King Maker (King Maker 3)

“She’s been there a few weeks and she’s safe,” I said, feeling the first stirring of my own anger.

“All alone in a country she’s never been to.”

“Don’t forget. She wanted to be there,” I quickly retorted in a flat tone. And where the hell was Griff? I had another meeting and didn’t have time to explain myself.

“So you know where she is?”

I nodded. She did too as if she guessed.

“She doesn’t know you know?”

“I’d like to keep it that way.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re not really the bastard you pretend to be.”

I shrugged. “It’s open for interpretation.”

“You’re in love with her.”

My face remained impassive. “Does it matter?”

“Yes, it matters.”

Grateful for the devil’s return, the door opened without a word from my assistant. Griff was extremely good at distracting women and making them forget everything.

“Lass,” Griff said.

Lizzie turned. I couldn’t see her face, but her posture tensed as her hands landed on her hips. Griff was going to strike out if he tried his charms on her.

He took her hand and kissed it. “I’m Griffin, head of security and Kalen’s paid friend. Who might you be?”

I snorted at his jab. He didn’t exactly work for me, as I’d hired him for a job and he’d been my best friend for years, but she didn’t need to know that.

“Elizabeth,” she said, using her full name. I should have warned him before he turned up the wattage on his smile, but it was too late.

“I might have guessed. You are as beautiful as a queen.”

“Oh please,” Lizzy said with disgust. “Where did you get that from? A cheesiest line website?”

When Griff held her gaze, I saw determination in his eyes. She was going to lose this round.

“It’s too bad you’re Irish.”

“Irish,” she said. “I’m not Irish.” She paused as if to give it some thought. “Well, I may have some Irish, but I don’t have family from Ireland.” She appeared flustered for the first time under the weighty gaze Griff gave her.

“Aye. You look so much like what a man would expect to find at the end of the rainbow.”

Her eyebrows quirked. But Griff pressed on, speaking while his eyes perused her body. “Hair of silken strands of pale gold, face and body so lovely with a shine from within, any man would want to hide you away from the rest of the world so only he could gaze at your flawlessness.”

Lizzy’s mouth did the fish talk. It opened and closed. She was unable to think of a thing to say. Damn, he was good.

“You look ready for lunch. Let me take you out.” When he held out his hand to Lizzy, she glared back at me.

Her parting words were, “You bring her back and make this right.”

Then she took Griff’s hand and let him lead her out.

“Don’t think this means anything,” she said to him.

Just when they made it to the door, I heard Griff ask, “Do you speak French?”

I shook my head. I knew what was coming. And he might have been charming enough to pull it off. Lizzy cautiously answered no. She was smart.

Griff then said, “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?”

I distinctly heard two rapid thuds and Griff’s umph. Chuckling, he added, “I had to ask.”

Lizzy spoke but not loud enough for me to hear as my office door closed. If Lizzy gave him a hard time, I would pay for this later. And if he got lucky with her, he’d pay me.

I stood up, ready for the firing squad. I’d come to work for my father to prove something. I was about to be fired and disinherited.

Personally, I wanted nothing from the old man. But Gabe deserved the opportunities that I didn’t have. It took more than money to be accepted in this world. One needed contacts, which my father had plenty. Still, this wouldn’t be the end for me. I could make it on my own, though it would be harder.

To put me in my place, Father had his assistant make me take a seat in front of his office to wait despite the fact that I’d shown up on time for the meeting.

Ten minutes later, her phone buzzed. She answered and said only one word, “Okay,” before hanging up.

“You can go in now,” she said as if she shared my father’s confidence.

The woman was attractive and likely sleeping with the old man. She probably knew my fate before I did.

I stood and buttoned my suit jacket before entering the old man’s throne room.

“Jeremy,” he greeted, standing next to his chair. His trusty lawyer stood on the right side of his desk.

I hated that name for as long as I could remember. He’d given it to me, yet he hadn’t cared enough to find me.

“Have a seat.” He indicated the chair in front of his desk as if I wouldn’t have guessed.