Chapter Marian #2
“I know. I’m trying. I really am.” His French accent thickened through the emotions, but I couldn’t quite decipher what they were. It wasn’t dread. Nervousness? Impatience? “Marian, I’ve been secretly working with your receptionist. I—”
“Cassandra?”
“Yes.” He cleared his throat. “I’m in Miami. In… the hotel room next to yours.”
My lips parted. Words were lost as I mindlessly stared out the window. Emotions collided, warping within me until I wasn’t even sure what I felt. Was I angry? Happy? Just surprised and slightly shocked that he’d even made the effort? Or was this a bad thing? Was he here to end things in person?
“You’re upset.”
It took a moment for me to process his statement.
“I’m not upset, Bastian. I’m just confused.” I shifted, not able to sit still. “Are you here…” I stopped, trailing off. “Are you here to break off our engagement?”
“Break off—No. No, quite the opposite. I’ve been giving the two of us serious thought, and we never really got to know each other as well as I would have liked. As well as you deserved,” he corrected. “I’m self-absorbed; I know that. Between duties and obligations and—”
“Mistresses?”
He paused at my playful laugh, and I suddenly wasn’t sure what to think as his tone deepened and he continued.
“Which I’ve put an end to. I sometimes don’t see the entire picture until it’s too late, which is what had me assessing our arrangement and doing what is right.”
My brow creased. I crossed my legs, only to uncross them, not able to stop the sweat that was beginning to coat my chest. I reached for the AC vent, shifting it more in my direction.
“I said I didn’t mind. I mean, I don’t expect you to turn your life upside-down because your parents forced you to marry me.”
Silence.
“No one forced me into our arrangement, Marian. I agreed because, yes, our families are more powerful together, but also because…” He stopped.
“You’re beautiful. You’re honest. You’re…
hard and protective like me. We make a great team.
That is what led me to accept, but what has me here…
maybe too late… is that…” Again, he grew quiet as moments passed.
“I know about Drayton Pennington. I’ve always known.
Realizing that my soon-to-be-wife is bringing such trauma into my family history, I guess it became real with the closer our wedding date grew.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how your past will merge into my line.
How your story will become one with mine.
Our future children, my people, they will learn the truth.
What sort of husband or leader would I be if I didn’t try to make this right? Make you right. Heal you. Honor you.”
“Jesus.” The word pushed past my lips. I felt sick. Sick and ashamed. “Bastian, please. I don’t want to think about—”
“I’m sorry. I know what a painful subject your past is, and that’s exactly why I have an obligation to make this right.
To make this work between us. You may never love me like a woman is supposed to, but I think if we try, if we really give it everything we have for our future, we can have something great. Something real.”
The hotel appeared in the distance, and I pushed off my blazer, fanning my button up as it started to stick to me.
“I… I should go. I see the hotel ahead. We’ll talk about this soon. Let me change and I’ll head over.”
“Oh, right. Of course. I’ll see you soon.”
I hung up, sucking in a breath as I fought the tears. I barely caught Elliot looking back at me. He was turned completely in his chair, concern on his face as he studied my mini-panic attack.
“Bastian is here. In the room next to mine. He… He wants us to… be serious or something.”
“Ms. LaRoe, I do believe you’re marrying him. That’s about as serious as you can get.”
My head shook, sending blonde strands falling from my clip.
“That was an arrangement. A business arrangement. He wants to be serious. Like… love stuff. He wants to love me, and he wants me to love him. Is it hot in here?” I pushed the button frantically as I cranked up the AC.
“I can’t believe this. Love. Who needs love anymore?
Why love anyone? Wasn’t it going great? I mean, who wouldn’t want to be rich and powerful and just…
make a few heirs and live their own life?
I gave him an out. I gave him the best damn agreement anyone could ask for.
Now he wants love? Who does that? Who wants that? ”
Elliot’s lips tugged back on the side. “He’s always been taken by you. I saw that from the first moment I met him. I knew this would happen.”
Anger swept through. “You didn’t think to tell me?”
“Not my job.”
I growled, texting Penny’s number.
Me: Bastian is here. He’s staying next door. He didn’t stop by, did he?
A few seconds passed.
Penny: He’s here! Oh, wow…Yikes! Nope. No one has come by but room service to drop off my breakfast. I’m by the window, reading. If he would have knocked, I would have heard him. I’m nosey. Why is he here?!?!
I laughed.
Me: I’ll tell you about it soon. We’re battling traffic to get to the hotel, but I’ll be there shortly. One word: LOVE.
Penny: Awww. That’s cute!
Me: Not cute. I’ll see you soon.