CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT – FINN #3
One that, ironically, he shares with the daughter he seems to so dislike.
“The only reason Jasmine wasn’t arrested and charged is because Harriet pleaded for her to be let go.
And let me make it very clear, William.” I stand up and flatten my hands on the desk, staring down at him.
“I do not agree with her. I don’t believe she should have been merely escorted away.
If I had my way, your precious youngest daughter would either be in a jail cell or out on bail right now, not dillydallying about scot-free to whine about how hard done by she thinks she is. ”
He flinches away from me.
“If she ever—and I mean ever—lays another hand on my fiancée, that’s exactly what will happen to her.
I will personally make sure she’s arrested and charged with the highest crime possible.
Don’t think I will stop there, either. I will hit this household where it hurts until the lesson has been learnt. ”
William’s cheek flush, and anger makes his jaw tick. “Are you threatening us, Your Royal Highness?”
“Yes. Yes, I’m threatening you. I’m threatening you, your family, your business.
I’m threatening everything you hold dear.
” I hold his gaze unwaveringly. “You know better than anyone the power the Royal Family has—the power we can have should we choose to wield it. If anyone touches her again, I will make your lives miserable. I told you before that I chose her, that I choose her, and I meant it. This isn’t a game or a passing fancy.
Harriet will be my wife, the Crown Princess, the future Queen, and I will not have her disrespected.
I thought I made that perfectly clear in our first meeting. ”
He swallows, backing down. “Yes, you did.”
“Evidently not to Jasmine.”
“I will speak with her.” He briefly closes his eyes and rubs his forehead. “Her behaviour was, of course, unacceptable, regardless of her reasonings.”
“It will not happen again. Not if she wants any semblance of a happy life.” I push away from the desk and straight up, still staring down at him.
“I’m not the only person in this city who would move Heaven and Earth for Harriet, merely the first. I’m not even close to the worst person Jasmine could cross. You would do well to remember it.”
He swallows, then bows his head. “I understand. As you said, it won’t happen again.”
“Make sure of it.” I walk around the desk towards the door when his voice rings out.
“Would you ask her to visit?”
I stop.
Am I hearing things?
Did he just fucking ask me if Harriet would visit?
I turn to meet his gaze, and he flinches again. A brief flash of panic crosses his face when I don’t speak, but just as he opens his mouth to presumably take it back, I scoff.
“Why would she want to return here?”
William freezes, almost as if he hasn’t considered she genuinely might not want to come back.
“I can ask her,” I say, resting my hand on the doorknob. “But that doesn’t mean she’ll agree. Nor will I force her to do anything she doesn’t want to do. Unfortunately, she still needs to return to get her belongings, so you might just get lucky.”
He sits back in the chair, dipping his head. “Yes, yes. Of course. I’d forgotten that.”
Naturally.
It was a wonder he could remember her name.
“Just be prepared for it to be the last time she ever sets foot in this house,” I say, opening the door. “And remember what I’ve said here tonight, William. Harriet is untouchable. That is non-negotiable.”
He swallows.
“And what I said about listening to her? When I said she tells me everything, I mean she tells me everything.” I hold his gaze. “And I believe her. Without question.”
His eyes widen, and he clenches his hand around the arm of the chair. Then, he shakily gets to his feet and bows. “I will keep your words in mind. Goodnight, Your Royal Highness.”
I eye him for a moment before stepping out of the room and letting the door swing shut behind me. It closes with a bang, and that ear-splitting noise is followed by a smash from inside the office. It takes everything within me not to smile the way I want to.
He’s just a weak man. One unable to stand up for his daughter in the face of his wife. One unwilling to stand up for her.
Thank fuck we ran into each other that day in the park. Thank fuck she found me, that fate made our paths cross.
Thank fuck she never has to fight her battles alone again.
As long as I’m here, there will always be someone willing to fight for Harriet Sinclair. To the very ends of the Earth if that’s what it takes.
I glance back at the door to William’s office before turning for the stairs. I don’t know if I trust him, but at least he’s gotten the message for now.
That doesn’t mean I’m done.
That doesn’t mean I won’t have someone watching Jasmine.
Hattie might have correctly predicted her plan to sway the media, but that doesn’t mean it’ll always be the case. The day Jasmine tried to have her attacked under the guise of a photoshoot says everything.
There’s not a chance in fucking Hell that I’ll let them harm her.