“Well, she will be your wife—”
“Not by choice,” I interrupt him, standing.
He sighs heavily. “Arranged marriages aren’t uncommon in our social circle, Ryat.”
I walk over to the window and look over the grounds. You can see the horse stables from here. My mom loves her horses. She’s been riding since she was a kid. The only kind of horse my father likes are the ones that win him money at the track. “Yeah, well, as long as the prenup doesn’t mention anything about remaining faithful.” I give him a pointed look. “For either of us.” She can fuck who she wants, and I’ll fuck whoever I want. I don’t want to get caught with my pants down around my ankles and her try to take me for everything I have.
He runs a hand down his face. “The Williamses aren’t the issue right now.”
“Then what is?” I ask, looking back out the window.
“Matt.”
I tense. Does my father know what I did this morning? That Blakely is causing problems? He knows I had to choose her, but does he know why? I decide the best way to find out what he knows is to play stupid about what I did to Matt in the gym this morning.
I snort. “He’s always a problem.”
“I’m serious, Ryat. He’s getting worried. He’s offered to pay.”
I look back at him and growl. “How much?” So, my knee to his face has made him desperate? He thinks I have the chance to take Blakely away from him.
“Fifty grand.”
I roll my eyes. “The Winstons always have been fucking cheap.”
“You saying you want to offer more?”
Walking back over to the couch, I sit down and arch a brow. “Since when is that an option?” He’s got to be joking, but I’ll see where it gets me.
He shrugs. “This isn’t about you. It’s about Matt.” Leaning forward, he places his forearms on his desk. “So, I’m asking you … How much more are we going to offer?”
“I’m going to marry Cindy,” I argue. “Why would I make an offer for a woman who I have to toss to the side afterward?” His logic doesn’t make any sense.
“I can’t tell you that,” he answers simply.
I roll my eyes. “Of course not. How do you even know he wants to buy her now?” He’s trying to guarantee his future that I threatened to take away from him. He never wanted her. Matt is to marry Blakely because his father told him that’s what he’ll do. There’s no other reason behind it. Now I have the fucker scared. I took his toy, and he knows it won’t be clean and innocent when I’m done with it. No, it’ll be dirty and tarnished. Used every way imaginable.
When she sucks and fucks his cock in a way that makes his head spin, his first thought will be—did Ryat teach her that? I damn sure did, you son of a bitch!
“I received a call,” he answers vaguely.
And I don’t ask any further questions because I know I won’t get any answers.
“So, I’m going to ask you one more time.” He speaks, and I come to a stop and look at him. “How much is she worth to you?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
BLAKELY
I LIE IN my bed dressed in a T-shirt and a pair of gray boy shorts, watching a Halloween movie and snacking on popcorn while having a glass of wine. Well, technically, I’m drinking it out of the bottle. It just sounded good.
Sarah is at the house of Lords, and I’m home alone because Ryat is out of town for the weekend. It’s only Friday night, and I’m already going crazy bored with nothing to do. I’ve always been a homebody, but it’s lonely without Sarah here with me. We’ve always been homebodies together. And I’ve spent every day with Ryat since the vow ceremony. It’s just weird being here alone. The place seems so quiet.
My cell rings, and I pick it up to see it’s Ryat. “Hello?” I answer before taking a swig from the bottle. I’m not nearly drunk. I still have over half left.
“Hey, little one,” he says in greeting. “What are you doing?”
“Lying in bed.” I’m a real party animal.
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yep. Bored as shit. You won’t let me go out.” I secretly like how controlling and possessive he is. It’s like he’s feeding a craving. But it’s cruel that he tells me this and leaves me here alone. If I have house arrest, I’d much rather it be with him.
He chuckles. “Well, you wouldn’t be bored if I was there.”