Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“I know who you are, obviously,” she stated but took my hand and shook it anyway. “And now you know who I am, so we can skip the hellos and get right down to business.”
Everyone said Americans were forward, and she definitely didn’t seem to want to break that stereotype.
“Forgive me, but I have not been informed much about this deal. In fact, they only told me of it recently—”
“What a coincidence. I only just told Odette, too. However, she is being stubborn and completely refused. She didn’t even want to consider it, so we’re going to need to work together.”
“Wait.” I paused. “She refused? Outright?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“You told her who I was?”
“That you are a prince. Her exact words were ‘Good for him. I don’t care.’ She’s very stubborn. But she gets that from me, so I can’t really be mad at her for it.” She snickered.
I sat back in the seat. I had never been rejected by proxy before. Had I ever been rejected before?
“So she doesn’t want this marriage, either?” So, it wouldn’t be my fault if it doesn’t work. Hope filled me until Iskandar’s annoying self decided to cough as if to remind me—clearly remind me—none of that mattered.
“Don’t take it personally. Odette says she doesn’t want to get married to anyone.” She frowned, almost as if she were aggravated by her own daughter’s wishes.
“I know why I am here,” I replied seriously, sitting up. “It is for your money. Correction, your daughter’s money. She most likely knows that, too. It would be reasonable for her not to want to get married. Why would you force her?”
“I’m going to ignore the fact that you think you know my daughter better than me and tell you. First, in order to get her money, she must get married. Secondly, I’m forcing her because I know what she needs.” That sounded like a very unhealthy way to parent a child.
“Your daughter is not a child. If she says she doesn’t want to get married—”
“What my daughter says and what my daughter truly means are often two different things.” Her tone changed, and her face fell, but she never broke eye contact with me. “She wants to get married. She’s always wanted to get married. But she’s just scared to because of the example her father and I set. Love—to her—is synonymous with pain. When Odette is hurt by something, she abandons it. It is the one childish thing about her. So she’s not going to try to fall in love unless I push her into love. I’m starting with you, someone who desperately needs to make it work. No matter how much she pushes and pulls, your brother convinced me you could do it. If you don’t work out, I will move on to someone else. Maybe someone less high profile, a governor’s son, or something.”
Bravo.
In my family, I was the one person who always had the reply, some remark back, but I had no idea what to say to this woman. I had never had a stranger speak to me this way...like I was of no real importance, and just a means to an end for her own plans—actually, that might have been exactly it.
“Oh, by the way, did you happen to bring a costume?” she asked, scrolling through her phone.
“No. I don’t wear costumes.”
“So, Prince Charming it is then.” She grinned, showing me the outfit online.
Was I not speaking English? “I. Do. Not. Wear. Costumes.”
“You are a prince, correct?”
“Yes, but—”
“Are you charming?”
I knew what she was doing. So I didn’t answer.
“See, it’s not a costume. It’s just you then.”
What had my brother gotten me into?
Chapter 6
“Damn, look at that cleavage!” Augusta’s voice all but bounced off my walls since I had her on speakerphone.
“Shut up,” I said, trying to adjust the top of the dress. Giving up, I picked up the phone. It was only then that I saw her red wig and the red, heart-shaped mark on her face. “Augusta, you do know that the Queen of Hearts is a villain, not a hero. Right?”
“She’s just misunderstood.” She grinned, and her collar ruffled. “Besides, if everyone is a hero, how am I going to stand out? I bet you there is going to be at least one other Cinderella there. You’ll look better, but still. How did you get your curls like that?”
“Thanks, and I’ll send you the video I copied it from.” I laughed, lifting my phone. “You look beautiful as always. It’s very fitting actually, considering all the heartbreaks you keep causing.”
She rolled her eyes hard. “Just following your footsteps, big sis.”
“Thanks, but I think you’re way past me.”
“Yeah. Yeah. Oh, we never got to talk about Dad’s will. It’s crazy, isn’t it?”
“Crazy is an understatement. Do you know my mom is trying to get me to marry for the money?”