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 steamy 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.”