I catch a glimpse of the restaurant, and in there, it’s much the same, with beautiful women in expensive dresses who look like Stepfordwives. They drink champagne from flutes as they hang off every word of the suited men they sit with. Honestly, it’s like dating hell if you ask me.
“Why would you bring me here?” I whisper so they don’t hear my disgust. I know I sound ungrateful, but Kasen and I are not on dating terms. We’re hardly even talking to each other at this point, I don’t want to share a meal with him.
Kasen glances down at me, all dominating power. “To celebrate my big win.” A smile flashes across his handsome face in a way that makes my breath catch in my throat. He’s so handsome all dressed up in a suit, but he knows it, knows the power it gives him. “And to show you off. I’m not sure I have ever seen you look so beautiful, Dove. I will have to personally thank Holly for her work today.”
To show me off! My fists ball at my sides, ready for a fight. I know this is him trying to be sweet, but I’m not some new accessory to parade around. But right as I’m about to tell him as much, the bright flash of a camera goes off in my face. I blink a few times, wondering what on earth is going on.
“Mr. Throne, who’s the new girl?” A woman in her mid-thirties wearing a navy-blue pant suit shoves a recorder in our faces. A reporter? Paparazzi at lunch, what the hell?
Kasen smiles proudly at her and pushes me forward. “This is Dove Dawson, and before you ask, yes, she’s our dear old mayor’s missing daughter. I found her.”
Oh, dear God, I want the fancy marble floor to swallow me up. My palms grow sweaty, and I glance over my shoulder for an escape. Why would he do this to me?
The reporter covers her chest. “Your lost love,” she murmurs, all dreamy.
What the fuck? His lost love?
She shoves a recorder in my face. “Dove, I can’t believe it’s you. Where have you been all this time?” Her eyes are bright and excited, her smile massive as she grins back at me like the two of us are long-lost friends.
I stare at her blankly, trying to get my mouth to catch up with the program and actually work. But I’m in shock. Firstly, why are we being treated like local celebrities? And second, how does she know me? I take a shaky step back, not wanting to answer her intrusive question, but I bump straight into Kasen’s solid chest.
His arm snakes around my shoulder and he pulls me in close to his body. “Miss Arnott did an editorial piece on me recently. It got quite personal, and I told her about you, birdie.” He kisses my cheek. “Why don’t you give her a little insight into your life?” he offers smoothly. He’s painting on the charm real thick for this chick, it’s disturbing to see.
My face scrunches up in disgust. I read that story he’s talking about, but it had nothing about his lost love in there. I feel like I’m being punked or some shit by this whole scene. And there is no way in hell I’m telling her about my life. Is this seriously his delusional way of trying to get me to talk? I glare at him, telling him exactly that.
“I want to write a follow-up piece on the both of you, Dove. You don’t have to tell me on the record, but it’s just all so romantic, I would love to tell your story,” she gushes, making me want to be sick.
“You can tell her,” Kasen says with a little more force in his words this time. But I’m not sure what he expects me to do, spill my secrets for some reporter when I wouldn’t tell my oldest friends? He’s lost his mind.
My pulse is racing at a stupid rate, sweat dripping down my spine. I try to pull my hand free from his tight grip, needing space before I pass out or vomit all over the expensive floor, but he won’t let me, hisgrip tightening to almost painful. Panic swirls all round me, the room blurring. I should have known this bullshit lunch with the costume to match was some kind of set-up for his image. I suck in a shaky breath, trying to find some inner strength to fight him with.
“You can put this on the record, Miss Arnott.” I suck in a deep breath, willing my body to keep fighting, then I force a sickly-sweet smile toward her. “I have no clue what you’re talking about. I’m just some girl King Kasen decided to kidnap and play off as his girlfriend. If you talk to the authorities, tell them to send help.”
He tugs me closer to his side, his lips on my ear. “Not funny, Dove,” he growls, his words vibrating through my body with warning.
Her eyes widen to horrified, her mouth dropping open as she gapes back at me in shock. Fucked-up twist on our love story, isn’t it, lady. I couldn’t care less he’s pissed with me, it was so worth it. Fuck with me, asshole, I’ll fuck you over right back.
“Dove is joking, aren’t you, Dove?” His fingers dig into my flesh in warning. Would he really hurt me right here in front of all these fancy people? It wouldn’t look great for his pristine reputation. But I’m not sure I want to find out the reality. He didn’t have any issues with dragging me out of the Beach Bar in front of more.
I nod at her, agreeing with him mostly just to have this shitshow over with.
“She’s been away so long,” he huffs out a fake-as-fuck laugh. “She’s not used to the attention like I am, poor girl is nervous.”
He should be nervous I might knee him in the junk.
“Oh yeah, good one.” She laughs back, but it’s awkward as all hell, her eyes locking in with mine in silent question as to whether I’m in trouble or not. If she’s really done her research on him, she knows more than she printed in that article, and she would knowjust how dangerous his family really is. There has to be information out there about Keller and exactly what he did to rise to such sudden power.
“It was great to see you again, Miss Arnott.” He holds a hand for her to shake. “I’ll have my PA send over some information for your piece this afternoon. Your readers will get a real kick out of our love story.” He tugs on my hand, trying to get me to move with him.
“Miss Dawson?” she calls to me and we turn back to face her. “Your mother’s murder was never solved. There was talk you and your father were both in the house when she died. Now that you’re back in town, do you think the police should reopen his case?”
My heart hammers, and I blink back at her, not sure what to say. “I’m sure this town would like answers. I’m back to make sure they get them.”
Her lips curl at the sides. She liked that response. “Let me know if I can help in any way,” she says before turning away from us to bother some new couple who just entered the foyer.
Kasen guides me away toward the restaurant. “If you pull a stunt like that again, I will lock you up and throw away the key.” His voice is low so only I can hear him. The sick part is he manages to keep a straight face as he threatens and manhandles me.
Anger boils through my veins. I want to hurt him. “You got what you deserved for setting me up like that. Fuck you for thinking I would be okay with telling this town I’m yours in any way. Seriously, Kasen, what is wrong with you. Do you really think this is okay?”
