Feisty Princess Read online

  I swirl my index finger in a circle. “There are eyes everywhere. If we want to be believed, anytime we’re in public we need to make our relationship appear to be real. So get ready because these hands will be on you a lot.”

  I can tell by the heated expression on Margo’s face that she would love nothing more than to smack my hand away. The woman seems to be very fond of inflicting pain to my face with her hands. I can tell this is killing her to allow me to grope her a little in public, but before she has time to argue much more, Darby steps in front of us to open the door.

  “It’s almost working,” Darby says. “The two of you aren’t smiling. If you want the world to buy it, you’ll be needin’ to sell it a wee bit more.”

  I glance down at Margo and plaster on the biggest grin that I can fit on my face. “Hear that, sweetie. We both need to smile. We’re in love, remember?”

  “How can I forget,” she replies with a dry tone. “How’s this?”

  She tips her head and stares up at me, and it gives me a moment to stare into those gorgeous blue eyes of hers. The moment she smiles, I swear to God my breath catches. I’ve never believed in the saying ‘You take my breath away,’ but it just fucking happened to me.

  “You’re perfect,” I tell her, and at that moment, I mean it.

  My honesty must surprise her because her usual sarcastic comment doesn’t follow. Instead, her eyes remain locked on mine as she swallows hard.

  My heart is pounding like a thoroughbred’s hooves beating against the ground. I know it makes me sound like a complete fucking pussy, but if I had met Margo Buchanan in a different way, I could see myself actually being with this woman. Not only is she the hottest thing I’ve ever seen, but she’s wicked smart and has a witty tongue. Beauty and brains like hers are a rarity. She’s like finding a goddamn unicorn.

  Darby clears his throat. “Your car has arrived, Alex.”

  I shake my head, breaking out of my daze. I can’t seem to keep my head on straight when I’m with Margo, and I need to figure out a way to stop that. So much is riding on every move I make right now. I can’t afford to screw anything up. My head has to be in the game at all times, or I might lose everything.

  The car ride to the office is quiet. I’m sure we both have a lot of thinking to do and neither of us find it necessary to make small talk. I appreciate the silence.

  When we step into the elevator to head up to the office, I tell her, “Even though this is a work setting, we still need to maintain our little act, so I expect you to play your part of doting wife.”

  Margo smoothes her hair down with her fingers. “Don’t worry, King. I know my part and I plan to play it well, so you better hold up your end of the deal.”

  “I never go back on my word.”

  “Good to know,” she says.

  The elevator dings, and as if on cue, I place my hand on the small of her back. Her body shivers under my touch, and I fight back a smirk. It pleases me greatly to know that I have that effect on her.

  The doors open, and since I’m much later than normal, every set of eyes in the front office is on us the instant we walk in together.

  Margo stiffens, and I know she’ll probably hate what I’m about to do, but I want everything out in the open as quickly as possible. I’m the kind of man who wants to break the bad news to the world instead of allowing speculation to run wild.

  I lean down and kiss her cheek and then whisper, “It’s best to maintain control at all times, don’t you agree?”

  She nods and then pulls back and smiles. “Absolutely.”

  That’s when she does something that shocks the shit out of me. She traces my cheek with the tips of her fingers before she kisses me. I close my eyes briefly and allow myself the pleasure of tasting her lips. She’s so damn addictive.

  She pulls away before I’m ready, but I know it would be definitely crossing the line to fuck her in front of an audience even though my cock is growing stiff in my slacks. That’s a sexual harassment lawsuit just waiting to happen.

  Margo saunters away, giving her hips an extra swish as she heads toward her desk, and it causes me to smile. That naughty little minx knows how to play her part very well indeed. Hell, if she keeps that up, I might just begin to buy into it.

  It’s unusually quiet in the office, and I turn my attention back to the front office staff who are all frozen in place with their mouths agape. That’s enough of a show for them.

  “What are you all looking at? Back to work,” I order, and they all instantly go back to pretending to be in a huge rush.

