9. Damien
NINE
DAMIEN
It’s been a week of dancing around Bradshaw, of pretending like we’re in love. But I think the lie might be more real than I thought.
Felicity doesn’t do anything when I slip into bed beside her at night.
She pretends to sleep most of the time, but I know by the sharp rising of her chest and the fluttering of her lashes she’s always aware of me when I come in.
Even when she tries to escape before me, always claiming exhaustion after a long day either working in the garden or preparing for the contractor, I always know she’s aware of me when I come in.
If it weren’t for the fact that when we do eventually fall asleep she finds a way to sleep on my chest, wedding ring always on display, I might feel guilty. But I haven’t had such a good night’s sleep in years.
And with these emerging feelings comes a sense of hopelessness as I wonder how long it’ll last.
I don’t think we’ll get to spend many more mornings waking up in each other’s arms, or seeing who can make the other person smile first in that tiny kitchen of hers. I won’t come home to find breakfast waiting for me, and I won’t get to leave anything out for her while she showers.
I scrub a hand down my face as I try to work out the plan and figures for the damned inheritance, but my mind—and eyes—keep straying to the garden.
“She is very committed to that space,” Bradshaw notes as he enters the kitchen, eyes locked on the window and Felicity. “How is married life treating you?”
I close the laptop slowly with a sigh. “Well,” I reply. “Though with everything, can’t say it’s been easy.”
“I didn’t realise our presence would have such an effect,” he says, shoving his hands into the pockets of his khaki shorts. “I also couldn’t help but notice the damage to one of the rooms.”
I tense, heart pounding, as I look him over.
He’s fishing; I know that tone of voice.
I heard it a lot when he already knew the answer to a question without even asking.
“Water damage. Pipe burst the other day. Hence the stress. All the stuff from the den is in the cottage now while we wait for the plumber and contractor.”
“Uh huh.” He nods as he turns towards me. “You wouldn’t have happened to promise to fix that for her if she married you, correct?”
My breath catches in my throat, but I shake my head, fisting my hand under the table. “Of course not.”
“Give me one reason why I should believe you,” he says, tone far too serious—too lethal. “Fraud could mean you lose everything from your family, Damien.”
“I love her,” I say through gritted teeth. “She is my wife. And I get it. Seems sudden to you, but this has been building for months.”
Bradshaw nods slowly as he pulls something out of his pocket. “So, if I were to go out there and ask her to sign a legally binding contract that states she has no rights to the inheritance—which she doesn’t, even though you are now married—and will not accept anything from it, she would sign?”
My heart drops into my stomach, my ears ringing as I stare at him. “Bradshaw…”
“I only ask because this is a serious legal matter,” he replies as he sets the contract down.
“And it could put your family into some serious legal trouble. I know you don’t care, that you only want what’s best for your company and friends, but think about that young woman you are using, who trusts you implicitly, while you consider your answer.
You think this is some easy trap, that pretending you’re in love will be enough.
But there is a private investigator on speed dial who can dig up anything and everything about her.
It won’t take long to learn the truth. So, be honest with me now. ”
Blood roars in my ears from the anger burning within me.
I understand what he’s doing and why, but at the same time, this is my family money.
There is no one else it should go to but me.
And I have done what my grandmother wanted.
Because of Felicity, I likely won’t ever want to marry again, which should make the old woman happy.
Felicity has ruined me for anyone else. I don’t think I’ll ever see myself with anyone but her, and I don’t want to imagine what life will be like in a few months when we can go our separate ways.
When I won’t be able to sneak into bed with her, or feel her touch, or steal a few moments to bask in the warmth that is her presence.
Listening to him threaten her with what would be criminal charges almost has me leaping from my chair to finally punch him in his smug fucking face. Friend or not, I will protect Felicity first.
But I don’t get the chance to say anything.
Something heavy lands on the counter behind Bradshaw, forcing him to turn around.
Felicity grips the handle of a basket, the freshly picked vegetables within tumbling free.
She doesn’t look at either of us; instead, her eyes are locked on my friends who stand in the doorway.
“Well,” Bradshaw clears his throat, picking up the contract, “I will give you some time to…think and discuss what happens next.”
He turns to look at Felicity, but I shoot out of my chair. “Don’t you dare say anything to her. You have done enough damage,” I growl.
Something that looks like surprise flashes in his eyes, but he bows his head and leaves the kitchen, pushing past my friends.
August whistles low under his breath. “Way to go not chewing his head off, Dam.”
I shoot him a look. “Not now. I need to talk to my wife.”
“Be honest with us right now,” Tobias snaps. “Are you two in some agreement to get a hold of your inheritance?”
I grit my teeth and look away from them. Doesn’t matter what I say now, because Tobias knows how to sniff out a lie. He probably already knows the truth without me needing to say anything. It’s likely written across both our faces, but I don’t care.
