Page 3 of The Heir
"Broccoli cheddar soup." I switch effortlessly, still keeping my eyes on hers. "And grab a to-go container of it, as well as chicken broth if they have it."
"Yes, sir."
I pause. "Sylvia, make sure the broth has no noodles."
"I will, sir."
"And Sylvia, use my name to get immediate service please. I don't exactly have the time or patience to wait."
"Yes, sir. I'll have it to you right away."
"Thank you," I say, hanging up the phone and reaching forward for her almost emptied glass.
"King…" Isobel protests in a small, vulnerable voice. "You didn't have to."
I stand up and turn my back to her, taking the time to refresh her ginger ale and get a handle on myself. I'm ready to go find this fuck up of a man and beat his ass into the ground. What the hell is wrong with him that he thinks it's okay to foist off four-year old tums on a woman because he doesn't want to be bothered?
I pause, thinking.
If he's not treating her right…maybe there's a reason why.
Turning back, I offer a tight smile and then slide her ginger ale towards her. "Here you go."
She takes it with a shaky smile. "Thank you," Isobel says in a weak voice that genuinely bothers me. I'm not used to her being so vulnerable. The Isobel I've been meeting for the last three months has been tough as nails. "I'm sorry to have caused so much bother."
"Isobel, it's absolutely no problem, and you're not a bother-"
"Thank you," she interrupts.
I smile, scoffing quietly as I sit back in my seat and fold my arms again, spreading and stretching my legs, letting the feeling of taking control even in this small way fill me with pleasure."You're welcome.Now, you're going to eat-if you can,and then you're going to go home and lay down, and we'll redo our meeting next week." I hold up my hand when she goes to open her mouth to interrupt me again. "I want to see you eat at least five bites of your soup please, you need something on your stomach. And drink a little more of your soda."
She gives me a grateful smile. I find myself so relieved that she's too tired to fight back like the hellion I've come to know her to be.
Killing time while we wait for her food, we spend the next ten minutes talking about the new materials that our mutual client has requested in our build. When the soup arrives, she says thank you again and obliges me by taking three bites before she turns gray and I pack up her food.
Reluctant to let her leave, I push my personal feelings aside as I walk her down to her car after she refuses a ride home from my driver. Then I jump in my car and secretly have him follow her all the way home so I know she gets there safe.
Once home, I head straight to my bedroom closet and change into a pain black t-shirt and some jeans, heading through my bedroom to the hidden door in the corner. Pushing my way through, I enter the room and eye the tarps already laid down, the cans of paint, new roller brushes, and ladder leaning against the wall.
I take a second to set up, opening the paint can and dipping the roller brush into the elegant gray-blue color, proceeding to go over the white wall with broad strokes.
"Sir," Gustavo, my security guard appears in the doorway. "Carlotta's here."
"Send her in," I say, focused on painting.
Carlotta, my house manager, walks through the door and cranes her neck up to look at me. "Mr. King, Are yousureI can't get someone to do that for you?"
"For thefiftiethtime, Carlotta," I say, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice. "I want to do this myself. It's important to us." I stroke over the wall a few more times before carefully walking down the ladder and re-dipping the brush in the paint. "Now, can you please find something else to do instead of bothering me about the work I want to do in this room? Maybe go check and make sure the shelving I had custom made will be here on time."
Carlotta nods her head. "Yes sir. I'll get right on that."
"Thank you Carlotta," I say dismissively, heading back up the ladder to continue my work.
I need this room to be perfect. It needs to be everything she'd ever want.
King Dynasty Archives
Chapter one
