“I know everybody.” His voice lowered.
“Hades Lombardi.” I wanted to wrap up this conversation quickly, to get this man out of my office so I would never have to see him again. The more questions I answered, the longer the conversation continued.
His entire body tightened at the name, like he knew exactly who that was…and didn’t like it. He stared at me so coldly, it seemed as if he wanted to reach across the desk and choke me to death. He swiped his tongue across his bottom lip, letting out a deep breath that showed his disappointment. “You could do better.”
Maybe. But Hades was definitely better than this guy. “I’ve got to get to a meeting, so thanks for stopping by.” I rose to my feet and opened the door for him. “It’s a beautiful day outside. You’d probably rather be out there than in here.”
He took a long time to stand up, lingering as he faced my empty chair. As if he had something else to say but wasn’t sure if he was going to say it, he took his time. When he finally stood up and looked at me, he was still ice-cold. He gave me a final look at the door before he walked off.
Thank fucking god.
I watched him walk around the corner before I relaxed. That man made me uneasy, like my soul could detect a demon living underneath his skin. It gave me the shivers. I returned to my chair and sat down, actually grateful I was marrying Hades. Now that my mom had gathered interest from suitors, they would probably keep pestering me until a wedding ring was on my finger.
Thankfully, I was already taken.
Hours later, Hades appeared in the doorway of my office.
I was actually happy to see him—until I saw the scowl on his face.
He sat in the chair Maddox had occupied earlier that day then set a stack of folders on my desk. He moved paper around until everything was arranged to discuss whatever business needed to be addressed.
Since he was so irritated, I didn’t mention the awkward conversation with Maddox. It might piss him off even more.
“You haven’t given me a date.” He sat upright in the chair and looked at me with impatience. He was annoyed and angry, but he didn’t emit the same level of evil the other guy had. Hades seemed harmless…for the most part.
“You haven’t given me a ring.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Didn’t realize you wanted one.”
“Isn’t that a requirement for marriage? To wear a wedding ring?”
He didn’t answer my question. “When were you thinking of doing this?”
“I don’t know…people are usually engaged for a year before they tie the knot.”
He immediately looked livid. “I’m not waiting a year. A month, at the most.”
“You expect me to throw a wedding together in a month?”
“Your family plans elaborate parties all the time. Let’s do it in the ballroom here at the hotel.”
That was where I’d always imagined getting married—just not to someone like him.
“Unless you had somewhere else in mind.”
“No…”
“Then make it happen.” He turned to his paperwork. “There’s a meeting with the board tomorrow, and I think—”
“I need a ring.”
His jaw tightened at the request. “Don’t interrupt me.”
“Then don’t change the subject.”
He threw down the papers. “I’ll get you a damn ring, alright?”
“I want it now—not at the wedding.”
Now he just looked perplexed. “For hating me so much, you seem to be in a hurry to marry me.”
“It’s not that. I just want everyone to know I’m betrothed.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Did someone bother you?”
I didn’t want to talk about the creepy man who had made me feel uncomfortable in my own office. Hopefully, I’d never see him again. “A few men have taken an interest in me. If I were wearing a ring, that probably wouldn’t happen.”
Hades digested that confession, his jaw shifting as his teeth ground together. “I’ll get one today. How about that?”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
He sighed before he looked at the paperwork. “At the meeting tomorrow—”
“Aren’t you going to ask me what kind of ring I want?”
His eyes turned hostile. “What did I just say about interrupting me?”
“Let’s finish our conversation first.”
“Why don’t you just spit everything out so we can move on, alright? If you take this long to get your point across, imagine how you’re going to handle the board members and everyone else at this hotel. Get to the goddamn point and be concise.” His hand formed a fist, and he set it on the desk. His brown eyes were steaming like hot coffee, but he didn’t undress me the way Maddox did. He was attracted to me, but he wasn’t creepy about it. He was an asshole, but he didn’t cross the line.
“I want a princess cut ring—white gold.”
“Got it.”
“But I don’t want anything too fancy. I prefer simple things.”