Sasha waited for me outside of the conference room. She smiled politely at the investors as they filed out. I saw the men eyeing her fitted suit skirt. She had the kind of legs that went on for miles. Thin and toned. They were hard to ignore with a pair of stilettos. I didn’t know how she walked around the office on those things. Her full breasts caught the attention of more than one of our stockholders. I saw one shake his head as he walked past. These men had gauged her wrong if they thought they had a chance with her. Sasha didn’t acknowledge them as anything other than a walking bank account.

“That went well.” I nodded at the last of the Lennox group. The elevator closed and they were gone. The meeting had lasted nearly four hours.

She pressed her lips together. “You’re lucky. They could have refused to reschedule. I can’t believe you played with the investment like that. It was risky, Jeremy.”

“It worked out.”

“I still don’t know why it was necessary.”

I eyed her. “Does it matter? The meeting is over. They’re gone. And if I’m not mistaken, we had unanimous consent from the entire group.”

“You’re asking me if a twenty-million-dollar investment share matters?”

Fuck. I had awakened the Russian dragon. Once she took hold of something she didn’t let loose. That tenacity was what made her so good in the boardroom.

“You knew I flew home to take care of family business. It was more complicated than I had expected.”

She had pale blue eyes. Almost pale enough to be translucent. It was an alluring combination with her creamy skin and blond hair. Right now it was as if those eyes were staring through me.

“You didn’t get the inheritance.” Her statement cut to my ribs. “That’s what happened, isn’t it? You didn’t get it and you’re trying to figure out a new investment strategy.”

“I don’t want to discuss my father’s will.”

“You can’t cut me out of that kind of information.”

“It’s personal, Sasha. Family business.”

“Bull shit.” She glared at me.

“Excuse me?”

“The Hartwell Global inheritance has always been a part of our financing plan. Since when did it become too personal for you to discuss with me? What happened? Why are you being secretive? What are you hiding from me? If there’s a new strategy, you have to tell me what it is. I need the details.”

“The money is still going to fund our project. You don’t need to worry. The time table has changed. It’s going to take a little longer, that’s all.”

“How much longer?”

I exhaled. I wasn’t about to explain that if we were lucky, nine months from now I’d have everything we needed to buy the team. I wasn’t ready to tell her I married Evie and spent the past twelve hours trying to knock her up, but Sasha was backing me in a corner. I never liked being pressured.

“Sasha.” I gritted my teeth.

“You can’t cut me out. Not like this.”

“I’m not cutting you out.”

“Aren’t you?”

“No.”

“Then talk to me. Why do we have to wait for the funding? Why were you late to the biggest investment meeting we’ve had all year? Something is different. I can see it all over your face.”

I smirked. “I doubt that.”

“Are you selling? Is that it? You found a buyer.”

“Selling?” I shook my head. “Why in the hell would I do that? We’re growing. I wouldn’t sell off what we’ve built. We’re creating a dynasty here.”

She shrugged. “Something is off. You don’t seem focused.”

“Not focused?” I was tired of the questions and the accusations. She interrogated me as if I was an intern who had screwed up an email instead of the owner of this company.

“You used to tell me everything.” Her voice was crisp.

“We also used to fuck. And we don’t do that anymore, do we?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Bastard.”

I sighed with resignation. I didn’t want to fight with her. I needed her to run the company. No one could bring people to the table like Sasha. I was on edge. I was exhausted. Alienating Sasha wasn’t smart.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“We agreed we wouldn’t let that interfere with our partnership.”

“We did. Sorry. I’m being a dick. I’m going to head out. Forget I said it.”

“I have no idea what’s going on with you. You never leave the office this early and you’ve been gone two days. I need to brief you.”

It was already dark. I had left Evie alone for far too long. I should take her to dinner. Do something nice for her first night in the city. That’s what friends did. I wasn’t sure about husbands and wives.

“Email me. I have dinner plans. I’ll see you in the morning. Early,” I added.

I could stay and argue with her the rest of the night. In most cases, I would. But not tonight.

My wife was waiting.

* * *

The apartment was dark when I walked through the door.

“Evie?”

I was going to be impressed if she had slept the entire time I was gone. I walked to the bedroom, expecting to find her curled up under the covers. I pushed the door open, fighting an ache in my cock. Just thinking about her in my bed did something to me.

I didn’t know why I kept the secret from Sasha. She would know soon that I had married Evie. She was going to be angry I hadn’t confided in her. She would take the information as a professional. It didn’t affect anything at the office. But I knew there would be a sliver of betrayal. She didn’t like it when I kept things from her. She never had.

I wanted to make the announcement to the press tomorrow. We needed to make the marriage public. My mother didn’t deserve the courtesy of a phone call, but the news would put her on notice. I was coming for my inheritance.

However, for one more night I could keep Evie to myself. One night before we were bombarded with interview requests and paparazzi scum on our heels.

I walked to the bed slowly, loosening my tie. Shit. I wanted her. I wanted to bury myself inside her. Fuck her for the rest of the night. Fill her until we were both exhausted and too numb to speak.

I patted the covers, but they were flat.

“Evie?” I whispered.

She wasn’t there. I turned on the light. The covers were smooth.

Where in the hell was my wife?