Page 7 of Daddy King

If this isn’t a dire situation where I must hide, then I would question why this air vent is so big that I could fit in comfortably or that anyone would take a second look at the abnormally pasty white painted metal.

However, avoiding a king takes precedence.

She fixes the opening and drops down onto the floor with her dress pooling on the ground as she crouches to move the large table to the side to make it less conspicuous. The flowers are moved to the center of the table, we make eye contact through the vent before I scoot back further into the duct to avoid anyone from seeing any part of me if they look up or inspect the vent for who knows why.

She darts to the opposite side of where we came from as my heart pounds in my ribs, I curl my chin towards my chest and try to calm my breathing down. The air ducts amplify any noises made from me and I can’t let that be the reason as to how I would get caught.

All the man has to do is just walk across this hall and he would catch me for breathing so loudly.

Air blows on my exposed thighs as my uniform flutters from the air conditioning kicks up and I keep the squeak in my throat, it’s cold as the air blast on my short uniform with my panties taking the brunt of the iciness.

I silently pout at Helena for giving me this French maid uniform as a stunt, and it’s a requirement for me to wear it as it’s been this running joke for years now. The material is short to the middle of my thighs, hanging low on my breasts, and too flowy. Any swaying would result in me flashing my underwear to anyone passing by.

I only wear this when my duties dictate where I will be working for the day, and today is the worst luck of all days. Not only was I supposed to work on Helena’s room and the adjoining areas, but it’s also the day King Leon comes looking for a girl named Mina.

I can’t suppress the giddiness that bursts in me that I’m the one he’s looking for and not some other woman. This round of conflicting emotion is raging chaos in me; I’m honored that a man so powerful wants me to himself while on the other hand, I’m scared of how this could mean for my future.

Having been a child with no parents, I only know the love from the royal family, but their love is secondary as I don’t want to impose on their own lineage for being an outsider. Never in a million years would I think that my fairy tale of prince charming sweeping me off my feet would turn into a reality of a tyrant king inserting his authority over me through marriage.

I have no idea how I should feel about this.

“You either come out or I will tear down this wall.”

A squeal of shock echoes loudly in the air ducts as my head jumps to bang on the metal above me. I grimace at the throbbing pain to my skull, skyrocketing heartbeat blaring in my ears as my body shrinks into itself to make myself as small as possible.

A foolish part believes I heard wrong and that there isn’t anyone out there, but I can never forget his voice or forge that deep baritone from my own imagination.

It’s too real, too close.

It’s as if he is right behind me, eating me up with his eyes and grounding me to the ground with crippling anxiety.

“I won’t ask it again, little girl.”

Yeah, I’m not imagining it.

His command compels me to follow through as I have been following orders my entire life, it’s second nature to heed to the higher-ups. I crawl over the opening and with one swipe of the hand, I catch the tumbling vent with my frantic hands. Loud clanking from my nails hitting the metal and I release a shaky breath before I swallow thickly at dark eyes zeroing in on me.

My lips twitch with a timid smile at the unamused look on his face. I move the vent opening to the side of the air duct and turn my eyes to the man, there’s no debate if I need help because the hiding spot is so high that I’ll hurt myself if I try to be brave.

I have weak joints.

“Um, your majesty, can you get the table?” I ask softly, “Please.”

He crosses his arms over that massive chest, thick muscles bulging from the sleeves of his black shirt. Gorgeous ink wraps around that tan skin in a hold that captures my attention, his legs parts in a stance of power as the combat boots stay firmly on the pristine marble ground.

Okay, his answer is no.

A different approach is needed.

“Please help me?” I beg, smiling shyly at him.

He uncrosses those big arms and steps forward, extending his hands up in an opening gesture, I awkwardly shuffle further out the duct and fall into his welcoming arms. They are steady and solid when they enclose me to his chest, I expected him to squeeze the daylight out of me because maybe he was still holding the grudge that I lied to him on the ball or that I am freaking hiding from him when he requested me to the throne room.

King Leon spent his precious time tracking me down, and sad to say that he found me so quickly.

The possessive curl of his arms around me squashes my face to his hard pecs, I shift and subtly wiggle to pull back for some professional courtesy between us, but he won’t let go. Any attempts to escape his iron cage is futile as I am much weaker and smaller than this colossal-sized man.

“Know this, little girl.” he pinches my chin and I wince at the pain, our eyes meet in a fiery passionate stare that has a song coursing through my soul.

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