Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 82094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Her face twists into disgust. “Is that how you talk to women, Carmine?”
“Only when they earn it.”
“I don’t think I earned any of that, much less deserved it. You embarrassed me. You hurt me for absolutely no reason. No—” She talks over me before I can reply. “You did it because you hate that I come from a family like this. Tell me it isn’t true. And now you want to marry me to gain access to that exact same family because, like everyone else from your little world, you’re a hypocrite.”
I lean back, amused. “I don’t hate you at all. I’ve barely thought about you until your father got arrested and I saw an opportunity.”
“Then why in the world would you ever want to marry me? If you really don’t care—then why bother? Take the company, but why me?”
The question hangs in the air. Her hands rub at her knees and she’s doing everything in her power to maintain control.
I want to see her break.
Brice waltzes through the world like everything is sugar and fairies, and she’s probably treated like a princess.
I want her to taste what life is like for everyone else.
For us peasants down here on the ground, toiling in the mud.
The world isn’t anything like this room: comfortable, light, airy, expensive, perfectly tailored to meet her every need.
The world isn’t beautiful and soft and gentle.
I figured this out at a very young age, too damn young.
The world is hard and mean and disgusting.
The world is grimy and gross.
The world is pain and suffering.
Brice doesn’t know a damn thing about any of that, but I want to teach her.
I say softly, “In my line of work, family is everything. I think you can understand that.” She doesn’t contradict me and I continue. “When my father passed and I took control of my organization, I was the youngest to ever grab onto power. But there’s no heir anymore. There’s nobody but a bunch of squabbling uncles and power-hungry cousins. I need a wife and I need children if I’m going to hold onto control, especially as I start to transition into new investment opportunities.”
“And one of those opportunities is Rowe Oil?”
“Among others, yes. The world is changing, but oil isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. In the meantime, I plan on making the Scavo family powerful on the embers of a dying industry, and I’m going to use your company as the first step in that direction. But more than that, I need access to people and places I never could reach on my own. That’s why I need to marry you, Brice. I don’t want anything to do with your family, but I need it anyway.”
“You need my name.”
“And your body. And your children.” I smile when she flinches. “Don’t act like it’ll be so unpleasant.”
“I know what sort of man you are and can imagine what you might enjoy, and I don’t think I’ll like it.”
I lean forward, staring into her eyes. “You don’t have any clue what you’ll like, filthy girl.”
That finally gets to her. She stands abruptly, nearly knocking over the tea set, and walks away from the couches. “I can’t do this.”
“You can.” I stand, but I don’t follow her. “And I think you will.”
“Screw you, Carmine.” She’s openly shaking now. “I’d rather let my family crumble than become your wife. I’d rather die than be your tool and your little breeding pig.” She says that last word with a disgusted twist.
“That’s exactly what’ll happen if you refuse. Your family will crumble. You’ll die, or you might as well be dead. Can you live with yourself? Can you really let everyone down?”
Her jaw works. God, she’s angry, and she’s so beautiful right now I can feel myself stiffening. I have to take a couple deep breaths to calm down, otherwise I might lose control, and it’s not good when I lose control.
Terrible things happen. Gareth and the others know all about that.
“I’m finished here,” she says, turning to the door. “Tell my grandfather I’m sorry, but I can’t do this.”
“I’ll give you a week, filthy girl. One week to change your mind.”
“Stop calling me that.”
“Calling you what? Filthy girl?” I move closer to her now. “You don’t like being reminded of what you are?”
“You don’t know me, Carmine.”
“I remember you very well. I watched you at Blackwoods. I saw through your pretty facade. You’re like dirt wrapped in lace. Beautiful, but still filthy on the inside.”
“Fuck you.” Her hands come to her mouth. “God, now you’re making me swear.”
“Good. Say every horrible thing you can imagine. Let it out. Call me whatever you want.” I stop a couple of feet from her. “When you’re my wife, there won’t be any more of this prissy holier-than-thou bullshit.”
“I’ll never be your wife.” Her back straightens and she looks over her shoulder. I could die right now and be happy. The look she gives me is pure loathing, and it’s exquisite. “Goodbye, Carmine. I hope I never hear your name again.”