6. Alyssa

Since Dad was part of the wedding party, all of our tickets were bought together, along with the rest of what was supposed to be the wedding party. I made a point of letting him know back then that I didn't want Helen and Mitzie on the same flight as Mom, or he could stay his ass home.

The morning of our flight, I went into their account and canceled Helen's ticket. As for Mitzie, I guess no one had told her that it was illegal to travel out of the country when you have an outstanding warrant, even if it's just for traffic tickets.

Our state makes a shit ton of money by overcharging people for those things when it comes to fines, and they take it very seriously. Again, I was going to miss the action, but whatever. Dad started drinking as soon as the plane doors closed or just about.

By now, the rest of the family had learned of the change of plans, but no one was too bent out of shape because they were getting a free vacation and had already taken the time off, so what was the harm? Anyone who wanted to bow out had been given the option, but no one took that deal.

Grandma spent the whole flight cussing all men to hell, which had me in a very good mood the whole time we were in the air. That mood died a quick death when we landed, and I saw all the missed calls and messages from my boss.

Apparently, Garrett Jacobi wanted a meet. It took a minute for me to place the name as I made my way to the waiting car. I called my boss back right away because business is business, after all. "I'm so sorry; I know what weekend this is, but that man is difficult to deal with, and he will only deal with you. Can you please give him a call?"

"What's the number? Did you tell him that I was getting married this weekend?"

"I didn't, no, I didn't want to put him off in any way."

"Got it. I'll talk to him." I made the call on the way to the resort not too put out because I try not to life get in my way too much.

"Ms. Archer, nice of you to return my call."

"Mr. Jacobi, what seems to be the problem?"

"There's a typo in one of the contracts we signed. I'd like to have it taken care of before long, and since you were the other signee, your presence is needed so that the correction can be notified."

Anal, are we? "That's fine, but I'm in Cabo."

"What's in Cabo?"

"Well, it was supposed to be my wedding, but that's a bust."

"What?"

"Nothing! The problem is, I'll be here for two weeks. Can it wait?"

"No, I'll be there in a couple of hours."

"Where? You don't even know where I am."

"I'll find you." I looked at the phone after he hung up in my ear. What the hell is his malfunction? And what the fuck is mine? My heart was thumping against my rib cage.

What the hell does a couple of hours mean to this git? It's been five hours already and I've been on pins and needles this whole time. When the phone in the room rang while I was in the middle of getting ready for dinner, I almost jumped out of my skin. I knew it wasn't one of my family members because they would've just called my cell.

"Hello!"

"Ms. Archer, your car is waiting downstairs?"

"Car? What car?"

"Mr. Jacobi has sent his car and driver to fetch you, ma'am."

"I'll be right down." I hung up the phone and looked down at the white sundress and sandals.

I obviously didn't bring any business wear, and I refused to go to any of the stores downstairs because I didn't invite him. There was a white Rolls Royce waiting right outside the doors when I arrived, and the driver opened the back door upon my approach.

I barely saw the legs of the occupant but somehow knew it was him. I'd told my brothers that someone was coming to sign something for work, but there was no mention of me driving away with him. I looked back at the elevators, but it was too late to do anything about it.

I walked over to the car and got in, feeling nervous for the first time since I was about nine. "Good evening."

"Good evening. Did you bring the papers?" Before he answered, the car pulled off with me inside.

"I have a confession to make."

"About what?"

"There are no papers."

"Excuse me?"

"I knew about your canceled engagement."

"What? How?"

"I looked into you after our meeting, and let's just say, it was quite a wild ride."

My mouth was halfway to my chest. "Don't worry, I haven't shared this with anyone else." I didn't know what to say.

"What do you know?"

"I know about the burning bed, the baseball bat. Was that really your father?"

I stupidly nodded my head because I was caught off guard.

"Was it because of the affair?" Who the fuck?

GARRETT

I've lost my fucking mind. That's the only explanation I can give myself. I'd spent the last few hours sitting in my villa overlooking the sea, contemplating whether or not I wanted to go through with this.

If I'm being honest, it started the moment she sat down across from me at our first meeting. She knew who I was and probably what I was worth or close to it, but I didn't get that hungry vibe from her.

There was chemistry, which was hard to deny, but she didn't make a play, didn't try to drop any hints, and did nothing. I wasn't offended; in fact, I was intrigued. It had to be the first time in about ten years since that had happened to me.

At twenty-three, I started my first startup, which took off in just two years and propelled me into the top one percentile. Ever since then, I've had more disingenuous women throw themselves at me than I care to remember.

This one was straightforward; she didn't try to hide her extreme smarts or play up to me as a man. I've had women hide their PhDs as if somehow that was a turnoff. Or women who were looking for someone to take care of them instead of a partner.

To each his own, but that's not my style and never has been. Before we met, I barely knew the bare bones of her business acumen, and that was about it. I was at first surprised by how young she was, but once I had the background check run on her, it all became clear. She's smart as shit.

When my man called me with the first update, I had to ask him twice if he was sure he had the right person. He sent me a picture of her returning to her home after beating the shit out of everyone in her father's house, and I was gobsmacked.

Once he'd compiled the whole report, I sat in silence for a good hour trying to figure out what the hell was going on, and then he dug deeper and found out more about her past.

I stopped him from going any further because, at some point, I decided I wanted to learn about her from her. That was another first. I've learned from experience that it's best to know every minute detail before letting anyone get too close, but for some reason, with her, I felt a rush of excitement at the thought of getting to know her the old-fashioned way.

I knew where she was going and why and got here the day before she did. If she hadn't turned up, I would've hunted her down at her home, but she came, which I was hoping she would. Not just so I could meet her here, but because I wanted to see if she was the kind of woman who would go through with it.

I don't know why everything about her makes my heart sing, but it does, and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it. I called her boss with that bogus story, making sure he knew that it was no fault of hers, of course and now we're here, on our way to my place for the dinner I'd had prepared for us.

"I don't understand. You had someone watching me all this time? Why?"

"At first, it was because I wanted to know who you were."

"And after?"

"It was to protect you."

"Protect me, protect me from what?"

"You played an intricate part in the business deal I just signed, so you know how protective I am about what's mine and the lengths I go to to make sure they're safe. Why do you think I had someone in place to protect you?"