It’s my company. I should be able to add whoever I want.”
Lorenzo forcing Vera to marry Camden made a lot more sense after that angry rant. I knew Mariano Shipping was crumbling, but I never expected Lorenzo to sell off his own daughter to some asshole like Conti to save it.
Although, I should’ve known better. I knew first-hand how cold and calculated he could be. It made taking Vera away from him all the sweeter and left me with zero regrets about using her in this game. She should be grateful it was me instead of Camden, she was forced to marry for reasons outside of her control.
“Fucking Rush,” Camden sneered. “Something new and shiny in front of Vera, and she’s off after his dick like a whore.”
My fists clenched, and I moved to round the corner when a thud followed by an oomf stopped me.
“That’s my fucking daughter you’re talking about,” Lorenzo growled.
“A daughter you were selling off to me to save your company,” Camden shot back, slightly strangled.
“I did it with the interest that you’d take care of her. Not be some selfish prick that chased her off. Don’t look at me like I ruined this when your shitty personality pushed her away.”
“Whatever. She’s a lost cause and missed out. Rush is new money without half the connections we have. He’ll never be able to provide the life she’s used to.”
“This is all a fucking mess.”
“But not a lost cause. My father will still invest as I’m working my way to the top. All we need is another investor. I’ll play the long game, and whenever Verana leaves that arrogant asshole, I’ll be there to sweep in. We’ll marry, and the Conti name will be added to Mariano. We just need patience.”
“And a silent investor. And hope that Verana doesn’t get knocked up in the meantime. Camila’s father left only a few shares in her name when he passed away, but any child of Vera’s would get more. With the way things are going, losing any more shares is too dangerous. I needed to keep as many as I could under my control.”
“Our control,” Camden corrected.
“Whatever,” Lorenzo grumbled. “I’ll call my lawyers to ensure I protect what is mine—what I have left of Camila. Not that Rush has enough money to be a threat.”
Disgust rolled in my stomach. Part of me wanted to believe he cared for Vera, but not as much as his company. She was a pawn to him.
Fucking over someone else’s family was one thing. But to do it to your own was another.
My determination inched higher. I’d take his company, and I’d take his daughter, protecting her from the two monsters on the other side of the wall.
Walking back to my future bride, I did my best to blot out the information that a child would gain extra shares of the company. We’d agreed, no children in the time of our marriage, but I couldn’t ignore the allure of making my victory all the more assured with a child.
But no. I was marrying Verana under false pretenses, using her for my own gain she didn’t even know about.
Knocking her up would make me no better than the monsters using her like nothing. I couldn’t do it.
Could I?
Eighteen
Vera
The party progressed in a blur. Other than the small stretch of time I’d stormed away from Nico, he hadn’t left my side. His touch remained firmly glued to my hip, only leaving to hold my hand, brush my hair aside, stroke down the bare skin on my back, or any other way he could touch me with the excuse of portraying a loving couple.
My muscles remained stiff the entire time, holding strong as to not fall to a puddle at his feet and beg him to take me like he’d said earlier.
No. I would not give in to Nicholas Rush. Especially when he assumed he had the rights to my body just because I agreed to marry him. We were helping each other. I was not indebted to him, owing him whatever he wanted to take.
Even if I did have dreams about letting him.
Remembering those nights I woke up aching, imagining exactly what he said—my legs around his waist, no masks—had me hesitating when he asked if I wanted to grab a drink at the swanky bar next door. But a nightcap after a long day sounded nice. And eventually, I’d have to find comfort in being around him. In a little over a month, I’d be