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The suits don’t really need any adjustment, but I want to mess with him. I’m pretending to fix the suit to get under his skin. Knight agreed to stay back in case the twins. needed anything, but he promised that if I came home tonight, I would be in the office chair. So, even if it’s late, I want to come back tonight.
When I tell him I’m done, he says, “Thank you. It does look much better.”
I want to punch him. I literally did nothing but play with the seams.
“You’re welcome. So, what should I expect when we arrive?” I ask.
“A mob of fans and paparazzi. The usual,” he continues to inspect the suit.
I have to fight my laughter because this is gold. Knight is going to enjoy my video. I told Mr. Knightly that I record all my adjustments for improvement study, whatever the fuck that means, and he thought it was a delightful idea. Even held up his arms toward the camera.
“I meant more of the business thing.” I clarify. I know the press is going to be a nightmare.
“Right, you’re no fun,” he smirks. I definitely don’t regret messing with him. “The board is upset with Xo’s will. They will try to convince you to step down and divide the company. What I want you to do is listen to the ones who will be barking at you. We’re going to remove most of them.”
“We’re?”
“I own a good portion of your company. Look at this craftsmanship,” he says, smoothing his hand over the front of his blazer. “I would still like to help you with this if you’ll have me. It’s your company, and I promise I will behave.”
“Would you be willing to sign off on that promise?” I grin.
“You know I love a good contract. Of course,” he finally settles down to give me his
attention.
“Okay,” I agree.
“Great. I have eight daughters who are very big on fashion and design. I’d like to add them to our influence team.”
“I’m okay with that as long as they get along with Tessa. She’s been helping me out with everything for City of Phoebes, and her resume is amazing. Also, people love a crazy party girl getting her shit together. I have other potential applicants as well.”
The look on his face would please Tess greatly, but she’s part of our family as well. Knight loves that I included her because no one really does. Mr. Blake never really let her do anything without his permission, which led her to have the reputation she has
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now. Her mate is happy that she wants to be more than just the luna of her pack.
“You’re making it very difficult for me to like you right now,” he sighs.
“You know she’s kind of your kid now. You marked her mom.” I press my lips together when blood rushes up his neck in anger. He bounces his leg rapidly, trying to shake it
off.
“You’ve been fucking with me all morning. Stop it,” he growls, red–faced.
“You haven’t given any thought to any of this? What’s so wrong with being her stepdad? She’s a really good person.” I laugh.
“That’s the problem. She never stood up for herself out of fear and weakness.” he pulls at his collar to show me a scar there. “Ashley fucked me up on her twenty–first birthday when I told her she wasn’t going to stand in for Knight as the acting alpha. I almost died.
“I was never more proud,” he pulls up his sleeve to show me a scar that looks like several dogs attacked him. “Kimberly was sixteen when she attacked me because I didn’t allow her to go overseas to study. To study. Who rebels for that?”
“I get what you’re trying to say, Mr. Knightly. I do, but she was brainwashed by her father to be submissive. Clearly, it’s something that can be changed. Look at everything Elliot has done because he took Knight’s advice.”
“Nathan advised him this?” he asks, and I swear he looks immensely proud of his son for suggesting murder as the solution for whatever was happening with that pack. I disagree with him, but I can’t exactly say he’s wrong.
“Why is that important to you?” I laugh with disbelief.
“You don’t understand,” he says, fixing his suit again. “Because you were wired to survive from a young age. It was ingrained in you to fight, to do things your way, and accept nothing but perfection in your own vision.
“My children were all handed everything from the day they were born. The money, the prestigious training, and education. For them to have the balls to stand up to me, knowing exactly who I am, is everything.
“Alphas have to have that killer instinct to make it in our world. She doesn’t have it. She‘ s lucky to be included, and it’s unfair for those of us who fight for our position. It’s a stigma that alpha pups all have to bear.
“You hold the torch, Nathan is the King of telling his father to get fucked. She has always put her head down and been a good girl. We don’t do that here. Even Maria understands that. My daughters are not going to work for a pushover. No one is.” “Her work will speak for itself,” I roll my eyes at him.
“Your words,” he shrugs. “Get ready. Clear your head. We’re about to land. Don’t say a
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word. Let them bark.”
I make sure not a single hair is out of place before buckling into my seat. Neither of us says a word, and I think it’s because we both have to put on our game faces. I am so grateful for that. I love it when we’re on the same page and he’s not making me feel like an incompetent child.
As he predicted, as we exit the terminal, the sound of a large crowd has Midnight on the edge. My senses all spark to life as security surrounds the two of us. The first thing everyone asks is, “Where is Knight?”
The questions shot at me catch me off guard. Things like, how did you two manage to keep your mating a secret for so long? Why didn’t I give my pups their father’s last name? Was the plan always to take Royal Threads for myself? Am I former Alpha Xochtl’s illegitimate daughter?
1
By the time we get to the car, I feel overwhelmed. Not in a bad way, just angry. Angrier than I’ve felt since we started piecing together my past. What the fuck am I even going to say when I have to address the issue, because I doubt they’re going to let it slide. Especially now that I’m the Rogue Queen. Answers are going to have to be given. For now, I think I can get away with telling them that I’d like to find the answers to their questions myself, because I want to know too.
“Are you okay?” Mr. Knightly asks.
“I’m fine,” I try to dismiss him. “That was weird. The rumors are more awkward than I anticipated.”
“You have no idea,” Jessica Knightly says from the front seat.
“Hey, I didn’t see you there.” I greet her.
“Hey, yourself. Dad told me you want Tessa,” she says her name mockingly, “To run your influencer department. No offence to my brother’s sister, but she’s a basic ass bitch. We aren’t. Here’s my resume. It includes my current positions, my social media profiles, and a list of my closest friends who would love to headline City of Phoebs on their profiles. I’d kill her if my father wasn’t fucking her mom.”
I glance over at Mr. Knightly, who grins proudly. When he meets my gaze, I mouth the words, “I told you so.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I dismiss him, opening the profile. “Nothing is set in stone. I’ll take a look.”
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