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She sat in front of her laptop and pulled up her mangled manuscript. She didn’t want to poke the beast again, so she jumped to another scene and left the one with her father unfinished. Someday when she was stronger, she would breathe life into it, but that day wasn’t today. It wouldn’t take much to topple her into another round of inconsolable sobbing.
As she did most days, she prayed for guidance because she didn’t know what the hell she was doing. She nudged words around on the screen and waited for the caffeine to do its thing, hoping the muse would show up since she was being a good disciple.
She was so deep in her words that she didn’t hear Roth enter the kitchen. When he tossed a stack of papers onto the counter beside her, she almost fell off her stool. She eyed the prenup, shot him a lethal glare, and returned her attention to her computer even though she was now thoroughly distracted. He wore sweats and nothing else. The morning light turned his dark complexion into a warm hue that made him look like the god he thought he was. Ass.
“How much?” he asked.
Couldn’t he wait until she had finished her first cup of coffee before he started talking about money? She erased one word and replaced it with another.
“Two hundred million?”
When she reached for her mug, he grabbed it. She looked up in time to see him take a sip and then grimace. He wasn’t one for sweet beverages. No, he liked things bitter, just like him.
“Serves you right,” she muttered.
“Tell me how much you want.”
She let out an irritated huff and grabbed her teal-colored pen and signed where all the tabs were. She didn’t allow herself to overanalyze. This was only skin deep. A year and then she would move on. When she finished signing, she looked back at her manuscript.
“Why hold out if you didn’t want more money?”
She kept her attention welded to her computer screen. He pressed against her side and tugged on her hair. When she still didn’t look at him, he grabbed her face and turned it toward him. Before she could snap, he covered her mouth with his. She wasn’t prepared for his gentle kiss. When he pulled away, she gripped the bottom of the stool for support.
“I told you I don’t like being ignored,” he said.
“I don’t like being interrupted,” she countered.
“Tell me why you didn’t sign.”
She crossed her arms. “The next time you feel like putting me in my place, do it in private instead of sending your attorney to do the dirty work.”
The hand on her face tensed before he released her. When she would have gone back to her laptop, he closed it and forced the stool around so she was facing him.
“Explain,” he ordered.
“You don’t need to keep throwing your weight around, telling me I have no choices. I know I have no power, but you—”
“What did Mason say?” he asked.
“He assumed I was looking for a larger settlement and pointed out I have no one to turn to now that my dad is gone and my sisters aren’t doing well. He also made it clear that your offer was generous, considering my track record.” She jabbed his bare chest with her finger. “Screw you, Roth. You act like I took off because I found someone else and—”
“He’s fired.”
She pulled back. “What?”
“I told him to make sure you signed. That’s it.”
She searched his eyes. “But he brought up Hennessy & Co.”
“That’s public knowledge. I didn’t discuss that with him. I told Mason I wanted the prenup signed as soon as possible. It’s his job to know which tactics to use with his opponent. He miscalculated you. He should have known better. You’re a Hennessy.”
“So?”
“You were raised by Maximus. Coercion and threats won’t work with you.”
“Then why the hell am I in this position?” she demanded.
“Because I play dirty. You didn’t stand a chance against me.”
