Chapter 2

Genevieve pov

"What?" The word left Elijah's mouth so calmly that I almost regretted asking the question.

I stared at him with wide eyes, wishing I could pull those ridiculous words back into my mouth.

Marry him? Out of every insane idea I could have come up with tonight, that had to be the worst one.

I rubbed my forehead and let out a frustrated sigh. "I know how that sounded."

He took another sip of his drink without taking his eyes off me. "It sounded exactly like a marriage proposal." He said.

"It was." I said as silence settled between us.

The fountain nearby continued to splash quietly while music from the ballroom drifted into the night air.

He didn't laugh and he didn't look confused either. Instead, he simply looked at me as if he were evaluating a business proposal.

Finally, he spoke. "Why would I marry you?"

That simple question made my emotions explode again. I looked back toward the brightly lit mansion where everyone was celebrating Franklin, a company that is supposed to be mine, my future and my life.

Everything had been stolen from me in less than an hour. I clenched my fists. "You want the truth?"

"I asked."

I looked him straight in the eyes. "My father never loved me."

His expression remained unreadable.

"He raised me like an investment, not a daughter."

Still, he remained silent as I rant. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the anger or maybe I simply needed someone to hear me.

Whatever the reason was, the words refused to stop coming.

"When I was four years old, my father put business newspapers in front of me instead of storybooks."

Elijah leaned against the marble railing quietly as I continued. "I learned stock values before I learned nursery rhymes. I never celebrated birthdays."

I laughed bitterly "Funny, isn't it? Tonight was supposed to be my birthday celebration, yet I don't even know what a normal birthday feels like."

He finally frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"

"I mean exactly what I said." I folded my arms tightly. "When other children were blowing out candles and opening presents, I was studying company reports."

"My tutors came before friends! My father came before everything!” I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. "I never went camping, I never went to parties, I never had sleepovers, and I never dated."

"I spent my childhood learning how markets rise and fall. My teenage years were spent sitting in boardrooms. My twenties were spent preparing to become the next Beaumont."

I laughed quietly. "And today he looked me in the face and told me I wasn't enough."

For the first time since meeting him, Elijah's expression softened ever so slightly.

I looked away before tears could appear. "I kept telling myself that one day he'd finally be proud of me."

I shook my head. "I thought when I became what he wanted, he'd finally see me as his daughter."

I looked toward the mansion again. "But today proved I was wrong."

The music inside suddenly became louder as applause echoed through the building. They were still celebrating Franklin.

My blood boiled. "I wasted my entire life." I looked back at Elijah. "So if I can't inherit Beaumont Holdings..."

A dangerous smile slowly appeared on my lips. "I'll become Beaumont Holdings' biggest enemy."

The words hung between us as he watched me for several seconds then he asked another question. "And what exactly do I gain?"

There it was. The businessman side of him. Everything had a price.

I nodded slowly. "You will get Information."

"What kind?" He asked.

"The kind you might probably spend years trying to get." His eyes narrowed as I continued.

"I grew up inside Beaumont Holdings. I know how my father thinks, I know confidential operations, I know secret partnerships, I know investments that haven't gone public, I know board members who secretly hate him and I know which companies he's planning to acquire."

I took one step closer to him. "I can give you everything." He remained quiet. "I'll help you destroy my father."

He looked away briefly before letting out a small chuckle. "You overestimate my influence."

"What?"

"I'm self made. I built my own empire, I have no business ties with your father, I'm completely independent."

“I don't answer to my father who happens to be your father’s rival, I don't work under him, and I don't even share management with him."

I blinked as everyone in business circles knew Elijah Harrington.

But everyone also assumed he represented Harrington Holdings. Apparently, that wasn't true.

"I don't care." I said with a shrug of my shoulders.

He raised an eyebrow while I continued. "As long as you carry the Harrington name, that's enough."

"You think your father will be angry?" He asked like someone in doubt.

"He'll lose his mind." I said and the corner of Elijah's lips lifted slightly.

For the first time that night, I saw amusement in his eyes. He looked back toward the mansion then at me then back again.

He seemed to be calculating something. Minutes passed then Finally, he nodded once. "I'll do it."

My eyes widened. "What?"

