Seducing My Ex's Father In Law

5

It was my turn to laugh. “There’s no way he’d appoint you as his successor.”

“Not right now, he wouldn’t. Give the position over to his rival? Of course not. But in a few years’ time, pass the title on to the husband of his one and only beloved daughter? That’s an entirely different story.”

“You overestimate how much my father thinks of me.”

“I doubt that. I have a daughter myself. I may seem detached and disinterested in her, but I assure you, there’s not much a man like me wouldn’t do for his flesh and blood. And I’m pretty certain your father is a man like me.”

The insane thing was that I could practically hear my father saying something equally as patronizing.

It wouldn’t work. There was a myriad of flaws with the scheme, not the least of which being that my father didn’t actually have the authority to name his successor.

But that was neither here nor there. I wasn’t accepting the offer. It was appalling that Edward thought I’d even consider it.

“Why would I do this for you? You seem to have a lot to gain in this deal, but what would I get out of the arrangement?” I only asked out of curiosity.

He leaned in and braced his elbows on the table. “Let’s not play games, shall we? We can be honest here, you and I. What exactly do you have going for you at the moment? Your flat is owned in your father’s name. You have one degree, in an art field. Your business barely runs in the black, a business that is neither innovative nor necessary. The lack of customers knocking at your door confirms that. You’re almost thirty-two years old, unmarried, childless, living off your trust fund. You’re not involved in any foundations or clubs, not on any boards. Your good looks might have gotten you through most of your life so far, but how much longer is that going to last? Not forever, I’ll tell you that. Surely your parents aren’t ecstatic about your current prospects for the future. Bringing home a husband of my caliber would change everything in their eyes, wouldn’t it? Even though I come with a competing business, I would imagine they would consider me a major coup, especially when they hear how generous my prenup will be. I think when you really look at it, you’re really the one getting the better end of the deal.”

I felt the color drain from my face.

It wasn’t the first time I’d had deprecating words thrown at me. This wasn’t even the worst that I’d heard said, not on the surface, anyway. Heaven knew, I’d deserved most of the insults that had been hurled in my direction. They always slid off my back, never touching any part of me that might care. Call me mean or manipulative or a b***h, I could take it. I knew who I was, and I accepted it.

But there was something about Edward’s delivery, his stark manner. Usually people said hurtful things out of emotion, and there was none of that here. Conniving as his tactic was, his assessment came only from a place of raw truth. These were truths that faced me every day in the mirror, and yet I found them the hardest to look at. They were the truths I worked the hardest to hide. Truths that, once acknowledged so frankly by someone else, stirred things. Shifted the icebergs drifting inside me.

I couldn’t even try to refute it when I still had my mother’s voice echoing with our earlier conversation in my head. Don’t expect to do better. We both know you can’t.

“You’re an asshole.” This time I said it out loud, and with venom. Edward ticked his head to the side, a barely perceptible nod. “Perhaps.” I stood up and pulled my bag to my shoulder. “I’m leaving now, Mr.

Fasbender.” My glare dared him to argue.

He didn’t even blink. “Without giving me an answer?” God, he was bold.

“You should be smart enough to figure out my answer is no,” I said, whirling away from him.

“Think about it.” “I won’t.”

I could feel him following as I stormed out of the room. I was midway across the Fontainebleau foyer when he called after me. “Oh, Celia, in case you’re still wondering…”

I kept walking, determined not to give him the satisfaction of turning back.

It didn’t stop him from saying more. “My answer is yes—I do find you attractive.”

“Go to hell,” I muttered under my breath. It was certainly where he belonged.

Eager to be out of the building as fast as possible, I took the stairs. I didn’t stop walking when I’d made it across the foyer. I kept going until I was two blocks away, where I slipped into a coffee shop and sank down at a table. My heart didn’t settle down to a reasonable pace for long minutes, and only when it did was I able to realize how severely I was overreacting.

Edward Fasbender was an arrogant piece of s**t. His assessment of me didn’t matter. I was still the woman I was when I’d walked in to his stupid meeting, and I’d been comfortable with myself then. There was no reason to feel any different now.

Really, all in all, it had been a mission accomplished. I’d gone in there expecting a different offer, but I’d rejected the man all the same. It was a victory. Truly.

So why did it feel like I’d walked out with the losing hand?