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He joined me at the window. “Didn’t seem like it deterred Edward much today.”
“No. Cal either. I can’t marry Edward. I hate him. This wasn’t the first time he’s tried to—” I swallowed and put on a brave face. “He once cornered me at a conference in Vegas, and groped me.”
“What the fuck? And you didn’t press charges then either?” The vein in Buddy’s forehead looked about to pop.
I shook my head. “For fear of retaliation. So you understand now why I can’t marry him? I’ve told Cal no, and begged him to let this ridiculous idea go. He gave me an ultimatum to marry someone of my choosing instead, or else he’d arrange my marriage to Edward and sell the studio to Kings.”
He scoffed and paced away, running a hand through his hair. “This is some bullshit. Maybe I should talk to Cal on your behalf, man to man, and help him understand.”
“He won’t listen. He’s a stubborn old fool.”
“Hell, for that matter, I’ll just buy the studio for you. I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
“There’s no way he’d sell to someone who doesn’t know the industry.”
“You want to start your own studio? I’ll loan you the money.”
“It’s not about money, and it’s this studio I want. Dream Waves was my mother’s. It should have gone to me, but in her will, she left it to Cal. All I’ve dreamed about and worked toward is the day when I ownit.”
“So you won’t go to the police. And you won’t try to reason with Cal.” He returned to me at the window, his hands shoved into his pockets. “What are you going to do?”
“Well, I’m certainly not going to marry Edward.” I stalked back to my desk and picked up a folder. It contained the legal agreement I had drafted by my lawyers. With a deep breath and a prayer, I took a chance. “But I will marry you.”
Buddy coughed, or maybe choked. “I’m sorry. What?”
I approached him and held out the contract. “I’m simply suggesting that you and I might come to some sort of agreement. A marriage of convenience.”
“Uh…”
“If I have to marry someone to get my mother’s studio, then that’s what I’ll do—to anyone but Edward. And you, Buddy, are the man who can help me pull this off.”
“No.” He headed toward the door.
“Why not?”
“We just met, for one.”
“And we get along great so far, don’t we? Or are you not attracted to me?”
He turned back. “You know you’re gorgeous, and yes, I’m attracted to you. My answer is still no.”
“Buddy, come on. This makes perfect sense. You help me in my situation, and I help you get your film made.”
“I can’t marry.”
“It wouldn’t be a real marriage. Just for show and temporarily.”
“Look, I can’t marry because I took a vow with my best friend long ago. We’re bachelors to the end, never letting a woman tie us down with love and commitment.”
A vow to never marry? I’d thought this plan through, trying to conceive of every possible reaction Buddy might have had, but never once did it occur to me he’d have taken a vow like this.
And why?
The Negotiator
BUDDY
“Lucky for you, this isn’t about love or vows. It’s just a simple business arrangement,” Honey insisted, and held the contract out to me again.
