Page 10 of Modern Romance Collection March 2025 (1-4)

So she laid out her counteroffer. “Six months. A percentage of shares from Akakios not just in Rhys’s name, but my mother’s and mine as well—announced to the public when you give your apology to my father.”

For a moment, he only looked at her. His posture betrayed nothing. He didn’t move. But she saw theflareof something, there in his eyes. Triumph.

Run, some sensible voice in her head whispered. But she simply sat.

“One year,” he replied. “I’ve done the math, run the numbers, we will need a full year to ensure my father is ousted and stays that way.”

Well, if it wasmathematical.

She didn’thaveto compromise, but she could if it was logical. Factual. No emotion involved. Just getting what she wanted.

“I must be able to tell my family the truth. And my friends. It cannot be a secret why I’m doing this to the people I love. Even if I could get them to believe it, my mother would be devastated, and my friends would be…” She managed a smile—sharp as she could. “Vengeful.”

She thought that would be the sticking point. Maybe she hoped it would be.

“I can agree to that, if we work in an addendum that if any one of these people knowing the truth gets to people who use it against me, the deal will be called off with absolutely no compensation for anyone in your family. I’d choose your trustworthy companions wisely.”

No. She wasn’t going to do this. Shewasn’t.

She leaned forward. “Rhys is a genius. He’s capable andgoodand would be an amazing asset to any company once he graduates.”

Athan leaned forward as well, so they were practically nose to nose with only the table between them. Lynna’s heart thundered in her ears, that prickling heat she refused to name spreading its serpentine way through her bloodstream.

“Then we’ll be glad to have him at Akakios,” Athan said, his voice low and smug. “Because once my father is ousted, we will need an infusion ofgoodto fill the vacuum of all his evil.”

“You’re evil too,” Lynna said. Or maybe not so muchsaidas whispered, because it was hard to breathe normally this close to those dark eyes, that egotistical smirk. Hate was the thing worming around in her gut.Hate, hate, hate.

“I have been,” he agreed. So damn easily. So there was nothing to fight against. She knew he did that on purpose. He did every annoying thing on purpose.

“And if you hire Rhys, mentor him, as you said. Then someday he rips AC International out from under you, what will you do?”

“I suppose that would be its own poetic justice. Wouldn’t it?”

Panic was beginning to flutter at her breastbone. Why was he agreeing? Why wasn’t he refusing? Why was this happening?

“And…what? We’d get married tomorrow night, and then just…live here while you use my name to convince people in your father’s company to go against him?”

“We can live here if you like. There’s also my place in Athens. Provence. New York. I have a charming little place amongst the fjords in Norway.”

“Norway?”

“I like variety.” He grinned. “But I spend most of my time in Athens. There will be a period of time I will need you with me, to wine and dine your father’s sympathizers to my plight. But otherwise, we need not be together, and you may do as you please as long as you wear my ring and do not engage in any affairs that might look poorly on our union.”

Something about the way he’d said I like variety had this commentary hitting her all wrong. “And you?”

“And me what?”

“Will you be engaging in any affairs that look poorly on our union?” she said, mimicking him a little bit with his own words.

“Businessmen do not quite have the dim view of such things as…”

“The victims in their little games?”

Athan sighed, as if she was very tiresome or boring.

She wanted to stab him. “I will not be the butt of a joke, even for a payment.”

“Very well. I will remain devoted to you and you only,latria mu.” He reached across the table and took her hand—but only for a second before she jerked it away.

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