Page 5 of Point of Contention

Ididknow.

Winston Rombauer had suggested marriage and I’d brushed him off, but I should have known that wouldn’t be the end of it. I should have known those two old bastards were still intent on pulling the goddamn strings. They were two steps ahead of me and I was a fool to expect anything less than the worst from them.

What I couldn’t figure out was why? What was the end game?

But it didn’t matter, did it? Not really. They had no control over me and certainly couldn’t control Rylan.

My reaction to the announcement was worse than the announcement itself. It made me worse than my father and Rombauer combined.

Because I’d been relieved. I’d been fuckinghappyabout it.

Marrying this woman would have redirected media attention from our bedroom proclivities to our happily ever after. As private as I’d lived my entire life, with the spotlight now on me, I’d realized quickly that I could use it to my own benefit. That I could useher.

Reed Publishing was the biggest name in romance; the fans would be rabid over this window into my life, eating up every word as they devoured stories of their real-life publishing tycoon and his innocent little intern. We were their favorite goddamn trope.

Additionally, the fairy tale aspect of our whirlwind romance would have presented me as the leading man a family-run corporate giant like Reed Enterprises needed at the helm in order to truly succeed.

Positioning me as the perfect man to step into my father’s shoes and carry the corporation into the future.

I would have been the hero of the story. The lover, the family man.

Instead…

One look at Rylan’s face from that podium and I’d known I was wrong to be thrilled. So, so wrong.

An asshole to the nth degree.

In those brief seconds following my father’s announcement, I’d spun our relationship into something that could propel my career forward. I’d planned touseher for my own gain, this woman who loved and trusted me.

I was no better than the man who’d raised me.

And she deserved far better than that.

I nudged a box of crackers from the lobby café toward her. “Eat another cracker.”

“I’ve had a million.”

“Rylan.”

“I’m fine. I wantfoodfood, not crackers.”

I sighed. So stubborn, my girl. “Lunch has been ordered and will be awaiting our arrival at my place.”

Her breath caught.

“What’s wrong?” Was she going to be sick again? My finger hovered over the button that would lower the privacy divider so I could ask Cole to pull over if she needed that.

“I want to go home.”

“We are going…” My words trailed off as I realized what she meant. Her home, not mine.

She preferred to seek solace in her friend and an ancient literature professor over me.

The Grand Canyon between us tripled in size.

And so did the one forming in my heart.

For thirty-nine years, I’d survived without her just fine, and now I wondered how I’d breathe if she exited this vehicle without me.