Chapter 26
The Map in Her Bag
I knew my father wanting to meet with me for lunch was a trap, yet I willingly went along with his invitation anyway. After his conversation with Amara, I’m interested in determining just how much of a problem he is going to be for me. My intuition tells me nothing about my battle for the CEO position will be easy.
My father’s brown eyes swing from the menu to my face. “Any honeymoon plans?”
“No need to act like you care on my account.”
He sighs. “I’m simply making small talk.”
Bullshit. Every question he asks and all the statements he makes always have an ulterior motive. Because of him, I became an expert in reading between the lines.
“Amara and I are leaving on Friday.” At least now we are. I don’t care what the destination might be, so long as we go somewhere.
“What about the quarterly budget meeting?”
“I’m sure you can handle reviewing my reports without me. I only get one honeymoon after all.” The corners of my lips threaten to rise.
“You seem to find a solution for everything.”
I don’t miss the double meaning behind his words. “I had a lot of practice picking up after someone’s messes over the years.”
“Do you even pretend to like me anymore?”
“I find it to be a wasted effort. You hate me and I hate you, so why bother acting otherwise?”
He dares to fake his displeasure. “I don’t hate you.”
“I find that hard to believe given our past.” One I will never forget, so long as I live.
“This is exactly why I respect you more than your brothers. Unlike Felix or Theo, you aren’t afraid to speak your mind.”
“We both have two very different definitions of respect.”
“Regardless, I find your efforts admirable. It’s why I consider you a threat to begin with.”
“Yet I can’t say the same about you.”
He chuckles. “I thought I taught you better than to underestimate your enemy.”
“Please. If anything, I give you too much credit.”
“You might be smart, but you let your need for revenge blind your ability to think clearly. Why else would you marry your assistant of all people? Even I didn’t think you were that desperate for your inheritance.”
Something snaps inside of me. “Talk about her like that again and I swear I’ll make your last twelve months as CEO absolutely miserable.”
I can work with him or against him. For the sake of the company, I’ve been willing to do the first option, but if he continues to insult Amara, all bets are off. She has proven herself loyal time and time again, so the least I can do is defend her from scum like him.
Whatever expression he sees on my face draws a deep chuckle from him.
“Don’t tell me you actually care about her?”
I make an effort to keep my gaze blank and withdrawn.
He slowly shakes his head. “To think I considered you my smartest son. What a disappointment.”
“Is there a point to this conversation or do you solely speak to hear the sound of your own voice?”
“I’m sure you’re aware of why I asked you to come here.” His malicious smile puts me on alert.
“You might have to explain yourself given how disappointing you find my intelligence to be.”
“Consider this a warning from father to son.”
“About?”
“Your grandfather might have provided you with an opportunity to usurp me, but that doesn’t mean you will be successful. I don’t plan on stepping down without a fight.”
“It’ll make my victory all the sweeter.”
He raises his glass of water. “Let the best Sterling win.”
I tap mine to his. “He already did.”
“I need you to book a trip.” I stop at Amara’s desk. After spending the entire drive thinking over my father’s conversation, I came to one conclusion.
I need to commit to my role as a doting husband—honeymoon included.
Amara looks up from her desktop with a pinched expression. “To Tokyo?”
“No. Pick a place. Any place with running water and Wi-Fi.”
She looks around the room and under her desk.
“Searching for a hidden camera?”
The faintest smile crosses her lips. “Either that or a wiretap. Just to be clear, I have never nor will I ever take drugs. Whatever green substance you might find in my room is definitely Felix’s.”
“Funny,” I reply dryly.
“Do you ever laugh?” she asks.
“Only when I make people cry.”
Her face contorts as she slams a palm against her chest. “Felix is right. You are a monster.”
“A monster who expects you to have a honeymoon chosen by the end of the business day.”
“A honeymoon? Wow!” She looks far too excited about the prospect for my comfort.
“Don’t get any ideas. This is strictly for appearances.”
“Appearances?” Her grin is snuffed out.
“I’m positive that my father will do everything in his power to delegitimize our marriage. It is up to us to make his attempt futile.”
Her lips purse. “By going on a honeymoon? How is that going to solve anything?”
“It proves I care enough about you to take my first vacation in over a decade.”
She laughs. “You must live such a sad life if you think sacrificing work for a honeymoon is a declaration of your affection.”
“Is it not?” Did she not hear a word of anything I just said? I don’t take vacations. Doing so should silence any doubts about our relationship.
Wouldn’t it?
“No. It’s not.”
I grimace. “I’ll be the judge of that.”
Her eyes roll. “Sure. We can do things your way since you have so much experience when it comes to relationships.” She mumbles something about men always think they know everything under her breath.
I knock my fist against her desk. “Book the plane for Friday.”
“This Friday?”
“Is that going to be a problem?”
She squeals. “No! Even if it was, I refuse to let this golden opportunity go to waste. I haven’t had a vacation in years.”
“At least you finally get something good out of all of this.”
She slaps her desk with a stern look. “You mean there’s supposed to be something better than marrying you? I refuse to believe it.”
I turn and walk toward my door, hiding the grin spreading across my face. Amara is the only person with the ability to make me smile. Not that she knows it. I’ve done everything in my power to hide how much sway she has over my moods.