Page 86 of Wild Card

I blinked. “Oh shit.”

“Yeah. He lives in New York, and I knew Taylor even offering to take that office was a big step for her. I never intended for her to go. I wanted to fight the board, get more time, find someone, but I’m out of time, kid. I’m in a corner, and if you wanted to take it…I’d be grateful.”

“And the marriage clause?” I could do it. I would do whatever it took to keep Taylor from this.

My dad’s silence was answer enough.

“Do you have someone in mind?” I swallowed the thick anxiety eating away at my nerves. My stomach swirled like it had been tossed into the washing machine. I forced my mind not to think of Decker, but the attempt only brought back memories of him holding me in the dark, asking me to promise something I shouldn’t have agreed to.

“They do. You actually met him already at the dinner benefit.” My dad’s face started to look a little green. His lips thinned; his brows became a determined shelf.

“Jeff?” I almost crossed my fingers, hoping I was wrong.

His nod sealed my fate. “He asked about you after that night. You left an impression, so that’s a good start.” I almost laughed at his attempt at encouragement.

I stood; my dad matched the movement.

“Mallory…”

“I know, Dad. We’re family, and this is what family does.” I smiled even though my stomach felt like I had shoved a pair of scissors through it. This would mean I couldn’t have Decker ever…this would mean the end.

Maybe it was just as well. We’d started off so wrong, and what would Taylor think if I just kept seeing him? She’d think I was rubbing my happiness in her face.

Still, there were things I needed clarity on, so on my way out, I turned and asked, “Just curious—do you know who invited Elias Matthews to your event that night?”

Dad moved papers around his desk before settling them into a pile.

“I did…by accident. He’d wanted a meeting with me, and at the time I was so exhausted I just told him to show up at the dinner and catch a moment of my time there.”

Decker had been telling the truth, which meant that the entire dramatic production Elias had put on after he walked into the library had all been total bullshit, and I’d walked away from the man I loved without giving him a second glance for a lie.

How ironic.

Elias won.

* * *

I had visitedwith Jeff Larkin the previous week, having dinner at a five-star restaurant where we were sure to be seen by anyone who apparently mattered. He was tall and broad-shouldered with a nice chin. I thought there was a dimple there when he smiled the one time. I’d fought back the urge to laugh when he’d shook my hand. One month earlier, I had assumed I’d be attending an internship then eventually working as a paid staff writer at Kline Global; now I was going to be married to a stranger.

Taylor found out about the news at our family brunch a few days after I had agreed to everything. She abruptly left the patio in a huff of anger.

It’d been ice and silence since.

I had decided on this dinner as a way to officially apologize to her and try to smooth things over. I was leaving for New York in a matter of days, but before I did, I wanted my sister back.

Straining the pasta, I rinsed it then added the sauce and pulled the garlic bread out of the oven.

“Taylor, this dinner is for you,” I said meekly, wiping my hands on my apron again. Dad’s security team had been briefed about the fact that everyone in school knew who we were, so they were now stationed in a more visible location. I had a driver, at Jeff’s request, and a personal security detail named Leo at my beck and call.

My sister subtly inhaled the smell of dinner and tightened her grip on the napkin in her hand.

“Here.” I handed her a plate then grabbed mine before sitting across from her.

We ate in silence for a few minutes before Taylor finally broke it.

“I hate that you’re doing this.”

“What else am I going to do?” I shrugged, swirling the pasta with my fork.

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