The Marriage Agreement: A Secret Baby Romance (Corrupt Vows) by Piper Knox

Author:Piper Knox [Knox, Piper]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Letter B Press
Published: 2024-07-09T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Ivy

I catch Nolan just as he’s about to enter the elevator. “Stop.” He turns to face me and lets the door of the elevator close behind him. “I can fix this.”

Nolan’s mouth turns up slightly. “If it weren’t for what you did, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“I didn’t know it would end up like this that he would--”

“Use your shares to launch a takeover? Come on Ivy, you didn’t spend four years in business school for nothing. You’re smarter than that.”

I wasn’t thinking, that’s the problem. My only concern was Antoinette's potential closure, which made it difficult for me to think clearly. I knew he was going to make Nolan’s life a bit more difficult. I just didn’t think it would be to this extent.

“Why didn’t you come to me?” Nolan says, continuing our earlier conversation. He came here looking for Damien and found me instead. I had initially felt embarrassed to be found in the enemy’s lair by my brother, and he didn’t let me live it down. He had rubbed it in every time he spoke. Then he asked why I had sold my shares to Damien. I hid nothing from him. I explained it all. And the entire time, he said nothing. His only expression of emotion was the ticking of his jaw. And then Damien came. And Nolan unleashed that anger on Damien. Culminating in Nolan storming out.

As to Nolan’s question? My pride wouldn’t let me. If I had gone to Nolan and then everyone would have known of my failure. Father would have been proven right. That I couldn’t make it on my own. That I needed them to raise Lake. “Damien’s Lake’s father.”

“I would never have let my nephew go homeless. For fuck’s sake Ivy, I gave you the initial money you needed to open that business. I’m not dad.”

“Which is why I think you two can come to a compromise.”

Nolan raises his eyebrows. He closes the space between us and stands a foot away from me. Taller than most men, Nolan towers over me in his deep gray suit and black overcoat. He looks like the perfect image of a New York businessman. Dark and menacing, I should be intimidated by his presence, but he is my brother. It’s hard to be intimidated by someone you’ve seen as a gangly teenager in braces. “If you think Damien is not using you, you’re wrong.”

“I know the deal I signed with him.”

“Are you sure? He might be the father of your child, but someone as vindictive as Damien Sinclair will not let you have your son if he can have him all to himself.”

Nolan goes to press the elevator button.

“You’re wrong,” I say, even though Nolan has just voiced my fears.

“Am I? I hope so.”

The elevator dings and the doors open and Nolan enters, leaving me alone in the empty corridor. I rush back to the apartment and to Lake’s room, caught in an odd and grappling fear that I will somehow find him gone and his bed empty.

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