She waved a paper. “Sign this, and the first half of the money transfers to your account.”
I took the paper and grabbed a pen.
“Just a reminder, Mo, that you don’t get the second half unless you stay married a year—”
“Or have a child,” I know. The image of my come dripping from Brooke’s pussy flashed in my head. My dick betrayed me by getting excited at the thought, even as my heart stuttered to a stop in my chest at the idea of impregnating Frank’s daughter.
“One more thing,” Jeannette said.
My hand hovered over the signature line as I looked up at her.
“If the marriage doesn’t last a year, you’ll have to return this half, too.”
“What?” My brain skidded to a halt at that.
“I didn’t think you heard that part.”
“You didn’t tell me that part.” Did she?
“Your aunt seemed to think you were the type of man to cheat the system,” she, said arching a brow at me. “She wanted you to have a real marriage.”
“I’m not doing this for the money.” Well, I was. “What I mean is, I’m not doing it for me. Surely she’d understand that.”
“If she were here, we could ask her. But she’s not, and I have to abide by her wishes as set forth in the trust. If you sign that and get the money, you need to be married at least a year, or you owe it back.”
Fuck. I sat back. I’d known about the year to get the second half, but I didn’t recall having to pay back the trust if I didn’t at least make it to the first year. I might have been able to walk away from the second installment. I didn’t need the money, but it would be a hardship to pa
y it back if this fake marriage went sideways.
“Do you need to talk to Brooke about it?” Jeannette asked.
I remembered Brooke saying she could carry out this ruse for a year. Of course, at the time, she had stars in her eyes for me. Now, she might not think so. Then again, I knew she’d do anything to help her father, and this was our only shot. So, the question was, could I endure the torture of wanting a woman I couldn’t have living in my house for a year?
I shook my head to Jeannette’s statement. “No.” I signed the paperwork, my gut roiling as I passed it back to her.
She gave me a disapproving look but nodded. “I’ll transfer the money now. It will be available this afternoon.”
I stood, giving her the cue that it was time to go. She rose from her chair and shook my hand. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Mr. Mayor.”
I nodded, even though I had no clue what I was doing. I escorted Jeannette out and was glad that Trina still wasn’t in. I checked my watch as she was usually quite punctual.
I went back to my office. I heard movement behind me and saw Brooke leaving her office and going over to the file cabinets lining the wall behind Trina’s desk. I wondered if Jeannette was right in that I should let Brooke know about the penalty for ending the marriage early.
I decided not to. It might add an extra layer of guilt or stress, and after last night, I didn’t want to add to it. If she wanted to leave once things with her dad were settled, I couldn’t in good conscience make her stay. Of course, I wasn’t sure how I’d pay back the trust if that happened. So maybe I did need to let her know. If she was going to back out, now was the time while the money was still available for me to refuse or send back. Not able to decide the best course of action, I went back to my office and got to work. An hour later, my cell phone rang.
“Mayor Valentine,” I answered.
“Mr. Mayor. Simon Stark.”
Ah, hell, what did he want? “Mr. Stark. How can I help you?”
“I understand you’re about to save your neighbor from financial ruin.”
“What if I am?” I checked my watch, wondering if the money was transferred yet.
“Are you against me just as a matter of course, or is there something about this particular property?”
Both, I thought. “Frank Campbell is a good friend. That land has been in his family for generations.”