Chapter 2: Meeting the Male King

Beady black eyes stared back as I tilted my head to inspect them more. One eye briefly closed and opened again. Frowning, I shook my head and looked again, but they were still there. My cheeks puffed out a mouthful of air as I glanced out the café window. That's what happened when you stared at a teddy bear mug for half an hour.

Hunter-fucking-King was supposed to meet me here, yet there was no sign of him. Two days ago, I called Mr. King senior to meet his son before I finalized anything. I had to know if things would work between us. Now, with this conduct, I was afraid the conclusion would not be in their favor.

Just when I stood up from my seat, huffing, a shiny black Aston Martin Rapide pulled over right outside the café, and a tall, slender figure in a black Armani suit stepped out. In a matter of seconds he was swarmed by girls like a herd of female bees around their male queen, err...male king? Just then, the door on the other side of the car opened and a short, petite woman with grey hair in a tight bun got out. Two men stretched their arms out in an attempt to block the crowd from getting to them, and another man led them inside.

The elegant, powerful aura they emitted seized the customers' attention as half the cafe staff led them to a table. The bald man, who I assumed was the head bodyguard, looked around until his eyes fell on me. He whispered something in the male king's ear, who then turned his shaded eyes to me. Fixing his coat, he strutted forward. His 6’3” height looked down at my 5’5” frame like an arrogant giraffe before a flabbergasted zebra.

I stared. The guy I had been secretly crushing on since the day I first saw him on a magazine cover stood before me. Yes, that was true. So, why I didn't say yes to the marriage then? Even though he had the looks of a Greek god, his attitude, according to some articles, was more like a movie villain. I was certain he wouldn't be able to make me my dream love come true.

"Are you Ember? Ember Collins?" the woman asked, breaking me from my thoughts. My cheeks reddened having realized I had been staring.

I'd be lying if I said their dominating vibes didn't make me nervous. My heart was racing, and my tongue felt heavy. I nodded, extending my hand, but before I could blink she threw her hands around me pulling me into an embrace. I stood there stupefied. A King was hugging me despite all the news I kept hearing of them being the big bad wolves. Pulling back, she tugged her slightly wrinkled lips into a hearty smile.

"Pardon me, I got carried away. I'm Karen King."

"Hello." I smiled; my mind was boggled. She was the eldest member of the Kings, and she certainly didn't seem like a bad wolf to me. What was all that news then? Mere rumors? My eyes gazed at the male king who was now sitting at my table. Would that mean he was not the dark and dangerous devil everyone said he was?

"Here. Sit, darling. Talk to each other. I'll be around." She trotted away and found herself a table in another corner.

Licking my lips, I sat down and gazed at the man before me. He was as handsome as the magazines portrayed him to be, maybe even more so, with a square face, hard features and a sharp jawline adorned with slight stubble. He seemed to have a perpetual frown.

My heart pounded in my chest, and the script I prepared was long forgotten. I cleared my throat and stretched my lips into an awkward, toothy smile. "H-Hello! It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" I closed my eyes face-palming internally. Did I have to stutter? I couldn't help it though since his eyes seemed to watch my every move from behind his tinted glasses.

He looked down at his wristwatch. "Yes."

The rich, velvety texture of his voice made my breath hitch, and I gulped. Perhaps I should stop beating around the bush. "Well, I wanted to know your thoughts on…um, our marriage?" It came out more as a question since I still couldn't believe I was going be the famous Hunter King’s bride, even though it was a forceful marriage. I wondered if he knew about the threats.

He didn't move, neither did his mouth, only his eyes bored into me. Diverting my eyes elsewhere, I stirred in my seat. From the other corner of the cafe the granny's eyes, illuminated with excitement, caught mine, and I smiled.

Was he going to answer or not?

"Wil—"

A waitress placed a menu on the table, cutting me off. "Mr. King, what would you like to have?" The waitress leaned over, her boobs almost falling out of her tight uniform as she batted her eyelashes.

My jaw clenched, annoyed, but then Hunter raised his hand, dismissing her without a glance. The way the color drained from her face only heightened my crush on him. Biting the laugh in, I glanced back at him.

Perhaps the marriage wouldn't be a bad thing after all.

"So, I’ve been having doubts about the proposition since the beginning, of course, and the threats were a big red light—" I threw the quick hint in to observe his reaction.

