The Rules (26 page)

“Are you saying you think I should marry Gavin?”

“I don’t want to tell you what to do. The decision is yours. But I know the Johnsons, and they’ll only accept one answer. If you don’t give them the answer they want…” Alannah shrugged as her voice trailed off.

The gravity of her suggestion weighed heavy on Terri’s mind. “He threatened to take my babies if I don’t marry him.”

Pity filled Alannah’s eyes. “That wasn’t an idle threat.”

Terri fisted her hand on the table. “He can’t do that.
They
can’t do that. I won’t let them.”

Alannah’s mouth downturned into a sad, sympathetic expression. They both knew Terri didn’t have the financial resources to fight a family so powerful and wealthy.

“I’m not walking away from my children,” Terri said firmly.

“Then you know what you have to do.”

“We don’t even love each other,” Terri whispered. Sighing, she added, “I want what you have with Trenton.”

“It doesn’t have to be all bad. Gavin’s always sort of been the black sheep of the family. The bad egg. He’s trying to do the right thing for once, and you and your children won’t want for anything.”

Except she wouldn’t have his love. Terri lowered her gaze to her lap.

“The two of you were good together once. Maybe when you spend some time together again, you’ll rekindle the relationship you had before.”

A couple walked by, laughing and holding hands, and a spike of jealousy entered Terri’s heart. “Yeah. Maybe.”

****

On the last day of her one-week stay at her future mother-in-law’s estate, Terri stared out the window of the guest room, overlooking the grounds where she would be married in less than a month.

Married to a billionaire.

She let out a short, dry laugh. Her life sounded like the plot to a romance novel, but it was happening, and happening to her.

After accepting Gavin’s proposal—if one could call it that—right away, the Johnson family wheels started turning. She hadn’t truly understood the extent of their wealth and what she was getting herself into until she said yes.

Constance insisted she come stay with her as they ironed out the details of the wedding. While Gavin worked and traveled for the company, she and her future mother-in-law handled the arrangements. A myriad of professionals came in and out of the house during those days. Terri let Constance run the show, and every now and again said yes and no where appropriate. Although they planned for an intimate gathering on the property, three wedding planners were employed to coordinate the activities. They covered everything from food, to the types of tents that would be erected on the property, to the guest list that mainly consisted of Johnson family members and close friends.

Terri’s brother and his fiancée were being flown in. Her favorite cousin, a friend from the salon, and Alannah agreed to be bridesmaids, while Gavin’s three brothers would stand at the altar at his side.

On the second day of her stay, a representative from the house of Carolina Herrera arrived to take her measurements for the one-of-a-kind dresses that she would wear to the wedding ceremony and the reception afterward. After listening to her preferences for the gowns and discussing the best ways to complement her growing belly, the rep flew out the same day, with a promise to have sketches to them within the week.

The Johnsons knew the full story about her past and took great pains to protect her reputation by having the family publicist craft the right tone for the rushed wedding and get in front of the bad publicity that would result when Terri’s background was revealed. The blogs had already blown up when the engagement was announced, and she was called everything but her name—whore and gold digger being the most bandied about names—and accused of trapping Gavin. The fact that she’d managed to stay out of the spotlight while they dated made the news even more shocking for the gossipmongers.

Ivy advised her to ignore the press and not read the nasty articles, and after feeling depressed about the ugly comments that accompanied each piece, she finally agreed it was best to avoid them for her own peace of mind.

A security expert went through the house and walked the grounds, taking copious notes. He and his staff were responsible for keeping out uninvited guests and the press. They were also charged with working closely with the wedding planners to ensure that the caterers and other vendors didn’t have moles planted in their midst.

Everything moved forward, and on the surface, she gave the impression of being somewhat happily resigned to her fate. She was marrying into a family whose legacy spanned generations. She and her children would have every need met and every want satisfied.

Deep down, however, her heart ached for the relationship she and Gavin used to have. The sexy conversations. The playfulness. The quiet evenings at home.

The few times she saw Gavin, he never smiled, she hadn’t heard him laugh, and not once had he touched her.

Cyrus pointed across the room to Gavin. “Talk to your brother,” he bit out. “He thinks he’s Paul McCartney and doesn’t need a prenup.”

Gavin glowered at him, Xavier standing in the middle of Gavin’s office, and Ivy, to whom the mandate was directed. She’d walked in after being summoned by their eldest sibling.

His twin shot a dark look at Cyrus, but when she turned her gaze to Gavin, her face softened. “Gavin, you can’t seriously be thinking about marrying Terri without getting a signed prenup. That just isn’t done.”

He knew that. He knew it was a foolish decision, and yet, he hesitated to get the papers drawn up. Maybe he wasn’t thinking straight, but who could blame him. Everything was happening so fast. He was getting married and going to be a father soon.

Amazing how he’d risked his life on too many occasions to count over the years, but the thought of a prenup terrified him so much he couldn’t even initiate the paperwork.

“It’s my decision. I know what I’m doing.”

“Obviously, you don’t,” Cyrus interjected.

Xavier approached. “You’re worth billions. If this woman—”

“
This woman
is going to be my wife and the mother of my children.” Gavin shot his brother a warning look. “Watch your mouth.”

Xavier rubbed a hand down his face and let out an exasperated puff of breath. “I wasn’t going to say anything negative about her. I know what she went through. But if you think it’s a good idea to get married without a prenup, you’ve fallen off too many mountains, or maybe you’ve finally been affected by the lack of oxygen to your brain from the dangerous diving trips you take.”

“I’m not going to take advice from a man who I haven’t seen date the entire year I’ve been back in Seattle.”

