I couldn’t send her to the wolves alone. Especially not after what happened the last time they spoke.
“I never disobey my parents,” she admitted quietly, staring out the window. “I push at my boundaries, but never outright disobey.”
I let go of the handle and turned to face her.
“You wouldn’t have to if they had your best interest at heart.”
She turned, laying the full effect of her large doe eyes on me, bringing the warmth back. “I thought they did. In a million years, I never thought I’d be here, ready to stand up against my father—my mother—and the tradition we’ve had for years. Maybe this is a mistake. Maybe I’m making a mountain out of a molehill.”
I grazed my thumb along her cheek, reminding her without words of the abuse her father gave to her. “For one thing, it’s not just your father. No one should cave to a man like Camden.” She chewed her lip in indecision, dropping her gaze. Lifting her chin high, I tugged the thick flesh from under her bite and dragged my fingers back and forth, soothing the assault. “Secondly, never cower for anyone’s approval. Make mountains. Then crush them under your own decisions. Traditions are the past, and the past is never more important than our futures. Own it.”
I soothed her panic because it spurred my own. My vision of the future shifted into high-gear when she came into my life—I couldn’t have her backing out now. But a part of me also soothed her panic because I just wanted to. I wanted to infuse her with strength and watch her stand on her own. She deserved it.
A soft nod, and then she lifted her chin on her own, no longer needing my support. It was a beautiful sight to watch her tug her armor in place, pull her shoulders back, and slip her cloak of strength around her.
She sat like a queen and waited for me to open the door. Letting me help her from the car and guide her up the steps, like a peasant there for her bidding. It was awesome.
A maid let us in, and when Lorenzo rounded the corner, Verana’s composure slipped, but I was there, my hand at her back to remind her of her place.
“Verana, what are you doing here?” His question hinted at his nerves and hope. This wasn’t a man used to opposing his daughter, but he was also a man who needed her to obey. Neither of us knew the reason behind it, but whatever it was, it obviously trumped all else.
“Papa, I came by to introduce you to my fiancé.”
Lorenzo’s eyes jerked to mine and narrowed in suspicion. I waited for the flash of recognition, but it never came. “Your what?” he sputtered. “You’re engaged to Camden. Not this-this—”
“Nicholas Rush,” I supplied.
Again, I waited for the recognition in case he’d done his research better than I assumed, but again, it never came.
“He asked me to marry him, and I said yes.”
Pushing for a politeness the situation didn’t have, I reached out my hand, hating even pretending to be polite to the man who destroyed my family. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Mariano.”
He looked down at my hand and back up. Then over to his daughter, then back to me, his face growing more and more red.
“Verana Mariano,” Lorenzo practically growled, pulling his shoulders back just like his daughter. At least he tried to. It lacked the conviction of Vera’s stance. His brow grew damp, and his hands fidgeted at his sides. This was a nervous man on the edge of losing. “Get over here right now.”
Vera took a step closer to my side and slid her hand down my arm to link her fingers with mine. Pride swelled, being the man she reached for. I’d be a liar if I didn’t admit a part of me feared she’d go to her father.
Using her free hand, she reached in her purse and pulled out an envelope I’d given her on the way. When her father didn’t grab it, she set it on the round table, holding a large flower arrangement, and then stepped back to my side.
“I came by to drop off the invitation to the engagement party this weekend. I wanted to give you the same courtesy Camden gave me.”
Her father’s face reddened at the jab. “Your mother—”
“Isn’t here, as you stated the last time we spoke.”
Visibly trying to pull himself together, desperation gave way to anger, and he glared at her, taking deep breaths. When his daughter didn’t crumble under his ire, he refocused h
is direction to me. “She’s engaged to another man.”
“Not anymore,” I responded easily. “She’s to be my wife. Mr. Conti is welcome to object directly to me but will go nowhere near my fiancée.”
Lorenzo dragged a hand through his hair and down across his mouth, pacing away three steps and turning back. “How the hell did this even happen? Did you meet him at college? On the fucking street?”
“She applied at my company a couple of months ago. Of course, we hired her with her impressive resume. Things progressed from there.” Vera’s head snapped to me at the compliment about her resume, but I refused to pull my attention from her father, instead offering another squeeze to her hand.
“What fucking company?”
“K. Rush Shipping.”
Again, I held my breath, but he was too far gone to even bother to put anything together. He narrowed his eyes at his daughter and took a threatening step closer. I hated the way she flinched when he raised his finger to point at her.
“We talked about this, Verana,” he growled, his hand shaking with anger. “You have obligations to this family. To our community. You’ve known your place, and here you are, acting surprised, lashing out at your own flesh and blood. We raised you better.”
Vera took her own step forward but didn’t let go of my hand. “You’ve done a lot I don’t appreciate.”
“Verana Mariano, I swear to god, I—I will take everything from you.”
“Have it,” she growled. “I don’t need anything from you. This visit is a courtesy. Not an opportunity to intervene.”
Father and daughter stared off until I gently pulled her back.
“We hope to see you this weekend,” I said softly. “For appearances, at the very least.”
Lorenzo remained glued to the spot, his jaw stubbornly clamped shut, as we walked out. Somehow, I managed to hold back my smile from winning the first battle of the war. I opened the door for a still-strong Vera.
Victory surged through me, and I took my time rounding the car, letting a small smirk slip free before sliding in beside her. However, it all stopped when I found her struggling to fasten her seatbelt with trembling hands. I gently set her hands aside and let the seatbelt slide back. She sniffed but didn’t look up or pull back from my touch as I tugged her across the seat and into my arms.