21. Katherine #2
“Apparently not.”
She steps closer, and my stomach clenches. “Go inside and marry Tyler. This isn’t up for debate.”
“Of course it’s not. Just like participating in the auction wasn’t up for debate. My choice of college, my major. Every decision I’ve made has been your choice.”
She sneers. “Is your life really that bad? Boo-hoo. The little princess is locked in her ivory tower. Grow up, Katherine.”
“I did,” I bite out, losing my grip on my temper. “I grew up way too young, taking care of your son.”
“Oh, spare me.” She stalks away, heels echoing across the smooth teak boards.
I glance over at the two men on either side of the pool. They’re watching us with disinterest. How many more of them are there? And where is the crew? I’d expect at least a staff of twenty for a boat this size.
Did she pay everyone to turn the other way?
We’re straying from the point. I’ve got to convince her to drop this and find a way to get on that chopper and get far away from here. From her.
“Put me on the chopper,” I say. “I’ll be out of your life forever.”
Her jaw drops and her lips part. “That’s not what I want.”
Of course not. She wants a clone. A younger version of her. She might have been willing to marry anyone at her father’s command, but I’m not. The idea makes my stomach roll.
But even that doesn’t seem quite right. She’s always wanted a yes man. Someone who’ll do whatever it takes to cement the Chanler empire. That was, no doubt, Tyler’s appeal.
That ship has sailed.
“I had my attorney look over the document, actually. There’s nothing in there about who I have to marry.”
“Of course not. But he’s the best option. Now let’s go get this done.”
This.
As if my wedding is an item to be checked off on a to-do list.
I’m not sure which is worse: this strategic but lackluster and highly illegal situation that feels like a shotgun wedding, or the momzilla-of-the-bride I’d expected her to be my whole life.
“My birthday’s in October, by the way.” I rub my wrist where the restraints bit into my skin. My thumb glides along the bracelet Alex gave me, and my heart squeezes. I’ll be home with him soon. Soon, soon, soon.
Her chin jerks back. She’s not used to me calling her on her shit or standing up for myself, and that’s on me. But it stops now, along with feigning ignorance to make her feel like the top dog.
“I know when your birthday is.”
“That’s months away,” I say, prodding her. Will she admit the real reason she’s pushing this so hard?
“We don’t have months, Katherine!” I never knew the human voice box could screech words, but now I do. She talks with her hands, fingers flexed, almost as if she wishes she could strangle me. The feeling is mutual.
“Have you not been listening?” she continues. Then it’s like she deflates before my eyes, holding her fingertips to her forehead, mumbling something about needing to do everything herself.
With all her poise gone, she seems to be seconds away from losing it, which gives me a perverse pleasure. In this moment, I’m okay if that makes me a petty bitch.
A strategy forms, and I slip off the stool and take a step forward. She leans away, just like I expected.
“I have been listening,” I say, keeping my voice low. “I watched and listened for years. And I did what you wanted, lived to make you happy. And all the while you let your father treat you like shit, and you—no—I’m talking—” I cut her off.
Her double blink is cartoon-like.
“You never stopped the shit from rolling downhill. That was your job as a mother, and you failed at it.”
She inhales sharply, eyes flashing, ready to argue back.
“I’m not finished. I listened. I know that you’re in trouble.
Cort’s ready to sell, aren’t they? I’ve been putting it together for a while now.
They want out, and you can’t pay the price they’re asking.
Now you’re going to lose control of the company.
Your father’s precious company. Just how badly have you fucked over everyone in your circle that no one will come to your aid? ”
Her eyes widen, and her lips move, but nothing comes out. Then she squares her shoulders and huffs a breath. “No, they’re not. Wherever did you get that idea?”
“I had lunch with Hayden Cort three weeks ago.”
Her jaw drops, surprise flickering across her face, and she rocks back like I struck her. More like I did exactly what she’s always wanted, but she never expected me to use it against her.
“The heir to the Cort family was very…”
“Very what?” she finally asks when she can’t take my silence another second.
“Forthcoming. Seems to me they’re done being the silent partner. And I’m guessing that their asking price is what? Five? No, you’d have that. Ten? That sounds correct. But you can’t raise it, can you?”
Deep pink colors her cheeks, streaks down her throat, and I can see just how much willpower it’s taking to restrain herself. She wants to lash out so badly, but doing so admits the truth she doesn’t want voiced.
“Whereas if I marry and get access to my inheritance, I could buy in, right?” I watch her closely.
A muscle twitches in her cheek. “This is absurd.”
“Absurd? What’s absurd is kidnapping your own daughter?—”
“I didn’t kidnap you!”
“Semantics, mother. You hired it out. You are responsible.” I shake my head when she goes to object again. Fuck, she’s stubborn. “I can see why Cort wants out.”
“What? Why?”
Ahh, there it is.
“You never listen and you never ask questions.”
“Yes, I do.”
I give her a pitying smile. “No, you don’t, Mother. You have a vision of how things are going to be, and you never lift your head to see the world around you. You have never understood that your priorities are not the priorities of everyone else.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I have hundreds of examples, but I think this one is the most pertinent. I want you to ask me a question, and I want you to listen to my answer.”
She reaches up, fingering the pearls around her neck. “What?”
“Ask me why I can’t marry Tyler.”
She huffs. “Probably because you think yourself in love with one of those fools who spent too much for a date with you.”
My smile broadens, confusing her. “Ask me.”
After an eye roll, she gives in. “Why can’t you marry Tyler?”
“Because I’m already married.”