4
“Please tell us a bit about yourself, Ms. Cornwall.”
She remembered how she used to think he was so dangerous, remembered the way she had forced herself to smile at him, and he had said—-
“You look like a clown.”
And most of all, she remembered the way he had looked at her when she had seen Grant having sex with another girl—-
“What do you want me to do?”
He had asked it quietly, simply, like there was no limit to what he could and would do for her.
How could that man, who would go to such lengths to protect her, be the same man who could abandon her with such cruel ease?
How?
She felt the prince’s fingers release its hold, and she swallowed back a sob as his hands moved up to cup her face.
He made her look at him, and she did.
“Can we start again?”
Ah.
The tears were endless, and she could only look at him.
How?
“Let me just protect you, the way I promised.”
A smile wobbled on her lips even as her heart crumbled. “F-for how long?”
“For as long as you need me to.” The prince wiped a tear away, and her heart crumbled even more.
Ah.
The prince might call her an idiot, and maybe she was, but she could read between the lines, too.
And there was her answer , she thought numbly.
He would be with her for as long as she needed him.
Such pretty words, when she knew what it really meant was that he would only want her for as long as belonged to someone else.
She knew that, and if she weren’t an idiot, she would tell him that wasn’t enough for her.
And she wasn’t.
She wasn’t an idiot, only—-
She chose to be.
Because by now, she realized it was too late.
Grant might have broken her heart, but not all of it.
Some pieces were safe...for the prince to break.
“PLEASE LET ME GO,” she begged the prince half an hour later. She had wondered why he had asked the entire staff to stay out of the living room, and now, with the prince trapping her between the front doors and his sexy, hard body—-
“Prince, p-please .” He was sucking so hard on her neck she was starting to see stars.
The prince stopped what he was doing just long enough to murmur, “Not until I’m finished,” and then he was back at it again.
Fawn tried shoving him off, but it was hard because a part of her was shamefully enjoying the way the prince’s lips were nibbling so expertly on her skin. When it was finally over, and the prince released her from his hold, she ran to the mirror hanging over one of the consoles in the living room—-
Her reflection greeted her, and she let out an appalled gasp. “Prince!” Oh my God, that had to be the biggest and darkest hickey she had ever seen.
The prince came to stand behind her, saying with a lazy smile, “That should keep you from thinking too much about assholes—-”
“Are you serious?” she choked.
“And get you to focus on me.” The prince whirled her around to face him. She still looked too vulnerable, he thought grimly. And worse, she looked too pretty, with her soft, dreamy-looking brown eyes and rosy cheeks.
If Bennett saw her now, who knew if the asshole would suddenly change his mind and want her back?
No fucking way.
He said abruptly, “Don’t meet with Bennett if I’m not with you.”
“But that’s not possible—-”
The prince glared at her.
“—-if I don’t put my mind to it,” she finished. “But since I’ll put my mind to it, it’s d-definitely possible.” Or so she hoped.
The prince allowed himself to relax a little. “Good.” Unable to keep himself from touching her, he reached out to touch his mark on her neck and was satisfied when she shivered at the contact.
“I’m the only one allowed to make you cry,” he murmured.
Fawn made a face.
His lips curved, and he ran his fingers over her furrowed forehead. “You know I’m kidding, parthena mou. I just don’t want to see you hurting over him again. Your tears are wasted on that asshole.”
His concern touched her, and she said unthinkingly, “You’re so swee—-”
The prince’s gaze narrowed.
Drat. No nice words, Fawn , she reprimanded herself. Why do you keep forgetting that?
So what else could she say other than ‘sweet’?
Sweepstakes? Sweeny Todd?
“Sweegre,” she finished.
The prince stared at her.
She smiled brightly. “It means, umm—-”
Well, drat.
What other word could she use to replace ‘sweet’ when he really was nothing but sweet?
She said instead, “Anyway, it’s not English. It’s actually—-”
“Let me guess,” the prince interrupted drily. “German?”
Fawn let her eyes go wide. “How did you know?”
“A lucky guess, considering I’m fluent in German.”
