Page 49 of Possessive Mr. Pen

He blanches and rambles in an attempt to save his ass, “Mrs.Koch comes regularly.She’s one of our top paying clients.I can’t—”

“Did I not introduce myself?”

Even Hilary shivers at the ice in my tone.She hiccups and sniffles into my chest before looking up.With wide eyes, she turns from the man who looks ready to piss himself up to my face.

“Babe, don’t scare the man.I didn’t mean to—”

“Hush, my queen.He deserves to know before he makes the biggest mistake of his career,” I coo down at her.

She may think it’s all a ruse, but what I feel for her reaches my very depths.I’ll cherish this little play forever.

“I’m sorry, sir, I don’t think I caught your name?”the manager says.

I peel my gaze off Hilary’s gorgeous face and pin him in place with an icy stare.

Sweat glistens on his brow.

“Connor Pen,” I say.

All the color drains from his face.

I may have never come into any brick-and-mortar store, but my purchases over the years far exceed those of the Koch family.

A snapshot from the worst day of my life stays vivid in my mind almost constantly.

Jocelyn Koch’s hand, wrapped around a phone with rings, bracelets, and long, gaudy nails, shone in the streetlamp through the lowered back window of her Rolls Royce as she drove past my dying mother.

As soon as I had access to the internet, I found her favorite jeweler.My first high-dollar purchase after starting my business was here.

All for this moment.

Once he picks his jaw up off the floor, the manager waves the aid over so fast he looks like he might take flight.The poor man nearly trips over his feet in his haste to bring us the tray.

Hilary gushes over the jewelry as though unaware of Jocelyn’s glower, but she winks at Destiny when the witch turns around to grab her purse.

I perfect the moment by dropping to one knee and proposing with the ring my mother’s murderer yearned for but will never have.

The gasps and applause fade into the background as I meet Hilary’s eyes.The dull ache lurking behind her fake smile punches me in the gut.This isn’t what she wants, but she doesn’t believe she deserves more.

I’ll give her everything.Once we avenge my mother and decimate my father, I’ll propose for real.Anything she wants; I’ll do it.Nothing is too much.

I slip the hideous monstrosity onto her finger and kiss her knuckle before rising and pulling her into my arms.

When she doesn’t pour her heart into the kiss, I cut it short and tuck her against my side.I select a few other jewelry sets and purchase them all before ushering my warrior queen through the exit and into the car.

Sensing her need for space, I don’t request her hand.When I open my mouth a few blocks later, she lifts her palm in the universal sign for stop and glares at me.

“Whatever snafus I made were your fault for not properly informing me of the plan.It’s lunchtime.I’m starving.Feed me and take me back to work.Also,” she takes off the ring and sets it in the cup holder nearest me, “I’m not wearing this at the office, nor am I carrying it home for my sister to steal.In fact, I’m not wearing it at all until you tell me what the actual fucking plan is,” she snarls.

If it weren’t for her wicked self-control, she’d no doubt be ripping her hair out in frustration right now, and I don’t blame her.I threw her into a situation without preparation of any kind.

“And also, where the hell is my million dollars for signing the contract?It’s been almost twenty-four hours.”

I reach into my suit pocket and offer her two cards.She eyes me as though she expects a clown to jump out from behind my ear.

“The silver is yours.The black is joint.No limit.Use the black for everything,” I say.

“Don’t you mean anything?”she asks.