Chapter 106 The extension
Sage's POV
Diego's voice came through the phone speaker smooth and confident, as if he had been expecting this call and had already planned out exactly what he was going to say. Ryder sat beside me on the couch, close enough that I could feel the tension radiating from his body as he listened to my conversation with Diego.
"Hello, Diego." I forced my voice to stay steady even though my heart was pounding. "I hope I'm not calling at a bad time."
"For you, Sage, there's never a bad time." I could hear the smile in his voice, that charming tone he probably used on everyone he wanted something from. "I assume you're calling about the wedding arrangements. Elena told me about your conversation with her."
"She did?" I shouldn't have been surprised that Elena had reported back to him, but it still made my stomach clench knowing they'd been discussing me.
"Of course. She said you put up quite a fight before she won. I respect that about you." Diego paused. "But I also hope you understand that losing means you're bound by the agreement you made. Four days from now, you're expected in Arizona."
I took a deep breath, trying to organize my thoughts into something that would sound convincing. "That's actually why I'm calling. I need to ask you for something."
"Go ahead. I'm listening."
"I need more time. Just one more week before I come to Arizona." The words came out in a rush before I could second-guess myself. "I know we made an agreement and I know I'm supposed to be there in four days, but I need a little more time to say goodbye properly."
There was silence on the other end of the line. I could hear Diego breathing, could almost see him leaning back in whatever expensive leather chair he was sitting in while he considered my request.
"Say goodbye to who?" he asked finally, his voice careful and controlled.
"To everything here. My home, the club, my brother." I swallowed hard. "To Ryder."
Another pause, a longer this time. When Diego spoke again, there was something different in his tone, something that sounded almost like understanding. "You want time to end things with your boyfriend properly."
"Yes." It wasn't entirely a lie. If I really was going to marry Diego in a week, I would need to say goodbye to Ryder. But that wasn't the real reason I was asking for more time.
"And if I give you this extra week, you'll come to Arizona voluntarily? No more fighting, no more trying to find ways out of the arrangement?" Diego's voice was hard now, making sure I understood the terms.
"If you give me the week, I'll come to Arizona willingly." The words tasted like ash in my mouth, but I said them anyway because I needed this time. I needed it to figure out what Jaxon was hiding. I needed it to find some way out of this marriage that didn't involve me actually going through with it.
Diego was quiet for so long I thought he might say no. I thought he might tell me that four days was generous enough and I should be grateful for what I had. But then he spoke, and his voice had changed to something warmer.
"I'll give you the week."
Relief flooded through me so fast I released a breath I didn't realize I was holding. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. I'm not doing this out of kindness." Diego's tone became more businesslike again. "I'm giving you this extra time because I actually like you, Sage. I've been watching you for weeks now, and you've got spirit. You fight for what you want, you don't back down easily, and you're loyal to the people you care about. Those are qualities I value in a partner."
The mention of him watching me made me suddenly guarded, but I forced myself to focus on the conversation. "So you'll move the wedding plans forward by a week?"
"I'll make the arrangements. Instead of coming to Arizona in four days, you'll have eleven days total. Use that time to say your goodbyes, wrap up whatever business you need to handle, and prepare yourself mentally for this partnership." He paused. "And Sage? When you do come to Arizona, I'll make sure you're treated well. You won't be a prisoner or a piece of property. You'll be my wife, and I take care of what's mine."
There was something possessive in the way he said that last part that made my skin crawl, but I pushed the feeling down. "I appreciate that."
"But let me be very clear about something." Diego's voice went cold, all the warmth draining out of it in an instant. "I'm giving you this extension because I choose to, not because you've earned it or because I'm weak. If I find out you're playing games with me, if you're using this extra time to plot some escape or find some loophole in the agreement, there will be consequences."