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He pauses.
“Hello?”
“The scratches on my back tell a very different story, Miss Davis,” he says dryly.
I try to swallow past the lump in my throat, but it’s impossible.Water. I know I saw a bottle somewhere. I locate one below the air conditioning vent, undo the clasp and chug.
Cullen continues talking, “But this marriage is a completely separate matter. I’d like to give you, and by extension, Josiah my last name as protection.”
“Why do we need your last name? It’s not like we’re in the witness protection program. No one is coming after us. We’re just regular people.”
“No, you’re not. Your brother is my legacy and you?—”
“I’m what?”
“You are my lover.”
I snort. “One kiss doesn’t make me your lover.”
“You were my lover before I kissed you and you were my wife before I saw you. The order doesn’t matter. Only the documents do. Sign the marriage certificate, Nardi.”
“You’re insane.”
He talks as if he doesn’t hear me. “Money can only open so many doors. The rest relies on name. I don’t have a reputation of being friendly, but my work makes up for my lack of social aptitude. You and Josiah will need that for the future.”
Again, there’s something about the way he’s talking that sounds… off.
Roger stops the car in front of Cullen Tech. I stare at the fancy glass door that leads to Cullen’s empire.
I ask again, “The timing doesn’t make sense. Why today?”
“I wanted you to marry me weeks ago.”
“You know what I mean, Cullen.”
He pauses and, for a brief moment, it feels like he’ll tell me the truth. But then he says, “Maybe I shouldn’t have gotten a taste of you, Nardi. Perhaps that’s what drove me completely over the edge and into insanity.”
“If you’re going to talk nonsense, I’m hanging up.”
He chuckles. “I have a lot of meetings to get to. I probably won’t be able to answer your phone calls. If you need anything, call Sara or Roger. Their names and numbers are both on the sheet. If you have any questions about the inheritance for Josiah or about the assets that will specifically be for you, you can contact my lawyers?—”
“Cullen, don’t insult me. I don’t want anything from you.”
“Then I’ll call your mother directly. As you pointed out, she’s Josiah’s mom and should have a say in this too.”
“Absolutely not,” I blurt. Mom is a simple woman. I can hear her now: ‘For that much money, gyal? I’d put on my old wedding dress and marry him myself!’
“Oh, before I forget, there’s a wedding planner on the list as well. Given your lack of enthusiasm for our union, a courthouse ceremony is probably more your speed but just in case, I left a downpayment with a very prestigious wedding planning company.”
I stiffen. “You can’t just?—”
“If it’s for you, Nardi, I can,” he says firmly. There’s a low buzzing in the background and then he says, “I really have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Wait, but…”
The dial tone sounds.
He hung up.