“What?”
He shakes his head as he tries to lose the smile, but he can’t. “I think, with a little training, you would make an excellent CEO. You probably shouldn’t start off in that position, but I think a few years under your belt would get you ready .”
“You’re crazy. All I did was sign some papers. I didn’t do anything .”
“You did more than just sign some papers. You convinced a man who has never met you that you were in charge. And don’t think I didn’t notice that, after you left last time, you didn’t just change one small thing about my numbers. You completely redid everything to make it work. You saw trends that no one else saw. That’s impressive. You are obviously a natural when it comes to numbers and finance. We could use someone like you in this department .”
I smile weakly. “Thanks.” But I don’t feel like I’m capable of doing anything .
Tony stands, returning back to his chair. “Killian is good-looking, too, though. He wouldn’t be a terrible choice either.” He winks at me .
I frown. I don’t want him giving me dating advice. I don’t want anyone giving me dating advice. He doesn’t understand what’s going on in Killian’s head .
“He doesn’t care about me. He just wants to marry me to get the position .”
Tony narrows his eyes. “I wouldn’t be too sure about that. Word is, he just got promoted without marrying you. He might care more about you than you think .”
But all I hear is that Killian got promoted to CEO. Last night, he knew the decision my grandfather had made. And Killian chose not to tell me that my time was already up .
I no longer get a choice .
“I need to go,” I say .
Tony nods as I stand and leave without a good-bye .
I take my phone out to call my grandfather, to tell him to meet me earlier, that it can’t wait. I dial his number, but I get his voice mail. I end the call before I leave a message. That’s when I notice the messages from Killian .
There are three text messages, asking why I left this morning without talking to him, telling me that we need to talk, telling me what to do .
I also notice the seven missed calls and two voice mails from him. I delete the voice mails without listening to them. I don’t want to hear what he has to say. If he couldn’t say it last night before fucking me, then I don’t want to hear it now .
I pace back and forth thirty-five times in my father’s office before I hear the familiar creak of the door being pushed open. My grandfather is standing in the doorway. He doesn’t look happy to see me, but I don’t give a shit .
I can’t wait any longer, and the words fall from my mouth. “You made Killian CEO!” I shout at him .
He calmly walks in, setting a briefcase down on the desk. He doesn’t say anything or even acknowledge me as he takes a seat behind my father’s desk .
“You made Killian CEO,” I say again, only slightly calmer .
He sighs in frustration. “Yes .”
“I thought he had to marry me first. I thought it had to be agreed upon between the three of us .”
“He did. He signed the papers yesterday afte
rnoon, agreeing to marry you in six months. So, in good faith, I promoted him to CEO. He doesn’t have the shares yet. That will happen after the wedding .”
“What if I don’t agree to the wedding ?”
“You will. You don’t have another choice. This is what is best for you .”
“No, it’s not. I don’t want this. I don’t want to be married to a man who doesn’t love me. I don’t want to marry someone just because you wished I were a grandson instead of your granddaughter. I won’t do it .”
“Kinsley, stop this. You will marry Killian. He’s a good man. And I know he cares about you .”
“You’re wrong. He doesn’t give a fuck about anything other than his work and finding his next good fuck .”
His face turns red at my words. I take a deep breath, realizing what I just said to my grandfather. I’ve never cussed in front of him. I’ve never talked so crudely .