Page 58 of Vengeful Princess

Under different circumstances, him finding someone else to focus his attention on would be a relief, but knowing Thea was in his crosshairs bothered me. Younger women were like catnipto my father. The younger the better. Even 17-year-olds were fair game given half the chance - and he had gone there. Many times.

He wasn’t stupid enough to target girls in our social circle. No, he found them in bars and clubs or groomed them online. They were usually girls from deprived areas he could dazzle with money and luxurious gifts before forcing them to sign NDAs.

It was likely why he’d driven up to Glasgow. No doubt he had a girl stashed away up here. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d come up north on the pretext of visiting me, before disappearing soon after.

I rolled my eyes while finishing my coffee. Thea wasn’t some naïve little strumpet. She’d knife my father in the balls before he got anywhere near her. A small smirk brushed my lips as I imagined it happening.

MI5 would have to work extra hard to explain how he died in such questionable circumstances. No doubt they’d paint it as a ‘tragic domestic accident’. I could almost picture the headlines in the Daily Mail.

Government Advisor Dies in Freak Kitchen Accident!

And The Sun…

Kitchen Balls Up - Lucian Forsyth Succumbs to Fatal Stab Wound!

Hilarious.

“Something amusing, Cassian?” I realized too late that Thea had left and his attention was on me.

“No, just remembering something that happened earlier.” I wiped all traces of amusement from my face. “So what did you want to tell me?”

“Ah yes, Camilla.” Another scowl appeared. “Next weekend, you’ll accompany her to a private view at the Clumber Gallery in Mayfair, followed by the opening night of a new play at the Apollo. I expect to see lots of paparazzi shots of Camilla looking happy. Are we clear?”

I ground my teeth but didn’t bother protesting. What was the point? My life was no longer my own.

“You can stay at the Mayfair apartment with her.”

“Shouldn’t we have a chaperone?” I asked with a straight face.

“Don’t be facetious,” Dad snapped. “Camilla’s no blushing bride. If you want to fuck her already, I don’t care. The sooner you knock her up, the better, as far as I’m concerned.”

I didn’t want to fuck her. Not ever. But it was pointless telling my father that.

He glanced at his Rolex. “I have to go. The Prime Minister has called a meeting for this afternoon.” He sent a text to his driver and then stood.

“Walk with me to my car.”

I nodded and followed him across the courtyard. Once we were out of sight of hovering students, he shoved me back against the wall and leaned in. The fact I was now taller than him gave me immense satisfaction.

“I meant what I said, Cassian. If you don’t play ball, you can look forward to two years in a military academy. And the one I’m looking at is a same-sex college, so no women. A pretty boy like you would be very popular, I’m sure.”

Jesus Fucking Christ.

“You can’t press-gang me, Dad, I’m an adult.”

“Can’t I?” he sneered. “Go ahead. Try me.”

I shoved him away, hard. A flicker of surprise crossed his face before the mask came back down and he straightened his shirt.

“I’m leaving. Be at the apartment at 4 PM next Saturday. Camilla will be waiting. I gave her a key.”

Fucking marvelous.There went my privacy when I wanted a weekend in London. I guess I’d have to cough up for a hotel room. Not that I planned to make any trips to London for the foreseeable. There wasn’t much point now that news of my engagement had spread far and wide.

“Can’t wait.”

31

Thea

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