Page 38 of Bound to Him
Alton’s winning smile came out to play. “I disagree. My lawyers—” He paused to wave at the two men standing beside him, including one who I swore had a reputation around New Gothenburg, and had a strange name... Rain? River...? They nodded. “—will tell you this is a done deal. I’m married to Noah now, and he’s always been the rightful inheritor of the Divine Conglomerate. So, all he needs to do is sign control of the business over to me.”
Ten pairs of eyes turned to stare at me, and I cringed. I hated any attention on me, but this was worse than usual because it was a bunch of old men who’d made me feel inferior my entire life. To them, I was nothing but a nuisance, and the very thought of me taking over my dad’s business—mybusiness—terrified them. They weren’t quiet when they gossiped, and I’d heard their opinions on more than one occasion.
Lincoln stalked his way toward me, but Alton slid between us, which I was grateful for. “Are you going to allow this, Noah?” he snapped over Alton’s shoulder, cold blue eyes burning holes into me. “Your father’s legacy depends on you now, boy. Just because you spread your legs for him doesn’t mean you have to give the business to this shark.”
I realized in that moment that Dad had never told them the truth about the terrible shape the Divine Conglomerate finances were in, and that he’d sold me out like the whore they all assumed I was. Real anger had me straightening, even as Alton shoved Lincoln away.
“Say one word about my husband like that again, DeMevius, and I will make sure you end up in a gutter.” I couldn’t see Alton’s face, but his voice was enough for me. It was deep and deadly, the threat delivered as a promise.
I touched Alton’s shoulder and moved him slightly so I could see Lincoln and take in the fear that slid over his thin face. I gave him a smile, as fake as anything else I did around him. “My dad....” I focused on him and how he cowered in the leather seat at the end of the table, head down in shame and embarrassment. Good. That’s where he deserved to be. “My dad did nothing for this company but ruin it. I’ve seen enough. It’s time for me to step up, and I’m going to do that by allowing my husband, a very good businessman, to fix what my dad has broken.”
Mason laughed abruptly, the only sound in the quiet boardroom. “Well, shit. That’s a kick to the nuts.”
Alton sent him a smirk and I thought he might like Mason. Good, I did too. If Alton took over, I wanted to keep Mason around. He reminded me of myself in a way. He had no love for business and was forced into it by his brother and parents.
“Mr. Noah Bouchard,” Alton said, loud enough for everyone to hear, “you are amazin’.”
“Not as amazing as you, husband,” I replied, picking up on the act. Alton wanted us to rub it in their faces, in mydad’sface, and I was going to do exactly that. Fuck all these rich old men and their superiority complexes. “Give me that paperwork to sign.”
One of the lawyers, the younger man with short dark hair and a permanent smile on his face, handed me the documents, and I thanked him with a smile of my own. I slapped the stack of papers on the table in front of me, staring down the long table to my dad at the other end. He’d been the one who’d wanted me to marry Alton, and now he was getting exactly what he deserved.
Alton passed me an expensive-looking fountain pen with what I swore were diamonds inlaid along the entire length of it. “For you. This contract states I will be the sole person calling the shots in the Divine Conglomerate as long as we’re married.”
“I trust you,” I whispered.
“And that’s your first mistake,” Lincoln snarled, shaking his head. “Controlled by your cock, boy.” He glared at my wrist where my sleeve had slid back, letting the bracelet sparkle and shine. “Handing over the keys to the kingdom for a bit of flashy jewelry.”
I was surprised at my own laughter as I chuckled. “This ‘bit of flashy jewelry’ is worth more than all four of your Porsches.” I made sure to shake my hand. “And don’t call meboy.” I straightened and walked around to him until we were face-to-face. He was about the same height as me but skinnier and without any muscle—nothing more than a frail old man. “I am not your boy, and you are a disgusting man. You don’t need to worry about quitting, DeMevius. Before I hand my company over to my husband, I want to do this first. You’re fired.”
He gaped at me and spun toward Dad.
“Don’t look at him. He’s a coward and a fraud who tried to keep my company for himself.” I didn’t poke Lincoln, as much as I wanted to, because knowing him, he’d sue me and try to get every cent he could. No, if I’d learned anything from Dad, it was that mentally torturing someone was more effective, and the best way to do that to Lincoln was disgrace him and send him packing. “You. Are. Fired. Get out of my building.”
Satisfaction I’d never felt before warmed my insides as Lincoln huffed, walking around me and Alton toward the doors like he had a stick up his ass. But Lincoln’s humiliation was nothing compared to seeing the paleness of Dad’s face and the way he slid farther down in his chair, looking sick and embarrassed. That’s what he got for selling me off.
“Anyone else want to leave before I sign my company over to Alton?” I asked, high on the joy I got from seeing every one of those fuckers’ faces. They shook their heads. The only one who didn’t look irritated was Mason, who bounced in his chair with a wide grin on his face.
“Good. Let’s get this over with.” I sidled back over to Alton and made a show of wrapping my arm around his waist. I might not like him, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to rub it in their faces. Screw them all. And Alton wasn’t a stranger anymore. He’d fucked me and taken my virginity, something I couldn’t give again. “Husband.”
Alton’s feral smile would have scared me if I didn’t feel so alive. He kissed my cheek and it was warmer than I’d expected, and I decided to enjoy this as much as I could.
“You did good,” he whispered in my ear, so only I would hear. “I’m going to fuck you so hard tonight, little mouse.”
I shivered.
“Let’s sign this contract,” Alton said louder.
“Yes, let’s.”It’s only six months. I can survive that, right?
By the time the meeting was done, I was riding on a high, practically skipping my way out of the building with Alton at my side. He grinned at me when I stopped at the Jag and turned to him. I hesitated for only a second before I threw myself at him and mashed my lips against his. He caught me, and I didn’t miss the surprise on his face before I brought him in to the kiss.
“That was fucking amazing.” I laughed and pressed another kiss to his chin before backing away, ignoring the strange look he was giving me. “Never in my life did I expect something like that to feelsogood. Did you see my dad’s face? Fuck! It was amazing.”
“I’m glad you approve, darlin’.” Alton cocked his head and stared at me carefully, not saying anything more until it got uncomfortable, and I shrugged.
“It was great. Dad’s always been controlling my life, and that was the first time I truly told him to shove it. I mean, I didn’ttellhim, but I showed him through signing that contract, didn’t I?”
“You did.” He stepped in closer and pulled me into his warmth. The gray tweed suit jacket he wore matched him well and looked as expensive as everything else he owned. He wasn’t the kind of guy who was afraid to show wealth and I hated that, yet... it was nice on him. How did that work?