“Ha!” The prince only looked at her, and her smile became uneasy. “Ha?” When the prince only raised a brow at her, obviously not joking, she said weakly, “Hahaha.” Oh my God, lamest laugh ever.
His lips twitched. “Never mind.” The prince pressed a kiss on her forehead. “Just keep speaking your version of German.”
“Hahaha.” The still-lame sound made her cringe inside. Dear God, someone give her short-term amnesia so she could forget the past five minutes.
Pulling away, the prince told her dulcetly, “You won’t forget your promise?”
Deciding to play it safe, she said dutifully, “No, prince.”
“If you need anything, text or call me.”
She almost told him he was being really sweet but caught herself in time. “Yes, prince.”
The prince suddenly frowned. “We should do something about that.”
She frowned back. “Do something about what?”
About the way you’re calling me, he thought. I want to hear you call me Reid—-
But if you tell her that, she’d ask why, and the reason behind it is embarrassing as hell.
I can lie about it.
Can you, really?
“Prince?”
FUCK.
He had been talking to himself, and it was all her fault. Her mental condition was obviously contagious.
Fawn blinked when the prince suddenly glared at her. What had she done?
“I think you should go now,” the prince muttered, “before I get more infected.”
As the prince opened the door for her, she protested, “But I’m not sick—-whoa.”
There was a new, red-and-black Mini parked on the driveway, and she couldn’t help shooting the prince a look of surprise. “New?” She was familiar with all of the prince’s cars since Igor sometimes had her assigned at the garage, but she had never seen this one in his stable.
“Yes.” The prince took her hand and led her to the driver’s side. “It’s yours.”
Her jaw dropped. “What?”
“It’s yours.”
“Uh, no, it’s not.”
He repeated firmly, “It’s yours.”
“Uh, no,” she said just as firmly. “It’s not.”
The prince smiled.
Oh no, she thought immediately. Whenever that devastatingly nice-guy smile appeared, it usually meant the opposite.
And she was right.
“How much do you love your job?”
She gulped. “Very much, prince.”
“Then...” He opened the door for her. “What do you say?”
She said weakly, “Thank you?”
“Perfect.” The prince’s eyes gleamed. “I expect you to use this car wherever you go from hereon. And before you say anything else, it’s not an extravagance. It’s a security precaution as your bodyguards—-”
Bodyguards?
“Will have an easier time protecting you this way. Walking leaves you too vulnerable.” As the prince spoke, he gently but firmly led her inside the car and once she was seated, he bent down, whispering to her ear, “If you promise me you won’t meet with Bennett today, I’ll fuck your brains out tonight.” He paused, his tongue tracing the curve of her earlobe. “And it will be a night you won’t ever forget.”
Oh.
OH!
She gulped.
The prince pulled away, and as their eyes met, she heard herself mumble, “I promise.”
PRISCILLA: What are you doing now?
Fawn: You just asked me that five minutes ago.
Priscilla: You’re still thinking about me then.
Fawn: Could you please stop texting stuff like that? What’s the point of hiding your identity behind a girl’s name if you’re saying things like that? Grant would know you’re not a girl if he sees my phone.
Priscilla: That won’t be a problem since you promised not to see him without me.
Fawn: Even so!
After clicking on Send, Fawn deleted the entire message thread and dropped her phone back in her bag. When the girl in front of her was done ordering, Fawn moved forward with her tray and asked for a salad and lasagna. Unlike other university cafeterias, Christopoulos University’s looked more like a hotel lobby with its elegant décor and spacious interior.
It was so beautiful , Fawn thought absently, that more often than not, she had a hard time believing she was actually studying in this type of school.
Making her way to her usual seat on her usual table in the corner, Fawn once again found herself the object of other students’ curious gazes. Was it because they were wondering what Grant Bennett saw in her?
If so, then she wanted to know the answer to that, too.
What had he seen in her in the first place, and how had she lost it, to the point that he had to cheat on her?
Her phone vibrated inside her bag as she reached her table, and she quickly put her tray and bag down before scooping her phone out.
Priscilla: What ARE you doing?
Priscilla: What’s taking you so long to reply?
