Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
FYNN
"I'D LIKE FOR you to take a deep breath before I tell you something." My mother's voice is off. Her tone more clipped than usual.
"Are you well? Should I ring the doctor?" I start collecting my things, preparing to rush out the door. Brian will have to reschedule my afternoon. If anyone has a problem with it they can sod off.
"I'm fine. Actually, I'm feeling remarkably good today." She pauses. "All things considered."
My movement stills, eyes narrowing as I try to deduce her meaning. "What exactly are all things ?"
"You still haven't taken a deep breath."
"And I won't until you tell me what is going on." My day has already been chaotic. Now that Rogers is back in play, I've been left scrambling to tie up any last-minute details on our deal, preparing to rush it through just in case he attempts to get cold feet again. "Just tell me."
My mother sighs, and it sounds more exasperated than anything. "Your darling wife received a phone call today from a gentleman I'd prefer we insure is never a part of her life again."
I'm back to packing everything into my bag, shoving items in without caring where they end up. "Who?"
"It sounds like you already know the answer to that question."
I can narrow it down to one of two people, but I don't want to concern my mother with those details. "What did he say?"
"Something about her decision to marry you costing him dearly." Her tone sharpens again. "I also overheard him call her stupid, which is when I intervened."
I'm unsurprised that my mother inserted herself. Especially given the circumstances. However, I don't need her tangled up in this mess. "I assume you have a phone number?"
She snorts. "Of course I have a phone number. I told him I was positive you would be getting in touch with him to discuss his treatment of your darling wife and requested he send it because I’m not his bloody secretary."
"There's nothing I would love more than to discuss his treatment of Valerie." I grab a pen, writing down the number she gives me." I lean back in my chair, weighing my options. I don't want to make this call from my mother's apartment. I want both of the women in my life as far from this as I can get them, but I also don't want to leave them alone now that it's clear her father has managed to figure out where she is. "Can you ensure Valerie doesn't attempt to leave? I don't want her to step foot out of your apartment until this is resolved."
"That shouldn't be a problem." My mother's voice has gone back to its normal, soft sound. "She's got all the information and materials for my new line of caftans spread across the sitting room. She's helping me plan a launch party." My mother's voice carries a hint of a smile as she continues. "Once that’s figured out, I'm going to have her help me organize a party announcing your marriage."
"Wonderful. Whatever keeps her busy and inside." I prepare to hang up but pause. "Make sure The Providence caters it. She loves their lamb chops."
"Consider it done." My mother agrees easily because she shares Valerie's love of that particular dish. "Now go handle her knob of a father so we don't have to worry about him any longer."
"I intend to." I end the call and tap one finger against the desk. The desire to phone him straight away is strong, but I need to be strategic. Since I need to be strategic, I decide to ring Elaine first since she has some experience with him.
"Fynn Hadaway. I was just getting ready to call you."
"Unsurprising. Was it to tell me my wife's father has discovered we’re married?" I know it's not a good thing this happened, but I can't help but feel smug about it. Fuck him. Fuck all his attempts to use her. Now he knows she belongs to me. And that his days of using her for his own gain are over.
"So you've heard." Elaine clicks her tongue. "And he wonders why he never gets anywhere. Only a fool shows his hand immediately."
Thank God I didn't call him the way I wanted to. Elaine would have been judging me just as harshly. "He called Valerie directly. My mother intervened, but it sounds as if he's of the opinion I've cost him financially."
"Good. That will make this easy to resolve." She pauses. "Provided you're not against compensating him for his trouble."
"I don't want to give him a bloody penny. The man is a piece of shit who tried to marry my wife off so he could climb a ladder he's too stupid to scale on his own merit." The thought of giving him anything makes my blood boil. Makes me consider asking Elaine if there’s someone else I can pay to ensure he’s no longer a problem.
But I didn’t lie to Valerie when I claimed to be a gentleman. I’m not the kind of man who orchestrates the end of a life.
But if he threatens my wife, I imagine I'll become one.
"I understand that, but maybe it will help if you look at it as payment to ensure your wife lives a long and happy life at your side."
I frown, scowling my displeasure. "I still don't like it."
