Trillion(65)

“Certainly you’re aware of the clause in Trey’s contract?”

I scrunch my brows. If I tell him I’m aware, it’ll make all of this seem fishy as hell and could cost Trey the deal.

“I know nothing about a clause,” I lie. “The only thing I know is that we’re in love. And it’s the only thing I want to know. His business deals are none of my business.”

“Still letting men take advantage of you, I see.” He sips his coffee. “God, you’re na?ve. Always have been.”

I glance toward the cottage. If Trey heard Nolan right now, I don’t know what he’d do, but it wouldn’t be pretty.

“You’re jealous,” I say.

“If you think I’m jealous, you’re delusional.”

“Why else would you say those things? Why else would you try to poison my relationship with doubt? You can’t stand to see I’ve moved on. You hate that another man makes me happier than you ever did.”

“Oh, Soph … you could never make me jealous,” he says. “Sure we had our fun, but it was never anything of substance. And when you got pregnant, I did what I had to do to make the most of it. At the end of the day, I couldn’t bear the thought of my child being raised by anyone else but Anabelle and me. We dated in college, and off and on since, and she’d been pressuring me to get married for a while, but she wanted children. That was a dealbreaker for her.”

“I don’t need to know your relationship history.”

“My point is, things worked out for Sasha,” he says. “She’s happy. Well-adjusted. Smart as a whip. Beautiful. And she’ll have every opportunity she could ever need.”

I can’t argue with those things.

But it doesn’t change what he did to pull that off.

“I don’t like this … you and Trey,” he says. “It’s a little close for comfort.”

“He doesn’t know. About you and me.”

“It doesn’t matter. I still don’t like it.”

“Fortunately it’s not your choice.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” He leans closer, elbows resting on his knees so hard they leave indentations. “First of all, you inheriting my company is not something I’m crazy about.”

“I don’t see how that matters?” I say. “Maybe you should’ve added a clause to your NDA.”

He chuffs. “You’re not going to marry him, Soph.”

I cringe at the use of my nickname, but I opt not to tell him to quit using it. He’d still do it, if only to get under my skin.

“Actually, I am,” I say, shrugging and peering off toward the crashing waves in the distance.

“Trey wants this company,” Nolan says. “But he’s not going to get it if you stay with him.”

“You’re disgusting.”

“I’m doing what I have to do to protect my family.”

“I’m not going to tell him,” I remind him. “Your secret’s safe. I’ll take it to the grave. And Trey’s not stupid, if I tell him you won’t sell because of me, he’ll figure out there’s a past between us and it won’t be long until he connects the dots. He’s already seen my scar …”

“That’s why you’re not going to tell him you’re standing in the way of the deal. You’re going to break it off with him as soon as you get back to Chicago.”

A sharp pang flashes through my chest. My mouth turns dry.

“I’ll still sell him the company,” he says. “Out of sympathy for his broken heart. But if the two of you so much as think of getting back together once the deal goes through, I’ll repossess your mother’s home and ensure the doctors treating your sister cease their care immediately.”

With the payout arrangement and the millions of dollars coming my way, I could easily find another place for my mother to live and connect Emmeline with another group of world renown neurosurgeons. But if there’s no deal, there’ll be no reason for Trey and I to get married, which means there’ll be no payout.

“You’re a monster.” My word are low, a growl almost. My palms press into the tiled ledge of the pool until they ache.

“It’s the best decision for everyone involved.”

“Anabelle doesn’t know, does she? She doesn’t know Sasha is yours.”

He’s quiet, fingers pressed into a point.

“You never signed the birth certificate,” I add. “That’s why you’re so protective of your secret. If she knew, she’d leave you. You were never broken up with her, were you?”

His lips press flat. There’s nothing attractive about him anymore. And I’ve heard that stress and secrets can age a person faster than time. He’s got a lot on his shoulders. Clearly, guarding this information for the past eight years while running a large corporation has done a number on him.

“You’re doing this.” Nolan avoids my questions. “Or I walk from the deal.”

The front door to the cottage swings open. Trey walks out, dressed for the day, hair shower-damp. His eyes light from across the way when he sees me, and he makes his way to the pool.

“Everything rides on you,” Nolan says. “You’ll ruin a lot of lives if you don’t do this.”