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Bitterness swept through him in a tornado of futility. He could never answer that one honestly. ‘How are you really feeling about the kind and supportive King Domenico now you’ve finally seen his true colours?’

Didn’t she have the slightest urge to rebel? But the fire that had flashed a few seconds ago seemed buried beneath feet of ice again. His fury surged in her silence.

‘What did you expect Erik to do about it?’ He raked his hand through his hair. ‘Does he know you’re not paid?’

‘Of course not. Erik has enough on his plate dealing with the estate and I genuinely didn’t mind until—’

Alex swore. Surely Erik should have known? Why hadn’t she talked to him about this if they were close? Because she was a pathetic pushover too afraid to rock the boat?

‘I started as a volunteer when I was a student and the set-up never changed.’ She gritted her teeth when he scoffed. ‘I do get everything I need. More than I need. I only wanted to talk this through with Erik because he’s a friend and he’s good with your father…’ She dropped her gaze.

Right. Alex definitely wasn’t either of those things. But maybe that made him the perfect accomplice to extract her from this particular situation.

The answer struck like lightning. He rocked back on his heels, reeling as the wild idea swiftly mushroomed into a scheme that was as gripping as it was insane. Call him petty, vengeful, whatever, but nothing would bring him greater pleasure than thwarting his father’s outrageous plan with an even more outrageous one of his own. Plus Alex could protect Erik’s future happiness, even better encourage Tilly’s independence. Hell, he could finally get her out of his hair for good.

‘I’ve got a solution.’ He couldn’t stop the smile spreading across his face and his whole body ignited in anticipation. ‘You don’t have to marry Francesco.’

‘What?’ She glanced up, her pupils flaring as she studied him. ‘You’re going to help me?’

Adrenaline surged at her disbelief. Revenge and amusement. Security and entertainment. Such contrary, tempting fun.

‘I’m going to do more than help you,’ he purred, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her stiff body close. ‘I’m going to marry you myself.’

Chapter Three

‘That’s not funny.’ Tilly winced at her shaky answer.

But Alex had smiled at her twice in the last two minutes—genuinely smiled, not bared his teeth in a sarcastic grin—and that was twice more than he’d ever smiled at her. She’d not been alone like this with him in years and never this close. Well, she had been this close once before and she’d banished that memory for all eternity. She closed her eyes. His arms tightened.

‘I should have known you’d just use this to be a jerk to me.’ She wriggled, trying to distance herself from his overwhelming proximity.

‘Yes, but I’m being a completely serious jerk.’ He kept a firm hold on her. ‘I want you to marry me. At least I’m younger than Francesco.’

She gaped. ‘Have you been drinking?’

It was the only possible explanation.

‘It’s ten in the morning.’

‘As if that matters to you.’ She stared up at him. If he’d not started for the day, maybe he’d been partying all night and still had enough alcohol in his system to affect his judgement? Except he was crisply shaved, his lean body shown off to perfection in the sharply tailored suit. Doubtless he’d been on his way to some corporate make-more-millions meeting before being derailed by her online drama. There was zero visual evidence of a hangover—his eyes were intensely alert. Vitality—virility—streamed from him.

‘Honestly, Tilly,’ he drawled. ‘I’m being heroic, offering to save you from an even worse arrangement.’

She wasn’t sure which would be worse, actually.

But he wasn’t serious, just deliberately aggravating her. This was what he did—stabbed at her with snide comments and outrageous behaviour.

‘You’re my stepbrother.’ She should say yes just to serve him right.

‘I thought I was repellent.’

‘That too.’ She glared, channelling all her hatred into her eyes.

‘You and I have never lived under the same roof. I barely know you.’ He dropped his arms and stepped back. ‘You mean nothing to me.’

‘So why do you want to marry me?’

He inhaled deeply. ‘To stop him—’