Page 68 of The Merger
“I guess you’re right. My brother is not as stupid as I thought he was. We still have to prove it though. I think we need to go to the distillery and see if we can pin down exactly how much was produced. Then we need to find out exactly what was told to the board that allowed Maxwell to claim the revenue for himself,” I added.
“That part is easy. When my father seized my property, he used some of my inheritance to purchase the line back from the company. The meeting minutes say that he argued since the company was to be mine eventually, and I was blamed for the abysmal performance of the brand, it was only proper that I compensate the investors for their losses. They were happy to be off the hook for the failed product, so he was sold the remaining stock and all rights to dispose of it as he saw fit,” Jana explained.
I nodded several times, coming up with a plan. “Then I need to make a trip to the distillery and see if I can uncover any records, or verify that production has really been shuddered.”
“I’ll make the arrangements for us to travel to Colorado in the morning. Easton doesn’t have its own plane, but there is a charter service contracted, that might be better than flying commercial so we don’t tip off Maxwell,” Sabrina said.
“Why would that tip him off?” I asked.
“You haven’t noticed your relationship has become gossip column fodder?” Colter asked.
“What? That can’t be true. I’m the bastard son of a mediocre executive. That’s hardly gossip column worthy,” I scoffed.
“You secretly married the stepsister of one of Seattle’s formerly most eligible bachelors. Sabrina is beautiful, and occasionally the subject of speculation. Beckett and Colter are still favorites of these websites. Now they’re more interested in bump watch for Evie and I, but they can’t quit obsessing over them. And you’re kind of hot, so of course, they are paying attention to you,” Jana said.
“I’m going to spank your ass for that comment, brat. Then I’m going to make sure those blood-sucking gossip hounds get a bump to watch. You’ve triggered my inner caveman, and I’m going to make sure the world knows you’re mine,” Colt growled.
Sabrina’s nose crinkled. “Ew, please drop us off before you procreate. I’ve had enough trauma for one evening.”
For the first time during this disastrous evening, I laughed. “It’s not a horrible idea. If the gossip rags are watching, then might as well give them something to pay attention to.”
Sabrina pointed her finger in my face. “Do not get any ideas from my block-headed brother. We are not going to have a child just so you can work through some idiotic need to prove your manhood.”
I bit the tip of her finger and she squealed. “How about because I love you and would love nothing more than to watch your belly swell with our child.”
Jana sighed. “Sorry, Brina. I think I’m going to let Colt try and talk me into it. I’m not going to be much help in getting out of this one of their plans.”
I could see Colt’s smile in the mirror. “Oh, there won’t be much talking happening. I’ve got a better way to convince you.”
Jana’s face heated a rosy pink. “Is there jewelry involved?”
Colt turned and winked at her. “Most definitely.”
Sabrina mock gagged. “I’m going to vomit. Do not talk about your hardware. I only survived the first time I heard about it thanks to lots of alcohol.”
All this time I’d assumed Colter Greyson was a typical executive. Sure, he was handsome and had a previous reputation as a bit of a playboy, but he was a numbers guy. I’d always thought he was pretty predictable. This was the second time tonight my preconceived notions failed me. It seemed I wasn’t as good at reading people as I’d thought.
* * *
The climb up the three flights of stairs should have left us exhausted after the roller coaster of emotions we experienced at the party. Instead, the only thing I kept thinking about was the moment Sabrina called me her husband. Rather than tame my inner beast, hearing her accept our marriage lit a fire inside of me.
I scooped her up once we unlocked our door, and carried her over the threshold. “What are you doing?” she asked me.
“You called me your husband earlier,” I said as if that would explain my thoughts to her the way they were banging around inside my head.
“Because you are. Me not having any memories of it aside, we are married.”
I set her on her feet beside our bed. “Tonight was the first time you said it like we were a couple and not a mistake to be corrected.”
Her hands rubbed up my chest and hooked around my neck. “I’m so sorry I made you feel like that, and that I forgot about you.”
With the small room I had between our bodies I managed to undo my tie. I pulled it through my hands, imagining the black silk wrapped around her porcelain skin. “I know how you can make it up to me.”
Her pupils dilated, and she bit her bottom lip. Her skin flushed with a rosy glow. Reaching behind her I slowly lowered the zipper of her dress. The white material pooled around her feet, and she stood in front of me in her pale pink lacy lingerie. With my hand on the center of her chest, I applied pressure until she laid back on the bed.
Stretching the tie between my hands, I stood over her with my legs on either side of hers. “Have you ever heard the term,tying the knot?”
She nodded, her eyes glued to the fabric I pulled over and over through my hand. “Stretch out on the bed, arms over your head,” I instructed.