The first option makes me look guilty as shit and like a moron, because it’s clear as day that he’s talking to me.
That doesn’t give me any other options than to face the music . . .
“Didn’t get much sleep last night?” I ask him as I clutch my sandwich bag and walk up to him. “Large bags under your eyes.”
His eyebrows sharpen. “If anyone has bags under their eyes, it should be you. Care to explain why you’re texting Cleat a picture of you and a girl . . . a girl you married?”
Yeah, good question.
Why did I text Cleat? Drunk subconscious?
Self-sabotage?
Because in my blitzed state, I found it appropriate to share the news of my nuptials with my pa’s best friend.
I’m not that dumb.
Unless . . .
If I sent a text to Killian, I most likely attempted to send a text to Cleo, our sister. And drunk fingers and brain could very easily mistake Cleat for Cleo.
Motherfucker.
But of course, I never show weakness with this man. The minute I show weakness is the moment he takes not an inch, but a mile.
“Thought he could be the bearer of bad news for you. You know, since you were dreaming of the day I’d marry Iris.”
Keep it cool, keep it smug, just like him. He won’t know any better.
The bustle of the airport moves around us, passengers chasing after their flights, hungover individuals sleeping in chairs at their gates, and roller bags being dragged across the lacquered floor, but I ignore all of that as Pa takes a step forward, closing the animosity-filled distance between us.
The sharpness in his eyebrows fades as he coolly says, “So you’re telling me, you married this girl on purpose? That this isn’t some drunken mistake that you’ll be getting annulled the minute you get back to Chicago?”
Married on purpose . . .
Huh.
That very well might be my out.
Although, an annulment was the plan the moment Killian mentioned my nuptials. That would’ve been the easy way out, but because I was a drunken prat, I’m going to have to consider other alternatives.
“What do you think?” I ask.
“I think you fucked up. I think you were upset about seeing me yesterday when you weren’t expecting it. And because you haven’t had the ability to control your emotions since the day you were born, you drank them away, drank them till you were blackout drunk and ended up marrying some random woman you met in Vegas.”
Scary how close to reality that is.
But he doesn’t need to know that.
“Wouldn’t that just make you happy?” I ask as my hand sweats against the paper bag I’m carrying my sandwich in.
“It would. Immensely, because the board is already on edge that you’ve moved to America. You’re one mistake away from me taking over. And we both know how much that wasteful foundation means to you. Within a second, I would make sure it’s taken apart, or better yet, supporting the children I believe are in need.” Which are children who don’t need help at all. “But, you know, I can be persuaded otherwise.”
Unsure where he’s going with this, I play it cool but dig for more information. “Oh, this has got to be good.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Please, tell me how I can win your affection back.”
The only cue that shows his annoyance is the tick in his jaw, but other than that, he’s as stoic as a statue. “I sweep this all under the rug, you keep your precious foundation, and you marry Iris.”
For fuck’s sake.
He must be desperate to salvage that relationship with Iris’s father because I’ve never seen him work this hard to get something. He’s been relentless about Iris.
But that’s not going to happen.
Over my dead fucking body.
Cora might be crazy at times, a little unhinged, and has some hidden darkness to her, but I’m sure she’ll help me out on this. Being married to a bland, emotionless woman like the one that my pa is trying to force me to marry? Not. Happening.
“What do you say? Shall I phone my solicitor?” His mouth crooks to the side, pleased with himself. How long did it take him to brew this scheme? My guess is . . . seconds. The moment Cleat sent him that picture, his plan was formulated.
Too bad I’m not letting it happen.
“That’s a great proposition, Pa, but unfortunately, your assistance won’t be needed. The woman you saw in that picture? That’s Cora. We’ve been dating for a few weeks now. We knew week one we were meant to be together and decided to make it official last night.”