Page 3 of Slightly Married (Irresistible #2)

“ E ngaged?” Lauren’s jaw slackened as she sank deeper into my cream sectional. “Aren’t you still married?”

I paced across my SoHo loft’s pale oak floors. The diamond tennis bracelet on my wrist caught the sunlight from the tall windows with each movement.

“My divorce was finalized yesterday,” I said, pausing to adjust one of the vibrant abstract paintings I’d brought back from Paris. “Got the email from my lawyer while the plane was over the Atlantic.”

Lauren’s concerned eyes followed me. We met four years ago on the set of an off-Broadway revival of A Streetcar Named Desire, where I was the costume designer and she was the ingénue under fire. We’ve been inseparable since.

“So let me get this straight,” she said, tucking her legs beneath her. “You fly back after three months of hiding out in Paris, waltz into your father’s office, and offer yourself up to marry some dude you ain’t never met?”

“I couldn’t sit back and watch Simone be forced into a marriage,” I replied. “You should have seen her face when she called me. She was devastated but resigned to do it to please Daddy.”

Besides, I reasoned, a marriage of convenience had advantages over a love match. Love had left me exposed, raw and humiliated.

This arrangement with Konstantin was all business. No emotions to cloud judgment or create expectations that would inevitably be shattered. I could handle a transaction. It was safer that way.

Lauren shook her head. “So you sacrificed yourself instead? My sister’d sell me for a half-decent horse and a new pair of boots.”

I laughed despite myself. “That’s because your sister is a demon in cowboy boots.”

The security buzzer interrupted our conversation. I crossed to the sleek kitchen island with its dramatic marble waterfall edge and pressed the intercom.

“Yes?”

“It’s me. Let me up,” Simone’s voice came through.

Moments later, my sister appeared in my doorway wearing a silk blue blouse, tucked perfectly into a navy pencil skirt that hugged her curves.

Her coily hair was sleeked back into a low bun, accentuating her high cheekbones and flawless sepia skin.

The gold watch on her wrist and nude heels completed her appearance.

Even in distress, Simone looked like she’d stepped out of a business magazine spread.

Despite her protestations about my meddling in her wardrobe, I took satisfaction in how my styling choices had transformed my pragmatic sister into the embodiment of executive elegance.

“What were you thinking, Kay?” she asked, her voice tight. Unlike me, Simone never needed volume to convey outrage.

I crossed to my open kitchen and reached for another wineglass. The ruby liquid splashed as I poured her a glass of the Cabernet we both loved.

“Here,” I said, offering it.

Simone accepted the glass but didn’t drink. “Why would you do this?”

Lauren shifted on the sofa. “She was just fixin’ to tell me right before you walked in.”

With a soft sigh, she moved across the room and settled onto the sectional next to Lauren, smoothing her skirt as she sat.

“Did Daddy tell you all the details of this arrangement?” I asked, watching her reaction.

Confusion rippled across her placid features. “What details?”

I settled on a barstool and recounted everything from the night before. I told them about barging into Daddy’s office, my impulsive decision to take Simone’s place, and Konstantin’s unexpected presence in the shadows.

“He was just standing there the whole time,” I said, gesturing with my glass.

“And when I offered myself as the substitute bride, he stepped forward and accepted me without hesitation.” I took a long sip before adding the part that still stunned me.

“Then Daddy dropped the real bombshell. He wants a baby to be born from the union. It’s the condition for Konstantin getting his island and for Simone keeping her job at the company. ”

The room fell silent except for the low sounds of RnB from my Bluetooth speaker.

“I want a baby,” I added softly.

Finally, Simone placed her glass down and made her way over to me, wrapping her arms around me. I pulled her close, enjoying her warmth. “Thank you,” she whispered over my shoulder.

“You know I’d fight dragons for you, right? This Greek tycoon is just a warm-up. But your first child should be named after me.”

She pulled back, composure returning as she raised an eyebrow. “And if it’s a boy?”

“I don’t see an issue either way.”

“Fine, brat!” She smiled. “So that’s it? You’re really going through with this?” Simone asked, resuming her seat and finally taking a small sip of her wine.

I nodded, tracing the rim of my wineglass. “The ceremony’s in two days. Daddy’s already got his legal team drafting the agreement.”

“Two days?” Lauren exclaimed. “Lord, that’s wild! How’re we supposed to get ready that quick?”

“Konstantin wants this done as quickly as possible. The quicker we marry, the faster we go our separate ways.”

