I'd laid new clothes out last night. That way, they wouldn't get wrinkled. Even so, I ironed them for the second time. When I was done, they were stiff enough to cut a muffin in two.

Speaking of which.

Dressing carefully, I grabbed myself a cup of coffee from my pre-programmed machine, and then a cranberry muffin from the counter. I loved sweets, but thanks to my 'attentive' (as she called it) mother, I'd developed an odd relationship with them.

She'd tried to ban them from my life. In subtle retaliation, I indulged in the treats whenever I could.

Who could blame me?

Desserts are fucking delicious.

Washing my hands, I did a final check in the mirror. Yesterday, my parents had seen me in a state I never wanted to repeat. Being prim, proper, it reminded me that I was a Halloway.

I had power, I had money, and I'd do what I had to in order to keep it.

But I'm not like him, I told myself firmly. Abell wanted everything for himself. I wanted to be CEO not just for me, but for Gram, too. I planned to keep my promise to him, to make his life better.

That was what made me less selfish than Abell.

I clung to that fact fiercely.

Shoving into my jacket, I hurried out the door. I knew the exact time I had to be at the metro, and no way I was missing it. Today, I'd show my parents what I was made of.

I was a Halloway.

And we always achieved what we worked for.

****

My heels chopped along the sidewalk as I exited the subway. I was striding, head held high—and then higher—when I spotted Halloway Inc.

The building, my building, stood tall in the middle of the city. The red brick was brighter than the other structures surrounding it, a fact I was always delighted by. This was a company to be proud of.

It'll be mine. Clenching my fist, I exhaled. The sight of the building had renewed my determination.

Crossing the street, I shuffled through the automatic doors. The front desk was a half-moon of white wood, the man behind it busy talking on the phone. I knew his name was Conroy, I made it a point to try and learn the names of every employee.

I waved at him as he caught my eye. His pleasant smile was my reward.

Turning the corner, I power-walked down the hall, ready to enter my mother's office.

But I didn't need to go that far.

She was standing right in the hall.

My heart stuttered, confronted by the woman who had controlled me my whole life. I'd never known someone so intimidating. Don't be scared, just tell her what you're going to do!

Forcing my head higher, I cleared my throat. “Mom.”

Turning, she stopped staring at her phone. She was rarely without the thing, always typing away or talking to someone. “Nichole,” she said, lifting an eyebrow. “Good to see you're here on time today.”

Crinkling my mouth, I bit back the comment I wanted to let fly. Focus. “Mom, listen. I need to talk to you about yesterday.”

Her chest flared with her deep breath. “Yes. I imagine you do. Go on, are you here to tell me how horrible I am again?”

The muscles along my neck and shoulders turned to steel. It was a wonder I could talk at all. Faced with her doubt, I wanted to show her she was wrong. She clearly thought I was a coward, or worse, a selfish brat.

But I wasn't.

I wouldn't be.

“I decided to agree to the marriage,” I said flatly.

I'd hoped for her to be shocked. It would have been delicious to see that expression on her puckered face. I wasn't that lucky today, though. Fuck, was I ever lucky?

Tilting her head, she stared down her nose at me. “You're serious, aren't you? You're really going to do this?”

The smile I offered her was sour. “What choice do I have? Marrying Abell Birch is the only way to keep the company in our name, and for me to become CEO like I'm meant to be. I'm not losing that.”

I've given up so much. What's a little more?

She considered me for a long while. I wondered what she saw, what she thought about my decision. Her face was a polished mask, and it never flinched, not even when she pulled a piece of paper from her purse and handed it to me. “You'll need this.”

I blinked at it. “What is it?”

“Everything that needs to get done before the wedding.”

The piece of paper was a detailed schedule. Food tasting for the reception, flowers for the ceremony... this was the outline for my own misery. I was being forced to wrap myself up in a pretty bow to be thrown to the wolves—or wolf.

One with frosty eyes and a killer body.

Reading the list, I shook my head in mild disgust. “You have appointments already lined up. You assumed I'd say yes to this blackmail.”

“I took precaution. It's good to be prepared.”

“Right,” I said, tapping the spot that mentioned Macy's Bridal store. “It's important to prepare your daughter for her funeral gown.”

“It's called a wedding dress. Do you always have to be so dramatic, Nichole?” Ignoring my glare, she handed me a small green envelope.

Poking the sharp corner, I squinted at the gold seal and elegant writing that spelled my name. “Don't tell me this is a sample wedding invitation, I'm not inviting anyone to this mess.”

Her mouth scrunched, like she'd eaten a handful of lemon rinds. “It's an invitation to the Birch's Christmas party. It's this weekend, you're going.”

“You expect me to put on a cocktail dress and make nice with the guy who's selling me to his son?”

My mother turned away, phone sticking to her ear as she avoided my attempt to burn a hole through her skull with my brain. “Speaking of dresses, don't you dare miss that wedding dress appointment next week. Find something that fits. You don't have much time to slim down, so your options will be limited.”

Narrowing my eyes at her, I shoved the list and invitation into my purse. “Guess I'll just be stuck with whatever they can dig out from the back, then. Something that fits my apparently gigantic ass.”

When I turned away, I exaggerated my hips as I walked around the hallway corner. It was a ridiculous strut, over the top and straight out of some strip club dance routine. I wanted her to maybe get the sense that she was being horrible.

She hadn't yet, but hey, there was still time.

Why is she never satisfied with me! This feeling wasn't new, but it still stung.

As a kid, my mother used to make me weigh myself every morning and night. If the number deviated greatly, she'd deny me dinner. I'd often go to bed hungry.

Yeah. She was a real piece of work.

“Nice walk,” a deep voice said.

Turning, I gawked at Abell. He was lounging by the water cooler, crumpling a paper cup. His stare said he appreciated the way I'd been swaying around like an animal in heat.

Stuttering, I said, “I—that—you don't understand.”

“No need to defend yourself. I wasn't complaining.”

Red from head to toe, I choked the strap of my purse. “Why are you here?”

Abell rocked forward, coming my way. Suddenly he pulled up short, standing back further than usual. His smile wavered, eyes taking me in again.

What the hell is wrong with him? Do I smell bad?

He gathered himself, teeth glinting brightly. “I'm here to run into you.”

“I actually was hoping to see you, too,” I said.

He gave me a look that implied he was more than happy to hear that. “You were angry with me last time we spoke, or was that just your way of flirting?”

Instead of fighting with him, I motioned for Abell to follow me. Ducking into an empty hall, I made sure we were alone before rounding on him. “We need to talk about this marriage situation.”

His chuckle slid over my heart, caressing it. “You already know where I stand, Sugar.”

A tiny tremble took hold in my knees. Stay on target. “I've moved past the denial stage of this. Your father has my company by the throat, and I've worked too hard to lose everything. Marrying you is the last thing I want to do, but I'm open to making it work.”