Fold

I'm no longer the confused and lonely teenager she can lock in a basement for being gay. I'm done letting her have all the power and control over me.

I get close to her face because these are the last words I intend to say to her, and I want to make sure she hears them loud and clear. “Do whatever you want with the money. I don't need it, and I don't need you. I never did.”

With that, I flip her the bird, turn on my heels, and exit with my head held high.

I'm almost to the front door when I hear Barry's footsteps behind me. “She's leaving everything to your uncle.”

His words are like a bullet straight to the heart and my knees buckle right before they hit the marble floor.

Pain saws through my lungs and I clutch my throat, fighting for air.

My Na

Tears sting my eyes, but I swiftly wipe them away. I won't give her the satisfaction of rolling in here to witness me nurse my battle wounds from the knife she plunged into my back.

White hot rage courses through me, and I start shaking with anger. I would rather watch her piss on my parents' money and then light it on fire before a single dime of it ever goes to that bastard.

Barry eases me back on my feet. “We can go before a judge, but considering she doesn't have much time left, it might not happen until after her death.” His voice drops to a whisper, despite no one else being around. “And once your uncle has access to the estate…” His voice trails off, but he doesn’t have to finish that sentence. I know all too well what my uncle is capable of. I live with the loss every day.

There's no way in hell he's getting a cent from the people he set up to have killed.

Over my dead body.

“Barry?” I question, cutting him off when he starts to speak again.

“Yeah?”

“Are you married?”

He blinks. “Yes, my wife and I celebrated our twentieth wedding a

Well, there goes that idea.

I take out my phone so I can call Breslin. If anyone can help me with this situation, it's her. The girl has not one, but two boyfriends.

I just need her to let me borrow one of them for a little while.

My chest stings with guilt as I hover over the call button. Breslin's boyfriends aren't sweaters—it's safe to say she won't be thrilled at the idea of me marrying either of them.

Not to mention the fact that they all have already done so much for me. The least I can do is not disturb the equilibrium in their relationship by involving them in another messy situation of mine.

I'll just have to figure something else out. And fast.

I eye Barry. “Do you have any single friends who would be willing to tie the knot for an hour in exchange for a million dollars?”

Barry makes a face. “You mean you're considering going along with this?”

“What other choice do I have? I'm not letting him get a pe

My Na

“Fine, you win,” I say, defeated. “I'll get married.”

Barry comes in a moment later. “The Bar will have my ass if they ever find out about this.” He whips out a pen and looks at my grandmother. “I want this agreement in writing, and you better leave her everything like your son wanted.”

My Na

Barry writes something down on his legal pad. “I'll need you both to sign this.” He coughs, waving away the smoke. “Reggie will have to sign as a witness after, and then we can draw up a new will that lists Kit as the beneficiary. Agreed?”

I start to nod, but my Na

My teeth clench. “Of course she does.” I plop down on a chair. “Let's get this over with.”

Reggie clears his throat and holds out the paper my Na

The breath I was holding comes out in one big whoosh and bile rises up my throat. It's been less than a minute since I've agreed to this and already it's the worst decision of my life.

Marrying a man for five minutes is a piece of cake. Hell, celebrities do it all the time.

But an entire year?

I clutch the armrest so tight my knuckles turn white, and I have to remind myself why I'm doing this in the first place.

I eagerly take the glass of water Barry hands me, wishing it was something stronger.

My Na

“Rule number two—your grandmother must choose the suitor.”

“The suitor? Are you serious? This isn't the eighteenth-century.” I glare at her. “No. I'm the one being forced into marrying someone to get what's rightfully mine. I should get to choose.”

My Na

My throat tightens. Knowing her, she'll pick someone I can't stand just to spite me. Someone arrogant, manipulative, egotistical, and controlling just like she is.

Christ, I feel like I'm in a locked box and she's slowly cutting off my air supply.

Maybe that's why the next words out of my mouth are. “Besides, I have a boyfriend.”

Reggie raises an eyebrow, Barry chokes on his water, and the look on my Na

But I press on because I don't want to be stuck with someone I can't stand for three hundred and sixty-five days straight. At least now I stand a chance at acquiring some sort of control over this ridiculous situation.

“Don't give me that look, Na

She scrunches her nose and seizes the notepad back from Reggie. After she's done writing, she turns it so I can read it.

Bullshit.

I cross my arms and stare her down. “It's not.”

My i

Stop talking, Kit. Just. Stop. Talking.

“Probably because he's overseas on business a lot.”

“What is his name and what does he do?” Reggie questions and Barry motions for me to be quiet.

“He's...sorry, I'm not at liberty to say.” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. My only option is to continue this charade. “His job is top secret. So is his name.”

“Are you sure it's not Bond?” Barry mutters, pinching the bridge of his nose.

The corners of Reggie's lips twitch.

My Na

That is until she jots something on her notepad and motions for Reggie to read it.

“She wants to meet him. If she approves, she'll arrange the wedding and change the will.”

Barry fixes me with a look that reflects exactly how I'm feeling.

I've somehow managed to make a bad situation downright horrific by complicating everything.