The Tyrant's Wife

“Come on, who has such awful timing?” She groaned unhappily. Was it ever possible for her and Liam to have a moment to themselves without being interrupted?

He chuckled as he took his phone out. “It’s my father. I have to take this but I’ll be back before you know it.” He pecked her lips as he answered the call, then excused himself and left the kitchen.

Ximena nervously cracked her knuckles. Something felt odd. Or, to be exact, nothing good ever happened whenever Liam’s family came up. The mere mention of them was a jinx and she knew that since they were together, his family would be unhappy. It was no surprise that when he returned, he didn’t seem to be as excited as he was a moment earlier.

“Let me guess. They found out we are here?”

He placed his phone on the kitchen island and returned to her side. “Not quite accurate. They found a woman they think I will like.”

“Oh.” She nodded in realization. “What the fuck is the problem with wealthy families? Just because they were forced into marriage with people they didn’t want, and because their parents suffered the same fate, they think it is okay to do that to their kids?”

“I have no idea, but they are out of luck.” He grabbed his knife to continue chopping the vegetables. “I will not marry a woman I don’t choose myself.”

“Uh-uh.” She narrowed her eyes watching him.

.....

“I already know who I want to spend the rest of my life with.” He added, glancing at her briefly. That was probably his subtle way of letting her know just who he had in mind.

She let out a small laugh. “You don’t even know me.”

“If you are talking about your past, I don’t need to know anything more than what I already know.” He sliced into the cucumber on the chopping board hard enough to make her wince. Was he okay? It felt as though he was venting his anger. “Unless, of course, you were a psycho serial killer with a specific fetish of torturing your past lovers to death. I would be concerned.”

She laughed dryly. ” Yeah, that would be terrifying. Liam, if you want to vent, stay away from knives.” She grabbed the chance when he was distracted and snatched the knife away.

“I was just slicing the cucumber.” He protested.

“In a way that screams of all the hate inside you? Gee.” She took over the task, making him nearly break his ribs laughing.

She crossed her arms and glared at him. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing.” He cleared his throat. He had lived long enough to know that making fun of Ximena’s cooking was worse than poking a beehive. He clamped his mouth shut and silently watched as she finished cooking.

“It’s nearly unbelievable how you and Zaria are best friends. One is an expert in the kitchen while the other, not so much...”

“And one is an elegant brunette with killer curves while the other is a ruffian? I get it all the time.” She snorted.

“I wasn’t trying to compare the two of you.” He defended himself.

“Yet, you fell in love with her first.” She shrugged. “Everyone does. I mean, have you seen her?” Seeing his speechless expression, she laughed. “I’m not complaining. I just don’t want to think about my best friend whenever I look at myself in the mirror, okay? It’s all I ask for.”

He crept up behind her, wrapping his arms around her. “I understand how uncomfortable you must be and I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to be.”

“I was not in love with Zaria.” He revealed. “It’s not every day I befriend someone...like her. I got it all mixed up and hey, she’s engaged to my best friend. I thought it would be awkward for me too.”

Ximena’s lips twitched. “At least I have someone to take it out on if your friend ever does anything he shouldn’t.”

He shuddered at her threat. That did sound like something she would do.

“Then I would have to be in your good books to evade your wrath.” He smiled, but as soon as he thought about his family, his mood dampened.

“Something’s wrong.” She observed.

“Am I such an open book?” He joked in an attempt to make her drop it, but she immediately figured out what he was trying to do.

“If you don’t want to talk about it...”

“My blind date is...how do I put this?”

She raised her eyebrows at the mention of the woman his family found. “She’s not going to be a problem, right? I mean, if she is that clingy kitten from the rink, I may have to cut off her claws. I don’t want to get my hands dirty.”

“Then I’m afraid you may have to get your hands bloodied. Not because it’s the kitten,” He clarified.

“Oh,”

“She’s worse. A woman I knew in my teenage years, the most annoying thing that has ever happened to me.”

She rubbed her temples in exasperation. Was there any woman who wasn’t obsessed with Liam? He was the most troublesome man on earth.

“What’s this about, exactly? Let me guess, her father is one of your father’s major investors and if you don’t go to the blind date, her daddy will pull out his investments?”

“Like that kind of thing would faze me?” He scoffed. “I’m only worried that if my parents don’t get what they want, they will come after the woman they think is coming between them and their goals-you.”

She thought he was joking for a moment, and when he didn’t laugh, she realized he was serious. She tapped the kitchen island with her fingertips. “If it comes to that, we both know whose life will be in danger. Not mine.”

“Of course.”

___

Although he had never been worried about Ximena’s capability to protect herself, it would be best if a battle didn’t break out between the Preston and Morel families. They were not acquaintances but strangers were much better than enemies, so he knew he had to nip it in the bud.

Their vacation was cut short since something came up at Morel Beauty and he had to deal with his family and date, so he dropped her off at the company.

“See you this evening?” He kissed her when they arrived.

“I hope.” She forced a smile and opened the door to leave. As soon as she entered her office, she came face to face with an infuriated socialite.

“You had the nerve to keep me waiting!” The woman pointed her manicured finger at Ximena.

“I saw this coming,” Ximena muttered under her breath and shot a glare at her assistant. “Who said she could come in here?”

“I’m sorry, she barged in.” The assistant vehemently apologized, and Ximena dismissed her to face the socialite.

“Are you by any chance Liam’s blind date?” Ximena leaned against her desk as she scanned the woman from head to toe.

“What are you talking about?”

“So, just an infuriated consumer.” Ximena crossed her arms. “I need my chair, do you mind sitting where you should for a moment?” She shooed her off, and when the socialite relocated to the opposite side, she sighed. “You would think women in high society have basic manners. What seems to be the problem?”

“How dare you talk to me like that?” The woman snapped.

“You are in my office, where you barged in. I could call security.” She threatened with a smile, shutting the woman up for a second before she resumed her outrage.

“Your products are horrible. Look at my face!” She pointed at her nose.

Ximena winced. “That looks like a nose job gone wrong to me.”

“My eyes...”

Before she could blame it on Morel Beauty’s mascara, Ximena took out a folder. “What’s your name?”

“Abbie Watson.” Responded the woman.

Ximena shut the file skeptically and entered the name into her computer. As expected, there was no such record. She secretly sent a text message to Zeus.

“What did you buy and when did you buy it?”

“Am I here for an interview?” Abbie rolled her eyes. “Look, you are going to pay for all the damages your brand caused me.”

“And if not?” Asked Ximena.

“Morel Beauty is going to the ground.” She swore.

Ximena was certain of it now, but when her phone pinged with a text from Zeus several moments later, she shook her head. “All because of a man, Abbie?”