“Merina, go back into your room. Put your wig back on. I’m glad to see you didn’t cut your hair or dye it that hideous color. Let Conner and myself answer their questions first. You just listen and don’t you dare go off script?” No need for Ian to provide additional details about the threat. He didn't have time. “Alright, fine.” Merina didn’t appear happy to Conner. She seemed lost, unsure of which direction to take. “What about my father? Is it my responsibility to release him from jail? “One thing at a time, Merina. Now go do as I’ve instructed you.” His father said to Merina. His father’s voice took on a sterner tone as she resisted and questioned him. He stared at her with a stern look as she closed the door. Please open the door and invite them in.” “Dad, before I do. What are you planning on doing? How can you think that she’ll marry me? Or that I’ll want to marry her?” “Really? You’re my son. I know you and where you’v
Merina listened in at the door. She couldn’t believe how Conner spun their situation. Nothing she said would help her situation and everything he said found traction with his father verifying it. How would her father react when officers spoke to him? This solved nothing if her father didn’t go along with it. A knock on her bedroom door startled Merina at one point and when she opened it, Merina found Conner there. “Are you up to speaking with the police officers, Merina?” She knew he didn’t mean, ‘are you able to speak to them?’ as in, did she feel too upset to speak? Conner’s intention was for her to adhere to the story, causing no trouble for anyone else. “Conner, you know this doesn’t help us. Fine, I’ll speak with them, but I don’t believe it’ll help us in the end. Everything we’ve worked for is now down the toilet and we won’t be able to recover it.” Merina played up her part as the temperamental scheming heiress. It wasn’t something she’d neve
Conner stepped into the elevator and pretended that he knew what Merina spoke of. He didn’t know whether he should celebrate or scream at her. She knew what was going on. She was skilled at gathering evidence and knowing what to search for. Here he stood questioning for the last few hours if her information could be invalid or outright wrong. Despite knowing the consequences, Merina risked everything. If he’d told the facts as they were, she could have destroyed her career and ended up in jail. Her father and his could have ended up in another battle. Conner licked his lips, thinking about the short but sweet kiss and how he might not have experienced it. Or had a chance at more. Damn, his father did it to him again, the old dodger. He knew somehow Conner wanted more and set them up. Did he plan this since her first interview? Or was having her marry him his way of taking her from Andre MacGregor? Conner got to enjoy it and avoid the mes
Merina did her best to make the most of an unpleasant situation. Honestly, she didn’t see the bad. It meant she wouldn’t have to suffer her father’s neglect or have a creepy stepbrother pester her. Having explained and proven the assault on her, they returned to the elevator. She considered how marrying Conner would lead to intimacy. She didn’t doubt that. That had her all but climbing the elevator walls with sexual frustration. She couldn’t remember her last encounter with a man. But her mind lingered on the unsatisfying kiss from earlier and the promises he’d given her years ago about rocking her world as she rode his cock. What teenagers say could be embarrassing, but the honest promise behind it, had her panties so wet her thighs felt the dampness. Then Conner stopped the elevator without warning and damn, he was kissing her like they only had tonight. His hard body pressed her into the mirror and hardwood wall of the elevator as he
Gabriella wasn’t having the night she thought she’d have. She’d wanted to bop on Conner’s cock for the rest of the evening. Not thrown out of his suite by that bitch of a personal assistant. She bloody well was something personal to Conner, and Gabriella hated Summer’s interference at every turn. Intentional or not. She wanted Summer gone. Now she was answering questions from a cop, and it annoyed her because now her father somehow found himself arrested along with Andre MacGregor. What caused Andre to hit her father and start the hotel fight? She didn’t know. Yeah, she’d dated Galen for a while and Ian MacGregor didn’t like her hanging around his company while they dated. She wanted to access MacGregor Industries’ computers to get the information her father needed. So, she used Galen to get access, however; she didn’t need to sneak around. Galen loved to brag about his work, and he’d open the computer to her. Showing her the documents and explaining much of wh
Galen disconnected the call and looked across the table at his mother. She’d heard the entire call from the speaker of his phone. His soon-to-be stepfather and his soon-to-be ex-stepfather were in jail in a different city. His current stepfather’s personal assistant received a call early in the morning. She couldn’t reach his stepsister and she wanted to know how she should continue. The woman’s husband or some relative was in the hospital and she’d taken sick leave. Galen promised to investigate the procedure for such situations. “Well, mother. Any bright ideas? Or is this your way to kill two birds with one stone?” “Oh, don’t look at me like Galen James. I couldn’t have planned this better. With that foolish girl, she’s off doing her own thing. Ian locked up until someone could pay to get him out of jail. It surpasses my wildest dreams. Now, Joseph being in jail and his simpering twit of a daughter haunting the police station. I sugg
Merina’s eyes popped wide open. Instantly awake, her mind registered several things right away. She was in the hotel suite. The bathroom door placement appeared wrong, with a heavy arm on her waist. The snoring in her right ear was noticeable. What were her initial thoughts regarding these details? Which, of course, her brain filled in the answers. Merina had done the one thing she thought she would never do once the families ended their friendship. She slept with Conner. No, she hadn’t kissed him. Or fell asleep beside him. She hadn’t cuddled with him. Oh no, she had done it again and placed herself in a fine mess. Merina recalled her encounter with the attractive person from last night. The insane part she believed at one point he’d said he’d wanted to do this too. The next flash had her feeling like ice water had hit her skin. He mentioned enjoying it for years to come. That wasn’t in her plans. Not anymore. Her family wou
Conner woke up thinking everything was great. He found Merina, had helped with his investigations. His father wanted him to marry Merina, and after wanting to know how she’d be under him, he got his wish. The caveat: he’d have repeat performances for the rest of his life. It was perfect until he witnessed her expression. How hadn’t he recognized her? Her eyes or face never changed. That’s when he remembered the telltale scheming look. Damn, it hadn’t changed either. He knew when she planned something. Merina didn’t like something, so she figured out how to fix it. It didn’t matter if you liked it or not. She’d have it her way. Instead of engaging in another round of wild sex. They lay there arguing with each other. He had no choice. She’d go wild if he let her with her plans. See her remarkable progress this time. If he didn’t rein her in, then she’d end up in jail. Conner knew his father would only tolerate her stunts and antics for so long before