Simone’s voice softened with concern when she asked, “Are you sure you’re ready for another marriage so soon after Josh? I mean, you were devastated when—”

“I’m fine,” I cut her off.

The room fell silent as the two women exchanged glances. I pressed my fingertips against my temples, instantly regretting my tone. “I’m sorry, I just...” My voice wavered.

“We’re worried about you, that’s all.”

I exhaled slowly, feeling the familiar tightness in my chest whenever Josh was mentioned. “This is different. With Josh, I thought we were building something real. This is...” I gestured vaguely, “... a business arrangement with an expiration date. I know exactly what I’m getting into.”

Simone’s expression remained doubtful. “Still, going from one marriage straight into another—”

“Can we please talk about something else?”

Lauren tucked a braid behind her ear. “What do we know about this Konstantin beyond being obscenely wealthy and desperate for an island.”

“Not much,” I admitted. “But I’ve arranged for a background check.”

“Well, from what I know,” Simone interjected, “he has two brothers, and he’s the CFO of Olympus Motors.

AMH (Athanasiou Maritime Holdings) has been trying to land Olympus Motors as a client for their North American exports, and I haven’t been given the time of day.

It makes sense now why they haven’t returned my many inquiries.

They didn’t want to work with the company because of Dad, and here I was thinking if I got them as a client, Daddy would make me CEO. ”

I stretched across the island to refill my glass. “Soon, we’ll all be family. Maybe then you’ll get your meeting.”

“Our profits would certainly soar if we secured Olympus Motors as a client,” Simone said, then waved her hand dismissively. “But let’s not discuss business.”

“Right!” Lauren grinned. “So, is he good-looking? I’ve heard Greek men’ll make you weak in the knees.”

I folded my arms, refusing to respond, but the memory of those broad shoulders, dark, piercing eyes and imposing height almost overwhelmed me.

“Looks don’t matter,” I said shortly. “He’s just another cock carrier.”

Laughter bubbled between us, filling my living room with momentary lightness. As our giggles subsided, Simone’s lips curved into that particular smile she reserved for gossip.

“The man is gorgeous,” she stated, swirling the remainder of her cabernet.

I narrowed my eyes. “How would you possibly know that?”

“If you must know, I was at the house when you arrived yesterday. I caught a glimpse of him when he arrived.” She took another sip of wine. “And he’s not the kind of man who escapes notice.”

“Coward!” I accused, pointing my finger at Simone. “Why didn’t you come to the study? You knew I was there to confront Daddy about you.”

Her eyes flicked away. “I was catching up on work.”

“If by work you mean Matt, sure you were.”

Simone had the decency to look embarrassed. She’d been keeping her relationship with Matt under wraps. Not just to avoid office gossip, but because Daddy’s company policy strictly forbade dating among executive staff.

As head of the Director of Global Logistics, Simone fell under that rule, and Matt’s position as Daddy’s right-hand man made their secret affair even more precarious.

“Anyway,” I continued, running my fingers along the surface of my countertop, “Konstantin seems arrogant and rubs me the wrong way. There’s something... cold about him.”

“Says the woman who up and married a man whose face looked as though there was a permanent stench in the air,” Lauren quipped.

“Josh did not—” I began, then stopped. The familiar ache of betrayal pulsed briefly before subsiding. “You know what? There’s no reason to defend the jerk.”

I poured myself another glass of wine. “I need you both at the wedding,” I said, turning back to face them.

“Konstantin and Daddy want it done at the Orthodox church. It’ll be a very small ceremony at sunset.

After the ceremony, we’ll be leaving for Athens.

I will remain in Greece until I give birth. ”

“What?”

“Konstantin works from there,” I explained, absently twisting one of my braids around my finger. “And since I’m still figuring some things out, it was easier for me to make the move.”

Before anyone could respond, the security system’s buzz sliced through our conversation. We all instinctively turned toward my front door.

Simone straightened, setting her glass on the coaster. “Were you expecting someone?”

I retrieved my phone from the pocket of my lounge shorts, swiping to access the door camera. Konstantin stood there, his tall frame filling the screen. His expression was as somber as his attire, but when his eyes flicked up to meet the camera, an unexpected tremor ran through my body.

“It’s him,” I said quietly.

Both women immediately hurried to my side to peer at the small screen.

I crossed the room and pressed the intercom button. “What are you doing here?”

“Dropping off the contract.” His deep voice crackled through the speaker. “Let me up.”