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"None of the above," I reply "This has to do with my position with the board"

"What's that supposed toher blonde hair behind one ear

I'm really not in the ure this ht

"Your e stake into coive her a seat on the Board of Directors And she's now in the role of Chief Counsel advising all investment matters"

"But I still don't understand," Becca says "Why would you have to go and marry her? Where's the connection?"

"She basically held my hand to the flame"

Becca laughs "Give rown man Why wouldn't you just say no?"

"It's not that simple," I say, "and if you've watched the news at all, you'd see I recently gotmess"

"That's putting it mildly," she replies

"She threatenedme down, but the entire coive a shit about the thousands of Kane Price employees Their livelihood is at stake, just as much as mine is"

"Well, I'm still pissed you didn't tell me," Becca says

"It wasn'tthis"

I can see by the look in Becca's eyes that she still doesn't believe me, but it's too late to convince her any further because I hear Lorna enter the dining room

"What wasn't your choice?" she asks, her voice sharper than my steak knife

Fuck my life