Marrying My Billionaire Hookup

I cock an eyebrow. He wanted to be involved? Whatever for? Isn’t it better that I took care of it so he and Jo are spared of any embarrassment?

Jo cringes. “Sorry.”

I highly doubt Jo would’ve appreciated me ratting her out to her parents, but I keep that to myself. Her dad’s not in the mood to hear it. “I apologize, sir. I hope my solution was acceptable to you.”

He harrumphs. “Someone like him won’t just go away so easily.”

“He has a bigger thing to worry about, like his inheritance, Papa.”

Jo’s attempt to placate her dad doesn’t seem to work. I can still hear his breathing.

“He won’t be a problem anymore,” I add. If he remains a problem, I’ll make sure Korvid regrets having ever been b

orn.

“You’re that determined to marry my daughter, is that it?”

“Of course.” Surely he doesn’t think I’m doing this for less than marriage.

Whispers come through the speakers. Jo mouths, That’s my mom, to me.

We wait for her parents to finish their little conference. They weren’t that impressed at the dinner, but I only had a ring and some answers as to what I bring to the table. This time I’m showing them, which hopefully will be enough to nudge them in the right direction.

“If you’re so insistent, why don’t you come to the family dinner this weekend? We can talk in more detail,” Jo’s dad says.

Further inquisition. But I’m fine with that. A second-round interview is a step closer to the goal. “Yes, sir.”

“Jo, you bring him, okay?” her dad says as though he’s worried I didn’t mean what I just said. “Your uncle’s going to serve something new.”

She fakes a smile, not that he can see it. “Yes, I will.”

“And Jo, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Her shoulders scrunch together tighter.

“And by that,” he continues, “I mean don’t try to solve everything on your own. Family exists for a reason.”

Even though he’s speaking to Jo, his words create a small pang in my heart. I can see my own father saying something similar, although not out of love. It’s always about the family reputation. And power.

Her dad continues, “We’ll see you on Sunday. Now I need to go finish grading some quizzes.”

“I love you, Papa.”

“Love you too, sweetheart.”

The line goes dead.

Jo sighs, her whole body relaxing like heated wax. “That went better than I thought.”

“Does your dad yell at you often?”

“No. I just thought he’d say he was disappointed. I hate disappointing my parents.”

Don’t we all…until we start to wonder if it’s worth the mental energy, and then eventually quit caring. “Do you do that a lot?”

“Do what?”

“Disappoint them.”