“You don’t have anything to worry about,” Dad says. “The media crowned you, reigning queen.”
Michaela blushes. “Are you kidding me?”
Dad chuckles. “The publicist texted me to let me know you’ve been votedMost Beautiful Bride of the Yearby a number of influential publications.”
Michaela’s green eyes widening. “I have?”
“Yes.” Dad grabs his phone from the table, unlocks it, and hands it to her.
‘Michaela Knight, now Mrs. Michaela König, sets the standard for years to come when she said “I do” in a show-stopping, elegant white gown designed by Salvatore Venturoli. She wore it and the Swarovski crystal tiara like a queen, a nod to her aristocratic heritage.’
She reads the press coverage out loud. “Gosh, that’s a lot of pressure,” she says, lifting her eyes from the screen as she hands Dad the device.
“Not really, since you already hold the title, sis,” Wilder says.
We all laugh.
“Why did you call this meeting, Dad? What’s up?” I cut to the chase.
“Potter,” Dad says, placing his phone on the table.
I arch a brow. “We all know he’s annoying as fuck, but what did he do now?”
“I wasn’t kidding last night when I said he was a little too obsessed with Michaela––”
“Understandably.” Wilder cuts in. “She’s gorgeous.”
“That she is.” Dad nods.
“I scored a hot wife.” I wink at her.
“You guys are going to make me blush,” she says.
“You already are, sweetheart,” Dad says.
She offers a shy smile.
“Back to Potter.” Dad veers the conversation. “At some point in the evening, Niels came up to me frazzled.”
Michaela sits a little straighter in her chair. “What happened?”
“Niels revealed some disturbing things.”
“Like what?”
Dad’s eyes bounce around the table, meeting our gaze before speaking. “Potter cornered him and bombarded him with a million questions about the Villiers Grand. Potter had a keen interest in understanding Niels’s motive to sell the hotel to us instead of selling it to High Stone Holding.”
My eyebrows shoot to my forehead and my fork freezes halfway to my mouth.
“Get this,” Dad says, “Potter stated it would’ve been a more lucrative deal for Niels and for Michaela since High Stone Holding approached him, whereas Niels approached us.”
There’s a deafening silence in the room.
My brothers and I exchange a knowing look.
Potter is plotting against us. That, I’m certain of.
What does he have to gain from fucking us over?
