Page 22 of Sweet Wicked Vows
Daughter of a multi-billion jewelry empire marries the CEO and owner of the second largest jewelry company.
They’ll say we’re a smart match.
But it was only for a year.
One year, and then we’d simply walk away.
Chapter Seven
“Why did I hear a rumor that you’re leaving?”
A crack radiated up my left leg as Noah pushed my knee up to my chest. The pain was manageable compared to the past. Minor discomfort for long-term success, Noah described it. Easy for him to say when he didn’t have the growing ache that I knew would hit me like a freight train after he worked my leg like dough.
I gritted my teeth, pushing my calf back into his hand. “Moving to New York. Nothing exciting.” I cursed when he pressed his thumbs into the scar tissue with a smile.
Sadisticbâtard.
“Nothing overly exciting?” Noah scoffed. “Your brother said you got married, and you’re moving to America to live with your new wife. Last time I checked, you didn’t do the whole long-term, serious commitment thing. Now, suddenly, you’re married and about to abandon your home.”
It was agreed with Evelyn and her father that we would keep the news of our sudden marriage under wraps until the party. Lexington wanted to do things properly. The fact we married in private was not the thing to do, but Lexington assured us that he would handle it.
I suspected he likely wanted to use the party to announce Evelyn’s ascension to interim CEO.
It didn’t come as a surprise that Noah already knew. He and Frederic attended the same private club, where the rich and elite came together to play golf, drink expensive whiskey, talk utter shit about their businesses, and avoid their wives.
My brother was likely jumping with childish glee when he received a copy of my marriage certificate.
On the outside, it looked as if we simply wished to expand our company and take it to the highest level we could by aligning ourselves with Reynolds.
If only they knew the truth.
“Things move quickly.” Another curse slipped out. “It’s not abandoning. I can still do all my work from New York. It’s amazing what the power of technology can do these days.”
“Whatever happened to never getting married? From what I recall, you said that Frederic could shove any ideas of trying to get you to marry some heiress up his ass? That you didn’t need to tie yourself to some spoiled brat for her money.”
“Things change. Being a bachelor in our world isn’t as simple as I originally planned out.” I swung my legs off the table. “Evelyn helps rectify the constant bombardment of proposals.”
“Evelyn Reynolds, huh?” Noah whistled. “Pretty girl with a pretty fortune behind her.”
“You know her?”
Noah shook his head. “Barely. She attended a charity auction where we were raising money for the clinic. She was very friendly and offered to help in any way she could. You definitely got yourself a real winner with her.”
“Our marriage is mutually beneficial.”
“A simple business transaction?”
It was far from simple. Evelyn was only a stepping stool to letting me reach for what I wanted—what I deserved. Her at my side was about to give me ultimate access to the Reynolds company, and I couldn’t wait to dive in and start ripping it apartfrom the inside.
“Why not bring Evelyn to live here with you? You and I both know you’re going to hate it there. New York is too busy for someone like you.”
“Her father is soon to announce that she is stepping in for him and becoming the acting CEO until her brother is ready to do the job,” I said flatly. “She needs to remain near work and near to her sick father.”
“I’m sure that must be nerve-wracking for her.”
“Wouldn’t know.”
“Ah, because that would mean actually talking to your wife and not treating her like a stock or bond,” Noah snickered. “I’m guessing that this is the sort of charm you’re hoping to woo dear Evelyn with, huh?”