Page 10 of Betrayed By Love

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I hiss.

“I’m nearing my thirty-fourth birthday.”

I knit my eyebrows together.“So?”

“My empire is not all mine, but it could be.”

I look around, bewildered. “Is this a joke?”

Foster’s expression is stoic. “Joke? Not at all. I wouldn’t joke about this.”

“I thought you owned all your businesses.”

“My father lent me a considerable amount of money to get them started, with interest. The bill comes due on my thirty-fourth birthday, and in order to pay him back, I would need to liquidate some of my assets. But I’m not willing to let any of them go.”

“What the fuck?!” I screech.

Foster shakes his head. “Can I continue?”

I rub at my eyes as a dull pounding grows behind them. “I’m not sure I want to hear the rest. Why didn’t you pay him back years ago?”

“That wasn’t the deal. The deal was a balloon payment with interest on my thirty-fourth or in the case of marriage.”

“Why would you agree to something like that?”

“I was in my early twenties, and I assumed I would be married by now. That and my parents want the Black line to continue. He clearly knew me better than I knew myself.”

“Why aren’t you?”

“Because the woman I loved belongs to someone else. She rebuffed me, and there is no chance for us. Erika was my one perfect true love. No woman can compare to her. I made a mistake, and she wouldn’t forgive me.”

I narrow my eyes and point my finger at him. “Let me get this straight. You need to marry by your thirty-fourth birthday, or you must liquidate some of your assets? Is that right?”

“Correct.”

“I was wrong. You’re not a very good businessman if you made this deal.”

He glares. “I beg to differ. I’m sure I can build my worth back up within a couple of years if I liquidate companies, but despite what you think, I worry about my employees. They’ll lose jobs, and most of them have families to support.”

“Compassion? I’m amazed.”

“I’m not a robot. I feel.”

“This is just sick. You don’t know me, and you’re asking me to play a part, to lie to my family, and deceive them into thinking I’m married for real?”

“I would make it worth your while. More than worth your while.”

“You’re fucked up, Black. It doesn’t surprise me Erika dumped you.”

“Don’t speak of her,” he growls.

I smirk. “I get it. You’re still in love with her.”

He crosses his arms, his biceps straining the white cloth of his shirt. “I don’t love her. It took time, but I realized we were two different people. If she granted my wish, it would’ve ended badly. I damaged her, and she would never forget. Our relationship would be spent with me trying to make amends. I let it go.”

I glance at the top of the champagne bottle still submerged in the partially melted ice. I sense Foster is lying, but decide not to press the issue. “I think I need some alcohol. Want to open the champagne?”

“It was only for when an agreement was made. Do you agree to marry me?”

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