Page 40 of The Heiress

Daisy gives me a faint, frazzled laugh. “This isn’t funny.”

“It is alittlefunny. They’re trying to break us up so they can sell you off to a mediocre man named Cristiano. If this were a telenovela, I’d be the seductive lounge singer they underestimated.”

She rolls her eyes, but I see the corner of her mouth twitch. Progress.

“Listen,” I take her hand, “I’ll go to them.”

Her eyebrows fly up. “You’ll what?”

“I’ll go to the house. I’ll look them in their cold, money-soaked eyes and explain, very slowly, that I’m not going anywhere. That I love you. And that if they want to save their precious deal, they’re going to have to accept the terrifying reality that their daughter is dating someone way hotter and richer than Cristiano will ever be.”

Daisy blinks. “You thinkthat’sgoing to help?”

“Absolutely not! But I’ll also be polite. I’ll wear a blouse. One with buttons and everything. Nice step up from yesterday. Yesterday, I wanted them to think I could compete with men. Today, they’ll know that, no, awomanwas given your hand in marriage!”

“Oh, my God.”

“I might even brush my hair.”

Daisy chokes on a laugh. “Stop.”

“I’m serious.” I bring her knuckles to my lips. “Let me go to them. I’ll be good. You know me. I’m irresistible when I turn the charm up to full blast.”

“Lorde, they’re notfans.They’re not journalists or party people or half-drunk heiresses. They’re my family.”

“I know,” I say. “But I’ve handled worse. I followed my mom’s press tour with three exes in the same hotel once. Compared to that, your father is a walk in the park.”

She bites her lip like she doesn’t want to smile, but it happens anyway.

“I don’t want you to get shredded by them,” she says. “They’ll pick apart everything. They’ll say you’re after my money, that you’re manipulating me. You’re just bored.”

“Iambored. With everyone who isn’t you.”

Her cheeks flush. God, she’s pretty when she blushes. All that sharpness whittled down to something smooth.

“I’m not going to hide,” I tell her. “Not from them, not from the media, not from anything. But I’ll play the game. I’ll show up and smile and prove I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to their dynasty. Who knew that queering up the DeMontes was exactly what they needed to come into the 21stcentury? Sales will be up!”

Daisy tilts her head. “And if that doesn’t work?”

“Then I’ll bribe them.”

“For fuck’s sake.”

“I’ll slide your dad a check and say, ‘Let’s call it even.’”

She laughs again. “Lorde Sheen,” she says, wiping her face, “you’re insane.”

“Insanely devoted.” I steal another kiss. “Don’t worry, Daze. I’ve got this.”

Daisy sighs. “Fine. But you arenotbribing my father.”

“We’ll see how the meeting goes.”

She buries her face in my shoulder. I wrap my arms around her, and for a second, I feel that calm again.

Underneath all the snark, I know my truth – I’d fight anyone for her. Her family. The press! I’ve played my whole life like love was optional. But this? Daisy?

She’s my endgame.

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