  I stalk past them all, and then come to a halt when I find myself at Margo’s desk. “Good work, Mrs. King.”

  She smiles. “Let me know if they need an encore to buy it.”

  I shake my head before turning toward my office. “I think we’ve stunned them enough for one day.”

  I try to stay busy for the rest of the day by finalizing a few small deals I’ve been working on. When it’s nearly lunchtime, there’s a quick knock on my door before Jack comes striding in.

  He has a huge grin on his face, so I know that he’s pleased to hear that people are buying into the little act with Margo. “You son-of-a-bitch. You’ve done it. People actually believe that you and Margo are in love. I never thought you’d be able to get her to go along with it.”

  I lean back in my chair and my lips pull up at one corner. “Come on, Jack. You’re acting like you’ve just met me. You know I can close any deal. This thing with Margo is nothing but another deal.”

  He plops down in the chair in front my desk. “So if this is just a deal, it means that you’ve promised her something.”

  This was the part of my plan that I dreaded explaining to Jack, but I knew it had to be done. I stand up and then smooth my tie down before heading over to the bar. I flip two glasses over and pull the glass cork from the crystal decanter before pouring the scotch.

  “Shit,” Jack mutters as he pushes himself up from the chair. “If you’re pouring the liquor before one, I know you’re about to break some bad news to me. Please tell me that you didn’t give in to her demands and promise her something completely unreasonable.”

  I sigh and hand him a glass. “What would you have me do, Jack? I can’t very well lose control of my father’s company.”

  He shakes his head. “I get that, man. I do. But couldn’t you figure out something else to give her—write her a check or something? We’ll lose so much money if this Buchanan deal doesn’t go through.”

  As much as it pains me to think about walking away from the deal I’ve been working on for months and losing out on all the money that we stand to make, it hurts way fucking worse to think about a bunch of old, greedy bastards running the company that my father built.

  Margo

  THE FIRST DAY WE WENT public was the hardest. Since then, rumors have been flying all around the city. Gossip in this town spreads at lightning speed, especially when it involves the Naughty King and the Feisty Princess willingly committing to each other. If I were on the receiving end of that news, I would pity the idiots for thinking a relationship like that can actually work.

  Good thing I’m not in this relationship for something as silly as love.

  I don’t believe in love. I’ve seen too much when it comes to relationships; not only courtesy of my mother, but also from the assholes I’ve dated. One, in particular, did a number on my heart, so I learned that in order to not get hurt, you have to keep your feelings on a tight leash at all times.

  At this point, I couldn’t care less if people pity me and think I’m a dumb twit who Alexander will blindside. I’m doing this for me and the company that will rightfully belong to me someday.

  I find myself curled up on a chaise lounge in one of the biggest private libraries I’ve ever seen. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve enjoyed reading. Sneaking my mother’s romance novels and reading them in secret was one of my favorite pastimes. I find that as an adult, whenever I’m feeling stressed, a s
teamy romance seems to take my mind off reality for a bit. And this feels like the perfect place to hide out other than my room while I’m trapped here.

  “Alexander? Aggie?” I hear a female voice call from the front of the apartment. “Anyone here?”

  The distinct sound of heels clicking against the marble alerts me that whoever is in here is heading my way. I slide a bookmark into place and then swing my legs over the side of the seat just in time to see a four-legged ball of fur bound in my direction.

  The yellow lab pup jumps into my lap and instantly assaults my face with his wet tongue. I giggle as I try to pull him off me. “My, you’re a friendly thing, aren’t you?” As if to answer me, the puppy barks and then places a paw on my arm. I stroke his head and smile. “You’re about the cutest thing I’ve seen in a long time.”

  “Jimmy Chew!” The voice from earlier sounds in the room I’m in. “There you are!” The moment my eyes land on the woman, I instantly remember her from high school. Diem looks exactly the same, with her long blond hair and bright green eyes, only now she’s a little older and more beautiful.