“What does my dating history have to do with you getting a prenup?” Xavier growled.

“Out. Both of you.” Arms akimbo, Ivy glared at Cyrus and Xavier. Their older brothers shook their heads in disgust but marched toward the door.

Cyrus, the last one out, couldn’t resist getting in one more comment. “Talk some sense into him.”

“Let me handle it,” Ivy snapped. She waited until Cyrus and Xavier left before she turned on Gavin. “What are you thinking?”

“Et tu?”

“Don’t give me that. I’m not against you, but you have to admit this is ridiculous. Cyrus and Xavier are right.”

Gavin folded his arms over his chest and rested his butt against the heavy credenza.

“What’s going on?” Ivy asked.

“They won’t mind their own business. They’ve been badgering me about drawing up the papers ever since we announced the engagement.”

Ivy came to stand beside him, also resting her butt against the credenza. “You’re making a mistake, and I need to understand why you’re doing this. You’re not stupid. You know the risks. Mother and father had a prenup. Cyrus and Daniella have one. Lucas and I are going to have one. It’s common sense.”

Silence. Not even their breaths could be heard.

Gavin swallowed hard. “What if she doesn’t sign it?”

“If she doesn’t sign it, then we get a team of lawyers to…” Ivy covered her mouth with one hand, eyes wide. “Oh my goodness, you’re worried she won’t sign it, and then she won’t marry you. You love her, don’t you?”

Gavin scrubbed a hand across his forehead. “Yeah. Which makes me the biggest chump in the world.”

“Oh, Gavin. It doesn’t make you chump.”

He slanted a glance at his sister. “No? I want to marry a woman who I’m not sure ever cared about me and has more aliases than a CIA operative.” Gavin pounded his hand on top of the credenza. “She wasn’t even going to tell me she was pregnant. How could she do that?”

Ivy winced. She had kept her child a secret from her fiancé for years.

“Damn. Sorry, Ivy.”

“Don’t apologize. I had my reasons, and I’m sure Terri had her own. Fear. Hurt. It could have been for any or both of those reasons.”

“Whatever her reason, she had no intention of telling me. Which means she doesn’t want my money. Which means she could walk away.” Gavin grasped the edge of the furniture behind him.

Ivy studied him. “You never had any intention of taking the kids from her, did you?”

“She loves kids. You saw how she was with Michael and Katie. That’s how she is with all children. What kind of monster would I be to take the twins away from her?”

They both fell silent.

“You could continue to let her think that’s what you’re going to do,” Ivy suggested.

“But that’s not what I want.” Gavin slid his gaze to his sister. “I want
her
and our kids. But I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place.” He swore.

“All you have to do is make the offer attractive.”

“What if she doesn’t sign it, Ivy?”

“She’ll sign it.” Ivy sighed. “A prenup should be mutually beneficial, and that’s how you get her to sign. Make her an offer she can’t refuse. But you cannot marry her without a prenup. I don’t care how much you love her. If you even consider doing it without the contract, I’ll have you declared mentally incompetent.” Ivy grinned.

Laughing, Gavin shook his head. “I know you’re right.”

“Of course your big sister is right.”

“Here we go,” Gavin grumbled.

Ivy grinned up at him with sympathy in her eyes. “Make the right decision, Gavin. If you don’t, if you end up divorced, you’ve basically written her a blank check.”

“Does it sound crazy that I don’t even care?” He searched her face but didn’t see any trace of judgment.

“It does sound crazy.” She smiled slightly. “But believe me, I understand.”

****

Gavin paced the boardroom floor, nervous energy growing in his stomach as the minutes ticked by. Twenty minutes past the hour and Terri still hadn’t shown up. What if she didn’t come? It was a crazy thought, but one that had haunted him all morning.

To date, they hadn’t received any response from her attorney. He didn’t even know who she had hired, but surely they recognized his generosity in the package. He’d tried to be fair, but his idea of fair and hers may not coincide. Terri and his children would be well provided for in the event they divorced, and the prenup included six-figure financial incentives for every year they remained married.

The phone on the table rang and Gavin snatched it up. “Yes?”

“Your fiancée is here.”

His gut twisted. It happened every time someone referred to her as his fiancée. Before, she’d been referred to as Terri or Ms. Slade. But hearing the receptionist call her his fiancée was as sobering as it was…thrilling.

“Send her in.”

Gavin walked over to the table where his attorney, Jesup Hardwick, was already seated with the documents spread out in triplicate before him. Gavin rubbed his hands together and waited for Terri to enter. When he saw her, he stopped breathing for a few seconds. She appeared almost angelic in a cream maternity dress and small earrings shaped like hearts. She wore her hair loose today, and it was longer, thicker, and shinier.

Realizing he was staring, he briefly looked away and cleared his throat.

Terri smiled hesitantly, closed the door behind her, and walked over to the table. “Sorry I’m late.”

Gavin waited for her to sit before joining them at the table. “Where’s your attorney? Is he running late, too?”

“I don’t have one.” She spoke calmly.

“What do you mean, you don’t have one?”

“I can’t afford to hire a lawyer.” She said it simply, as if it was common knowledge.

Gavin stared at her. “You’re being ridiculous, Terri. You can’t sit down and sign these documents without legal counsel.”

“That’s what I intend to do.”

“Quit the martyr act.”

“I’m not trying to be a martyr. I couldn’t afford an attorney.” Her dark eyes blazed at him.

Attorney Jesup cleared his throat. “Perhaps we should leave this as is, Mr. Johnson.”

Gavin turned angrily toward the man. “What are you thinking about? Why would we leave this as is?”