Page 9 of Princess of Pride
“Upon our marriage my dad will sign my trust fund over to you.” The dowry to the husband is so archaic. “If you return the trust to me, under my full control, I won’t ask you for anything. I’ll play the role of a loving spouse in public. You’ll get your American wife and Spencer Securities. I won’t ask for a thing from you. Not even your time or attention. You can do whatever you want,whoeveryou want, as long as I’m given the freedom to do the same.”
That amusement shows in his aqua eyes again. “A platonic relationship is what you’re proposing?”
“Yes. A fake relationship to appease my father and get us both what we want.”
“What is it you want?”
“Financial security and freedom.”
“If you marry me, you’ll have that regardless of your little trust fund.”
“Ten million is not little.” It’s not what I grew up with, butit’s more than I could earn working on my own. “I can build a business with it.”
“You want to work?” He snorts like he doesn’t believe me.
“Yes. I want to build something with my own money so that no one can ever take it away from me.”
His gaze narrows like he’s trying to assess if I’m serious. When he inhales a deep breath, I’m suddenly aware of how close I’m standing to his bare chest.
“And what is this business?”
“I’m not telling you.” He’ll make fun of it, just like my dad did when I told him.
He widens his stance a little and stares down his nose. “You were engaged not that long ago.”
My eyes round. “My dad told you?” He wanted to keep it a secret.
“I don’t need your dad to discover things about my future wife.”
“You spied on me?” I ask, surprised that this gorgeous man would bother.
“I had research done on you as I would any investment.”
Ew!
“Did you love your ex-fiancé?” He sounds mad.
“Wouldn’t you know, having spied on me?”
“I don’t spy. I acquire information. Did you?”
I cross my arms over my chest and take a step back. “What does it matter?”
“I need to know if your bringing emotional baggage into this arrangement.”
I’d ask the same about him, but I don’t think emotion and Lachlan go together. “I didn’t love him,” I answer truthfully. “I thought I did, but I soon realized it was the idea of being married to someone of my choice that I loved. Nothing more.” It took me until recently to figure thatout.
He nods as if my answer satisfies him. “Did you have sexual intercourse with him?”
I let out a laugh that’s half-shock, half nerves. “Do youknowmy dad?”
He runs his hand down his face, like I’m exhausting him. “That doesn’t mean you’re a virgin.”
“No. I haven’t had sex with anyone,” I say curtly. “Why would that matter to you anyway?”
“Your innocence is important to my image.”
His image. Right. It’s the only thing that matters, same with my dad. At least I know what to expect from him. A straightforward invasion of my privacy. If that’s what he wants...
