Page 1 of The Reluctant Heir

1

FAMILY IS COMPLICATED

With great trepidation, I slip into my four inch heels. My tennis shoes are waiting for me on the floor of the passenger side for after work. I slip my purse over my body and grab the two cardboard drink carriers full of coffee, bumping my car door shut with my hip. As I make my way from the parking garage to the elevator—the elevator because there is no way I’m taking three flights of stairs in these heels—I take small steps. Not because I’m worried about tripping in these heels, which I am, but because my pencil skirt only allows for small movements.

Stupid uniform.

Okay, it’s not really a ‘uniform.’ It’s a dress code. One that nobody else has a problem following. Likely because none of the other girls are forced to wear four inch heels.

When the elevator doors open and I step inside, a guy about my age wrinkles his nose as he looks me over from head to toe. It’s a reaction that I’m used to.

“Can you hit four for me, please?” I ask.

He pushes the button, not uttering a word to me.

Great—apparently being a hybrid is now considered a contagious disease.

A hybrid, that’s me. At least, that is all others see about me.

The elevator doors slide open, so I exit as quickly as I can, wanting to get away from the snobby incubus in the elevator.

“PrincessMadeline,” the secretary sneers at me as I make my way to my desk.

“Deborah.” I force myself to smile as I nod at her. I stop at my desk long enough to put away my purse, grab my bag with my laptop inside, and then head to the meeting room. I put down my computer before passing out beverages.

I am, for the most part, ignored as I pass out the coffee. I know from years of experience that the drinks won’t be acknowledged unless they’re wrong. I try not to take their attitudes to heart. This is, after all, what I’m paid for.

“Are we sure the hybrid should be here for this meeting?” Henry asks, his nose tilted in the air as he looks my way.

Henry acts like he’s oh so important, but we both know I’m further up the line of succession than he is—a fact that he can’t stand.

King Bennett doesn’t bother looking up from his papers as he responds, “Henry, are you volunteering to take over Madeline’s position?”

Henry snorts.

No, of course not. None of my cousins would ever want to do my job. They’d have to work if they did that, something they haven’t done a day in their life.

Henry is, unfortunately, my cousin. I have alotof cousins. My mom is the second born of ten children. And every single one of my cousins works for my grandfather, King Bennett, though not all of them are at this meeting today.

I ignore Henry and pull out my laptop, getting ready to take notes.

I don’t participate in the meetings. I have no vote and no say in anything that takes place. But I am good at making notes for my grandfather to review later.

“Come on, Henry,” Violet scolds him. “You know Madeline is too ugly to get hired anywhere else. We have to take pity on our homely cousin.”

Short. Unattractive. Utterly pathetic. You’d never guess that I’m half succubus. Somehow the looks and the charm completely skipped over me.

My cousin Violet is everything a succubus should be. She’s tall, standing at nearly six feet without heels, and has a body that could make a supermodel cry with jealousy. She’s gorgeous with her dark auburn hair, olive toned skin, and long, dark eyelashes.

“Don’t scowl, Madeline,” Olivia says. “You’re much more attractive when you smile. Besides, you know Henry and Violet don’t mean it. They love you.”

“Yes, we love you.” Violet smiles widely at me. “It’s not your fault that you’re ugly.”

Even though she is only teasing, it still sends a sharp pain through my chest.

I wish I could quit this job and do something different. It might do me some good to get away from my family, but what else can I do? I’m only twenty three and this is the only job I’ve ever had. It’s not like I could put my job as an assistant to the incubus king on a human job application.

I open my laptop, getting ready to take notes. I don’t respond to my cousins’ comments because it’s not worth the effort.

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