Terms and Conditions (Dreamland Billionaires, #2)(39)

“Kisses. As in plural. Both of which you instigated, just to set the record straight.”

My skin burns hot under my T-shirt. “Kisses. As in never happening again.”

She smiles. “Fine. You won’t hear any objections from me.”

Fine? I at least expected her to put up a bit of a fight. Based on the way she looked at me last night, I thought she would do something other than stare at me with a smug smile.

Maybe you read her wrong.

“While kissing you was a necessary evil for the public, we no longer need to pretend to be attracted to each other.”

Something flashes in her eyes before she recovers. “Good. God forbid you actually have to pretend to be into me.”

It was a shitty yet effective thing to say. My words do their damage, just like they’re supposed to. It’s for the best. The way I was compelled to touch her last night, without a single person watching us, says enough.

“Well, now that we cleared the air, I’m going to go enjoy my coffee.” She proceeds to slam the door on my face.

If this is a glimpse into what marriage is like, I see why our divorce rates are shit. I’ll be lucky if I don’t become some national statistic before our time is up.

I knew my father wanting to meet with me for lunch was a trap, yet I willingly went along with his invitation anyway. After his conversation with Iris, I’m interested in determining just how much of a problem he is going to be for me. My intuition tells me nothing about my battle for the CEO position will be easy.

My father’s brown eyes swing from the menu to my face. “Any honeymoon plans?”

“No need to act like you care on my account.”

He sighs. “I’m simply making small talk.”

Bullshit. Every question he asks and all the statements he makes always have an ulterior motive. Because of him, I became an expert in reading between the lines.

“Iris and I are leaving on Friday.” At least now we are. I don’t care what the destination might be, so long as we go somewhere.

“What about the quarterly budget meeting?”

“I’m sure you can handle reviewing my reports without me. I only get one honeymoon after all.” The corners of my lips threaten to rise.

“You seem to find a solution for everything.”

I don’t miss the double meaning behind his words. “I had a lot of practice picking up after someone’s messes over the years.”

“Do you even pretend to like me anymore?”

“I find it to be a wasted effort. You hate me and I hate you, so why bother acting otherwise?”

He dares to fake his displeasure. “I don’t hate you.”

“I find that hard to believe given our past.” One I will never forget, so long as I live.

“This is exactly why I respect you more than your brothers. Unlike Cal or Rowan, you aren’t afraid to speak your mind.”

“We both have two very different definitions of respect.”

“Regardless, I find your efforts admirable. It’s why I consider you a threat to begin with.”

“Yet I can’t say the same about you.”

He chuckles. “I thought I taught you better than to underestimate your enemy.”

“Please. If anything, I give you too much credit.”

“You might be smart, but you let your need for revenge blind your ability to think clearly. Why else would you marry your assistant of all people? Even I didn’t think you were that desperate for your inheritance.”

Something snaps inside of me. “Talk about her like that again and I swear I’ll make your last twelve months as CEO absolutely miserable.”

I can work with him or against him. For the sake of the company, I’ve been willing to do the first option, but if he continues to insult Iris, all bets are off. She has proven herself loyal time and time again, so the least I can do is defend her from scum like him.

Whatever expression he sees on my face draws a deep chuckle from him.

“Don’t tell me you actually care about her?”

I make an effort to keep my gaze blank and withdrawn.

He slowly shakes his head. “To think I considered you my smartest son.

What a disappointment.”

“Is there a point to this conversation or do you solely speak to hear the sound of your own voice?”

“I’m sure you’re aware of why I asked you to come here.” His malicious smile puts me on alert.

“You might have to explain yourself given how disappointing you find my intelligence to be.”

“Consider this a warning from father to son.”

“About?”

“Your grandfather might have provided you with an opportunity to usurp me, but that doesn’t mean you will be successful. I don’t plan on stepping down without a fight.”

“It’ll make my victory all the sweeter.”

He raises his glass of water. “Let the best Kane win.”

I tap mine to his. “He already did.”

“I need you to book a trip.” I stop at Iris’s desk. After spending the entire drive thinking over my father’s conversation, I came to one conclusion.

I need to commit to my role as a doting husband—honeymoon included.

Iris looks up from her desktop with a pinched expression. “To Tokyo?”