Fawn: Are you sure you have to ask? You can always check it on the school’s CCTV, can’t you?
Priscilla: I’m not a stalker.
Fawn bit back a smile. I didn’t say that, prince, she thought. You did. And crazy fool that she was, she actually felt just a little pleased that the prince cared enough to check on her.
Fawn: I didn’t say that. You did.
Priscilla: You were thinking it.
Fawn: I wasn’t.
Priscilla: Liar.
Fawn: Text you later. I’m starving.
Priscilla: Come join me. I’m out with my friends.
Fawn almost dropped her phone. Was he kidding? She knew all about his friends, and they were all like him. Too rich, too good-looking, too perfect. Did he really think she’d be able to manage a single bite while surrounded by his friends?
Fawn: Maybe next time.
She was about to take her seat when she heard a feminine voice call out her name.
“Fawn Cornwall?”
Turning around, she saw a brunette hurrying towards her—-
Oh.
Idiot, Fawn thought. I should have told the prince I was joining him.
Yes, her other self said darkly. You should have.
Well, too late now. She struggled to hang on to her smile as the girl that Grant had sex with came nearer. It was the same girl, and even though she had only caught a glimpse of the girl’s face, she would bet her life on it.
She would recognize that long brown hair anywhere, would never forget the way Grant had gripped it so tightly while his body pounded into hers.
And those long, slender legs –
She would never forget the way those legs had wrapped around Grant’s waist, banging against bare buttocks in rhythm with every thrust and groan.
Oh yes, it was her.
And the fact made Fawn want to throw up.
She found herself clutching her phone tightly as the girl reached her, elegant and poised in a Burberry dress and high heels.
Was this why Grant chose this girl over her? Fawn’s jaw began to ache at how hard she was smiling. Because this was the kind of girl he liked now, the kind that dressed for school like it was an A-list party where everyone had to shine or die?
And there was nothing wrong with that, really, Fawn thought numbly. What was wrong was for Grant not to let her know that he no longer liked the kind of girl Fawn was.
“You’re Fawn Cornwall, right?” The other girl was blatantly self-assured, her perfect smile with her perfect white teeth meant to dazzle. “I’m Lou Merrill, the vice president of the student council.”
“I know,” she managed to say. “I voted for you, actually.” And the sick thing about it was that she wasn’t lying. She had voted for this girl because Grant had told her to.
The irony wasn’t lost on her, and she had a hysterical urge to laugh. Oh God. Was this really happening?
Her fingers tightened around her phone.
Are you stalking me now, prince?
I hope you are.
Because right now—-
I need you to be my prince.
The girl offered her hand, murmuring sweetly, “Grant’s told me all about you.”
Fawn managed not to flinch as their fingers came into contact. “Hi.” She tried, but she just couldn’t make herself say the other girl’s name. Around them, she could feel curious gazes turning towards them, and the questions running through everyone’s minds were so obvious she could practically hear them.
What’s someone like the vice president doing with someone like her?
Was it just because she was Grant Bennett’s girlfriend from childhood?
She better not turn into a stuck-up bitch just because of this.
Letting go of Fawn’s hand, Lou smiled again, saying, “Can I join you?” She gestured to Fawn’s table.
“Sure.” There wasn’t anything else to say, and as they took their seats, Lou across her, the urge to indulge in hysterics returned with a vengeance.
This is so surreal, Fawn thought wildly, it was almost like her life had turned into a movie.
Lou’s phone rang then, and the other girl opened her bag, asking, “Do you mind if I take this call?”
Fawn shook her head.
“Great, because—-” The girl glanced at her phone, and her lips curved in a smile that could only be described as smug. “It’s actually Grant.”
Ah.
The girl lifted the phone to her ear. “Hello, naughty boy. Sorry, I forgot to tell you I had to drop by the cafeteria.”
Fawn slowly placed her phone on the table, not wanting to be tempted to send the prince a message. You’re strong, Fawn. You can handle this on your own.
“Head over here, honey,” Lou was saying in a cajoling tone, and Fawn’s body jerked. “I’m actually with your girlfriend right now, so it’s going to be a fun threesome.” Lou’s eyes snared hers as she spoke, her dark eyes malevolent, and Fawn drew her breath sharply.
