A hearty laugh filled the kitchen. “Is there anything about sex with me that makes you think I’m too old?”

“No, but...shouldn’t you, I don’t know, think hickeys are juvenile?”

Van set his glass on the counter and placing his hands on my waist, effortlessly lifted me to the edge of the granite. Caging me in with his arms, Van leaned forward. “No. It wasn’t juvenile.” His forehead came down to mine as his words slowed and his tenor deepened. “It was primitive, primal, and animalistic. It was me leaving my mark on you and telling the whole damn world that you’re mine.”

I lifted my lips to his for a chaste kiss. “I wasn’t upset when I saw it.”

“Good. Because you are mine, Julia. I found you.”

My hands went to his wide shoulders. “My dad is worried, Van. Maybe if he knew it was you who bought the stock, if you told the world it was you, maybe that would stop some of the panic by the bank and other investors.”

His head shook. “It wouldn’t.”

“Why? You have capital. You could…I don’t know…restore Wade, make the balloon payment, or give it financial backing so that it isn’t vulnerable.”

He took a step back and lifted his glass, bringing the rim to his lips. I watched as he swallowed and the way his Adam’s apple bobbed where he’d unbuttoned his shirt. Once he was done, he began, “If the media caught wind that I was the buyer, Wade would be lucky to get pennies on the dollar in an offer from any of the bigger pharmaceutical corporations. I told you what I do.”

“You buy and sell.”

“I do. I also destroy.”

20. Julia

Julia

My gaze narrowed. “What do you mean, you destroy?”

“I buy companies and sell them off for parts or force them to falter.”

“I don’t understand,” I said honestly. “You would lose money.”

“Sometimes and when I do, I use it to my advantage.”

Four years of college courses was my big business experience. The last six months at Wade was filled with elementary tasks. With my time divided between work, wedding planning, and literature and writing interests, I didn’t mind not truly being an intricate part of my family’s business. I always thought I’d get the chance to do more with Wade one day. One day when I was interested.

Maybe today was that day.

“You purposely trash companies?”

“I destroy, not trash. Acquisitions are usually profitable, but when they’re not, they can still be advantageous to the bottom line.”

Before I asked why, the answer came to me. “When you lose money, you use it to counterbalance your gross income.”

“Very good.”

“What about the people who lose their jobs, careers, and livelihoods?”

“You should follow the news. Everyone is hiring.”