“Could we get married soon? Like next week?”
“Is that enough time to plan a wedding?”
“I thought we would just go to the town hall and then have a nice dinner somewhere.”
I always thought women wanted a fancy wedding, especially since I could throw the biggest wedding of the century. “You don’t want a wedding?”
“What for?” she asked. “We aren’t close with that many people. It’s just about us anyway.”
“But you need to get a dress made.”
“I already have a dress.”
“You do?” asked.
“My mama’s.” She looked at my lips as she smiled at me. “I’ve always wanted to wear it.”
It was the sweetest thing I’d ever heard her say. Made me wish I’d met her sooner, that way I could have protected her parents from their untimely deaths. “That’ll be nice.”
“I think so too.”
“But you really want to do something so simple as going to the town hall?”
She shrugged. “I honestly don’t care where we do it, but planning something elaborate seems unnecessary. We already live together and have a daughter together. I care more about being husband and wife than the actual wedding. That’s what I’m excited for.”
When she painted a picture like that, I knew I wanted it too. “That sounds good to me.”
“So, we’ll go to the town hall than have dinner together.”
“How about we have dinner under the stars like last time?” I asked. “We can have our first dance. Have our privacy. And this time, I don’t have to worry about you rejecting me because you’ll already be my wife.”
She chuckled. “Sounds smart.”
“Then it’s a plan.”
Bates sat across from me, unable to wipe the smirk off his face. “I’m glad you came to your senses.” He signed the sheet then passed it to me.
I clicked my pen then added my signature to the bottom. “Siena is too.”
“Because you were being a huge asshole.” He signed the next paper and handed it over.
“Yes…I’m aware.” I added my signature.
We kept up the system, getting through all the legal documents we needed to sign to get my name off all the official paperwork. I wanted the public to believe I’d really stepped aside, and the best way to do that was to make it official in the eyes of the law.
“You think you can handle all this?” I asked.
Bates scoffed. “I did most of the work anyway.”
I glared at him.
“Okay, maybe I didn’t. But I know I can always call. So, what are your plans? Going to open a new business?”
I shrugged. “I’ve got another baby on the way, so I’ll probably just stay home for a while.”
Bates stopped signing and gave me an incredulous look. “Wait, you guys are having another baby?”
I nodded. “Siena told me last night.”
“No way. Congratulations. Shit, two babies? One right after another?”
“Yep. I want a third, but I don’t think she’ll go for it.”
“Good thing you quit. It would have been impossible to work and have two young kids at home.”
“Siena could have handled it, but I’m glad to be a part of it. I like being a father… It’s nice.”
Bates didn’t tease me for the comment. “I think fatherhood suits you. Our dad was a piece of shit, but you’re father of the year. It’s funny how things work out sometimes.”
“I think you’d be a good father too.”
He laughed like I’d made a joke. “No kids for me. I’ll stick to condoms.”
“Well, one day, you’ll ditch the condoms. And if an accident happens…don’t worry about it too much.”
“I’m not stupid enough to get into that situation in the first place.” He signed an entire stack of papers then pushed it toward me. “But good thing it worked out well for you.”
“Really well.” I added all my signatures to the papers then pushed them back. “The place is officially yours. Don’t fuck it up.”
“I’ll try,” he said. “I’ll wire your money later.”
“Alright.” I was officially retired. I had my billions, and now I had nothing to do with it. I already owned my house, and my pregnant fiancée didn’t want to travel anywhere while the kids were so young. It was time to settle down for the quiet life Crow swore I would love. “I guess I should head home, then.”
“Yep.” Bates rose to his feet then came around the table. He did something we hardly ever did and pulled me in for a hug. “I’m proud of you.”
“For handing over everything to you?” I asked with a smirk. Now Bates had everything, the entire company to run however he wanted. He was officially richer than me, and he would probably gloat about it.
“No.” He clapped me on the shoulder before he pulled away. “For being happy.”
26
Siena
I left my house for good this time—and decided to sell it.
I knew I wouldn’t be needing it anymore.
After digging through the boxes in the attic, I found the item I was looking for. Pearl white and made of satin, it hadn’t collected dust all these years because it’d been perfectly preserved. I felt the material in my fingertips and tried not to cry.