Feisty Princess

Alexander reminds tight-lipped until we make it inside the building. “I’m sure we’re going to get a lot of that until the shock over our marriage dies down. As soon as they find another big story to cover, they’ll forget about us.” He extends his elbow to me, and I loop my arm through his. “Come on. Let’s get this ass-kissing over with. The sooner we can get away from these pretentious assholes, the better.”

I can’t help but laugh. His blunt vocabulary is actually comical when I’m not pissed at him for talking to me that way.

The ballroom is alive with Manhattan’s upper-crust society, milling about in their small cliques. A jazz band plays in the corner and a few couples are dancing while everyone else lingers about gossiping or discussing business ventures. A few heads turn in our direction, and it doesn’t go unnoticed that I’m clinging to Alexander’s arm.

The men in the room nod as if approving Alexander’s choice of arm candy for the night, but the women are a completely different story. Their expressions range from pity to contempt. I’m guessing the ones who look like they want to punch me in the face are women Alexander has slept with and aren’t quite over him yet.

“I feel like everyone’s staring at us,” I whisper.

Alexander rubs the light beard covering his face. “Angry beehive, remember? This is where we’ll need to sell it most.” He gazes down at me. “I’m going to kiss you now. It’s best to get this over with. Let them know where we stand, just as we did at the office the other day.”

He’s right. It will save me from having to explain our relationship status a million different times for the next hour.

I nod. “Okay.”

Alexander pinches my chin gently between his thumb and forefinger. “The countdown clock to get you into my bed starts now.”

A genuine smile spreads across my face. “Looking forward to it.”

He leans down and presses his lips to mine, and the weight of all the eyes in the room judging us falls on my shoulders. The kiss doesn’t last long, and it isn’t more than a sweet peck, but it’s enough to show everyone in this room there is definitely something going on between us.

Alexander pulls back. “Let’s work this room.”

And that’s exactly what we do. We spend the next hour rubbing elbows with some of the wealthiest people in New York. Most of the board members appear to be pleased with the match between Alexander and me. All but one, that is.

A tall, slender blond woman with a little age on her approaches us with a smile, but I can tell right away that it’s not genuine. It’s a forced act for Alexander’s benefit as she leans in and kisses him on both cheeks. “Alexander, darling, how nice to see you.”

Alexander’s posture is notably different. His stance has gone from relaxed to rigid. Something about this woman obviously puts his guard up.

The woman’s eyes instantly flit over to me after she releases Alexander. “Are you going to introduce me to your date?”

His nostrils flare as he inhales deeply. “Camille, this is Margo Buchanan—my wife.”

Camille’s dark green eyes widen. “Your wife? Wow.” She turns her attention to me and extends her hand. “You’ll have to excuse my surprise. When Alexander dated my daughter, Jess, he never really seemed like the type to ever settle down. It’s hard for me to picture Alexander as a married man.”

I swallow down the lump in my throat. I never anticipated on meeting anyone connected to Alexander’s ex tonight. Especially not the one I’ve been told who broke his heart. It’s difficult to digest that the man I’m starting to open myself up to and feel something for was once very much in love with someone else. I’m jealous this woman exists and probably had a relationship with the easygoing Alexander I’ve witnessed from time to time. It’s also hard for me to grasp the reason Alexander is the way he is with women is because of Jess according to Yamada.

I want to get back at this girl for hurting Alexander, even though I don’t know her at all.

I turn and lean into Alexander, placing my right hand on his chest as I address Camille. “I keep hearing that my Alexander was quite the ladies’ man, but I assure you he’s a changed man.” I flick my gaze back up to Alexander’s smile. “He has my heart completely and I have his. We’re each other’s everything.”

“How lovely, for you.” There’s a hardened edge to her voice. “I hope that it stays that way.”

I level my gaze on Camille and the smile drops off my face while I place my left hanf on Alexander’s chest to show off the ring he just gave me. “Thank you for your concern, but I assure you it’s unnecessary. We’re completely in love with one another and will be very happy together. Nothing will get in the way of that.”

Her lips twist and I can tell that she despises me and wants nothing more than to tell me off. I don’t understand why she would hold ill will toward Alexander. Her daughter is the one who dumped him. She can’t possibly be upset that he’s moved on with his life.

Instead of saying another word to me, Camille turns on her heel and storms away from us. The sparkly dress she’s wearing trail behind her.

I turn back to Alexander. “That was odd. What’s her deal?”

Alexander wraps his arm around my waist, drawing me in tightly against his side. “She wanted her daughter to marry me. She didn’t exactly approve of the tennis pro that she ran off with when she left me. He doesn’t make enough money to suit Camille’s standards.”