An heiress for his empire

“Not really, no.” She couldn’t even say that if she thought the welfare of AIH was a given that her dad would put hers next.

She wasn’t convinced of that.

Rather than appear upset by her denial, her dad shrugged. “Maybe you are right not to.”

“That’s not a comforting thing for you to say.”

He shrugged. “Would you rather I lied?”

“No, but you would, if you thought it would get you what you wanted.”

“That’s one of the primary differences between Viktor and I. Our business peers know it, too. If I want another company president to believe something, I make sure he hears it from Viktor.”

“Has he ever lied for you unknowingly?” she asked, not sure she wanted to know the answer.

“No. I’m not saying I haven’t been tempted, but while I may not feel the same compunction for truth that my successor does, I do recognize that if I did that and Viktor found out about it, he would find another vehicle for his ambition than AIH.”

Well, she’d never considered her father to be stupid. “I think you’re right.”

“I know I am.”

“So, about Mom’s memory...” Maddie said, ready to get back to the reason for her presence at her father’s dinner table.

“She always said she wanted you to wear her wedding dress when you married.”

“You still have it?” Maddie couldn’t hide the eagerness in her tone.

If she’d been with Vik, she wouldn’t have even felt the need to try.

“Of course.”

“But you got rid of all her things.” Maddie would never forget coming home for the first time from boarding school to find most of the house redecorated and her mother’s things gone.

“I kept her wedding dress and her jewelry for you.” Her father’s tone implied he didn’t understand why Maddie wouldn’t know that.

“Why? When you got rid of everything else?”

“The dress is a piece of history.”

“Not business history.” So, why would her dad care?

“Family history. A famous designer created it for your great-grandmother in 1957, the year after he did a similar dress for an actress in one of her more famous roles.” Jeremy cleared his throat almost as if talking about this was making him emotional. “Every generation in her direct line has worn it since.”

“I know.”

“Oh, I thought maybe you’d forgotten. You didn’t mention wearing it.”

“I thought you’d gotten rid of it.”

“I didn’t.”

“I’m so glad.” It was a dream she’d thought would have to die with her mother.

“You’re very much of a size with your mother. I doubt it will require much tailoring.”

* * *

The beautiful ivory strapless gown with embroidery in champagne silk thread around the full skirt and on the bodice required no altering at all.

Though she and Romi agreed Maddie should wear a corset under the embroidered bodice for smooth lines. The champagne lining flipped over the hem as a contrast lay exactly as it was supposed to.

“You look so beautiful,” Romi said with suspiciously shiny eyes.

The dress hugged Maddie’s breasts and torso, nipping in at her natural waist and then flaring in a full skirt shorter in the front than the back, which had an understated train that swept the floor elegantly behind her.

“I look like my mom.”

“But you have your dad’s eyes.” Romi twisted her mouth comically. “I can’t believe he paid for me to attend boarding school with you.”

“Me, either.” But Mr. Grayson had confirmed Jeremy’s claim.

“He loves you, I always said so.”

“In his own way,” Maddie agreed. “Just not the way I needed.”

“Maybe he just didn’t know how. From what you’ve told me about his parents, it doesn’t sound like the Archers were a warm family.”

Maddie had only a few memories of grandparents who were both dead by the time she turned five, but none of them included a hug, or a kiss, or any other sign of affection.

“You could be right, but Jeremy admitted he’d lie if it got him what he wanted.”

“Well, you knew that.”

“I did. It was just weird having him admit it. I guess he has his own personal brand of honesty, too.”

Romi adjusted the folds of Maddie’s skirt just so. “I suppose. I prefer Viktor’s.”

“Me, too,” Maddie said fervently.

Both women laughed, and it felt good.

But then most things felt pretty amazing right now. Maddie was marrying the man she loved and even if he didn’t love her, he’d promised a real family.