A Deal with a Windsor

3

Alarm bells went off in my head the second our lips made contact. I was going to regret this decision that was for sure.

I could get sued. I could lose my job.

The possibilities were endless, and I did all that just to prove an asshole wrong.

When I pulled away, my entire face felt like it was on fire, and the man I just kissed? He was looking at me with amusement written all over his face.

In the next second, he put his arm around my waist and pulled me in. He lowered his head and whispered so only I could hear.

"Bold." Then he turned to the people he was talking to before I interrupted - they all looked shocked - "Apologies, my woman tends to be a bit... territorial."

They all laughed over that, while I hoped the ground would open and I'll sink into it. He flagged a waiter, took a glass of champagne and handed it to me, while talking to his guests.

I immediately took a gulp of it, then held the glass like my life depended on it.

His fingers traced lazy circles on my waist, he was actually playing everything off so easily and that was what scared me.

My eyes darted to his face, and I had to remind myself to breathe. How come I've barely heard of him? A face like that was sure to make the headline every week.

"You okay, darling?" He arched his brow and turned to me.

The tips of my ears burned and I nodded. "I'm okay, I just need to use the restroom,"

He c****d his head to the side and his eyes swept over me in a very cool but calculating manner. The weight of his gaze had me shifting from foot to foot.

Finally, he smiled and his hand dropped from my waist.

"I'll find you, darling."

To others, it might have sounded romantic, but it sent chills up my spine.

"Of course."

I shot his guests a quick smile, found a table where I quickly dropped the glass and rushed off in search of a restroom.

I kept my head down, acutely aware that everyone might have seen my display of bravery.

When I finally found a restroom, I locked myself in a stall and took a very deep breath.

This was a mess. I put myself in a very messed up situation, all because I was trying to prove that asshole wrong.

More deep breaths later, and finally feeling brave enough to face the victim of my big ego. I walked out of the stall, but that bravery disappeared when I came out and Axel was in the bathroom, looking like he was a second away from hurting someone.

"You finally decided to come out."

I pressed my back against the door and for a second, I contemplated running back in there and locking myself.

"What are you doing there? This is the ladies room,"

He pushed himself off the counter and took a step towards me.

"I'm aware, but I made sure it was out of use before I came in."

My eyes slightly widened, and warning bells went off in my head.

Axel has never been good news, I ignored it all because I loved him, and his anger had never been directed at me, that was until today.

"Keep your distance, Axel or I'm going to scream."

He chuckled and pointed to the door. "Go ahead." He crossed his arms, "scream, and let's see if anyone would come to save you"

My throat instantly closed up and I just stared at him with wide pleading eyes.

"What do you want? Why are you-" his hand enclosed around my neck in a flash and he squeezed hard, cutting off my airflow for a very long moment.

"Why must you make everything so hard? Why must you embarrass me?!"

"Wh-" he squeezed again, cutting me short and I saw his other hand ball into a fist and my heart dropped.

"They saw us together and the next minute you're kissing Windsor! f*****g Windsor!"

He raised his hand and just when I thought I was about to leave this place bruised, the door opened and Maxwell walked in.

Relief, so much relief coursed through me.

"Why not pick on someone your own size, Grey."

They know each other?

My eyes darted between them, and Axel seemed to have grown angrier while Maxwell remained calm.

"This is none of your business, Windsor. I'm trying to correct my girl"

His girl?

I looked at Maxwell, whose eyes were already pinned on me and managed to shake my head.

"I think everyone out there would think otherwise. Get your hands off, Grey. The lady doesn't want you."

Axel's hold on me tightened and he looked like he was about to say something, but Maxwell's fist landed on his face in a flash, cutting off whatever he was about to say.

He immediately released me and squared up to fight, but Maxwell went straight to the throat with a punch. Axel fell to the ground with a thud, blood splattering out of his mouth.

Suddenly, I didn't feel safe anymore.

"What's your name?"

There was no way in hell I was going to give him my real name.

"Mirabel Black."

"Mirabel," he repeated the name then smiled, "you should be on your way, take the back door so no one sees you."

He didn't have to tell me twice before I turned on my heels and was already running away.

"Don't forget you owe me one, Mirabel."

I hope I never have to repay that debt, but something told me I would, soon too, and I'll regret giving him the wrong name.