Page 16 of Takeover
Atticus choked out a laugh."None taken.I don't want to marry you either."
Dad frowned."You were open to it this morning."
Atticus placed his drink on the table in front of him and then sat back, sprawling as much as he could in the club chair."There's been a misunderstanding."
My father pushed to his feet."Then what the hell are we doing here?You know I'll just go to Jacobson."
Fuck.Pendragon was bad, but Jacobson was a million times worse.I would die if I went to Jacobson.I couldn't let him do that.I couldn't let Atticus marry my sister either.Morgan was only eighteen.She had her whole life in front of her.And I didn't want to chain her in a loveless marriage.Jesus Christ.I stepped in front of my father."No, wait.I'll do it.I'll marry him.Just not Morgan."
My father stared at me."What?That is not the deal.You're no bargaining chip.Morgan?—"
"That is enough!"Atticus's deep timbre was enough to settle the room in a blanket of tension.He sat forward and drained his drink then stood.“If Gwen wants to get to take her sister's place, I’m amenable.”
Amenable?I mean thank God he agreed.I guess.But still.
A hush fell over the room.Nervously, I shifted on my feet and cleared my throat."Fine.But we’re keeping my entire team.And I meaneverylast person.No salary or benefit cuts.And yearly retention bonuses commiserate with their salaries."This was insane.I was flying by the seat of my pants.But if I could protect everyone and keep Morgan free, then I would."These are the terms for our fake marriage.Name only.We can do that.That way we keep our lives separate, and our relationships, and my team doesn't split."
And God, I loved Lance down to the fiber of my bones because he jumped right in there."Yes, because Gwen and I?—"
Atticus glanced at him and said evenly, "No."
"Excuse me?"I breathed.
Atticus eyed Lance up and down before he turned his attention to me."I agree to your terms with one caveat.And let me be clear so there is no misunderstanding.This union will be more than just on paper.It isverymuch real."
I laughed nervously."You must be insane."
Morgan, supposedly now off the chopping block, stared at my father."Dad, you cannot do this.You can't make her marry him."
Dad laughed."Of course, he's not going to marry her.He's going to marryyou."
This was like a game of Who's on First.Atticus just shook his head."You heard the woman.It's Gwen, or we have no deal."
Chapter6
Gwen
"I didn't needyou to do that,” Morgan said.
I laid back on her plush Yves Delorme comforter and stared up at her coffered ceiling with its neutral muted color and recessed lighting.I could have been in a hotel bed for all I knew.
"I know I didn't need to do that.I just opened my mouth and was desperate foryounot to have to do it.That's why I said the only thing I could think of."
The outburst in the living room had gone over with a dead weight.Dinner had been a stilted, awkward affair.The whole time, Atticus Price seemed perfectly comfortable.He didn't seem to notice at all.He sat right next to me, and every now and then his knee would graze mine.Like he knew what he was doing.Purposely driving me insane.
Focus.
Morgan was saying something that I only caught the end of."Obviously, you're not going to marry him."
"Trust me, I'm looking for other ways out.Maybe if I can buy some time, I won't have to marry him.But honestly, yes, it was impulsive, and I just said the next best thing so that you didn't have to do it."
My sister sighed and then plopped on the bed next to me."Gwen, I love you.You are my big sister and my protector.I know it sucks that Mom passed away, but Jesus, you do not have to protect me all the time."
I turned my head to face her."I saw you Morgan.And I’m sorry, but just hearing you stutter and trying to talk.I don’t want you to regress.”
She threw up her hands.“I was shocked.And angry.And yes a little scared and panicked.But you hear me, right?I’m talking just fine.I’m strong now.Mostly due to you.You didn’t have to do this.”
“Do youwantto marry Atticus Price?"
