Page 45 of Handsome Devil

“She should be so lucky.”

“If we can’t convince you to back out of this disastrous idea, I want some reassurances.” Row worked his jaw back and forth, palming it. Probably to keep himself from biting my head off.

I decided to humor him, for the sole purpose of hearing what my hysterical bride-to-be thought I’d do to her.

“Yes?” I asked.

“You’re not going to hurt her.”

“Physically? No. Mentally? Probably.” I wasn’t known for my people skills. “Let’s admit it. It’s nothing she isn’t used to from working with me.”

“You’re not going to force yourself on her,” Rhyland continued.

I snorted. That douche had some nerve to play the knight in shining armor role with his history.

“Noncon is not my style.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. If someone is dumb enough not to realize my worth, I’m not going to bother.”

Row rolled his eyes. Riling them up was actually kind of fun.

“You will not restrict her liberty,” Row said.

I shook my head. “She is welcome to walk out of this deal any minute of any day of any hour. She chooses to stay because I pay her mother’s way through one of the most expensive experimental programs in the world. Because I burned down the world to secure her spot there. This is a tit-for-tat arrangement. Now, anything else?”

They both shook their heads.

“Very well.” I pressed the panic button under my desk and smiled. “Security will usher you outside in about…” I checked my pocket watch. “Five seconds.”

Two burly men entered my office and grabbed my so-called friends by their jackets, hurling them out to the hallway.

Good riddance.

Kieran: Is it true what they say?

Tate: Yes.

Tate: TBF I don’t even think 9 inches is that big a deal. I think it’s the girth that made me such a legend in certain female circles.

Kieran: You’re forcing Gia to marry you?

Tate: For the last fucking time, no one is forcing her to do anything. I offered her a deal. She took it.

Kieran: Why couldn’t you help her from the kindness of your heart?!

Tate: This is not a serious question. Next.

Kieran: You ghoul. Don’t bother inviting me to the wedding.

Tate: Suits me. The city hall is not big enough for your ego.

The rest of the week unfolded like a multivehicle car crash on a burning fucking bridge.

It started with Gia’s replacement, Rebecca. She was barely passable as a part-time PA. Now that Gia wasn’t there to clean up her mess, my schedule was in shambles.

My calendar was chaotic, my coffee tasted like sewer water and disappointment, the filing was disorganized, tasks took ages to be completed, and meetings went unrecorded.