The Wedding That Became a Negotiation
Chapter 07 - The Wedding That Became a Negotiation
By noon, word had started spreading among the wedding party.
Laura had told only immediate family that the ceremony was postponed. Somehow, a local society blog posted that the "high-profile Bennett-Mercer wedding" might be in trouble.
Evan called seventeen times.
Laura ignored sixteen.
On the seventeenth, she answered.
"Meet me," he said. "Public place. No games."
They chose the hotel café.
Evan arrived carrying the same calm expression he used during investor meetings.
"I made a terrible mistake with Marisol," he began.
Laura said nothing.
"But the business documents aren't what you think. I was trying to protect you."
"From what?"
"From taxes. From probate complications. From people who would take advantage of you."
Laura nearly smiled.
"People like you?"
Evan leaned closer.
"You are about to throw away a wedding, a partnership, and a development deal worth more than your company earns in ten years because you're hurt."
There it was.
Not an apology.
A valuation.
"Tell me about the waterfront property," Laura said.
His eyes flickered.
Only once.
But she saw it.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Then we're done."
She stood.
Evan caught her wrist lightly—not enough to hurt, but enough to stop her.
Laura looked down at his hand until he released her.
"You need me," he said under his breath. "You don't understand the deal."
"Then explain it to the police when they understand it better than I do."
His jaw tightened.
"You won't do that."
"Why?"
"Because it would embarrass Emma. It would damage the Bennett name. And because some of those documents have your authorization on them."
Laura went cold.
"What authorization?"
Evan leaned back.
May you like
For the first time since the spa, he smiled.
"Now," he said, "we're finally having the right conversation."
