Chapter 6 - A Timely Interruption

Letisha’s POV

I snatched my hand away before his lips could make contact with my skin. But even that brief touch was enough to make my skin crawl.

“Interesting. I haven’t heard a thing about you.” I bit out with narrowed eyes.

“Letisha!” Gabriella scolded. I didn’t bother to spare her a glance.

Robert threw his head back and laughed. It was a loud and grating sound against my eardrums, and his portly belly shook with the force of it.

“That’s quite alright, Gabriella. A bit of feistiness is no trouble,” he said in amusement. He stepped toward me, and I instantly retreated. I stumbled back into my chair in an effort to get away from the overpowering scent of his cologne. “As long as she knows where to draw the line.”

Both Gabriella and my father chuckled at his words, but the sour feeling in my stomach only surged.

“Why don’t you sit here, Mr Miles?” Fiona suddenly offered her seat to my right.

I sent her a glare, to which she responded with a smile.

Soon, everyone had settled into their seats.

I was afraid to ask what the hell was going on because I already knew the answer to my question.

This was the man my father wanted me to marry in exchange for his investment. Robert Miles. He wanted to sell me to a man old enough to be my father. And he and Gabriella had used this dinner as a means to force me to meet him.

And then what did they expect to happen? Surely they weren’t stupid enough to think I would change my mind after meeting this man, did they?

They might be easily swayed by wealth, but I’d rather spend the rest of my life working part-time instead of marrying a man I didn’t even know simply for money.

I spun in my chair to send an accusing glance to my father. “What is this?”

My father ignored my question and sent a fawning smile Robert’s way, “Letisha is 22. She’ll be graduating from university next year, as I mentioned before.”

Robert waved a dismissive hand at my father’s words. “No need for all of that. Education is such a waste for a woman as pretty as you, dear. You should be at home making babies.”

I could hardly believe the antiquated garbage he’d just allowed to come from his mouth. This entire ordeal felt like a horrible joke.

“With views like that, it’s a wonder you have to pay for a wife.”

“That’s quite enough out of you, child!” my father snapped. He softened his tone as he appealed to Robert again. “Don’t mind her, Robert. She’s always been a bit…willful.”

As my father suggested, Robert didn’t mind me. In fact, none of the room’s occupants minded me. If it wasn’t for the vindictive looks Fiona threw my way every now and then, it was like I’d disappeared.

John and Gabriella continued to fawn over their dinner guest, encouraging him to talk more about his possible collaboration with the Huntington Group. From what I could tell after a brief moment in his presence, there was nothing Robert Miles loved more than talking about himself and his many accomplishments. Except, probably eating. The only time he paused in speaking, was to shovel food into his mouth.

This all felt so surreal. It was the only explanation I had for why I sat there that long, allowing them to talk business over my head.

Of course, I never expected Gabriella and my father to easily accept the fact that I wouldn't be dancing to their tune. Although I’d told them, I already have—had—a boyfriend. It wouldn’t have surprised me to learn that Gabriella had been the one to instruct Fiona to go after Michael. I would have thought it had simply been to destroy my relationship, so I would marry the man of their choosing. But, according to my stepsister, she and Michael had been together behind my back for a while.

Still, yesterday’s performance must have been motivated by this little dinner deception. I had laid in bed all night thinking about what had happened. As much as I’d told myself I wasn’t going to grieve over losing that bastard, Michael, I hadn’t been capable of shutting my brain off. I had grieved about the three years of my life I’d wasted caring about him and wondered why he’d sent me that text to come over for dinner if he’d known he would be doing that with Fiona. He had seemed surprised at my sudden appearance, and after considering the circumstances, I’d concluded Fiona was likely the one who had sent me that text from Michael’s phone. She’d wanted me to catch them in the act.

Did she think I’d be so devastated by my break-up with Michael that I’d gladly jump at the chance to marry this old, sexist asshole?

“So, Mr. Miles,” Fiona’s sickly sweet voice interrupted my thoughts, “what do you think of my big sister?”

I stiffened in discomfort when Robert’s hand landed atop mine on the table. I tried to pull my hand away, but his hold tightened almost painfully.

“I’m well pleased. She’s beautiful. A bit too thin for my liking, but we can work on that, can’t we, darling?” he sent a wink my way with those words, and I felt the small sip of wine I’d taken earlier slide threateningly up my throat.

“How about we go ahead and set a wedding date?” Robert continued to speak with my father. “The sooner the better for you, eh, John? Once the wedding is done, we can push through with that investment contract. Maybe I can even bring you in on the Hungtington collaboration if it goes well.”

“Wonderful!” my father practically vibrated with excitement.

I finally yanked my hand from Robert’s—my anger lending me extra fuel.

I stood from my chair and angrily grabbed my purse. I’d had enough of this fiasco.

“Letisha!” Gabriella called, “Where are you going?”

“I’m leaving. I’m certain this little game must have been amusing for you all, but I have more important things to do.”

“But you’re the bride,” Fiona chimed in reproach. “We can’t very well plan your wedding if you’re not here, can we?”

“I told you before, and I’ll say it again. If this family needs money so badly, they’re willing to sell their daughter, you’ll be a much better candidate for the job, little sister. Since Mr. Miles is looking forward to having children, and you’re already so talented in that department—”

Fiona gasped in outrage at my words.

“I’ve had enough out of you!” John roared, and I felt a hard hand grab my arm just as I slid open the door to leave.

“You’re my daughter, and you’ll do as I say!”

I turned a disbelieving glare to my father. I had no idea how he’d moved that quickly to stop me from leaving, nor did I particularly care. I was done putting up with his heavyhandedness.

“Now you acknowledge me as your daughter?”

My father’s eyes widened in shock. Aside from that brief confrontation at the house yesterday, we hadn’t spoken to each other since I left home when I was eighteen. He was used to the scared, meek girl who had tried to do everything to please him—the girl who had been neglected and abused and remained stubbornly silent—afraid to rock the boat.

Well, he was in for a rude awakening if he thought that girl still existed.

“Ever since Mom died, and you brought that…woman into our home, I’ve been nothing but invisible to you. You’ve never once stood up for me, or protected me no matter what they did! I’ve been taking care of myself for years without your help. And now you think you have some right to control my life and dictate who I marry?”

It became evident on his face that he was getting more enraged with each word I spoke.

His fingers dug into my arm until I winced.

“How dare you speak to me like that!” he roared. “Clearly, my neglect is showing. I need to remind you how to be obedient!”

I flinched away when I saw him raise his hand to hit me, but I couldn't get away from his hold. I closed my eyes and waited for the blow.

But it never came.