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At this point, no. Deep down, I didn’t.
She cares about a lot of things, but my feelings aren’t one of them and honestly, I’m starting to wonder if she has any herself.
I mean, it makes sense if I think about it.
She’s the eldest daughter and, as far as I can tell, has always lived her life surrounded by men. Father, brothers, husbands, board members, employees.
And she’s learned how to survive in a man’s world, moving the pieces around the chessboard to suit her.
But I’m ready to be the queen of my own board.
My best will never be enough for her, and that’s become achingly clear. If she has no emotion at all, it feels like she’s passed them all to me. I have a cruel poker face, and I use it well. But inside, I’m dying.
A single word cuts through the fog.
Trust-fund.
“Say that again,” I urge.
Silence.
“Mother?”
“I didn’t think it’d be an issue, darling.”
Oh, good grief.
She only pulls out the D-word when she’s trying to butter me up.
“What wouldn’t be an issue?” I try to temper my voice so that I don’t shout.
Her sigh is gusty. My stomach sinks.
“Your grandfather. He made it a stipulation of your inheritance that you be married.”
Kingston
“Hmm?” Marko’s question ping-pongs through my brain. What am I waiting for?
“You can bid on her, yes?”
“I mean—” I could. Does he?—?
Shit. Did he find out who I am?
But he’s pushing to his feet, dusting the back of his jeans with one hand, his beer bottle dangling from the other. “Come.”
I hustle after him, brushing myself off as I go. By the time we get to the bar, I’ve drained my beer and tossed the empty into the trash while he disappears through the swinging door. Do I really want to do this? Do I really think Katherine’s going to find and fall for someone so quickly? Am I ready to admit that I want to be that someone?
Not a minute later, Marko returns with an envelope and shoves it into my hands.
“What’s this?”
“Go home, Kingston. Claim your woman.”
My jaw drops, and I flip open the tab to find a stack of cash. “Marko—I can’t—what is all this?”
He holds up his hands when I try to hand the envelope back. “Don’t wait, my friend. I wonder if you’ve waited too long.”
