“Hello, darling,” she said, a smile trembling on her lips as she stepped forward.
He looked up. Something blazed in his eyes, but he didn’t return her smile. He had a tense look about his mouth and jaw. She heard a low cough. Turning, she saw a short man in a tailored suit rising from a chair.
Garek stood also. “Ellie, this is Larry Larson, the company lawyer. He has something for you to sign.”
“Something for me to sign?” Ellie repeated in confusion. “What is it?”
Garek met her puzzled gaze steadily.
“A prenuptial agreement,” he said.
Garek watched Ellie as Larry explained the contract to her. She was very quiet. She’d barely said a word since he’d first told her about the prenuptial agreement. She sat in the chair across from him, her face very pale.
What was she thinking? He didn’t know. Except for one stunned glance at him when he’d made his announcement, she hadn’t looked at him. She looked hurt. She looked as though he’d done something unspeakable.
Dammit, he thought angrily. She had no right to look like that. No right at all. It was common sense to settle their financial matters before they married. It made no difference to their relationship. Couldn’t she see that?
Larry finished his explanation. He flipped to the back page of the document and showed her the signature line. “You just need to sign here,” he said, holding out his pen.
Ellie didn’t take the pen. Instead, she rose to her feet and gathered up the pages.
“Is something wrong?” Larry asked.
“No, not at all,” she said calmly. “I just want to take it home and read through it.”
Larry frowned. “But I explained all of the clauses to you.”
“Yes, I know. I still want to read them over on my own.”
Garek frowned also. “Is there something you don’t understand?”
“No, not really.”
“Then there’s no reason to delay signing,” the lawyer said, his voice a trifle chilly.
Her voice was equally cool. “I disagree. You’ve explained to me the necessity for this. Your reasons were practical. But I must be practical, also. It’s only common sense to read something before I sign it, perhaps have my lawyer look it over.”
Larry gaped at her.
She gave Garek a slightly shaky smile. “Do you mind if we skip lunch? I’m not very hungry…” She turned and walked out of the room.
Garek went after her.
“Ellie,” he said, catching her elbow in the hall outside Mrs. Grist’s office. “Dammit, it doesn’t have to be like this—”
“Like what?”
Her expression was cool and remote—except for her eyes—her eyes were big blue pools of pain. Releasing her, he shoved his hands in his pockets and stepped back. “I can’t take chances with the business.”
“I know. I’m not mad, honestly. It’s just that…oh, why does money have to ruin everything? Why does it make everything corrupt and ugly?”
He frowned at her. “You’re exaggerating.”
“I know. I know. I guess I’m still in shock. I wish you’d told me about this sooner.”
“I’ve been busy.” It was difficult suddenly to meet her gaze. “I just signed the Lachland buyout this morning. It means a lot to Wisnewski Industries.”
“Does it? I’m happy for you, then.” She turned her face away, brushing the dampness from her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I have to go.” She hurried out the door.