  Diem rushes over to me. “I’m so sorry, Margo. Jimmy is obviously still in need of a few lessons with a good obedience trainer.”

  I wave her off, surprised that she remembers me as well. “It’s no problem at all. I actually love dogs.”

  She smiles. “Me, too.”

  “His name is cute,” I tell her as I continue to pet Jimmy.

  Diem sits on the couch across from me on the other side of the large wooden coffee table. “Thanks. Those are my favorite shoes, so when I was thinking about a name, that was the first thing that popped into my mind.”

  “I think it’s an excellent choice.” I glance in her direction and feel the need to strike up a conversation so we’re not sitting here in awkward silence. “I was admiring your paintings the other day. They are quite good.”

  Her smile widens. “That’s very kind of you. Thank you. I actually just sold my very first piece, so I’m hopeful that’s a testament to my having true talent.”

  “Congratulations. Alexander told me that the other evening.”

  Diem adjusts on the couch, and I can tell by the way she’s fidgeting in the seat that she’s uncomfortable. She’s probably wondering what in the hell I’m doing in her family home considering we never really spoke back in school.

  She licks her lips and eyes me suspiciously. “So it’s true, then—the rumors about you and my brother being married?”

  Looks like she knows exactly why I’m here. Word travels quickly in this city.

  It shouldn’t shock me that Alexander didn’t tell his sister. I mean, after all, he didn’t mean to marry me or make me apart of his family, so I can see why he wouldn’t want his sister in all this. But it still doesn’t mean it was the right thing to do. If he wants people to believe that we are actually married, then he should’ve told his family, just as I told mine.

  My lips pull into a tight line. Confirming this for Diem might piss Alexander off, but it has to be done.

  “It’s true,” I say with ease that surprises me.

  Diem tilts her head. “That must’ve been some trip to Vegas. I’m betting that Yamada was involved in some way.”

  I nod. “I’m not positive because the details are all still a little fuzzy, but I think he was the ringleader of the whole thing.”

  “I knew it!” she exclaims. “Honestly, I’m shocked. I was afraid the two of you would kill each other in Vegas. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine this happening, but I should’ve expected it. Whenever Alexander and Yamada get together, something crazy always happens.”

  “They seem like quite the pair.”

  “That’s putting it lightly.” She chuckles. “The two alone are something, but when you add Jack to the mix, scandalous debauchery ensues. The three of them together is like one big fat never-ending party.”

  “I can see that. Jack and Alexander seem a lot alike,” I tell her.

  “You know, I used to think that too, but Jack has really shown me a different side of himself lately. He can be a gentleman when he wants to be.” A slight blush creeps into her cheeks, and I instantly wonder if Diem has a crush on her brother’s best friend. “He’s actually the person to whom I sold my first painting.”

  I lift my eyebrows. “Wow. That’s awesome. I didn’t take Jack as an art buff, but I’m sure the painting he bought was stunning just like the rest of your work displayed around here.”

  “You really are too kind, but I don’t know if I would necessarily refer to the piece that he bought as beautiful considering it was a self-portrait.”

  “Really?” Now that adds a twist to this little story. Maybe the attraction is a mutual thing. I bet Alexander doesn’t have the first clue that his little sister and his best friend seem to be into one another. “Well, it sounds to me like Jack digs the woman who painted it a lot.” I give her a wink.

  Her blush colors her cheeks in full force as she lifts her shoulders in a bashful shrug. “I’m still not sure about that yet, and he hasn’t made any real moves yet, but I think it’s because he’s afraid of what Alexander might say.”

  “Who’s afraid of me now?” Alexander’s voice slices through the room, and Diem instantly stiffens.

  Alexander struts into the room and stops directly in front of me, folding his arms across his broad chest. Diem’s back is to him, and she’s staring at me with wide-eyes, begging me silently not to say a word about what she just admitted to me.

  His eyes flick down to Jimmy, who is now asleep on my lap. “I wasn’t aware that you had a dog.”

