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“All she ever wanted was a little affection from you,” he said.
Alan was one of my best mates and one of the few people I trusted. I knew how he truly felt about Margot. “That’s not how it was between us. I never gave her any false hope. A contract is a contract.”
The steward returned with a tray, pouring my tea from a china teapot into a cup. “Would you like milk or sugar?”
“Just a splash of milk.”
He handed me the cup and saucer, and I inhaled the fruity scent of bergamot and orange, taking my first sip.
“I don’t know why you need a fiancée anyway,” Alan continued. “You’ve cleaned up your reputation.”
Alan knew about the secret society, Circle of Kings, that I belonged to, but that was about all. I had signed a million-pound, rather draconian style, nondisclosure agreement in order to ensure the group’s privacy. I laughed. I had signed way more than an NDA. I had sold my soul for a spot in the circle, and they made sure I would never forget my promise by cursing me with the retched monster that lived inside me. But it was worth it. This weekend I was about to become Grand Master of the society. And as Grand Master, I would be entitled to an even bigger prize.
Bilderberg.
An elusive and very exclusive meeting of American and European elites. I would be one of the United Kingdom’s representatives. There was only one hitch. In order to be Grand Master, I needed a wife. It was an archaic rule in the Circle of Kings’ constitution, which would be changed as soon as I was the leader. “I don’t expect you to understand, but I just do.”
“And you expect that young lass to do it?”
“Trust me, it’s not ideal,” I said, taking another sip of my tea.
“This group will eat her alive.”
“Let’s hope not.” Actually, I didn’t disagree with him. They would eat her alive. Starting with the fact that she was an American and ending with the fact that she didn’t possess the correct social pedigree. Class consciousness was woven into British national identity. They tolerated me only because I had amassed a fortune that outdid any of their inheritances. My companies alone could squash any of theirs into submission. This girl’s mouth alone was a liability.
Speaking of the insolent lass, she came out of the bedroom. I set my cup down. Dressed in a burgundy cashmere sweater with a matching pleated skirt and black suede boots, she actually looked quite stunning. She had pulled her long dark hair back into a sleek ponytail.
This may work, after all.
She bypassed Alan and me and headed straight for the galley, where she poured herself a cup of coffee.
“Sit down,” I said. “Let the flight attendant get it for you.”
“I can get it myself.”
“No, you can’t. Where we are going, there will be staff to help you. People will question if you do things for yourself. Let him get it for you.”
“He has a name. It’s Simon,” she said rudely. “Fucking prick.”
I instantly took back my thought that this could work and got up, heading into the galley. Simon hurried out of the way. I took the cup from her hand and set it down, leading her to one of the chairs. “Sit,” I barked.
Surprisingly, she listened. Putting a hand on each armrest, I boxed her in, bringing my face within inches of her. “Let’s get one thing straight, lass,” I hissed. “I can take as easily as I give. If you want your brothers to have a good review, you will start doing as you’re told. Do you understand?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Yes.”
“And you’ll watch that tongue of yours. High-class girls don’t use foul language.”
The captain’s voice came over the loudspeaker. “Gentlemen, please prepare for landing.” I sat beside her and fastened the seat belt, pulling a black velvet box from my pocket. For Christ’s sake, I was used to women throwing themselves at my money. This girl was an absolute anomaly.
“Here,” I said, handing her the box. “I need you to wear this, and if you’re a good girl this weekend, you can keep it.”
She looked at me suspiciously but flipped open the lid. Inside was a five-carat Radiant cut diamond ring. Perfect in every way- brightness, fire, and scintillation. She handed it back to me. “I can’t wear that,” she said, disgusted.
“You can, and you will.”
“I refuse to support an industry that gives way to serious human rights violations through forced labor, torture, and other abuses.”
“It’s not a fucking blood diamond. The UN has put in policies and regulations to prevent that.”