"No, but I do assume you like your new wife, otherwise you wouldn't have married her, would you?"
Elaine is one of the few people who stood by me through all of this, and it seems that's because she knows me better than I thought. Well enough to know I didn't do any of the things Jessica accused me of, but also well enough to know I wouldn't have married Valerie unless I wanted to. Regardless of what she believed she could do for my reputation.
The deal she offered simply provided me an excuse. A way to rationalize a decision that would have otherwise seemed rushed. Ridiculous.
Possibly a little unhinged.
And yet I would have made it anyway.
“I love her.” The declaration is one I wouldn’t make to many people. Possibly not even the woman it involves.
Not because I doubt it’s validity, I don’t.
But I know others would.
“Good. Then it will be worth every penny to have this man out of your life.”
“Is that what will happen?” I’m not a fool. I know that once a person knows there’s money to be had, they rarely only attempt to exploit the well once. “Because I’m not convinced it is.”
“Let me worry about that.” Elaine seems unconcerned. “You just handle appeasing him. I’ll make sure it only happens once.”
I'm still sitting in silence long after our call has ended, forcing myself to think this through. To wait until I'm calm to call Valerie's father. The cooler my head is, the more of an upper hand I'll have, so after getting a cup of tea and one of the biscuits Sylvia was so excited about, I settle behind my desk, propping my phone into place before tapping the video call icon. I want to get my eyes on the man who treated my wife like property so I’ll recognize his face if he’s foolish enough to cross my path .
I’m leaned back in my seat, sipping my drink when it connects and we come face-to-face. I say nothing. If he wants something from me he’s going to have to ask for it. Plus the more a person speaks, the more ammunition they give, and I want to collect it all.
Showing he's just as foolish as Elaine believes, the older, hard and worn looking man on the screen opens his mouth without hesitation. "So it's true then? My daughter did find someone stupid enough to marry her."
I slowly set my cup down, meeting his gaze before I speak. "I'm sure the man you attempted to marry her off to would be thrilled to hear your opinion on that."
Valerie's father's eyes narrow on me. "You should watch what you say. I'm not the kind of man you should cross."
I study him, letting the seconds tick by before reaching for my cup again, humming a noncommittal sound as I take another sip and wait for him to continue.
I'm sure he will.
"Technically, you've already crossed me by stealing my daughter and forcing her to marry you."
The urge to react is strong. But that's what he wants. He's goading me, and I'm not going to allow it to happen. Smarter men than him have tried and failed. Regardless of the terms or the properties involved, this is a negotiation.
And I'm well-versed in the art of negotiation.
"I'm assuming you didn't call my wife simply to see how she’s doing." I steeple my fingers, rocking slightly in my chair. "What is it you want?"
"You know what I want."
I do, but I will not be making him any offers. All I’ll be doing is countering. "Unfortunately, I don't. The wedding has already happened, so it wouldn't be an invitation you're after. I suppose I could see what I could do about getting you some photographs."
His eyes narrow on me, and it makes me want to smile. "You cost me when you stole her out from under me. I had a deal on the table and now it's off because of you." He leans closer, eyes filled with contempt. "That means you’re responsible for making up for what I lost."
I lift my brows, appearing surprised. "And what exactly did you lose? I would assume it's not money since the sale of human beings is illegal."
He works his jaw from side to side, making it clear this conversation isn't going the way he expected. "Her fiancé and I had an agreement. A business contract of sorts. I was set to make millions when it all went through, but now that won't happen." He leans even closer, making an attempt at looking menacing. "Because of you."
I wish it was because of me, but everything fell apart because of his daughter’s fearlessness, and I couldn't be more proud of her for running away from this man and the web of bullshit he tries to spin. "I seriously doubt it was set to make you millions." I take another sip of my tea as he sputters. "Do you know what sort of an investment is required to have a return of millions?" I set my cup back down, meeting his wild-eyed gaze. "Because I do, and unless you were putting up millions of your own money, you would have been lucky if your return was in the tens of thousands." I lean forward this time, equipped with all I need to corner him into the deal I’m going to make. Folding my hands in front of me, resting my forearms on my desk I lay out what I'm willing to offer him. "But, because I'm feeling generous and eager to get home to my lovely new wife, I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt and offer you an even million to bring an end to this."
