Part 35 (1/2)
”Which I'm inclined to believe they are...” She gave a small smile that erased the uneasiness that had been bubbling.
”Go on.”
”Then two years is plenty of time for you to set plans in motion for BHI's future, help my father see we need some restructuring. I'm not suggesting it won't be a lot of work. But I've already seen what you can do when you focus your energy.”
”Well played,” he approved.
”As for addendum A-”
”The one outlining your role as my submissive.”
A pretty shade of pink stained her cheeks, and she swirled her straw before looking up at him. ”I'm willing to agree to all of that in exchange for the two-year concession.”
”You drive a hard bargain.”
”Which means we have an agreement,” she said.
”I'll send you a revised copy today. We can be married Friday afternoon.”
Slowly, she nodded. ”I wondered about that time you had blocked off on your calendar.”
”For you.” Then he amended, ”Us.”
”You'll handle the arrangements?”
”If that's what you want. If it's important to you that you make the plans-”
”It's not.”
He wondered how true that was. But her eyes gave nothing away. ”I have a friend who's a judge. We can go to his office. Or I'm sure he'll be willing to meet at mine.”
”Let's go to his. Fewer people that we may have to explain to.”
”As for witnesses?”
For long minutes, she toyed with her straw. He wondered belatedly if she'd even taken a sip. ”I don't want to invite anyone.”
Julien's words about every woman wanting a wedding haunted him again. But then, he reminded himself, it didn't mean she wouldn't have a real one. Just not to him.
That thought brought him up short. The idea of her with someone else, looking forward to the future with another man, p.i.s.sed him off, though rationally he knew it shouldn't. ”I'd like you to move in sooner, rather than later.”
”How soon?”
”Tonight.”
This time, she met his gaze fully.
”We'll need to touch base with your mother and ensure we have an agenda put together for the meeting. We have a script that we need to write, and we'll want to practice it so it flows well. It would be nice to have your mother's feedback on it.”
”She'd love that.”
”It will be easier to do if we're together.”
He saw the battle rage across her face. First came her frown of denial. It was followed by her rolling her head in a slow motion. Finally, she gave him a sharp nod. ”Agreed.”
What he didn't tell her was that he'd be there to hold her, protect her, sh.o.r.e her up when doubt about her dad, about them, crept in. ”You can pick me up after work, and we'll go to your house to pack up a few things.”
”With the way you're dressed?”
”I have a change of clothes in my office.”
”Of course you do.”
”We'll get a crew for anything big, but the two of us should be able to manage the personal items that you'll be needing.”
She moved the drink to the side. It was still full, and condensation dripped down the outside of the plastic cup. ”Is fast the only speed you know?”
”I've learned that we don't always have as much time on the earth as we think we do. Tomorrow we have the board meeting. Wednesday we need to select rings. Pick me up at five?”
”I should get back,” she told him, and her voice sounded strained.
He nodded.
After dropping her back in front of BHI, he returned to work. The first thing he did was call up their prenuptial agreement. He changed the term of the contract to two years and made the confidentiality agreement more expansive, noting the information could be shared as long as they were in accord. Before he sent it to her for perusal, he couldn't help but scan addendum A.
Already, she'd been incredible during their s.e.x play, adventurous and eager. He couldn't remember having been with anyone who was more perfect for him.
The opportunity to have her in his bed every night vanquished the doubts that Julien's words had raised.
Satisfied, he sent it over to her then got back to work.
A few minutes later, she sent him a fairly standard non-disclosure agreement. Smart woman. Within half an hour, she sent him back the prenuptial contract.
Confused, he opened it and didn't immediately see any changes. Instead of a.s.suming there were none, he opened a program to compare the two doc.u.ments. There was a change, to addendum B.
Wife does not cook.
He grinned.
Instead of revising the contract, he sent her an email.
Husband agrees.
Within minutes, she informed him that their duly revised prenuptial had been forwarded to her personal attorney for further review and reminded him that the lawyer would no doubt advise that his addenda would never stand up in court.
In that case, I'd like dinner on the table at 5:30 every night.
Her reply was almost instant.
What do attorneys know, anyway?