Silence and an impassive expression were all he gave me.

"But…now I am thinking about giving my consent. I mean, you guys are good people. What could happen, right?"

Again, silence.

At this point, I wondered if he could actually talk, or was the first response a mere hallucination?

Just when I was almost convinced that the great Hunter King was dumb, his hand lifted to his right ear. "Adequate. Finalize it, Denver."

"What?" My brows knitted together.

"Yes, I'm coming." He clicked the dark device, a.k.a. Bluetooth, attached to his ear. "You were saying?"

I sat there, my mouth agape. That son of a bloody tampon! He was having a darn meeting while I was blabbering in vain.

He lifted his hand, glancing at the watch once again. "Good talk." Then he got up and walked away like he regretted nothing.

The granny rushed to me. "Hope to meet you soon, darling," she said and followed behind her jerk of a grandson.

I hate to disappoint the fair lady, but I would never marry that bastard.

Drawing out my phone, I dialed a number and held it against my ear. After five rings, the call was answered.

"Hello, Ember."

I inhaled deep. "We need to meet."

"Come to the office. Fifteenth floor, chief conference hall."

Cutting the call, I started for the Kings' office in Midtown Manhattan and reached it in no time. I craned my neck in a ninety-degree angle until I could see the end of the skyscraper before me. 'THE KING'S CORP' was emblazoned in bold golden letters on a black board.

My jaw tightened. Filthy money. It corrupted people, made them feel they could do whatever they wanted, but I wouldn't give in to them. Never.

After ascending the stairs, a man in a black uniform opened the door for me. Thanking him, I hopped in the elevator to the 15th floor and waited outside the conference hall until the last employee walked out. Then I barged into the room, too angry to maintain decorum.

The offense on Mr. King's face vaporized as soon as it appeared. "Welcome, Ember. Liked my son? Of course, you did. Who doesn't?" He laughed.

"No."

He cut his laughter short, and his eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, girl?"

"I say no to your proposition. Your son is a jerk, and I'm not wasting my life with him."

His lips thinned. "Oh, silly girl. I'm sure you want a job really bad."

I frowned. "Are you threatening me, Mr. King?"

"No, of course, not. I'm only pushing you in the right direction."

"Right direction? Oh, please! Your son didn't even act like he was interested."

"Of course he is interested. He is just a tough man."

I closed my eyes and asked the question that had been bothering me the most. "Why? Why me?"

Diverting his gaze, Mr. King stirred in his seat. "Whatever do you mean?"

"Why are you so desperate to make me marry your son?"

"Can't a father want a good wife for his son?"

"There's a thousand more girls like me."

"You never know who's planning what." He stood up from his seat and rounded the desk, a smile taking over his lips. "I have known you since childhood, my girl, and I trust you."

If anything, the crease between my brows only deepened. Was he really a concerned father, or was there another motive?

"Still, Mr. King. I can't, I'm sorry. I request that you stop bothering my family and me." I turned on my heels.

"Do think again, Ember. I can help you get a job."

My movement ceased. As alluring an offer as it was, I was not giving in; the uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach wouldn't let me anyway. Shaking my head, I walked out of King's Corp. hoping to never set foot in there again.

Getting in a cab, I let out a long sigh. An arrowy pain penetrated my chest. Turning my phone on, I tapped the search bar and typed: How to hate your crush?

My mind was fully motivated and buzzing with ideas for the future by the time I got home. You have to love the internet; it was always there when you needed it. I stretched my hand to reach the doorknob when voices halted me.

"They emailed again from the IRS. This was the last warning. If we don't pay the taxes, we'll lose our house. You might even have to go to prison, Joseph," Mom said, her voice thick with worry. "Do you still think it's a prank? Maybe there has been some misunderstanding?"

"Don't worry. I'll go talk to the officials tomorrow." Dad's voice sounded dead.

"What's wrong? Are you okay, Joseph?"

"I don't know what's going on, Sof. They refused to give me my allowance for the month."

"What? Why?"

I took two steps back as the air felt too heavy to inhale, and the world was closing in on me.

'You're trapped, Ember,' Mr. King's voice mocked me in my head, 'There's only one way out of it.'

My hand shook as I drew my phone out and dialed the same number for the second time that day.

"Listening."

"Yes. I say yes."