Page 18 of What She Wants

“Make yourself clear?” She repeats.

“Yes.”

She shakes her head as if I’ve lost a few brain cells and the look in her eyes shows that if I wasn’t as old as I was, she would kick my ass. Instead of saying anything else, she further shakes her head, fully disappointed in me.

“She’s using you to clean up her image.”

“No, she’s not. You’re using her for clout and clickbait.”

My mom looks like I’ve slapped her. I don’t have the urge but someone should. Esme may be in a higher position on the island, but my mom is guilty of bullying someone younger than her son because she’s mad at the woman’s parents. It’s not her most mature move.

She gives me her CEO stare that scares everyone else but me. I hold her eye contact with a bored look, silently telling her that I’m not retracting what I said.

“They stole our rightful place at the table.” My mom is like a broken record with that spiel. She should have let this argument die with mi abuelo.

“And that has nothing to do with a woman who’s almost thirty. Clearly she wasn’t there for any of this.”

Her lips are pinched as she narrows her eyes at me like I’ve betrayed her in some egregious way. I still give her nothing. Eventually, she flips her glossy hair over her shoulder and pivots on her heels to walk away.

“I’ll hold you to your lie, mi hijo.”

“It’s not a lie,” I call back before she disappears.It’s a ridiculously big lie.Not one to back down, I leave her standing in my foyer knowing my mom is going to pay me back in some grossly over the top way.

What she’ll do doesn’t even matter anymore because I’ve stated my case. If I know my mother then I know she’ll hit below the belt because nothing that came out of my mouth was for her good.

Fuck it.

Chapter12

Marín

Esme stormspast my staff and follows me into an empty exam room. I’m sure she’s broken some sort of privacy law, but they are not going to question her since she’s my “fiancée.” She closes the door, hits the busy button, then fixes me with a glare. Her breasts tease me with every breath she takes. Even angry, she’s damn radiant. Her presence isn’t helping me to ignore my desire to stick my dick back inside of her.

“What do you want, Esmé?”

Her cinnamon skin flushes as she waves the article at me. Looks like we’ve made the front page.

“We’re engaged?” She hisses her question. “What gives you the right?”

“You could thank me.”

“For what? Starting more drama? I’m not looking for a husband. I’m living my best life!”

“That’s not what you said at the gallery.” I know exactly what her request was, I just like fucking with her. Angry Esme makes my dick hard.

“I saidpretendfor that moment not this!” She flings the magazine at me. I block it with a swat. The glossy pages smack against the floor just as loud and dramatic as Esme.

I’m not sure if it’s because I’m crazy or bored but I like them spicy. She’s as wild as they come and I itch to break her. Like a wild mustang, I’d ride her until she bends to my will. She wants to be a badass but I’m a fucking bully. Just like that she’s sealed her fate. She has to marry me for real now.

“Plan our wedding. It’s done.”

“Like hell,” she rages with a high-heeled stomp. Her puffy ponytail bounces with her motion. I want to pull it. Esme smiles as if realizing something. “I know what this is. The Delgados want to be Founders so damn bad....”

That’s my mom’s thing. I don’t give a fuck about that. I’ve made my choices. Fuck the head table. Plus, my mom has never gone by Delgado.

I deny her claim.“Nope. She goes by León andthisis about you trying me at work.”

“Right,” She mocks me. “And it’s pure coincidence that marrying me will get your thirsty ass mom closer to the Founders. You’re just her little minion.”

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