Chapter 3 - THE MAN IN THE TUXEDO
Jason Mercer stood in front of the mirror in the groom’s suite adjusting a cuff link that cost more than his first car.
His best man, Daniel, was talking about champagne.
Jason heard none of it.
He had called Sydney eleven times since midnight.
She had answered once.
Her message had been short.
She heard us.
Jason had spent the next six hours trying to decide how much Meline actually knew.
The loan was dangerous.
The affair was worse.
The baby could destroy everything.
A knock sounded.
Daniel opened the door.
Robert Carter walked in.
Meline’s father closed the door behind him.
“Out.”
Daniel frowned.
“What?”
“Family business.”
Jason nodded.
“Give us five minutes.”
When they were alone, Robert walked straight toward him.
“You idiot.”
Jason lowered his voice.
“Did she say anything?”
“Elaine says she’s acting strange.”
“That doesn’t tell me anything.”
Robert grabbed his shoulder.
“You were supposed to keep Sydney quiet.”
Jason shoved his hand away.
“I didn’t invite Meline to walk into the condo.”
Robert paced.
For the first time, Jason realized the older man looked scared.
That unsettled him.
Robert Carter never looked scared.
“What happens if she refuses to sign?” Jason asked.
Robert stopped.
“She won’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I raised her.”
Robert’s voice hardened.
“Meline folds when family pressure becomes strong enough.”
Jason stared at him.
He knew a different version of Meline.
Quiet.
Methodical.
Patient.
She almost never fought.
But when she made a decision, she became impossible to move.
“What about the recording?”
Robert’s expression changed.
“You think she actually recorded us?”
“Sydney does.”
Robert cursed under his breath.
Jason walked toward the window overlooking the hotel courtyard.
“Maybe I should talk to her before the ceremony.”
“No.”
Robert’s answer came instantly.
“Why?”
“Because you’ll make it worse.”
Jason turned.
“You’re asking me to marry a woman who may know I got her sister pregnant.”
Robert’s face twisted.
“Keep your voice down.”
Jason laughed bitterly.
“This was supposed to be simple.”
Robert stepped closer.
“You wanted access to her credit.”
“You told me it was legal.”
“It would have been after she signed.”
Jason stared at him.
That answer disturbed even him.
Robert continued.
“Once the loan cleared, we refinanced the company debt, repaid the bridge money, and no one got hurt.”
“And if the company failed?”
Robert did not answer.
Jason understood.
Meline would have been left holding the debt.
He loosened his collar.
For the first time since the plan began, he wondered whether he had underestimated the risk.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message from Meline.
See you at the altar.
Jason read it twice.
Robert smiled.
“What did I tell you?”
Jason did not smile back.
Because beneath the message was another line.
May you like
Bring the folder.
And suddenly, the tuxedo felt much too tight.
