Crown of Lies

“Nice, Dad. Real nice,” I muttered under my breath.

Mr. Everett noticed, a smug smirk twisting his lips. One look into his eyes and I knew he’d stored away my embarrassing title for ammunition in the future.

But there will be no future.

Because in ten seconds, I wanted to be gone and never see him again.

“I’m suddenly not hungry.” I narrowed my eyes at my father. “Please give my apologies to Steve and Greg.”

“Steve and Greg?” Mr. Everett repeated.

I sneered. “Two more men I refuse to have anything to do with so don’t think yourself special.”

Dad clutched my elbow. “Now, Elle, don’t be hasty. You know how much you love the food here.”

“Loved. Past tense.” I gave a brittle smile. “This place doesn’t hold the allure it once did, thanks to recent events.” I looked Mr. Everett up and down icily, hoping he’d get frostbite.

Mr. Everett chuckled under his breath. “Are you always this dramatic or is it a product of being given everything you’ve ever wanted since you were born?”

The bar vanished.

The world quietened.

My heart stopped.

“What did you just say?” I leaned forward, swaying so close I had to take a step toward him, so I didn’t tumble against his chest.

My father knew how inconsiderate that sentence had been. He moved from ceasefire to full-on battle negotiations. “Elle, before you start.” He gulped. “I’m sure Mr. Everett didn’t mean it like that.”

“Oh, I did.” Mr. Everett crossed his arms, somehow holding his glass of clear liquor upright, showing just how close we stood to each other when the sleeve of his shirt brushed the silk of my black dress.

Any higher and he would’ve touched my breasts.

Cocky bastard.

“I meant it exactly the way it sounded.”

Red painted my vision. The endlessly long days. The pressure. The lost childhood and servitude. I couldn’t let him get away with such a remark. I couldn’t stand there and let him smirk as if I was a tantrumming adolescent who’d never worked and believed money came from fairy farts.

I inhaled hard to deliver my perfectly poised rebuttal.

Mr. Everett stood patiently, dripping with arrogance. “Well?”

I opened my mouth.

And then...I shut it again.

He’s not worth it.

No man is.

They’re all the same—believing I’m some bauble in my father’s empire.

Some jewel they could commandeer for themselves and take over the company just like they’d take over me.

No.

Never going to happen.

I would forever be a virgin-bound husk before I ever wasted more breath and temper on a man who would always remain below me.

I moved my arm as Dad tried to squeeze my elbow, asking for discretion and quietness. He knew me. He knew I was borderline Hurricane Noelle. He’d seen me blow up only twice and both were at cocky men who believed their top salaries entitled them to cheat on their wives and not give a shit about their work.

One had cried as he left Belle Elle headquarters. The other had retired with a tarnished reputation.

Dad glanced nervously around the bar, waiting for Armageddon. Instead of giving him a second heart attack, I twisted my elbow, grabbed his wrist, and jerked him sideways. “Come along, Dad. I think this man has poisoned your mind enough.”

“Elle, darling—”

“Don’t you ‘darling’ me. Next time you think of setting me up, Dad, stop. I don’t want another forced meeting with Greg just because you and Steve can see us playing house. I don’t want some pity introduction with men who pass your critique. And I definitely don’t want to see this one again. Ever.” I sneered at Mr. Everett, doing my best to ignore the frustratingly erotic smile on his face.

He raised his glass of clear liquor, taking a sip. His gaze drifted over me with eyes as dark as goodbyes and a jaw so sharp it would slice my finger if I were ever stupid enough to touch it.

“He said you were head-strong. I didn’t believe him.” Mr. Everett chuckled in a deep rasp. “I’ve seen evidence for myself, and I have to admit...” He leaned closer in a cloud of expensive, heady aftershave. “I like it.” Glancing at my cleavage quickly, his eyes flew back to mine. “Unhand your father, Ms. Charlston, and agree to a date with me.”

My jaw fell open.

Did he just ask me out?

After all that?

I kept my face cool and uninterested. “Never in a million years.”

“A million is a long time.”

“It’s also a lot of money if you want to be sued for sexual harassment.”

He grinned. “I happen to have excellent legal counsel. You’d never win.”

“I don’t need to win to tell you to leave me the hell alone.”

“Go on a date with me, and I might agree to your command.”

“What part of ‘leave me alone’ didn’t you hear? A date would defeat that wish to never see you again.”

He smoothed his silky gray shirt. “I decide what to hear and what not to.” His eyes narrowed with untold authority. “And I’ve decided your father is right. You are my type. And I’m yours. It’s normal for us to find out what nature intends.”

I couldn’t.

I just couldn’t deal with this insanity.

“We should find out what nature intends, huh?” I reached forward and plucked his still-filled glass from his stupidly perfect fingers. “This is what nature intends.” I dumped the contents onto his ridiculously sexy swept back hair then leaned in until our noses brushed. “Come near me again, and I’ll strike a match to see how well liquor and fire like each other.”