Ah.
Everything was clear all of a sudden.
“See you, hon,” Lou murmured huskily even as her taunting eyes remained on Fawn. When the call ended, she said lightly, “I hope you don’t mind what I call him. I’m just really affectionate.”
You mean loose, Fawn couldn’t help thinking but was immediately ashamed afterwards.
Lou suddenly laughed. “You hate me, don’t you?”
“Of course not,” she lied stiffly.
“Where were you yesterday?”
“Working.”
Lou’s lips twisted. “For the Prince of Darkness, right?”
She didn’t answer.
The other girl’s gaze turned pitying. “Are we really going to waste time playing this game?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” But she found herself reaching for her phone as she spoke, found herself typing just one word.
Hi.
She put the phone back on the table after sending the message to Priscilla. She just needed...to talk to him. She didn’t need the prince to come. She could still handle this on her own, but...she just needed to hear from him.
That was all , she told herself.
One message from him, and she would be reminded that she wasn’t alone, and it would be okay again.
Lou suddenly leaned forward, hissing, “You’re pathetic.”
Her eyes started to sting, a part of her believing the words, but she fought to keep her face expressionless. “I’m sorry,” she answered tonelessly, “that you think that.”
“You’re better off feeling sorry for yourself,” Lou snapped, “to still cling to a man who doesn’t—-”
A shadow fell over them, and Lou shut up as Grant appeared in front of them. His normally combed hair was unkempt, and his handsome face was tense and unsmiling.
“That was fast,” Lou trilled.
But Grant didn’t even look her way. His eyes were focused completely on Fawn. “Hey, luv.” His voice was wary, uncertain.
For one moment, she was so, so tempted to just cry and ask him, Why?
Why?
Why, Grant, why?
But the moment passed, and she managed to summon a smile from the last reserves of her strength. “Hi.”
“I miss you.” He bent down to kiss her, and her body became rigid.
How can you kiss me when you had sex with another girl?
Unable to bear the thought of sharing his lips with another girl, she moved at the last second, mumbling, “I think someone texted me.” As she reached for her phone again, Grant’s lips ended up making it only as far as her cheek.
Grant sucked in his breath.
Her fingers moved over the screen of her phone wildly, randomly opening and closing apps, giving herself an excuse not to look up.
In the corner of her eye, she saw Lou grab Grant’s wrist as he straightened and practically pulled him closer to sit beside her.
“Sorry, hon, can’t you see the other seat’s taken? You’ve got no choice but to sit here.”
Fawn continued to stare at her phone.
Why won’t you answer, prince?
You promised.
You promised.
“What are you doing with Fawn, Lou?” she heard Grant ask in an unusually hard voice.
“Relax,” Lou replied, unruffled. “It’s not like I’m going to kill your pretty little girlfriend.” Her lips twisted in a sweet smile. “You know I’m only bad with naughty boys like you.”
When Grant didn’t answer, she couldn’t stop herself from looking up, and that was when she saw Grant’s face flushed with the color of guilt.
Ah.
“How r-rare of you to be naughty, Grant.” Fawn held on to her smile like her life depended on it, and right now it felt like it did. She had to smile. She had to. Otherwise she would scream. Cry. Run away.
Why, Grant?
Lou began talking again, forcefully demanding Grant’s attention, and Fawn reached for her phone like it was a talisman. More people were staring at them now, their curiosity palpable, and the questions in their minds blazed out louder than ever.
So she’s Grant Bennett’s girlfriend?
Why hasn’t he broken up with her yet?
Didn’t she realize she wasn’t a good match for Bennett?
“Has Grant told you about the fundraiser the council’s planning?” Lou suddenly asked her. When Fawn shook her head, Lou explained, “It’s going to keep us busy, so—-” The ruby red lips curved in a fake smile of apology. “I’m saying sorry in advance, I’ll need to borrow your boyfriend for quite a bit.”
“I see.”
“No hard feelings?”
