Me:What do you mean?
Kingi:You’re a catch, Chess, and he’s lost you. He’s going to be mad as hell. I’d be very surprised if he gave up now
I sigh.
Me:All right. So you’ll let me know about the lawyer?
Kingi:Yeah, I’ll make it late tomorrow
Most people would have to settle for whatever time the lawyer was free, but I’m guessing that for clients like Kingi, lawyers make time.
Me:Okay. I’ll see you then
Kingi:Sleep well, and don’t worry. Everything’s going to be fine
Me:Night
I turn off my phone with an impending sense of doom. Something tells me Kingi’s talking out of his ass, and he has no idea that this has disaster written all over it.
But it’s too late now. I’ve made my decision. And I have to stick to it, no matter what happens. I won’t fall for him. I knowhe has this reputation for being a womanizer, and he comes across as a real Prince Charming, but I know the real Kingi. The untidy, scruffy miscreant who likes to go a week without washing when he’s off on one of his adventures. The one who can eat a sandwich in two mouthfuls, and who can burp the National Anthem after drinking a can of Coke. His charisma is all a facade, put on to charm the Sabrinas of the world, and there’s no way I’d ever fall for someone like that.
Chapter Seven
Kingi
“Ooh. I didn’t know you’d ordered lunch.” I go over to the plates of rolls, sushi, tiny savories, and cakes on the table in Orson’s office and help myself to a sausage roll.
“Scarlett’s coming in,” he says, in the middle of typing on his laptop. “So I thought we’d lunch together.”
I look at the half-eaten sausage roll in my hand. “Oh. Sorry.”
“I ordered enough for you. I knew there was no way you wouldn’t demolish half of it before she arrived.”
I snort, finish off the sausage roll, and drop into one of the armchairs. Our city office is in Auckland’s CBD, high up in one of the new office blocks, overlooking Waitemata Harbour. Auckland Harbour Bridge is just visible to the west, linking the CBD to the North Shore. The harbor is busy this Monday lunchtime, with ferries transporting passengers to and from the city, tourist boats off on sightseeing tours to Rangitoto Island to spot orcas and dolphins, million-dollar yachts carrying the rich and famous, and fishing boats returning with the catch of the day.
“What time’s she coming in?” I ask.
He looks up at the door. “Here she is now.” He closes his laptop and gets up. “Hey gorgeous.”
“He’s talking to me,” I tell Scarlett as she comes into the office, and she laughs and comes over.
“I know better than to come between a man and his bestie,” she says, bending to kiss my cheek.
I grin, then watch as Orson comes over, pulls her into his arms, and kisses her. He’s had a few girlfriends over the years, even lived with one for a while, but I’ve never seen him likethis before. He’s completely besotted with her. I’m not saying I don’t understand why. She’s beautiful—small and shapely with light-brown skin and glossy brown hair, she has a good sense of humor, and although she’s the daughter of his family’s old enemy, it wasn’t enough to keep them apart. But I’m pretty sure he’s going to propose to her, and that’s shocked me. We used to joke about marriage and monogamy, and why it was pointless to commit to someone long term, because obviously relationships never last forever, and all you’re doing is setting yourself up for trouble by making it legal. And now here he is, on the verge of saying ‘till death parts us.’ I just hope he’s got a good prenup sorted, because when it all goes wrong she could easily take him for half of his fortune.
She sits on the sofa in front of the window, and Orson fetches three bottles of water from the fridge in the corner, brings them over to the table, then sits beside her.
“I won’t stay,” I promise her.
“This isn’t a romantic rendezvous,” she says wryly.
“It isn’t?” Orson fakes disappointment.
“I can always lock the door on my way out.” I wink at her, and she laughs.
“We’re just going through some figures for the Village,” she says, naming the commune her father set up. They’ve changed the name recently and don’t refer to it as a commune anymore because of the negative connotations that it brings, and the problems they had when her father stole money from the shared accounts. It’s all been sorted now, and I helped the Elders set up a new, more transparent financial system, but they told us they want auditing regularly, and to have us keep a close eye on their finances.
“Yeah, well, like I said I’ll leave you to it… but I just wanted to tell you about something first.” I choose a cheese and saladroll and eat half of it in one bite. “I’m getting married,” I tell them through a mouthful of roll.