One Special Moment - Brenda Jackson [28]
And as inconceivable as it seemed, she wanted to be there for him and not just for their child.
Chapter 8
Edward Stewart and his trusted secretary, Marva Webster, arrived at Colby’s suite before noon the next morning.
“Are you absolutely sure you don’t want to consult your own attorney before we get started, dear?” Edward asked Colby.
She shook her head. “No. The less people knowing about this the better.”
“But there may be some areas of concern you may want—”
“No, I read over everything last night, and I’m fine with it.”
Colby actually felt better today than she’d felt in the past few days. Knowing about the year extension had made her heart feel lighter and less burdened. No matter what the document said, she had no intention of getting out of Sterling Hamilton’s life a year after the birth of their child.
“It seems Colby will be glad to get her hands on the money after all,” Sterling said icily. His muscular body filled a wingback chair that sat across the room.
Colby’s eyes narrowed at him. “For your information, Sterling, I still have no intentions of getting that money—at least not for myself. I’ve instructed Edward to donate a portion of it to the school where I teach. It’s an inner-city school that can use all the extra funding it can get. The money will go on record as a generous contribution from you to the school. The rest of it will be used to help other needy inner-city schools around the country.”
A look of total disbelief was etched on Sterling’s face as he stood and looked at Colby as if she had lost her mind. “You’re giving all that money away?”
“No, you are. It’s all being donated in your name. I told you in the very beginning my child wouldn’t be bought. All I want is for Wingate Cosmetics to stay out of Morton Industries’ hands. You’ve assured me it will, and I believe you.”
Then she turned back to Edward. “Where do you want me to sign?”
“Wait!” Sterling’s single word echoed loudly in the room and everyone turned to him.
“What is it now?” Colby asked with annoyance in her voice. She wanted to sign the papers and get things over with so she could return home to Virginia. Somehow she had to find a way to break the news to James about her pending marriage without giving away the real reason she was doing it.
Sterling met her gaze evenly. “You are aware there’ll be other papers for you to sign prior to the marriage?”
At Colby’s confused look, he said, “A prenuptial agreement. I do expect you to sign one.”
Colby released an exasperated sigh. Sterling Hamilton was getting on her last nerve. “Certainly,” she returned before turning to Edward. “Where do I sign?”
Sterling signed the papers after her, and Ms. Webster signed as a witness. After their departure, Colby found herself alone with Sterling.
“Hungry?” he asked, breaking the silence in the room.
She shook her head. “I’ve suddenly lost my appetite.”
“It will eventually come back,” he said smartly.
Colby opened her mouth to give him a tongue-lashing retort, then immediately closed it. What good would it do anyway? Besides, she was not in the mood to argue with him.
“You’re probably right,” she said, knowing her response was not what he’d expected.
And it wasn’t. Sterling lifted his brow at her reply. “What are your plans for the rest of the day?” he asked her.
“I don’t have any.”
He thrust his hands into the pockets of his pants. “Then there’s no reason for us not to spend it together.”
“Doing what?” Colby asked curtly.
He gave her a smooth smile. “Sight-seeing. How about if I show you around the area. Then there’s one more thing we need to discuss in detail before you leave California.”
“What?”
“Our wedding plans.”
First, Sterling took Colby