  “Oh, he’s—”

  “That’s because he’s not Margo’s dog.” Before I have a chance to stumble over explaining that the cute little pup isn’t mine, Diem feels the need to interject. Diem turns toward her brother. “That’s what we were just talking about, actually. I was afraid of what you would say about the dog.”

  Alexander sighs. “You have your own apartment, Squirt. If you want a dog to keep you company, you don’t have to ask my permission. You’re the one who’ll have to take responsibility for it.”

  “The thing is, the dog isn’t actually for me either. He’s for you.”

  Alexander furrows his brow. “Why would you get me a dog?”

  Diem stands up, and the moment she does, Jimmy’s little head pops up to watch her. She steps over to me and scoops the dog up into her arms. “I actually picked him out weeks ago before he was weaned from his mother. I thought a dog might keep you company since I moved out. If I had known you were about to get married, I might have reconsidered buying you the dog.”

  Alexander’s eyes flick in my direction, and I instantly throw my hands up in surrender. “Don’t look at me. She knew before she got here.”

  His gaze shoots back over to Diem. “How?”

  She chews on the corner of her lower lip. “Everyone’s buzzing about it. It seems that the two of you kissed in front of the entire staff of King, and they started researching the shit out of the two of you. They found notice of your marriage license online somehow.”

  “Shit,” he growls before scrubbing his hand down his face.

  “Here,” she says as she places Jimmy in Alexander’s arms. “They say dogs relieve stress.”

  “Diem . . . no . . . I don’t need a dog.” Alexander stands there stiffly, cradling the yellow pup in his arms.

  Diem turns and sits back down. “I dare you to resist that face. His name is Jimmy Chew and he’s the most adorable thing on this entire planet.”

  He stares down at the tiny ball of fur. Jimmy stretches his neck in order to lick Alexander’s face, which causes him to smile. “He is pretty cute.”

  Diem lets out a little squeal. “See! I knew even you wouldn’t be immune.”

  I catch myself grinning from ear to ear at the very sight of Alexander holding what quite possibly may be the most adorable puppy on the planet. It allows me to see another glimpse of that easygoing
guy I spotted with Yamada the night of Yamada’s party in Vegas—the guy he likes to keep hidden from me and the rest of the world.

  “You didn’t want people to know that the two of you were married?” Diem questions with a confused expression as she watches Alexander cradle Jimmy in his arms. “If that’s the case, then you probably shouldn’t have made out in front of fifty people.”

  “It wasn’t fifty,” he refutes instantly.

  “Same difference,” she counters. “What’s the big deal? You meant to get married, right?” Alexander sighs as he takes a seat next to her. She tilts her head and studies her brother. “You didn’t, did you?”

  King’s lips pull into a tight line and then his eyes flick to mine quickly before he turns his gaze to Diem. “No.”

  My mouth drops open. I can’t believe he just exposed the secret he’s been hell-bent on keeping. I’m tempted to say something, but stop myself, knowing that it’s his secret. If he trusts his sister with it, that’s his business. I just hope she doesn’t go blabbing about it to the rest of the city.

  “Yamada?” She only has to say his name like a question, and it seems to resonate with Alexander.

  He nods. “Yes. And now it’s a fucked-up mess. The board will be all over my ass because of that stupid clause Father put in his will if it gets out that Margo and I rushed into this unintentionally. Jack is afraid the board will see it as a weakness, accompanied by poor decision-making, and swoop in to contest my sole authority to make decisions for the King Corporation.”

  Diem’s mouth drops open. “They can’t do that, can they?”

  “Afraid so, but Margo has agreed to help me convince everyone that we’re a happily married couple.”

  Diem turns her attention to me. “That’s really awesome of you, considering I know the two of you don’t really get along so well.”

  I open my mouth to reply, but Alexander cuts me off.

  “Don’t toot her horn too much, Squirt. It’s not like she’s doing this out of the goodness of her heart. She’s getting something out of it too.”

  “Just what’s rightly mine and you know it,” I fire back in my defense.