Chapter 25 Bryce
The rising sun cast a hazy orange glow behind the skyline I could see from my office. Soon it would be an intense fiery ball casting shadows and shimmers off all the windows. How many sunrises had I watched from this window?
How many did I have left?
I was so wrapped up in my thoughts I didn’t notice anyone enter my office until Jude stepped beside me.
I glanced over at him, seeing the orange washing out his green eyes.
They almost looked yellow in this light.
Then I looked back out the window, breathing deeply.
My chest felt tight, regardless of how many breaths I took.
“What’s up?” I finally asked him. Clearly he wasn’t going to break the silence.
“I saw your light on and came over to check on you. You’re not usually in this early.”
I glanced his way again. “You want to know what’s wrong with me. Aside from our impending forced marriages?” The one I couldn’t get Jada to agree to. Especially since she hadn’t contacted me since my “proposal” two days prior.
Jude folded his arms across his chest. “If you’re worried about the fifty-percent clause, the prenups will never hold up in court if they’re signed under duress.”
“Which would leave us to traditional marriage rules–fifty-fifty.” I shook my head.
That wasn’t the point anyway. I was caught between desecrating an institution my family held sacred or losing my life’s work to people who wouldn’t respect or care for it.
My stomach churned. “If there’s a way out of the marriage clause altogether, it better come fast.”
“Like you,” Jude retorted.
I snorted despite myself. “I hate you.”
“Lucky for you, I like us both enough not to give up on either front. We’ll get out of the marriage one way or another. Our brides will just be a placeholder to appease that crazy old man.”
A halfhearted smile was all I could give him, but it was gone as quickly as it came. The sun was a little higher now, shining painfully into my eyes. I turned away from the window and went to sit at my desk.
Jude leaned back against it, making himself right at home. “Is that what you’re doing here so early?” he drawled. “Giving up?”
My jaw tightened. “I asked Jada to marry me, and she rightfully stormed out of here. The only bright side is that she forgot to slap me.”
“You’ll figure it out with that southern boy charm. If it’s not her, someone else will agree.”
I don’t want someone else, was the first thought that ran through my mind.
But it sounded as crazy as this whole scheme.
“If you don’t remember, you were the one bringing girls to your room while I was busy with coding assignments.
I hardly have the experience you do.” I twisted my lips to the side, yearning for those easier college days.
Life right now was certainly a lot more complicated.
There were no “office hours” or free tutoring sessions to help with Simon’s “assignment,” and the stakes were so much higher than a failing grade.
A knock sounded on my office door, and we both looked over to see my niece adjusting the paper cups in her hands. Her caramel hair curled around her shoulders, which I only noticed because she typically wore it straight.
Maybe she was nervous for the CEO of Javascript to visit later today. It was like tech royalty would be in our offices.
She handed me a cup. “Jude, I wasn’t expecting you or else I would have brought you a coffee as well. How do you take it? Black, like your soul?”
He gave her a steely grin. “No, I take it sweet like you.”
She stuck her tongue out at him, and I gritted my teeth together. “I am not in the mood for bickering today.”
Jude checked the expensive black watch on his wrist. “Unfortunately, it’s not on my schedule either. Another time?” he asked Maya.
“I’ll pencil you in,” she replied, then sipped from her cup.
Jude brushed past us, leaving my office. As soon as the soft-close glass door shut, I said, “Would it kill you to make nice with the guy? He’s my best friend. And the CEO of the company that employs you.”
Her hazel eyes went wide, and she blinked like a little baby deer. “I’m sorry, Mr. Bossman, I didn’t realize kissing ass was a part of my job description. If so, I’ll get right on that.” She produced a tube of lipstick from her blazer pocket and took off the cap, dabbing it on.
Did she really keep it there as a prop? Before I could rib her about it, the phone rang on her desk. She tucked away the makeup and hurried out to answer it.
I sat at my desk to prepare for my meeting, but I didn’t work long before Maya was back in my office, eyes wide.
“What happened?” I asked her. “Did he cancel?”
She shook her head. “Jada asked to speak with you. When I asked her to schedule she said it was now or never.”
“And?” I asked urgently.
“I told her to come on up! What did you want me to say?”
I forced air into my lungs. “How did she sound? Could you tell anything from her tone?”
“She kept it short, and I didn’t ask any questions. We’re not exactly in a position to play hardball with the woman.”
“Fair,” I muttered, standing up to pace the floor again. The sun was fully risen now, bouncing off highrise windows and reflecting off vent covers. “Remind me why I didn’t want to take over the ranch again?” Baling hay and feeding cows sounded awfully appealing right now.
“You had this idea for a really cool software,” she said. “You wanted to build this awesome company so your niece could have a cool job after college. Duh.”
I gave her a helpless look over my shoulder. The business had seemed so important back then. How stupid. Cattle don’t talk back. They don’t care if you’re single or married. They just want their food every morning and their tanks full of fresh water. Easy.
This? Not so much.
Especially because, behind Maya, I could see a devastatingly beautiful woman approaching my office. Her dark eyes were guarded, expressionless, her shoulders square, her head held high.
My voice felt raw as I said, “Hello, Jada.”