“Is this some kind of sick joke?” Her voice cracks.
“What?”
Her eyes widen to a concerning degree. “You plan on giving me full custody of our child?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Yes! A big problem!”
“I suppose now is the time I mention that the contract is non-negotiable.”
Her chin lifts in defiance. “Then make it negotiable.”
“No.”
“Then I’ll walk.”
I don’t look away from the computer screen as I reply, “I’d like to see you try.”
She rises, throws the contract on my desk, and grabs her purse off the floor. “If you can’t be a responsible father, then I am no longer interested in helping you.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Want to test that theory?”
Fuck. The rules of the game continue to shift without my consent, all because Iris doesn’t play fair.
She never has.
“You’re going to walk away from a hundred million dollars because of a custody agreement?”
“Money isn’t the problem. Your decision is.” She turns on her heel and gives me her back.
My control slips with each step she takes away from me. “I’ll give you two hundred million.”
She keeps walking toward the door, completely ignoring me. The sway of her hips is a silent taunt to grab her. To do something other than let her walk away from me and our agreement.
“Three hundred million.” Her step falters but she doesn’t stop until her hand grips the knob. I press the round button underneath my desk, and the door’s locking mechanism clicks into place.
She grunts under her breath. “Open the damn door.”
“Not until you sit your ass down and sign the contract.”
“No.” She jangles the knob, but it’s a wasted effort. While the safe-style locks are meant to keep intrusive people out, they’re proving themselves quite convenient at keeping my assistant in.
I sit and wait for her to tire out. While Iris might have a strong will, mine is ironclad. And with so much on the line, her giving up is not an option, no matter how much she might hate me for it.
She rests her forehead against the door. “What about what I want?”
“You forfeited your rights the moment you became my fiancée.”
“Careful, Declan. Your misogyny is showing.”
The corner of my lip lifts. “You have no leverage here.”
“Consider this my bargaining chip.” She flips me off with her ring finger.
“Cute,” I reply dryly.
“Either you listen to my conditions, or I’ll call the first reporter on my list and announce our split.”
My eyes narrow. “Are you threatening me?”
“Me? Never.” She bats her lashes. “I prefer the term motivating.”
Her brand of crazy happens to draw mine out. “You’re a pain in my ass.”
“Nope. That’s just the same old stick acting up again.”
To think I pay her more than any assistant in this building for this kind of treatment.
Because you both know her worth.
I release a disinterested sigh. “Go ahead and list your conditions.”
Her heels drag across the carpet before she drops back into her usual chair. The leather is discolored from all the years of her abuse. “I want shared custody—take it or leave it. You’re going to be a parent for fifty percent of the time whether you think you want to or not.”
“If this is your attempt at trying to use our child to get more out of me, it’s not going to work.”
Her nostrils flare. “I know this is a difficult concept to wrap your head around given the lengths people go to make you happy, but the world doesn’t revolve around you.”
“Next you’re going to tell me that Earth isn’t flat.”
Her nose twitches. “I hate when you try to be funny.”
“Why?”
“Because I like you better without a personality.” Her eyes are bright, always serving as a mirror straight into her heart.
Her stupid, bleeding heart.
“This is important to me. Like really important.” Her voice drops so low, I need to lean forward to catch her next words. “I don’t want any child to grow up thinking their parents didn’t love them.”
My fist balls up against my thigh. You had to go and tie yourself to someone with more daddy issues than you.
Her gaze shifts away from me and off into the distance as if a memory took hold. “I know what it’s like to not be wanted by a parent. That kind of feeling isn’t one I would wish on my worst enemy, let alone my own child.”