Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
“You weren’t close to anyone in the system?” she asked.
“None. A lot of time, the kids were just trying to survive. Some ran away, others hoped to get adopted. It wasn’t always a good place to be. I don’t know if it’s like that for everyone, but it was for me. I learned to take care of myself, and then when I got out, I had a plan.”
“You became a self-made billionaire.”
“I had an idea, and I ran with it. It has helped me get where I am today. I take things that are falling apart, and I seem to be able to fix them. Bring it back together. It’s what I do.” He stopped and Tillie gave him the space so he could think clearly. “I don’t know what it means to be a husband, or to be what you want, but what I’m offering you is the chance to try. That is all I know.”
“You want to be my husband?” Tillie asked.
“I am your husband, but I don’t want us to keep going the way we are. When I come home, I want to be able to touch my wife. To not be afraid of hurting her.”
Tears filled her eyes, she couldn’t help it. Did he even realize how … emotional he sounded. How concerned and full of love?
“I had no idea you were a virgin. If I’d known, I’d have done things differently.”
“Stop,” Tillie said. “It doesn’t matter.”
“I hurt you that night, and it was never my intention.”
“You didn’t know and I didn’t tell you. It seemed kind of personal.”
He laughed. “And you didn’t think to tell your husband?”
“You were a stranger, and do you think you would have believed me?” she asked.
He sat back just a little and then nodded his head. “Touché. You’re right. There is a chance I wouldn’t have believed you.”
Tillie smiled. “Is it me, or does it feel like we’re making progress?”
He laughed. “I don’t know, but I want to touch you, Tillie, and kiss you. I don’t want to hold back.”
She took a deep breath and slowly blew it out. “I … I don’t want you to cheat on me. I’d like to try and have a good marriage.” She was trying not to get overly excited. She didn’t know what had changed his mind, but she was willing to take whatever he had to offer.
Tillie couldn’t help but think of her grandparents. They fell in love at first sight. She didn’t think their relationship was quite on the same scale, but at least they were talking to each other civilly, so they had that.
“I won’t cheat. If you read the prenup, there’s a clause in it that states in the event of infidelity, the company reverts back to you, and I will help it to thrive, and you will never have to worry about anything ever again.”
“What?” Tillie hadn’t read the prenuptial agreement. It had been another matter where her father was annoyed with her, also the family lawyer.
Without his presence, she’d taken the piece of paper and signed it. Probably one of the single most idiotic things to do, as her father had stated Luca could have demanded everything and anything, but she had a little trust. A tiny amount, but it was there.
“You didn’t read it at all, did you?”
“No. I … I wanted to help the people who worked for my father. They didn’t deserve to suffer because of something we did.”
Luca tightened his grip around her hand. “I won’t cheat on you.”
And Tillie knew she was never going to cheat on him either.
She didn’t know what was going to change, but she couldn’t help feeling a little excited about the future.
Chapter Six
Coming home that night, Luca had no intention of trying to make his marriage work. All he’d been curious about was the tension between father and daughter. Now as he made his way up toward his bedroom, a sense of anticipation swept over him.
He hadn’t known enough about Tillie to understand what her dreams were. During the negotiations, before and during their engagement, he’d never asked Andrew about his daughter. Tillie hadn’t been a topic of conversation. Their wedding also hadn’t been on the agenda.
Business had been the only goal, and coming to a reasonable understanding to work together. Andrew had wanted the best for his company, but it would seem he didn’t quite hold his daughter in the same regard, which Luca didn’t like.
Stepping into the bedroom, he saw that Tillie wasn’t in bed. A sexy negligee was laid out for her, but there was no sign of her. There were, however, sounds of the shower coming from the en suite.
Now was as good a time as any to put their agreement into action. Luca didn’t know if he was going to be a good husband. He did want Tillie to be happy. Again, for a second, he stopped on his way to the bathroom and just paused. He’d never cared about anyone or anything.