Page 4 of Mated to the Kingpin

“I don’t even like you.”

He cocks a brow. “Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then why do you still smell aroused when I’m around?”

My mouth opens and closes. “That’s not—you don’t get to—I?—“

“Please. Sit down,” he requests, but the request is really an order. His tone has me hesitating before obeying.

“Why are you doing this? What happened to letting me pay you back when I graduate and have a career and can actually help you?”

“That was never the deal,” he says. “You just assumed that’s what it’d be.”

“That’s not fair.”

He takes a sip of his drink and my gaze tracks the movement, the amber liquid sliding down his throat. “Fair or not, that’s how it is.”

“There’s no way I’m marrying you.”

“Then I guess I’ll have to release the tape.” The room spins and I grip the edge of the table to ground myself. “I doubt Mrs. Williamson would appreciate learning that her potential new Creative Director has a video floating around out there of her drunk at 16 with four guys.”

I’m spiraling, struggling to breathe at the idea. Hurt after his rejection, I’d gone to a party the same night and gotten drunk for the first time. Teenage, reeling me loved the attention and desire those guys were showering me with. I’d stripped down to my bra and thong, but other than groping, we hadn’t gone any further when suddenly a pissed off Liam was there, throwing punches.

“You wouldn’t,” I breathe out, horrified. I gulp, bringing my eyes back to his face. There’s an ice in his eyes that I’ve never seen before. At that moment I realize I don’t know who this man is anymore. “It’s—it’s illegal to post revenge porn.”

An eyebrow, one bisected with a scar through it, raises. “You really think I give a fuck about what’s legal or not?”

My hands are trembling and I press them flat against the table. This can’t be happening. This is just a bad dream. I’ll wake up soon and this will all be a nightmare.

“There’s no way this is really happening.”

“I’m afraid it is,” he confirms. He drains the last of his whiskey, setting the tumbler down on the table. “Here’s the deal. You’re going to marry me.”

“Or you’ll release the video,” I whisper, numb.

He simply looks at me until I sigh with defeat.

“When?”

“Tomorrow.”

Tomorrow?! He can’t be serious. How am I supposed to break it to my estranged parents, my best friend Lizzy, or my boss? There’s no way I can ask for time off if I get this new position with Street Dreamers youth charity.

“I need time to get my stuff together, find a venue,” I protest. Liam can’t know what a wedding takes.

“All of that is already handled. I just need you to show up..”

I blink at him, still struggling to process the reality of this. I cross my arms over my chest, indignation rising. “Venue?”

“On the O’Reilly estate.”

My head is shaking back and forth as if it’ll stop him from saying the words.

“Catering? Guest list? Floral arrangements?” My pitch rises with each demand, but Liam doesn’t flinch. “And, what, am I supposed to just go to the nearest wedding shop in the morning and grab any dress off the rack?”

He lifts a shoulder in a dismissive shrug. “You’ll be surprised what a lot of money can do for these types of things. Invite whomever you want. As for the dress and everything else? It’s taken care of.”

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