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brings me to the time frame. The annual shareholder’s meeting is in April, and my sources tell me the board is set to vote on a permanent CEO when they convene in March.”
    His sources?
Allie barely had time to consider who at Ingram was funneling high-level information to Julian when he dropped another bomb on her.
    “We’ll need the ceremony to take place well before that meeting. Mid-February at the latest.” He cocked an eyebrow. “St. Valentine’s Day? Perhaps more fitting for the massacre than a diaper-wearing cherub, but apropos nonetheless.”
    “You want to get married next month?” she asked. Her voice was hoarse.
    “Oui. The arrangements won’t be a problem given that the plans were already in place. Most of them can be adjusted to the February date. At least enough to capitalize on the PR . . . I’m thinking something along the lines of ‘Dashing Prince Rescues Orphaned Heiress.’ Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”
    Clearly he had lost his mind. But she had to play along. It was the only hope she had of buying the time she needed to figure a way out of this mess. “Why so fast . . . I mean, we have our whole lives, what’s the rush?”
    “We need to allow adequate time for the blushing bride to realize how much the company has suffered at the hands of a corporate raider and replace him with her new husband.”
    “The co-CEO idea was just for the interim, Julian. I don’t think anyone expects it to continue permanently, regardless of whom is sitting in that chair.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous. I have no intention of working alongside you.” He took a sip from the crystal glass. “Once we return from our honeymoon, you will have a change of heart, decide you have no place in the boardroom after all, and use your considerable stock percentage to vote your new husband into the position.”
    “And what am I supposed to do?”
    He shrugged. “Fill your days with charity work and tennis matches like your mother did.”
    “So after everything I’ve done, I’m just supposed to suddenly change my mind about running my grandfather’s company and hand it all over to you?” Allie straightened in her chair. She was proud of the work she’d been doing at Ingram. Her victories in the boardroom might have been small, but she was slowly earning their respect. Walking away at this point wouldn’t make any sense. “No one will believe that.”
    “How you sell the story isn’t my concern, Alessandra. But I suggest you work on your poker face.” He closed the distance between them until he was standing beside her chair. “I’ll expect you to play the loving wife when we’re in public.”
    His fingers traced the wildly pulsing vein in her neck. Allie squeezed her eyes closed, fighting the urge to jerk away from his touch. “I’m not that good of an actor.”
    “I felt the same way, but if I can pull it off, so can you. With enough practice you’ll get it right, and if not, I will be happy to introduce certain methods of motivation.” His hand tightened around her neck. “A training of sorts could be quite interesting.”
    “That won’t be necessary,” she murmured, trying to control her fear.
    “Convince me.” He pulled her cell phone out of his hip pocket and tossed it on the desk in front of her. “I believe there is a heart in need of crushing.”
    “You want me to do it now?”
    “No time like the present. Consider it a good faith gesture on your part. Although now that I think about it, extra incentive never hurts.” Julian drained the rest of the vodka from his glass as he moved to the other side of his desk. “My sources at Chicago PD are very thorough.” He reached into the top drawer and pulled out a manila envelope. Allie knew what it contained even before he opened it. She tried to steel herself against the onslaught of emotion that welled inside her, but nothing could prepare her for what she was about to see. “Visual aides are always so helpful.