Page 76 of Guarded King

He reaffirms his company’s commitment to reshaping urban landscapes with sustainable practices and innovative technologies, as well as the importance of corporate responsibility in setting industry standards.

At one point, his focus turns to me, so I give him an encouraging smile. It’s a sentiment he doesn’t need, based on the way his peers hang on his every word. How could they not? With his sheer presence, and his smooth, deep voice, he could be up there reading the phonebook and have the entire room enraptured.

After he wraps up his speech and the applause dies down, the emcee invites the attendees to ask questions. I’m focused so intently on the discussion that when someone pulls out Roman’s empty chair next to me, I startle.

It takes a moment for the woman’s identity to register, and when it does, my stomach flips.

Katherine.

“Hi. Can I help you?” Flustered, my words come out more clipped than intended.

I think the curve of her mouth is supposed to be a smile, but the flatness in her almond-shaped brown eyes belies the sentiment. “Roger tells me you’re Roman’s assistant.” She keeps her voice low, so as not to distract the people around us who are listening to the Q and A.

Sitting back, I run through a list of possible reasons for Katherine’s visit. I don’t know the woman, but this doesn’t seem right. There can’t be any harm in telling her the truth, though.

I give her a polite smile. “That’s right. I’ve been working for him for about three months.”

She nods, her focus veering to the man on stage for a moment. She licks her lips before settling on me again. The move sends another involuntary stab of jealousy through me. This is the woman he shared his life with, his hopes and dreams, his true self.

All the things I find myself wanting more every day.

All the things I can never have.

So when Katherine watches me once more, I make sure my expression gives nothing away. If she knew my true thoughts, I can only imagine it would leave me vulnerable.

Or Roman. And that’s the last thing I want.

“I wanted to introduce myself,” she says. “I’m Katherine King.” She watches me a little too carefully, as if waiting for me to react.

I don’t. My expression remains even, despite the way a knot coils in my stomach at that name.King. “It’s nice to meet you.” Defenses up, I don’t offer my own name.

As casually as if she’s still his wife, Katherine picks up Roman’s still-partially full wineglass and takes a sip from it. Then she graces me with a smile that makes it clear that despitehow hard I fight to suppress the urge to snatch it from her, she can sense it anyway.

Setting the glass down, she angles toward me as if she’s about to reveal a secret. Despite myself, I move in too. An instinctive reaction.

“Just a word of warning, darling. Don’t let yourself get too invested in this… job.” Her eyes flick to Roman, then back to me. “Although the King men might let themselves get distracted by a pretty face, their one and only priority is the King Group. When it comes down to it, they won’t let anything, or anyone, come between them and their goals. Believe me, I know.”

Mouth twisting, she picks up Roman’s glass again and finishes it off.

“Roman and I have a professional relationship, and that’s all.”

She lets out a delicate snort. “That’s what I told people at the start as well.”

I glance up at the stage and find Roman’s eyes fixed on us. Not wanting him to be distracted from the Q and A session, I give him a reassuring smile.

His jaw firms, but without skipping a beat, he launches into a comprehensive explanation in response to a question someone from the crowd fires at him.

When I turn back to Katherine, I catch the flare of irritation on her face. It’s only there for an instant before her expression smooths.

“Thank you for sharing your experience,” I tell her, as serenely as I can. “But you don’t need to worry. As I said, none of that applies to me.”

“Well.” She gives me a smile so phony that her lips barely move. “I hope for your sake that it stays that way. Roman and his father aren’t as different as he’d like everyone to believe.”

A shot of anger stiffens my spine, and this time I don’t hide my reaction. I’ve never met Roman’s dad, but I’ve heard enough to know that he isn’t a good person. Roman may guard his true self, but considering what he’s done for me, I struggle to believe he and his father share many of the same traits.

“Like I said.” My voice comes out tight. “I appreciate your concern, but it’s misplaced. Since Roman will be coming back soon, and I’m sure Mr. Haverscombe is wondering where you are, you should probably return to your seat.”

She scrutinizes me for one more second, then pushes back her chair and stands. As she looms over me, it’s hard not to be intimidated by her statuesque beauty.

---