Felicity won’t look at me; her gaze is on the ground, one hand still clutching the handle of the basket, the other fisted at her side. Each rise and fall of her chest is shaky, like she’s barely holding back tears.
“Felicity?” I murmur, moving to stand in front of her. “Look at me.”
Her eyes go wide as she shakes her head. “What would actually happen if he tried to prove we lied? What would happen to me?”
“Nothing—”
“Jail time, possibly. Since it would be fraud,” Tobias interjects.
“Shut up,” I hiss, looking over my shoulder. “You are not helping.”
“I’d lose the inn,” Felicity whispers. I turn back only to find tears in her eyes. “I can’t lose the inn. It’s the only thing I have left.”
I shake my head and cup her cheeks. “Listen to me. You are not going to jail, and you will not lose the inn. I will ensure none of that happens.”
“You can’t know that.” She shoves away from me, chest heaving. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
The guilt becomes immeasurable, something so insane I can’t even describe how it writhes within me. It’s my fault; I never should have underestimated Bradshaw and what he’d do to ensure the family wealth was safe. It’s his job and it’s what he gets paid extremely well to do.
And yet, I fucking hate him for having to be thorough. For checking.
I hate myself for being so stupid and rushing into this.
I made us look suspicious. I ensured he would come here and look at our life together. It’s because of me that we looked desperate and fake. Had I been smart, I would have waited this out. Made this look real and not fabricated.
“Maybe you should take a seat, darling. Let me get you some water,” August suggests softly, moving around me to Felicity’s side.
It pains me that she allows him to touch her. Pains me to watch him be the one to guide her to the breakfast table and let her take the seat I once occupied.
Tobias catches my stare and motions for me to follow him, but I can’t make myself let Felicity out of my sight. She looks absolutely terrified, and I caused that.
“Damien. Why?” Tobias asks finally, his voice hard.
I sigh harshly and run a hand through my hair. “Because we needed the money, and I figured it was safer for it to come out of my pocket than an investor, since we lost two in the span of a few weeks.”
From the table, August presses his lips together, regret forming in his eyes.
We lost a huge financial backer because of his relationship with the man’s stepdaughter.
I won’t lay all the blame on August, since he’d been right to cut ties.
We don’t do business with men who emotionally and financially abuse their family, or intimidate them—or us.
“I needed to ensure we had funds secured, and I knew I still had a large portion of my inheritance untouched. So, I went to Bradshaw to release the money, only to find out my grandmother added a marriage clause to the release.” I almost collapse against the counter, barely able to hold myself up.
“I knew Felicity needed some help, so I made her an offer. The damage in the den is extensive, and she needed help now. But this is not her fault. She didn’t make the plan. She only did as I asked.”
“Why didn’t you just talk to us before coming up with this plan?” Callahan asks as he plants his hand on the breakfast table. “And Felicity—if you needed more money, you could have jacked the rates of the rooms, you know we would have paid it.”
Felicity flinches. “There wasn’t?—”
“Don’t put this on her,” I interject, stepping towards her.
“And I’ll be honest: the three of you have been pretty distracted lately.
Tobias, you went and had the entire plan changed for the lodge, which costs money and you ran off a potential investor.
Callahan, you have been MIA since you found out about Sadie, which is understandable because she’s your kid, but I’ve been left to do your job.
And August, you actually ran off the man who has been handling our stocks, finances, and had invested in the lodge, which means I have been bending over backwards to find someone else who will do what he did for us.
“Sure, I should have come to you about all of this, but I honestly just wanted to figure this out myself. I am meant to be the man in charge of the money. That is my role in this partnership. Tobias handles the legal. Callahan the business. August the development. And me the money. What is the fucking point of my position if I can’t make sure we can pay our workers or keep the board happy? ”
Silence, thick and heavy, burdened with the weight of tension, hangs over us as my friends consider my words. Felicity still looks like she wants to throw up, and she won’t look at me.
I don’t know what hurts worse: their silence which feels like agreement, or her dismissal.
Tobias sighs as he leans against the doorway, checking over his shoulder.
“Bradshaw left through the front door, so I doubt he’s listening, and although I am a lawyer, I am not yours.
If you want him to change his mind—which I doubt he will, since he so rarely does—then you will need to do something that will completely throw him off and show him you actually love each other. ”
Felicity makes a sound in the back of her throat. “What’s the point if changing his mind is impossible and it’s still a lie?”
My heart cracks open, and I swallow hard. “What are you suggesting?” I ask quietly.
“Amend that prenup you signed,” Tobias suggests. “The children clause.”
I look towards Felicity who stares at me like she doesn’t know whether to believe it’s possible or not. Her eyes betray her uncertainty, which only makes my heart hurt more.
“Okay,” I tell Tobias. “But only if you can promise me you’ll protect Felicity.”
“If you aren’t sure, I’ll give her the money out of my own pocket to make sure that den is fixed,” Tobias says, pushing off the doorway.
I give him a grateful nod as I turn back to my wife. But her face says all I need to know.