Chapter 113
Summer’s POV
“Of course I understand your concern, Professor Thompson,” Brandon said, his voice carrying that perfect blend of respect and confidence that he somehow always managed to nail. “Your granddaughter is precious to me too.”
I rolled my eyes at his diplomatic tone. This was the same man who pinned me against the kitchen counter just this morning, whispering things that would make even Ruby blush.
“Hmph, don’t think your sweet talk will fool me,” Grandpa Jonathan grumbled through the speaker, though I could hear his irritation softening. “If you don’t give me a proper explanation about this whole situation, you know exactly what I’m capable of!”
Brandon’s lips curved into a slight smile. “Of course I do, sir. What kind of man would I be if I didn’t recognize who I’m dealing
with?”
I mouthed “suck–up” at him, and he winked back at me, completely unfazed.
“Now, Professor, since my marriage to Summer is already a reality, when can we formally meet?” Brandon continued smoothly. “Despite you being my mentor, I’m now your granddaughter’s husband. We should meet properly.”
“When you’re free, come over.” Grandpa replied, his tone warming considerably.
Perfect! I’m available tomorrow, if that works for you?”
“Tomorrow it is, then!”
When Brandon finally hung up, I collapsed into his desk chair with a groan. “I can’t believe you just invited us over to see my grandfather tomorrow.”
Brandon leaned against the desk, looking annoyingly calm. “Relax. If I’m not worried, why are you?”
“Because this is Grandpa Jonathan we’re talking about!” I threw my hands up. “He might have been your professor, but I’ve had to deal with him my entire life. You don’t know how intense his interrogations can get.”
“Trust me, I do,” Brandon chuckled. “I was his student, remember? I’ve faced plenty of his questioning–though admittedly, not about marrying his granddaughter.”
“That’s exactly my point!” I pressed my fingers to my temples. “When Grandpa first introduced us months ago, I completely rejected the idea. Now we have to tell him we’re suddenly married? He’s going to know something’s fishy.”
Brandon moved behind me, his hands settling on my shoulders with a gentle, reassuring pressure. “Silly girl. Don’t worry about it. If he asks, we’ll just say I pursued you relentlessly until you gave in.”
I nearly choked. “And you think he’ll believe that? You don’t exactly come across as the desperate, lovesick type.”
“Don’t I?” There was that dangerous half–smile again. “You’d be surprised what I’m capable of.”
“Right,” I scoffed, fighting a smile. “So that’s our story tomorrow–the great Brandon Stark was brought to his knees by love? Let’s see if Grandpa buys that.”
“Matters of the heart aren’t always easy to explain,” he shrugged, effortlessly elegant even in that simple gesture. “Anyway, enough about that. Where did you go today?”
“I stopped by the coffee shop to help Scarlett with the monthly accounts,” I replied, stretching in the chair. “And guess who else was
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there?”
“Someone giving you trouble? His voice immediately took on that protective edge I was starting to get used to.
No, nothing like that. My mother and Victoria were there with Alexander’s mother.”
Brandon raised an eyebrow. “And what were they doing there?”
“Planning a wedding,” I said, watching his face carefully. “Victoria and Alexander’s wedding, to be specific. You called it, by the way -they’re rushing to make it happen.”
“Richard Taylor’s motivations are hardly a mystery,” Brandon replied utterly unsurprised. “He couldn’t pass up this opportunity.”
“James mentioned Alexander was causing trouble at my old apartment?” I asked, recalling what Brandon had mentioned earlier.
“Apparently,” Brandon nodded. “He showed up, made a scene, and the police got involved. That explains why he was calling from the police station last night.”
“God, what’s wrong with him?” I shook my head in disbelief. “After I found out about the shares from Grandpa George, his attitude toward me shifted. He said the most bizarre things.”
“Let me guess,” Brandon’s voice took on a harder edge. “He wanted to reconcile? Claimed his relationship with Victoria was just for
her shares?”
I stared at him, surprised by his accuracy. “Exactly that. How did you know?”
“It’s predictable,” he shrugged.
A comfortable silence settled between us before Brandon suddenly announced, “Let’s go out for dinner.”
“Oh!” I checked the time and realized with a jolt that it was already past seven. “I didn’t make anything! Why didn’t you remind me earlier? You’ve been working all day, and I should have made dinner for you!”
“Silly girl,” Brandon said, brushing a strand of hair from my face, “Get changed. We’ll go out, and maybe pick up a gift for your grandfather while we’re at it.”
“Right! Give me ten minutes!” I jumped up, suddenly energized by the prospect of going out. Despite living together for weeks now, we’d rarely gone on what could be considered actual “dates.”
In the massive walk–in closet, I stood paralyzed by choices. Everything in here was nicer than anything I’d owned before moving in.
“Brandon,” I called out, holding up two different outfits. “Which looks better–this one or this one?”
He glanced over from where he was selecting a fresh shirt. “Both look fine.”
“I can only wear one!”
“Then wear that one tonight,” he decided, pointing to the deep blue dress in my right hand. “Save the other for tomorrow when we visit your grandfather.”
I nodded, satisfied with the plan, but another question had been nagging at me. “Brandon, is Diana your own brand?”
He looked surprised by the question. “What makes you ask?”
‘I’ve been wondering for a while. Since I moved in, everything gets magically taken care of, and all the clothes in the closet–except
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what I brought–are this brand. I’ve never seen it in stores.”
“It’s a Stark Group subsidiary,” he explained. “Our department stores carry it, but it’s not widely known to be connected to us.”
As I watched him deftly button his shirt, I couldn’t help noticing how different life had become. Just months ago, I was heartbroken.
I was discussing luxury clothing brands with and betrayed, living in a tiny apartment and working at a job I barely tolerated. Now my husband in our Hamptons estate.
“Here, let me do that,” I said, approaching Brandon as he fumbled with his tie.
‘I don’t know why I have to tie this for you,” I,complained, though there was no real annoyance in my voice. ‘Before we got married, you managed just fine on your own.”
Brandon’s eyes held mine as I looped the silk around his collar. “Now that we’re married, isn’t this the wife’s job? There’s an old saying–the woman who ties her man’s tie binds him to her for life.
I fought back a smile, focusing on the knot. “I’ve never heard that saying before. Did you just make that up?”
“Maybe,” he admitted, his voice softening as I finished the perfect Windsor knot. “But does that make it any less true?”
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