He scowls at me, displeased. "I said millions.”
"And you also said you didn't put millions of your own money into this deal, which means your payout would not have been as high as you seem to want to argue it would be." I lift one shoulder. "Now, if you do have millions you wish to invest, I would be happy to help you get the kind of return you’re after." I lift one hand, adjusting the cuff of my shirt. "But, without that option, a million is more than fair, and certainly more than you would have garnered from the deal you attempted to make in exchange for your daughter’s hand in marriage."
I'm fairly confident most of what he's saying is bullshit. Valerie believed her father's goal was to gain power and control, but he wouldn't be able to put a price on that, so it doesn't surprise me he's portraying things differently. And that's fine. I can't give him power—not the sort he wants—and I certainly won't give him control.
But I can give him money, and as Elaine said, Valerie is worth every penny of it.
The longer I stare at her father, the more her actions make sense to me. The more I understand the sort of desperation she must have felt. And the more impressive it is she has turned out to be the woman she's become.
Her father slides his tongue across his teeth, sucking them loudly before crossing both arms over his chest. "Fine. You wire me a million dollars, and we’ll call it even."
"Excellent.” I lean forward, ready to end this call. "I'll have it sent over first thing in the morning."
He scoffs. "You don't even know where to send it."
I give him a smile, leaving him with something that will make him think. "You clearly underestimate what I'm capable of, Mr. Berdard."
I end the call, picking up my phone as I stand and sliding it into my pocket. In under a minute I've collected my things and I'm walking out the door to my office. I asked Brian to reschedule my afternoon when I collected my tea, so I simply offer him a wave as I exit. "I'll be back tomorrow."
The drive to my mother's place is blessedly quick, and soon I’m in the lift on my way to the penthouse. I'm beyond ready to talk to Valerie. To tell her it's all over. That she doesn't have to worry any longer.
That we can now put all of this behind us. Her problems and mine, and move forward.
But then the lift doors open and I find my lovely wife standing on the other side, red rimmed eyes open wide, her suitcase handle clutched in one hand.
She jumps back at the sight of me, full lips parting as her jaw goes slack.
I lift one brow before leaning out to look into the sitting room where my mother is sound asleep with three dogs piled across her lap.
I turn back to Val. "And where do you think you're going, wife?"
Her throat works as she swallows, eyes darting around the space. "I just assumed—"
I wait, but she doesn't continue. "You assumed, what?"
One hand comes to tuck the long length of her dark hair behind an ear. "Your mother said you'd handled everything, and so I figured that meant our business was done."
"You figured?" I narrow my eyes at her, leaning one hand against the doors of the lift, keeping them open since I'm fairly confident I'm about to drag my wife in with me. "Have I given you any indication our business is done?"
Her eyes finally come to meet mine. "No, but Jessica admitted she lied and all your business partners are coming back. Now that I don't have to worry about my father, all the reasons we had for being together are gone." Something about her suddenly seems very small. More fragile than she's ever been.
And it's not difficult to figure out why, which smooths away the edges of anger creeping in. No one has ever wanted Valerie. Not her parents. Not the man they tried to marry her off to. I can see how she would assume I would be no different. That since she's served her purpose I would be done with her.
She only thinks that because she doesn't understand what her purpose in my life truly is.
Nicholas rushes out from the kitchen, drying his hands on a towel. His gaze bounces from me to Val then back to me again. "I had the lift locked. She couldn't have left."
Valerie's jaw goes slack, eyes widening.
I tip my head to my mother's butler. "I appreciate that, but it appears my wife is ready to go home, so that’s what we will be doing." I grab Valerie's wrist, pulling her into the lift with me. She drags her suitcase along behind her, and that's fine. Saves me from coming back to get her things.
I remove my other hand from where it’s holding the doors open, offering Nicholas another explanation before they close. "Tell my mother I’ll call her later." I wait until the doors are sealed before slowly turning to where my wife stands. She's not wearing one of those dresses I love so much today, and that’s probably for the best. I'd hate for the guard in the garage to get a glimpse of me on my knees, upper half obscured by the full fabric as I show Valerie exactly how much business remains between us.