Page 19 of Craig

All she had to do was to endure living in a mansion for the duration of three months. Tamping down the panic, Regina continued to keep her gaze on the building until she was calm enough.

Marriage was a fraud, something that was designed to trap you and keep you in utter despair. Like her mother.

Oh God!

She pressed a hand to her stomach. Not now, please not now.

Turning away, she walked towards the café to grab a glass of iced protein coffee and calm herself.

* * * * *

"Thanks for meeting me."

"It didn't sound as if I had much of a choice," Craig said coolly as he sat a few inches away from the man he had come to meet, thrown off by how much he looked like her. They shared the same facial features, the excellent bone structure, shape of the eyes and thick lashes.

Dylan blew out smoke from the cigarette he had allowed himself, eyes squinted against the sun. He had wanted to meet in a public place, and the park was as good as any.

Children and nannies strolled by. The water fountain played a pretty song and there were ducks wading in the pond.

They were seated beneath the shade of a towering oak tree, the breeze wafting through the leaves and cooling the skin.

"I wanted to look you in the eyes and tell you that I will not allow my sister to be used."

Craig smiled grimly. Stretching out his legs, he crossed them at the ankles.

"Have you met your sister? You don't give her much credit if you think she would allow anyone to use her. We're doing each other a mutual solid. I want something desperately and so does she."

"And nothing more?"

Craig eyed the man coolly, sensing the need to protect his sister. He could respect that.

He was an only child, but he could admire a man who loved his sibling.

"Nothing more. She doesn't want more than that."

Dylan's eyes sharpened. He thought he heard something else in the man's voice, something akin to regret or resentment.

He always thought that his sister had no idea how much she affected the opposite sex.

"And you? What do you want?"

Craig shrugged, his eyes on the ducks. A mother and her young ones sailed along with no cares in the world.

He envied them.

"I want to do whatever the bloody hell I want to do. I want control of the company so that I can change things. I have plans."

"Who doesn't?"

He glanced at the older man. "Yeah, who doesn't?"

"We share the same father."

Craig turned around slowly. "She mentioned that."

"Did she?" Crushing out the cigarette, he tossed it aside.

"He ignored her. Did she tell you that? I was a son, so I got more attention, not much, but he noticed me. He never paid her any mind. She was desperate for his love.