Page 8 of Ruthless King

I stumble at the memory, my foot snagging on the carpet and making me trip. I can see the ground coming closer to me when all of a sudden, arms are around me.

It’s Nico. He caught me.

I’m frozen as he holds me, his breath tickling my face, his large hands on my back.

After a moment, he lets me go. “Thank you,” I say.

“I don’t need you girls getting hurt. That’s not my intent here.” He straightens his jacket. “Watch where you’re going next time.”

I flinch slightly. That could have been my moment to impress him, but instead, he scolds me.

Nico takes a seat on a lone chair while the rest of us crowd onto the two couches. The short man stands behind Nico, eyeing us all critically. The two guards stand near the living room doorway, reminding us not to try anything.

Nico is the most guarded man I’ve ever met. What has Beatrice sent me into? I actually hope Nico doesn’t choose me so I can leave. Sure, Beatrice won’t be happy with me, but she can kill Nico herself if she’s desperate enough.

“I’m going to talk to each of you individually,” Nico explains. “See if we’ll be a good match. Amanda, why don’t we start?”

Her smile is coy. “Of course.”

The two get up and leave the room. One of the guards follow while the other remains. Will that be what it’s like when I’m married to Nico? A guard always following?

That is if I can get him to choose me in the first place.

“She has it in the bag,” Elizabeth says.

“What do you mean?” Sarah squeaks.

Elizabeth huffs, leaning back in her seat and crossing her arms. “I saw the way he looked at her. She oozes sex appeal. What man wouldn’t want that?”

Compared to Amanda, I feel like a little girl. Nico wants a pretty wife, and I’m objectively pretty, but I’m not a sex kitten. I’m a virgin in over my head.

“What do you think they’re talking about?” Rebecca, a curvy blonde, asks.

“Guess we’ll see when it’s our turn,” Elizabeth says.

“I ask you all,” the short man cuts in, “to be quiet. This is not a chatting hour. Be quiet until it’s your turn.”

Elizabeth makes a face but doesn’t say another word. Staying quiet is easy for me. I’ve always been naturally shy. My mother would comfort me when I came home from school, having been bullied for being so quiet.

My father taught me to believe in myself. To stand up to people who treat me badly.

So, why couldn’t I do that to Beatrice? That woman is a force of nature. She’s impossible to say no to.

I glance over at the short man, only to find him looking right at me. Quickly, I avert my gaze.

After a few seconds, I sneak another look back at him, only to find him still looking at me. Oh no. Does he somehow recognize me? Does he know who my father was?

Does he know why I’m here?

Eventually, Nico and Amanda reenter the room, with Amanda hurrying to the couch, looking like she’s almost in tears. What happened?

Elizabeth reaches forward to touch Amanda’s knee when the short man snaps at her to stop and to follow Nico. Elizabeth quickly stands and walks in front of Nico as they leave the room.

Amanda begins to cry, and there’s nothing we can do about it because the short man won’t let us comfort her. She was so confident going into her conversation with Nico, and now, she’s sitting here, crying. What in the world did they talk about?

My anxiety spikes even more. What if Nico asks me about my father and I spill the beans? Beatrice told me that if I say anything, she’ll disown me. She’ll kick me out of my father’s house and leave me homeless. I know my aunt is not a good woman, but she’s all I have left, and I can’t lose another family member.

I can feel the short man’s eyes on me until Elizabeth and Nico come back. Just like Amanda, Elizabeth looks rattled.

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