Tuesday's Tales 30th July - Bargain

Welcome to Tuesday's Tales

A place where books are born.

 

This week's 'tale' is from the third chapter of my current, untitled, WIP. And is written to the prompt 'Bargain'

“If he thinks Adrian can sweeten the bargain by offering me up like a lump of meat on a butcher’s slab, he’s even more out of his arrogant mind than usual.” Samantha stormed round the converted pool house, her arms flapping like the sails of an old-fashioned windmill.

“I’m no more charmed with this proposal than you are,” Rafe snapped back. It offended him to witness Samantha’s aggravation at her father’s demand even though his own fury equalled hers. He disliked being manipulated every bit as much as she did.

“He’s not even my father! How dare he call me here and make such a stupendously outrageous demand. Did you know that after his work, his main ambition is to play hopscotch with my life?” She spun round when she reached the far wall before stalking back to where he stood. “And how come neither, if what you say is true—” She stopped long enough to all but drill a hole through his chest with her finger. “If what he claims is true,” she amended rapidly when she caught his scowl. “—that neither of us had any inkling about this relationship?”

She spun away again, her hands cupping her elbows and stared out of the glass-panelled wall to watch the sunlight dance across the surface of the wind-swept pool.

“Cousins! How can we be cousins?  You’re Italian, and I’m as boringly British as they come.  Where’s the connection?” With her arms still firmly wrapped round her waist she shot him a glance over her shoulder. “Anyway, what does your fiancée have to say about this?  I bet she hasn’t remained silent at the prospect of bagging such a lucrative husband. I mean, think of the alimony when you both get fed-up with each other. Mind you,” she added, her hands imitating a windmill again, “she hasn’t got an idiot father standing over her demanding she marry you against her will, has she?”

 

Thank you for reading this week's offering, and please hop on over to read everyone's offering for this week's Tuesday's Tales prompt.