A cocky smile touches his lips. “Look at you.”
I’m confused.“What?”
“We’ve been married for only forty-eight hours, and already, you’re a proud König and fiercely protective of the family brand.”
“I’m stating the obvious.”
“To remain impartial and to avoid setting expectations, the HEEA holds the opening and closing ceremonies at a hotel that isn’t in the running. So far, our hotels have never been considered because year after year we win awards in multiple categories.” Pride drips from his words.
“I see.”
“There’s someone I’d like to introduce you to,” Phoenix says.
And with that, my official wife duties begin.
With a smile firmly in place and my heart pattering, I shake hands, accept congratulations and make small talk with people I’ll forget before the end of the evening. To my surprise, my nervousness fades.
The wives—or lovers—of a few tycoons ask to see my ring, almost as if to confirm this isn’t a hoax. The joke’s on them. I was too happy to flash my rock.
We move around the room, and it doesn’t go unnoticed the respect Phoenix has from his peers—many among the richest men on the planet. Not sure why, but I’m proud of him. And I’m damn proud to be seen with him. For the hundredth time since breakfast yesterday morning at Soren’s house, I thank God my father didn’t sell me to a monster.
The parade of strange faces seems endless as we do the rounds, but I don’t complain. This is my end of the bargain, and I execute my role with grace. Years of shadowing Mom and Daddy at our hotel prepared me for tonight.
Phoenix’s hand stiffens against my back.
My gaze lifts up to his.
His eyes stare straight ahead.
They’re devoid of any softness, and his face looks like it’s carved from granite.
Confused, I follow his stone-cold gaze.
A tall man dressed in a sharp navy-blue suit stands next to a pretty brunette with shoulder-length hair wearing a fitted soft yellow sleeveless dress that hits her mid-calf. She’s model-tall and wears the beautiful dress to perfection. When my gaze lifts to the man’s face, my head jerks back. Not because he’s engaged in a deadly stare-down with Phoenix, but because there’s an air of familiarity about him.
I study the man, taking in his dark, almost black eyes, his dark brown hair, and his tight beard.
I know those eyes.
I’m certain I’ve seen him before, but where?
My attention shifts to the woman holding his hand.
To my surprise, laser focused hazel-brown eyes are trained on me. There’s something about the way she’s glaring at me with her pursed red lips and cocked eyebrow that rubs me up the wrong way.
Is that smugness?
I don’t even know her. Why such animosity?
I respond with my best resting bitch face.
Wow, I’m almost out of practice. I haven’t used this contemptuous expression in a long time since I no longer have to deal with my duplicitous stepmother.
The bitchy woman squints her eyes at me.
I glare right back.
With an eye roll, she averts her gaze.