“None.” Because there was no point , Fawn thought dully. Lou hadn’t just borrowed Grant. She had stolen him away, and Grant had allowed himself to be stolen.
“Your girlfriend is so sweet,” Lou gushed. “It must be hard, having to be with such an angel.”
Fawn had a feeling an insult was hidden in there somewhere, but she was momentarily distracted by the buzzing noise growing louder behind them. It was like the other students were freaking out—-
Over what, she wondered absently.
Lou and Grant appeared to have noticed the same thing, too.
“Do you think there’s a brawl?” Grant asked with a frown.
Lou wrinkled her nose. “The guards will take care of it if so. Derek Christopoulos wouldn’t stand for such—-” Her eyes widened, and her voice trailed off as if she had suddenly seen a ghost.
Grant stiffened as well.
Fawn blinked. “What—-”
Behind her, she heard a distinctly familiar, British-accented voice say silkily, “Mind if we interrupt your meeting?”
Fawn spun around so fast she almost fell off her chair.
It was the prince!
And he was not alone.
Mocking green eyes collided with bewildered blue ones.
What are you doing here, she internally shrieked at the prince. I wanted you to text me back, not show up!
The prince smirked. Haven’t you heard of the saying ‘beggars can’t be choosers?’ But when the prince spoke, his tone was perfectly polite and businesslike. “I truly apologize for interrupting your meeting, but I’m afraid I’ve an urgent need of Fawn’s assistance.”
“Umm, right. Of course.” As she clumsily rose to her feet, she wondered what the heck the prince was talking about. Grant and Lou stood up as well, the former looking wary while the other girl was all smiles, an avaricious gleam in her eyes.
So this is what a gold-digger looks like, Fawn thought.
The prince offered his hand to Grant. “I’ve heard a lot about you. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
Grant took the prince’s offered hand and tried not to wince at the excruciatingly hard pressure the prince exerted on his fingers. “A pleasure,” he managed to say while resisting the urge to yank his hand out of the prince’s crushing grip. What the hell was wrong with this idiot?
“I’m Lou, the student council’s vice president,” Lou was murmuring.
The prince gave the girl an icy smile. “Charmed.” And then he promptly dismissed her, turning his back to face Fawn again as he asked casually, “Fawn, may I introduce you to my friends?”
At Fawn’s nod, the prince gestured to a pair of black-haired and blue-eyed twins, both of them tall, dark, and handsome. One was dressed in a stylish pin-striped suit while the other was dressed in a crisp white shirt and jeans. “You probably already know Nick and Jason Christakos, who jointly head their family business.”
Family business, she thought weakly. Riiight. That was a vast understatement, considering the Christakos’ fortune amounted to billions.
“It’s nice to see you again, Fawn,” Jason said with a smile.
“Same here, although we weren’t properly introduced when we first met,” Nick said wryly.
She could only smile, tongue-tied in bemusement at their friendliness.
“This is Nathan Callis.” The prince gestured to the former supermodel. Like his friends, Nathan’s features were decidedly Mediterranean, but unlike the others, he had an air of quiet mystery about him, and when he spoke, his voice was soothingly soft and kind. “It’s an honor to meet you, Fawn.”
“I-It’s an honor for me, too,” Fawn stammered.
“And of course, you know the chairman’s son, Derek Christopoulos.” The prince gestured to the last man to be introduced.
“Hi, Fawn.” Derek Christopoulos’ legendary charm was displayed in full force as he gave Fawn a rakish grin. “I’m looking forward to working with you.”
Fawn blinked.
Behind her, Grant asked sharply, “Have you changed jobs?”
The prince reined his temper in with an effort as he watched Bennett move to Fawn’s side and take her hand.
“Fawn?”
“I—-” She looked at the prince, not knowing what to say.
Derek stepped as planned, saying easily, “I’m talking about the position of treasurer for the foundation Reid, the others, and I are putting up. Reid told you about it, right? He told me you’re good with numbers, and since this friend of mine rarely gives that kind of recommendation, I’m inclined to believe him.”
“We’re sorry for putting you in the hot seat,” Jason added ruefully, “but as we’re a bit pressed for time—-”
“And by that,” Nick continued, “he means we have an urgent need to donate millions of dollars for tax purposes.”
