Chapter 19 Zahra
ZAHRA
The entire room freezes. If not for the grandfather clock ticking in the background, I would have genuinely believed that the earth had stood still. Azula sucks in a deep breath, and Declan’s jaw falls open. He shuts it just as fast, but the shocked expression on his face remains.
Unsurprisingly, Natalie is the first to protest. “That can’t be. He was talking to me all night at the gala. We agreed there’s nothing more magical than a spring wedding!”
I raise an eyebrow at Declan while mouthing ‘really?’ and he just shrugs. Guess he’d forgotten that conversation just as fast as he’d forgotten poor Natalie’s name. I gesture for him to say something.
“Natalie, I know this is hard, but Zahra and I…Well, we just make sense.” The words fall so easily off his tongue that I could almost believe he truly means them.
Natalie’s eyes start to water and her bottom lip trembles. “But…but…Daddy, say something!”
Mr. Greylock looks straight at me as I turn my expression from sympathetic to cold and calculated. He takes a long, hard swallow before consoling his daughter. “Sweetheart, there’s nothing I can do. It appears Mr. McAlister is already spoken for—”
“No! That’s not fair! I want him.” Natalie points at Declan while stomping her foot like a toddler.
Wow. I have no intentions to fight over a man.
Now or ever. I’m almost tempted to tell her if she wants him this badly, she can have him, but that would jeopardize both my and the Irish’s mafia.
So instead I say, “I understand this is really upsetting, Natalie. Trust me, I’d be pissed too if I was led on like you were.
I heard the Ukrainian boss is looking for a lady.
And he’s not known for his…wandering eyes.
” I nod my head toward Declan, who scoffs.
Natalie lets out a final sob before leaning closer to me and whispering, “Really? Do you think he would be okay with my expensive tastes?”
“More than okay. Azula, remind me to send Mr. Ivanov’s contact information to Natalie. Now, if you don’t mind, we need to continue our meeting.” I nod to Declan, Aidan, and Azula.
“Of course! Of course. I appreciate you helping a girl out. These dating apps, even the more elite ones, are such a drag.” Natalie scoffs in disgust. “C’mon, Daddy, I have a Pilates class at two. I'd hate to be late.”
Natalie’s heels clacking in the distance momentarily fills the awkward silence in the office.
Shoving my hands in my pockets, I look at Declan.
“So, we should have a contract made soon. While I know our two families are allies, I think it’s a good idea to clearly list out what additional power you get as my husband and I as your wife.
We can also include personal finances in that contract so we don’t have to file a separate prenup. ”
Declan’s eyebrows knit together as he crosses his arms over his chest. Or at least he tries to.
The movement is immediately followed by a wince as he rubs the top of his shoulder.
The same shoulder that stopped a bullet aimed to kill me.
“You’re actually serious about this? I thought you just said that to get rid of Natalie. ”
“Wow, you finally learned her name. Too bad things didn’t work out between you two.”
His green eyes narrow at me. “We can’t get engaged.”
“And why not? That clause your father put in his will isn’t going away on its own. We can get married long enough for you to send your uncle packing and then we’ll get divorced. Easy.”
Declan shakes his head. “Except it’s not that easy. The clause says I have to get married and stay married for at least a year. Likely because my father figured I would do something like this just to one-up my uncle. If I get divorced any sooner than that, my uncle regains his power. Permanently.”
Shit, okay. I guess this wouldn’t be as quick a fix as I had imagined.
“Well, your uncle is a psychopath who needs to be stopped sooner rather than later. A year will go by much quicker than you think. Plus, it’s clear to me that you haven’t even thought much about the consequences of marrying a complete stranger beyond the fact that it will free you of any ties with your uncle—”
“And how is marrying you not the same thing as marrying a stranger?” Declan sounds exhausted, but not just from lack of sleep.
This is the type of exhaustion that’s buried deep in your bones and is hard to get rid of.
It’s the exhaustion that comes with knowing every move you take could not only be the end of you, but the end of your loved ones and your legacy.
It’s a type of exhaustion I knew well. Which is why I soften my tone and speak to him not as a boss, but as a regular man.
“I’m not going to deny that we’ve only recently gotten to know each other, but at least I know this lifestyle.
Which means I’m also well aware of the fact that any wife of a boss gains power.
Look at how Connor just treated her, thinking she was your fiancée.
Given how entwined our two families are, any person you bring into your organization can and likely will impact my family.
So to me it seems entirely too risky to bring in someone you barely knew…
especially given our current circumstances.
” I allude to the thief in our ranks whose identity we have yet to discover.
Declan nods slowly. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have been so rash in trying to solve the problem that is my uncle without thinking about the other consequences.”
“So then what do you think of my proposal?”
“Figuratively speaking or literally?” His attempt to make light of the situation falls flat. The energy of everyone in the room is nothing somber.
“Both, I suppose.” My throat tightens knowing that the next words that come out of his mouth will likely change our lives forever.
“I accept Zahra. I accept.”
Azula sucks in a breath, reality likely sinking in for her. “Zahra. As your second, I think both parties involved should take a moment to think this through before we do anything we’ll regret.”
My eyes narrow. I don’t like her insinuating that I hadn’t thought this through. Everything I do is calculated, and she knows that. “Your opinion on the matter has been noted.”
Azula’s undeterred. “It’s going to take a few days for your lawyers to write up a contract.
And I’m sure Declan’s would like to review as well?
” she asks Declan, who gives her a quick nod.
“Then, how about we reconvene in a week. Should be more than enough time for all the documents to be prepared and negotiations to be handled.”
It’s a fair request. One that will result in the same decisions made here today.
“Fine. I’ll have the contract sent over as soon as I can.
If there’s anything that immediately comes to mind that you would like to be included, please let me know.
” I glance at my watch, realizing how much time we’ve lost. “Unfortunately, I can’t stay any longer to discuss more details of the shooter.
Perhaps we can schedule another meeting in a few days.
To discuss our marriage contract and other business-related things? ”
Declan gives me a curt nod before I walk out of his office.
The longer I stayed there, the more the rational part of me would overthink this.
But I can’t. Declan’s uncle needs his power taken from him immediately, and I can’t help but revel in the fact that I’ll be responsible for his demise.
While I’m not wary about seeking revenge against Lorkan, the idea of getting married to Declan puts me on edge.
The more I interact with Declan, the more I find myself pulled toward his palpable energy.
And the more I notice parts of myself in him.
Parts I had long buried under the surface.