Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 89554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Her words startle me into looking at her. “You mean that?”
“Preter science and technology has advanced by leaps and bounds since That Day, thanks mostly to Caro efforts. To start with, there’s the bit about sangferia.”
Both of us end up turning red as tomatoes as Anastasia explains, coherently but awkwardly, about how a preter’s strength can exponentially increase if he were to consume the virgin blood of a perfectly matched mate.
“But isn’t that just for Caros, though?”
“Shifters can also benefit from this if they were to consume the essence of their mate’s, um, initial...release.”
Both our faces are now on fire, and we start fanning our cheeks at the same time.
“Anyway...” Anastasia hurriedly changes the subject. “The second recent advancement was developed by the Concord Agency. They’re using a patented system that can calculate the compatibility rate of two individuals.”
Phew.
Now this sounds more like something Hexius would be involved in rather than the other...method.
“Calys and Alejandro are friends with the Celestinis. I can give them a call—”
I quickly shake my head. “Please don’t.” One of the first things she confessed to me about her old life was how her current life is a bid for independence, and how she’s painstakingly done her best not to rely on the Panthera’s royal family for anything. “What you’ve told me is more than—”
“Ms. Hondros?”
We both turn to see the second unit director approaching, clipboard in hand and looking harried. “The EPs want you in Conference Room B.”
“Are you sure they want me?” Shouldn’t they be talking to Anastasia, who’s one of the writers—
The second director shows me the text message sent by one of our executive producers.
Oh.
They really did want to talk to me, but why though?
I’m not even the stunt director for this show, and I’m only freelancing, too.
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Anastasia says.
The second director nods in agreement. “Maybe they just have some random thing to ask about the fight scene.”
That does make sense, and I feel a little bit more at ease as I make my way to the conference room. By the time I knock on the door, I’ve already reviewed everything about my work—
“Come in, please.”
Why does that voice sound familiar?
Oh, never mind.
The sooner I get this over with, the—
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Ms. Hondros?”
The door closes softly behind me as my jaw falls in shock.
First, it was Hexius.
Now, it’s Alphonse showing up without noice?
The former king indicates one of the chairs. “Please take a seat. And in case you’re worried about how this will affect your work—don’t be. I’ve paid my share. I’m officially credited as one of the EPs for this show.”
I sit down.
There’s nothing else to do when he puts it that way.
“I hope you’ll forgive the intrusion.”
“May I ask what this is all about?” I try my best to sound polite and calm even though what I’m really feeling is bewildered and more than a little nervous.
“I was informed about my younger brother meeting with you.”
“Uh—”
“I expect he also proposed marriage?”
“Um—”
“Please reject him.”
I...don’t even try to speak this time. What is it with these Merciers and weddings and rejections?
“I understand I can’t force you to say yes, but I’m willing to give you—”
I can only blink when he actually retrieves a checkbook from the inner pocket of his suit while speaking.
“If you’d just tell me how much—”
“Mr. Mercier?”
He stills.
“Can you tell me why you want me to reject him?”
“Ah.” Emotions flash over his features, but too fast for me to comprehend what they mean.
“Because six years ago,” I venture uncertainly, “you seemed to be the one pushing for that arrangement with my grandfather—”
“I was, yes. But it’s different now. Six years ago, I acted out of jealousy. I wanted him out of the way, and I didn’t believe him when he told me he would never betray me.”
“Betray you over what?”
“Brandy.”
“Brandy, right.” I’m trying not to be confused, but I just...I don’t understand. So they quarreled over...alcohol? Surely it’s something more complicated than that, so maybe it’s some kind of financial tussle over control of an alcoholic beverage company? “Is this like a business takeover—”
“Brandy is my betrothed. Or shall I say my ex betrothed?”
Oh.
“Since our betrothal can no longer be enforced, I expected the two of them to marry after a respectable amount of time has passed. But it’s been over a year, and that’s made me realize how badly I’ve underestimated my brother. And that he’s too honorable for his own good.”
“I see.” And this time, I did mean it, unfortunately. I see more than I wished. And it’s not something I can un-see no matter how badly I want to.
“What I am prepared to pay you will be enough to set you up for life. You will never have to work again. All you have to do is turn my brother down.”