Grant and Lou looked at each other at the amount Nick Christakos mentioned.
“The position is yours if you want it,” the prince murmured. “But we would need a decision now.”
“Umm...” Her head was whirling, and she had the strongest urge to shout at the prince. What the heck did this mean? What was he planning? He had never mentioned anything about this before, darn him.
“About the project you’d like to sponsor,” Grant suddenly said. “Are there any specifics you’re looking for?”
“Anything would do,” Nathan answered. “As long as it can be set up right away.”
“Then maybe we can help you.” Grant cleared his throat. “The student council is actually planning a fundraiser. In fact, I believe Mr. Christopoulos may have heard of it—-” He stopped, expecting the chairman’s son to tell him Grant could call him by his first name instead.
But Derek Christopoulos only nodded, saying pensively, “Yes, I believe I’ve heard of this. You submitted a proposal to my office a week ago, if I’m not mistaken.”
Grant’s cheeks turned a dull shade of red at the indirect snub, but he forced himself to mutter, “That’s right.”
Derek raised a brow. “What do you think, Reid? We could sponsor their project.”
Before the prince could answer, Lou suddenly approached him, saying, “Please say yes, Mr. Chalkias.”
Fawn’s eyes widened at the way the girl pressed herself to the prince’s side. Did that girl not know she was practically rubbing her breasts against the prince’s arms?
Her gaze moved sharply to the prince, who looked back at her with a glint in his gaze.
She glared at him, unable to help it. Get rid of her!
But the prince only said dulcetly, “It’s really up to Fawn, I’m afraid.” The prince remained where he was as he spoke, with the vice president still treating his body like a scratching post for her breasts.
Fawn saw red.
“She’s the one who’d be crunching numbers with the council if she chooses to accept the project.”
“Or what?” Fawn mumbled under her breath. “It’s going to self-destruct in five seconds, Tom Cruise wannabe?”
Five seconds passed in complete silence.
Oh my God, had she said that out loud?
And then the prince’s friends were laughing while Lou gasped and Grant began to hurriedly apologize on her behalf.
I’m dead. I’m totally dead. She slowly looked up to meet the prince’s gaze.
He was smiling at her, and of course she knew that smile of his from experience.
“Your humor is as adorable as ever,” the prince said pleasantly.
Fawn gulped as she mentally translated the prince’s words and knew that the prince was already looking forward to killing her as soon as they were alone.
“Do you then accept the project?”
Before she could answer, something played out from Derek Christopoulos’ phone.
It was the theme song from Mission Impossible .
Nathan and the Christakos twins started laughing again while Derek grinned at Fawn, saying, “You need to come work for us, Fawn. We won’t take no for an answer. Life’s going to be too boring after this if you don’t.”
Feeling the prince’s gaze boring a hole through her back warningly, she said feelingly, “I would love to work for you, Mr. Christopoulos.” And she did, she had to, with the prince practically threatening her destruction in five seconds from behind.
Lou had finally disentangled herself from the prince, walking back to Grant, saying, “We need to go back to HQ, hon. I got a text from the president.”
Grant frowned. “Right.” He checked his phone. “I got the same text.” He hesitated then said firmly, “You go ahead. I’ll just say goodbye to Fawn.”
Lou’s lips tightened. “I can wait—-”
“You don’t have to.” Grant’s voice had turned hard.
Lou’s lips formed a thin smile. “Okay, hon .”
As the other girl walked away, Grant turned to face Fawn again, saying, “I have to go, luv.”
“Okay.”
“I’m sorry we haven’t had much time together.”
Oh . Her lips parted, but no words came out. He had never apologized about this in front of other people, and she didn’t understand why he was doing it now.
“So...” Grant looked at her intently, and after a second she realized that he was waiting for his cue from her.
Could he kiss her or not?
I should let him, she thought. Make him think that he could kiss her and then turn away at the last second.
But this time, with the prince and his friends around them—-
This time, if she did it to him again, the entire school would see it.
“Fawn?” Grant swallowed.