Page 64 of Wyatt & Weston
“What?” his brows furrow.
“Her name is Hadley.”
“Right, right, anyway.” He dismisses me. “What I really wanted to show you is this.”
He turns the brown manila folders around and taps them.
Taking them curiously, I open the top one and glance over it.
“What's this?” It looks like a profile. Next to it are a man's photos and a bunch of information.
“Candidates.” he says as if that should answer all my questions.
“Candidates for what?” I question.
“Really, Emma? Are you going to play dumb?” he sighs, like he’s tired of dealing with me.
“I’m not playing anything. Dad, what are these for?”
“There are three files of men. Good, powerful, single men. Pick the one you like best and I’ll make it happen.” He nods, leaning back in his chair.
My lips part in shock, eyes widening. He’s joking right? Please tell me this is all a fucking joke.
“You're joking, right?”
He frowns. “Of course, I’m not. You're single now. But, the longer you are, the more it doesn’t look good on your image. I vetted these men myself. They’re all good-looking, and can give you the life you deserve. You will be set for life, Emma, and not have to worry about a thing. You're young. Get married, have some babies. It’s perfect timing.”
He keeps going as I stare at him like he’s grown a third head. How much wine did I drink, because I think I’m hallucinating. Can you do that from drinking?
Whatever the hell it is, it can’t be real.
“There will be a prenup of course. Can’t have anyone trying to take all our money.” He chuckles as if he told a funny joke. “But, I will be taking out the infidelity clause. More than one failedmarriage in your twenties isn’t realistic. You're an adult, things happen. No one's perfect.”
“No,” I find myself saying, placing the folders back on his desk and standing.
“What?” he asks, confused.
I’m shaking my head, just done with all of this. It’s my breaking point.
“I love you dad, I do. But I can’t do this anymore. I’m not happy here. I don’t want to marry some man for money and power. I want love. I want to be happy. I want a man who smiles when he sees me, like I’m the light of his world. Someone who will go to the ends of the earth to protect me. I don’t want to smile and pretend life is perfect. I certainly don’t want to marry a man who will cheat on me.”
“Emma. You're being ridiculous,” he seethes, getting to his feet.
“If wanting to be with the men who make me feel safe, wanted and loved, makes me ridiculous, then so be it.” I laugh, shaking my head. “I’m not marrying any of these men, or anyone else you find.”
“Where are you going?” he shouts after me as I turn around and race toward the stairs, a rush of clarity filling me.
I’ve stayed here this long, thinking I was protecting Hadley, the farm. If I have nothing to worry about, if there's no charges to be pressed, then why the fuck am I still here.
The need to see Weston and Wyatt has me vibrating with adrenaline.
Getting to my room, I grab the bags I didn’t even bother unpacking when I got home.
So, I just start shoving clothes into the bags, grabbing more from my closet. When I’m done grabbing as much as I can, I quickly change out of my swimsuit.
Thankfully, when I bring the first set of bags down to the town car I called to take me to the airport, my father isn’t there.
I can hear him though, screaming at, I’m assuming at my mother. I pay him no mind and go back up to grab the rest of my things.
