Page 85 of Wild Card

Marcus watched me, moving his fun jab to a friendly shoulder hug. “At least you gave it your best shot, your hardest swing, tossed in the best card. Don’t forget the rules, brother.” He winked then turned to grab his things.

I stood there, trying to make sense of it. I knew what he was saying, but my stomach twisted with the knowledge that I’d fucked up. How on earth would she give me another shot? I sure as fuck didn’t deserve one.

But maybe…maybe I should just do it.What did I have to lose by at least trying?

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The pasta boiledwhile I stirred the meat sauce. I eyed the timer and wiped my fingers on the apron tied around my waist.

“You testing out a new dish for the hubs?” Taylor asked mockingly.

She was scarce these days, and I didn’t know what else to do to get her to talk to me.

I thought back to the conversation I’d had with my father three weeks earlier. After my conversation with Taylor, I had cried my eyes out then woke up the next morning and cornered my father. I’d gone over the details and realized there was something that hadn’t added up. Taylor had known about the deal with Elias, but that plan was temporary. He was only supposed to invite her, get her to wear his jacket, and spread the word that he’d finally hooked up—that was it. Then they’d go their separate ways.

The conversation I’d overheard that day at brunch didn’t match Taylor’s version, so I’d curled up in the leather chair in front of my father’s office and asked him an uncomfortable question.

“You said she’d marry someone her own age…” I tucked my knees under me and braced my hands on the arms of the chair.

My father’s eyes narrowed, but a few seconds later his greying brows arched toward his forehead. Dad always looked like that actor Pierce Brosnan, especially now with the silver threading through the sides of his head.

“What are you…”

“Brunch a few weeks ago—I overheard your conversation.”

His brown eyes softened, his body melting into his chair. “You don’t know what you heard.”

“Then tell me, because from here, it sounds like you were making more of a deal than what my sister understood. How bad is the New York office?” I jumped right to it because I didn’t want to be treated like a child, didn’t want him to pretend.

He shook his head, rubbing his jaw.

I didn’t actually expect him to answer, but after a few loud sighs, he leaned forward, meeting my eyeline.

“I need someone there I can trust. I was hoping it would be your sister…but there are complications.”

“The board?” I ran my finger along the leather threading of the chair, trying to calm my nerves.

“They’re pushing back on this. I need someone there, and they aren’t budging on the marriage clause. What you overheard was me bullshitting them to buy time. There was no guy, no person talking in the city…I just needed more time to figure out a solution. I had made a deal with that twat Elias for the sake of appearances. I thought if they organically met and made it seem serious through the event I had and past graduation then the board would back off.”

That didn’t end up happening, though, thanks to Decker and me.

It only took me a few seconds to think it through. My article was dead. Everyone was going to be talking about my last name once I got back to school, and there would be zero chance any of them would root for me to land the internship now that they knew my father owned stock in Kline Global. Maybe this was the best solution all around.

“I’ll do it.”

His eyes went wide, his mouth gaping.

“I’m serious…I’ll do it,” I reassured him, sitting taller in the chair.

“I can’t ask you to do that, Mallory. I’d never ask you to—”

“You aren’t asking. It should have been on me to do it instead of Taylor. She’s always wanted to please you.”

He smirked with the slightest shake of his head. “She’s always acted like she owes me something. I’ve never told you this, but her biological father isn’t a good man…he’s dangerous.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Dangerous as in…?” I waited for him to fill in the blank.

“ThinkThe Godfather, then add inFight Cluband mix it withDexter.”

---