A Very Exclusive Engagement(56)

Victor shook his head. “Her and those damned signs. She gets into more trouble that way. Married to a man she hardly knows because of a ladybug!”

“We never intended to go through with the marriage, but my aunt was adamant we do it now. She’s ill and wanted to make sure we followed through. I told Francesca she didn’t have to do it, but she insisted.”

“She’s stubborn like I am.”

Liam chose not to touch that statement. “What neither of us realized was that we might actually fall for one another. On our wedding night, Francesca told me she had feelings for me that she knew weren’t mutual and she couldn’t go on that way.”

“You just let her walk out like that?”

Liam frowned and looked down at his hands. “I didn’t know what to tell her. I wasn’t sure how I felt about everything. What was real between us and what was a fantasy? I didn’t know.”

“And now?”

“Now I know. I love your daughter, and I want to ask your permission to marry her.”

“Son, you’re already married.”

“I know, but things are different now. I want to be married to her for real. I want to go to her and tell her how I feel, but I need your help. Francesca will never believe our marriage is anything more than a business deal as long as my aunt is holding the stock over my head. I can’t afford to buy her out. But if I could get enough minority stockholder support, I might be able to get majority control without her shares.”

Victor nodded. “I don’t think I have enough, but I’ve got a good bit. So does my friend Jimmy Lang. Together, that might tip the scales. Let me make a call.”

As Victor got up and headed into the bedroom, a simmer of hope started bubbling in Liam’s gut. He really hoped that he could pull this off. He didn’t want to go to Francesca and tell her he loved her if there were any suspicions about his motives. This was the only way.

“Good news,” Victor said as he returned a few minutes later. “I spoke with Jimmy and did the math. Combined with yours, we have fifty-two percent of the company stock. Close, but we made it. Jimmy and I are both really excited about the direction you’re taking the network, so we have no qualms about delegating our voting authority to you. So,” he said, extending his hand to Liam, “congratulations. You’re still running this network.”

Liam leaped from his seat and excitedly shook his father-in-law’s hand. “Thank you so much, sir.”

Victor shrugged. “I didn’t do it for you. I did it for my little girl. You have my consent to marry her, so get out of here and make it right between you two.”

Liam’s eyes widened as he nodded. There was no arguing with Victor Orr, even if he wanted to. “Thank you again,” he said as he turned and bolted from their hotel suite.

As badly as he wanted to rush to find Francesca, he had one other stop to make. Fortunately, that stop was located in the same hotel.

Liam rang the doorbell at the penthouse suite and waited for Henry to answer the door. The older man arrived a few minutes later, welcoming Liam with the same smile and nod he’d always received.

“Come in, Liam. I don’t believe she’s expecting you this morning. We’re packing to return to New York.”

“I’m sorry to pop in unannounced, Henry, but I need to talk to my aunt. It’s important.”

Henry held out his hand to gesture toward the bedroom. Liam didn’t wait for him, moving quickly across the carpet and around the corner.

Aunt Beatrice looked up as he charged in. She was sitting in her wheelchair folding her clothes. “Liam,” she said. “I expected you to be off somewhere basking in wedded bliss.”

“No, you didn’t,” he said, sitting on the edge of the bed beside her. “You and I have been playing a dangerous game that could end up doing nothing but hurting people.”

She didn’t bother acting offended by his insinuation. “I did what I thought was best for the family. And for you, despite what you might think.”

“I know,” Liam agreed. “And I came here to thank you.”

That, at last, got a rise out of the Queen Bee. She sat up straight in her chair, her eyes narrowing at him in confusion. “Thank me?”

“Yes. If you hadn’t forced me to get married, I might’ve let Francesca walk right out of my life. I love her. And I hope she stays married to me for forty years—not for the network, or because of your demands, but because I want us to grow old together. That said, I’m not going to let you control me any longer. I don’t need your ANS stock or you holding it over my head. I now have enough backing to maintain control of ANS without your shares or your billions. I don’t care about any inheritance.”