Page 144 of The Fiancée Farce
“These belonged to my parents,” Tansy said, voice trembling, hand trembling, too. “This one was my mom’s, and I know it’s not much, but it’s everything to me, and I want you to have it.”
“Oh, come on,” Tucker muttered.
“Shut up,” someone hissed, not Teddy.
Gemma slipped off her seat with far more grace than Tansy could’ve managed, and she did it in three-inch heels. She sank down to her knees in front of Tansy, joining her on the carpeted floor. “Yes.” A watery laugh burst from between her lips. “Of course.”
“Speak up,” someone said. “We can’t hear you down there.”
“I saidyes!” Gemma shouted.
“Fuck yeah!” Teddy clapped.
Several—she didn’t know how many—board members joined in.
The handful of butterflies in Tansy’s stomach blossomed into a full-blown kaleidoscope as Gemma leaned in, pressing her mouth to Tansy’s. Her fingers slid against Tansy’s palm, but Tansy closed her hand before Gemma could grab her ring.
“Congratulations.” Mr.Barnes nodded. “I’m very happy for you both.”
“Yeah, we’re all over the moon.” Tucker rolled his eyes. “Now can we get back to the meeting sometime this—”
A loudpopfilled the air, followed by the soft fizz of a bottle of champagne overflowing and spilling out onto the floor. Teddy held the bottle aloft, a smile on his face. “Cheers!”
“—century,” Tucker finished, glumly.
“Tucker has a point.” Mr.Barnes smacked his lips together like the words were distasteful. “This does beg the question of whether you’re finished, MissAdams?”
“Actually, no.” As a matter of fact, she was just getting started. She held out a hand for Gemma to take, helping her stand. Once they were both on their feet, Gemma’s fingers laced with hers, she addressed the board. “I have one last thing to say, aside from thanking you all for letting me interrupt your meeting.”
Victor rolled his eyes. “We’ll send you an invoice for time wasted.”
Gemma smiled. “Do it.”
Tansy was fully expecting ano, to be laughed out of the room, but she couldn’t leave without trying. “I think—Ihope—everyone here can see that I love Gemma.”
“And I love Tansy.” Gemma leaned in, brushing against Tansy’s temple. Tansy melted, knees weakening, brain blanking. What was she saying?
Over Gemma’s shoulder, Brooks shot Tansy a thumbs-up.
Right.“No matter what happens, we’re going to get married, but I was hoping that since the annual meeting isn’t over—”
Sterling scoffed. “The meeting’s barely begun.”
She smiled. “Thank you, Sterling. The meeting’s barely begun, and so I was thinking that since Hieronymus’s trust stipulated Gemma be marriedbythe annual general meeting,technicallyif we were to get married before the meeting is over,now, then the requirements of the trust would be met. And, Mr.Barnes, seeing as you were going to marry us anyway, I was thinking you could marry us now.”
Gemma’s eyes widened. “Tansy?”
“This is preposterous.” Victor laughed. “Buster, tell them.”
“Your face is preposterous.” Teddy leaned against the wall, feet kicked out in front of him, ankles crossed, licking champagne off his wrist.
Victor purpled. “Buster! Please!”
Mr.Barnes rubbed his forehead. “This is certainly unprecedented. I can see both sides.”
Victor huffed. “Both sides, my ass.”
“The wordbydoes leave room for ambiguity. Does it meanonorbefore? Hieronymus didn’t exactly denote a time stamp in his trust.” He dropped his hands and drummed his fingers against the edge of the conference table. “He did, however, make his thoughts on the marriage stipulation clear to me. He didn’t desire to make your life more difficult, Gemma. He honestly believed his marriage to Mara made him a better man. Marriage meant he had a confidante, a realpartner, someone he could lean on, because suffice it to say, being president of a multimillion-dollar media newspaper empire is not without its stressors.” Mr.Barnes laughed. “He believed the way a person conducts themself in private and in their personal affairs spoke volumes as to how they would conduct themselves in public and in business. Because of Mara, Hieronymus claimed to be a better listener, that he learned to compromise, negotiate, express his needs and heed hers—all traits he said were essential to have as a leader. While I respect my late, great friend’s opinions, I’m not personally of the mind that marriage or even a relationship is essential for anyone to develop those traits and skills, but this isn’t about me. It’s about Hieronymus and respecting his final wishes.”
