to anyone else besides my buddies, I’d feel like a pussy.
“Just make sure you get the prenup signed first.” Ryker laughs at his stupid joke and I meet his gaze.
“There’s not going to be any prenup.”
All four of them stand, holding their hands out, shouting arguments. I stand there with a bland expression until they’re done.
“If she leaves me, it’ll be because I did something fucking stupid, and she’ll deserve the money. It’s not like I don’t have more than enough to live off if she did take half. I’ve already done so much to hurt her, I’m not asking her to sign a prenup like I don’t trust her.”
“You’ve lost it, man.” Ryker shakes his head. “Fucking lost it.”
“Stone is pussy whipped. Unbelievable,” Asher says.
“You sure you know what you’re doing?” Ford asks me, his hand clasped on my shoulder.
“I’m sure.” I nod. “Anything on my father?” I ask Lincoln.
“I’m working on it in between shit I got going on at the office. I’m digging into one thing, but it’s most likely nothing, so don’t get your hopes up.”
“Let me know if it pans out.” I turn without saying goodbye to leave them all to their little hen party that I’m sure will consist of gossiping about me. I face them before I step onto the elevator. “I’ll let you know when the groomsmen tux fittings are.”
If they’re lucky, one day, they’ll find their own Isla and my decision will make sense to them. For now, they can think I’ve lost my fucking mind.
I summon my father to my office that afternoon because word will make it back to him about my engagement and I’d prefer to head him off at the pass rather than being at his beck and call.
The door to my office opens, and my dad stands in the doorway, once again without Roslin buzzing him through.
“What the hell is this about? I have a meeting in ten minutes.” He slams the door and walks over to sit on the couch.
For once I stand and join him, sitting directly across from him.
“Isla and I are engaged.”
Though it’s what he’s been pressuring me to do for months, he’s speechless. Once it settles in for a second, his creepy wolflike grin wraps around his face.
“And to think I was beginning to doubt your ability to control a woman.” He chuckles.
I’m not going to let on to him that what Isla and I have is real—that would only give him more power and ammunition over me.
“You’ve always underestimated me.” I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees and steepling my fingers.
He harrumphs. “If only that were true.”
I grit my teeth and harness the will to keep the blank expression on my face, unwilling to give him a reaction.
“Make sure the wedding happens quickly.” He stands, giving me his back as he makes his way to the door. “The sooner the better.”
I’m going to do what he says, but not for the reasons he thinks.
“I’ve already discussed it with her, and she’s on board with putting our wedding plans on the fast track. That said, there are certain arrangements that will need to be made to make it seem real. A wedding of this caliber can’t be thrown together in a few weeks.”
With his hand on the doorknob, he turns to face me. “I don’t care what you do for the wedding, just make sure it’s within months, not years.”
He turns the knob and leaves my office.
Good riddance.
I could care less about hosting the event of the year for our nuptials, but the wedding better be Isla’s dream. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is that she becomes my wife so I can protect her from people like my father for the rest of our lives.
“What the hell, Garrin!”
I glance up from my computer to see my office door slam against the wall as Harper stomps in like a petulant child.
Christ, can no one in my family wait until Roslin announces their presence?
With a sigh, I stand from my desk and walk over to the door. “To what do I owe the unannounced visit, dear sister?” I close the door, pinning Roslin with a look before I do.
She can tackle the next person who tries to barge into my office to the ground for all I care.
“You got engaged and you didn’t even call me? What the hell?”
I suppose I should have expected this, but between being balls deep in Isla, worrying over my