Page 21 of Bred

The big man sighed, one meaty fist moving the papers closer to himself.

“So, you’re saying Ehlers Co. returns to me. Wren returns to me. Where does that leave you?”

I raised my chin. “I may have been born to this company, to this position, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to fight for myself. And Wren, she’s worth fighting for.”

Ehler nodded slowly, his face still somber. Incredibly, he reached for the ink pen on his desk. “I think you’re an idiot, you know.”

“I know.”

“But as for Wren being worth fighting for? That much we can both agree on.”

He twirled the pen between us, pointedly glancing at the other folder in my hand. “I’m guessing you have something else for me to sign, then. As soon as I rip this up?”

“Just something for you to consider.”

“And that is?”

“A business plan, drawn up by my desk people. They looked into your employees, your forecasted work, marketing changes, the works. You might have wanted to be a part of Thanes. But with this in hand—” I tossed the document to him “—you don’t need to be.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because Wren loves you. And she loves this family.” I straightened my shoulders. “That makes you a part of mine too.”

He gave me a look that said, For now. But I didn’t bother to correct him. I didn’t bother trying to explain. Because I could barely explain it to myself. In a little over two weeks, I went from horrified that I was married, to wanting her by my side, always.

But by her own fucking decisions.

And I didn't have time to consider what would happen if she didn't want me.

I would be crushed. But I would’ve done the right thing.

Ehlers stood, ran a hand through his beard. “You’re a better man than I gave you credit for.”

A chuckle slipped out before I could stop that. “That’s the first time I’ve heard that one.”

“It won’t be the last.”

I reached for his hand, and without hesitation, he took it, shaking it once before he released me to pick up the original contract. With a smile, he cleanly ripped it in half.

I watched those shredded pieces of paper slip to the ground and found a smile tugging at my lips as well.

“Come, boy. Let’s celebrate your loss.” Ehlers moved around the desk to clap a large hand over my shoulders.

I raised a hand, halting him with another smile. “I think you mean my gain.”

Deep, rich laughter filled the room. “Bridget? Bridget, get in here. I need my scotch, the good one.”

A petite figure, her dark curls pinned back and wide brown eyes curious, entered the room. “The good scotch?”

Instead of stopping, she went all the way to Ehlers and allowed him to tuck her in under his arm. “Yes, Mr. Thanes and I are celebrating.”

I found myself at the receiving end of a glare from this tiny woman. I blinked at her, surprised.

“Grandfather, you’re telling me this is Wren’s new husband?”

“Easy, Bridget, he’s a good man.”

She strained against her grandfather’s grip. “Is he? How would we even know? I haven’t seen her in weeks.”