“Nope. That’s just the same old stick acting up again.”
To think I pay her more than any assistant in this building for this kind of treatment.
Because you both know her worth.
I release a disinterested sigh. “Go ahead and list your conditions.”
Her heels drag across the carpet before she drops back into her usual chair. The leather is discolored from all the years of her abuse. “I want shared custody—take it or leave it. You’re going to be a parent for fifty percent of the time whether you think you want to or not.”
“If this is your attempt at trying to use our child to get more out of me, it’s not going to work.”
Her nostrils flare. “I know this is a difficult concept to wrap your head around given the lengths people go to make you happy, but the world doesn’t revolve around you.”
“Next you’re going to tell me that Earth isn’t flat.”
Her nose twitches. “I hate when you try to be funny.”
“Why?”
“Because I like you better without a personality.” Her eyes are bright, always serving as a mirror straight into her heart.
Her stupid, bleeding heart.
“This is important to me. Like really important.” Her voice drops so low, I need to lean forward to catch her next words. “I don’t want any child to grow up thinking their parents didn’t love them.”
My fist balls up against my thigh. You had to go and tie yourself to someone with more daddy issues than you.
Her gaze shifts away from me and off into the distance as if a memory took hold. “I know what it’s like to not be wanted by a parent. That kind of feeling isn’t one I would wish on my worst enemy, let alone my own child.”
As if I could ever be a waste of space like him. I’ve heard enough about Iris’s father from Cal to know I’m nothing like him, but the way she looks up at me threatens my perfectly laid plans. I was never supposed to be contending for father of the year. I’ve learned through first-hand experience that businessmen don’t make good family men, no matter how much they might fake it for publicity reasons.
What’s the worst thing that can happen if you agree? You hire a nanny to help raise your child?
My neck grows damp as I consider the consequences of giving into Iris’s demand. I know how this works. One contingency turns into two, and the next thing I know, she will only need to threaten me with leaving to get her way. I expected it from everyone but her, yet I’m not shocked at her ability to use my weakness against me.
Disappointing to say the least.
“One weekend every month,” I speak up before I have the chance to stop myself.
She clears her throat. “That’s a good start…”
“It’s settled then—”
“But no.”
“For fuck’s sake.”
Her eyes widen at my outburst.
Rein it in.
She carries on as if I didn’t show a rare burst of emotion. “I don’t want to be stuck with all the boring stuff like homework and chores.”
“Then hire a housekeeper and a tutor. You can afford it.”
She shakes her head. “That’s not my point. We should switch off every other week so we can provide a more consistent and stable home. That way we can both be the fun parent.”
“I can assure you that I will never be described as the ‘fun parent.’”
She rolls her eyes. “Kids are simple. As long as you feed them, play with them, and memorize all their favorite cartoon characters by TV show, then you’re instantly the coolest person in the room.”
“That sounds like absolute hell.”
“At least you’ll feel right at home.”
I return my gaze to my computer. “Fine. We will swap the child every other week.”
“See, I knew you could compromise if given the chance.”
“Blackmail works wonders.”
She grins. “You would know. It’s your go-to tactic.”
If only you knew. While Iris is aware of my ability to obtain information about people, she isn’t aware of the lengths I’ll go to manipulate situations for my benefit. I always get what I want. Iris commanding this negotiation will serve me better in the long run, regardless of her current upper hand.
She lifts a finger. “One more thing.”
I don’t have a chance to object before she continues. “My mother wants a traditional church wedding.”
“No.”
“But—”
I cut her off. “We’re eloping.”
“No, we can’t. At least not anymore.”
“Let me guess, you’ll back out of our arrangement if I don’t go along with your plan.” Predictable yet effective at getting me to yield.
“What? No. But I’d really appreciate it if you work with me on this.
Please.” The way her bottom lip trembles makes me regret ever going along with her crazy idea to get engaged.
I hide my surprise. “So, this is a request.”
“A big one given your view on weddings, but I wouldn’t ask you unless it was absolutely necessary.”
“You owe me one.”
Her eyes glint as she flaunts her ring in my face. “Consider us even.”
A noise of disgust gets trapped in my throat. “Sign the contract and get out of here before I change my mind.”
She slides the papers toward me. “Sure. Once you make the appropriate changes, including upping the initial payment to three hundred million dollars, then I’ll go ahead and sign it.”
You little… “You think you’re clever.”
Her smile only adds to the heat surging through my veins. “I never asked for an increased paycheck, but since you so generously offered…”
Dammit. I cover my small smile with the back of my fist. “Well played.”
She winks. “Thank you, sir. You taught me everything I know.”
And I regret it every single day.
6
IRIS
I f I expected my work responsibilities to lessen because I need to plan an entire wedding in two weeks, I was wrong. Pretty much everything is business as usual which is exactly my problem. I’m drowning. In work.
In expectations. And in a bunch of pointless questions like what color napkins I want, and which style cursive is the best for place cards.
I can’t even read cursive.
“I need you to revise this report for Yakura.” Declan stops by my desk.
“Again?” I groan. “This is the third time in six months.”
He drops a stack of pastel orange papers on my desk.
“Are you still struggling with the printer? I could show you how it works if you have a second.”
He doesn’t bother entertaining my question. “I expect to receive your notes by the end of the day.”
“Today?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Nope. I’ll just fit it in between planning our wedding, picking out a dress, and going to a cake tasting tonight.” I shoot him a tense smile.
“Perfect. Have it on my desk by nine.” He walks past me and toward his private office door.
Have it on my desk by nine. I slam my fingers against the keyboard as I type out my password.
You can do this, Iris. There’s a reason you’ve lasted this long on the job.
My phone lights up with a message from Tati confirming our first dance choreography session for tomorrow afternoon.
Freaking fantastic. Is there anything else the universe wants to throw my way?
“Iris?”