I didn't wait for anyone to speak before I walked out and left a fuming Francis, flustered Cecelia, and red-faced Vivian in the dining room.
My anger remained a restless burn beneath my skin, but it cooled with each step farther away from them.
In the past, I'd exacted retribution on those who crossed me immediately. Fuck revenge being a dish best served cold; my motto has always been strike fast, strike hard, and strike true.
The world moved too quickly for me not to move along
with it. I took care of the problem harshly enough to ensure there wouldn't be any future problems, and I moved on.
Resolving the Lau situation, on the other hand, required patience. It was a virtue I wasn't familiar with, and it stretched tight over me like an ill-fitting suit.
The echo of my footsteps faded as marble floors gave
way to carpet. I'd visited enough mansions with similar layouts to guess where the restroom was, but I bypassed it in favor of the solid mahogany door at the end of the hall.
A twist of the knob revealed an office styled after an
English library. Wood paneling, overstuffed leather furniture, forest green accents.
Francis's inner sanctum.
At least it wasn't overly festooned with gold like the rest of the house. My eyes were starting to bleed from the eyesore.
I left the door open and walked to the desk, my pace unhurried. If Francis had a problem with me snooping
through his office, he was welcome to confront me.
He wasn't stupid enough to leave the photos lying
around behind an unlocked door when he knew l'd be here tonight. Even if the photos were here, he'd have backups stashed elsewhere.
I settled into his chair, plucked a Cuban cigar from the
box in his drawer, and lit it while l examined the room. My anger gave way to calculation.
The dark computer screen tempted me, but left the
hacking to Christian, who was already tracking down digital copies of the photos.
I moved on to a framed picture of Francis and his family in the Hamptons. Research told me they had a summer house in Bridgehampton, and l'd bet my newly acquired Renoir he kept at least one set of evidence there.
Where else...
"What are you doing?"
The smoke from my cigar obscured Vivian's face, but her disapproval came through loud and clear.
That was fast. I'd expected at least five more minutes
before her parents forced her to come after me.
"Enjoying a smoke break." I took another lazy drag.
I didn't touch cigarettes, but I indulged in the occasional Cohiba. At least Francis had good taste in tobacco.
"In my father's office?"
"Obviously." Dark satisfaction filled my chest when the
smoke dissolved to reveal Vivian's frown.
Finally. Some visible emotion. l'd started to think I was stuck with a robot for the remainder of our ridiculous engagement.
She crossed the room, plucked the cigar from my hand, and dropped in the half-empty glass of water on the desk without taking her eyes off mine.
"I understand you're probably used to doing whatever
you want, but it's exceedingly rude to sneak off during a dinner party and smoke in your host's office." Tension lined her elegant features. "Please rejoin us in the dining room. Your food is getting cold."
"That's my problem, not yours." I leaned back. "Why
don't you join me for a break? I promise it'll be more enjoyable than your mother's hand wringing over floral
arrangements."
"Based on our interactions so far, I doubt it," she
snapped.
| watched, amused, as she took a deep breath and
released it in one long, control led exhale.
"I don't understand why you're here," Vivian said, her
voice calmer. You're clearly unhappy about the arrangement, you don't need the money or connection with my family, and you can have any woman you want."
"Can I?" I drawled. "What if I want you?"
Her fingers curled into loose fists. "You don't."
"You give yourself too little credit." I rose and circled the desk until I stood close enough to see the pulse fluttering in her neck. How much faster would it beat if I wrapped her hair around my fist and pulled her head back? If I kissed her until her mouth bruised and hiked up her skirt until she begged me to fuck her?
Heat ran to my groin.
I wasn't interested in actually fucking her, but she was so prim and proper she begged for corruption.
The silence was deafening as I lifted my hand and grazed my thumb over her bottom lip. Vivian's breathing shallowed, but she didn't move away.
She stared me, eyes full of defiance as I took my time
exploring the lush curve of her mouth. It was full, soft, and disturbingly tempting compared to the stiff formality of the rest of her appearance.
"You're a beautiful woman," I said lazily. "Perhaps I saw you at an event and was so enamored | asked your father for your hand in marriage."
"Somehow, I doubt that's what happened." Her breath
drifted over my skin. "What kind of deal did you make with my father?"
The reminder of the deal killed the sensuality of the
moment as quickly as it came. My thumb paused on the center of her bottom lip before I dropped my hand with a silent curse. My skin tingled with heat from the memory of her softness.
I hated Francis for the blackmail, but I loathed Vivian forbeing his pawn. So what the fuck was I doing, toying with her in his office?
"You should ask your dear father that question." My smile cut across my face, cruel and devoid of humor as I regathered my composure. "The details don't matter. Just know that if I had any other choice, I damn well wouldn't be getting married. But business is business, and you..." I shrugged nonchalantly. "You're simply part of the deal."
Vivian didn't know about her father's manipulation.
Francis had warned me not to tell her, not that I would've, anyway. The fewer people who knew about the blackmail, the better.
He'd uncovered one of my few weak spots, and l'd be damned if I broadcast it to the world. Vivian's eyes glowed with anger. "You're an asshole."
"Yes, I am. Better get used to it, mia cara, because l'm also your future husband. Now, if you'll excuse me..." I straightened my jacket with deliberate care. "I have to return to dinner. As you said earlier, my food's getting cold."
I brushed past her, reveling in the delicious taste of her indignation. One day, she'd get her unspoken wish and wake up to a broken engagement.
Until then, I'd bide my time and play along because Francis's ultimatum had been clear.
Marry Vivian, or my brother dies.