"I said I'll do it."

"You mean it?" I asked to be sure.

"I don't joke about contracts." He said and relief washed over me so suddenly that my knees almost gave way. I couldn't believe he had agreed.

"We walk back inside and I propose to you with everyone watching." He said and the idea was so outrageous that it almost sounded brilliant.

"But we don't even have a ring." I said and he looked down at his right hand. A diamond ring rested on one finger. It looked simple, elegant and expensive.

He slowly removed it. "I'll use this."

I looked at it carefully. "It'll do." I nodded slowly.

The decision had been made and there was no turning back. Without another word, we walked toward the mansion.

The music was still playing when we entered and no one noticed us immediately as everyone remained gathered around Franklin.

The journalists continued taking photographs. My father stood near the stage speaking with politicians while Patrick Hyde laughed loudly with several businessmen.

The sight of him disgusted me.

Elijah looked at me. "Ready?"

I nodded as we both walked toward the stage. People gradually noticed him as whispers spread across the ballroom.

"What is Elijah Harrington doing here?"

"Why is he with Genevieve?"

"Who invited him?"

My father looked over and his expression immediately darkened.

Elijah climbed onto the stage and I followed him. Hundreds of eyes fixed themselves on us as even the cameras turned.

Then Elijah did something nobody expected. He dropped onto one knee and the entire ballroom gasped.

I nearly forgot to breathe as he held up the diamond ring while his voice echoed through the silent hall. "Genevieve Beaumont."

Every camera flash exploded at once. "Will you marry me?"

For a second, nobody moved. Then whispers erupted across the room.

I slowly extended my hand with a wide, perfect smile. "Yes." He slid the ring onto my finger and the room exploded into chaos.

People screamed as reporters rushed forward. Flash after flash lit up the ballroom.

Then my father's furious voice thundered across the hall. "GENEVIEVE!"

He stormed forward while Patrick Hyde followed behind him, his face completely red. "What is the meaning of this?" my father roared.

I turned toward him. "This is exactly what it looks like."

He pointed at Elijah. "You!"

Patrick Hyde glared at me. "Genevieve, have you lost your mind?"

I looked directly at both men."No, because I've finally found it."

My father marched closer. "Take that ring off."

I shook my head as the journalists crowded around us and microphones stretched toward my face. "Miss Beaumont, When did this relationship begin?"

"Is this true love?"

"Were you secretly dating?"

I looked straight into the cameras. "Yes." I said and the room became even louder.

I slipped my arm around Elijah's. "We've been in love for a long time."

Even I almost believed my own lie. "We simply chose today to stop hiding."

Patrick Hyde's face turned pale while My father looked ready to explode. "Stop this nonsense!"

"I'm done being your pawn."

"You don't know what you're doing."

"I know exactly what I'm doing." I said and his face turned frighteningly cold.

Then he looked toward the security guards. "Bring Evelyn here."

My heart skipped and within seconds, they dragged Evelyn into the middle of the hall.

She looked frightened but remained calm as my father pointed at her. "If you continue this madness, she'll pay the price."

I froze in fear. "Evelyn..."

She looked at me then she slowly shook her head. Her eyes silently told me not to surrender.

Tears burned behind my eyes as I looked back at my father. "If anything happens to her, I'll report you."

He laughed and the sound echoed across the ballroom. "You think anyone would believe you?"

He turned toward Elijah. "I'll admit something." His eyes narrowed dangerously. "You're bold."

He looked around his mansion proudly. "Even your father has never dared step into my territory."

Elijah said nothing and his silence somehow irritated my father even more.

Suddenly my father raised his hand. "Take my daughter away."

Several guards rushed toward me and Elijah stepped forward instantly.

Before he could reach me, another group of guards surrounded him and he stopped moving.

I struggled as rough hands grabbed my arms. "Let me go!"

My father looked at me with cold satisfaction. "You've embarrassed this family for the last time."

I fought harder. "Father!"

He ignored me completely as the guards dragged me toward the inner hallway.

I looked back one last time as I watched Elijah stand surrounded by security. Our eyes met briefly across the ballroom.

Then my father's voice echoed behind me. "I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget."

The guards pulled me deeper into the mansion.