Page 115 of More than Paper

“I don’t want your money. I’m not after that,” I manage to get out.

He nods. “I know you aren’t. But if you move, I’ll do it.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

He grabs the ring and slides it over my finger. “I love you, and I’m dying without you. I want you to move to New York because I want you forever. What do I have to do? Tell me.”

The weight of the rock sits on my finger as I contemplate all he is saying. I don’t know what to tell him to do. What he has just promised me is almost everything I could ever ask for.

Except for the piece of paper that makes it real.

I push the thought out of my mind.

“Okay,” I whisper.

He raises his eyebrows. “Okay, what?”

“Okay, I’ll move to New York.”

“You will?”

More tears stream down my face. “Yes.”

He pushes me down on the bed and kisses me, whispering his love for me, promising me the world, declaring his devotion.

And I shut off as best as I can the voice in my head.

24

Jamison

Quinn’s movingto New Yorkis the first thing I think when I wake up. I pull her closer into me, kissing her head as happiness surges through me.

She stirs but doesn’t open her eyes, moving her hand on my chest. The Harry Winston pink diamond looks beautiful in the morning light on her.

I knew when I saw it that it was for her. It’s rare, like Quinn, and was what she needed to understand that we can have it all.

All but the piece of paper I wish I could give her.I want it, too, but I’m not going to let a technicality stop us from being together.

Our love is more than paper.

Now, if only I could get Alejandro off my back.

The last month he’s been upping the pressure for me to take over his business. He sent one of his men to my office with a notepad outlining his entities and the values. The note along with it read:

Jamison,

My daughter will not lose her inheritance. You will take over. Here’s the fortune you will control.

Alejandro

I refusedto look at the papers he sent and when I wouldn’t, the man responsible for delivering the message to me pushed my head on my desk and told me to read. He wouldn’t release me until I agreed and read every last page.

It took an hour. I now had information I didn’t want to have. The entities he had acquired illegally, by who knows what means, are vast. However, I was worth at least double.

Regardless, I had no interest in taking anything of his over and called V. She was in town and came over, and that was the night Quinn discovered our marriage.

I called him with Valeria, and we reiterated that I would not be taking over. V told him once again that Santiago was the best choice.