CHAPTER 6: ENTITLED
686 Words
Zach pov
The room was silent except for the faint ticking of my father’s antique clock — a steady, judgmental sound that somehow made the air heavier.
He sat behind his desk, the afternoon light catching on the silver at his temples. “You’ve refused another meeting,” he said, voice calm but sharp. “Do you think I arrange them for fun, Zachary?”
I folded my arms, leaning lazily against the wall. “I think you arrange them because you’re bored.”
His eyes flicked up. No amusement. “You are a King. Not a child chasing thrills. The family has expectations.”
“Expectations,” I echoed, rolling my eyes. “Right. Like choosing a bride from your business partners’ daughters?”
He didn’t even flinch. “The Lawsons. The Millers. The Deans. Families that matter. Every one of them has a daughter with class, pedigree, and sense — unlike the girls you waste time with.”
I let out a dry laugh. “Maybe I don’t want a merger. Maybe I just want—”
“Enough.” His voice cut through mine like a blade. “You will pick someone suitable. Or I’ll do it for you.”
I pushed off the wall, my patience thinning. “You’re not serious.”
He met my gaze, cold and absolute. “If you refuse, I’ll send you to Switzerland. Permanently. The Zurich branch could use some real discipline.”
That landed like a punch. He meant it — every word. The man never threatened without a plan.
I stared at him for a moment, then said the dumbest, most brilliant thing I could think of.
“I already have someone.”
His brows lifted. “You what?”
“I’m dating someone,” I repeated. My tone didn’t waver, even though my brain was scrambling for a name. “Someone respectable. From a good family. Someone you’d approve of.”
He tilted his head, intrigued. “And who might that be?”
My mouth worked faster than my sense. “Celeste Winslow.”
He froze.
For the first time, the unshakeable Mr. King actually looked impressed. “Winslow… as in Winslow Industries?”
I nodded like it was no big deal. “Yeah. Her father runs one of the biggest executive firms in the city. You always said we needed stronger connections, right?”
He leaned back, a slow smirk forming. “The Winslows are powerful. Elegant. Discreet. That’s the kind of family name I want tied to ours.”
I forced a grin. “Glad we’re on the same page.”
“Bring her to dinner next weekend,” he said, standing. “I want to meet the girl who managed to tame you.”
I blinked. “Dinner?”
He gave me a sharp look. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”
And that was that.
The moment I stepped out of his office, I exhaled — long and loud.
A door across the hall opened, and Damon, Ryder, and Eli appeared like a perfectly timed disaster.
Ryder whistled. “You look like you just signed your soul away.”
I groaned. “Might as well have.”
Eli raised an eyebrow. “How bad was it this time?”
I rubbed my face. “I may have… told him I have a girlfriend.”
Damon blinked. “You what?”
Ryder grinned. “Oh, this I gotta hear.”
“Celeste Winslow,” I muttered.
They all froze.
“The Winslow?” Eli asked slowly.
“Yeah,” I said. “That one.”
Damon let out a laugh that echoed through the hall. “You’re insane.”
Ryder shook his head, still grinning. “Congratulations, man. You’ve officially chosen death.”
“Pretty sure she’s gonna murder you,” Eli said simply.
“Probably,” I said, heading for the door. “But at least I’m not going to Switzerland.”
As I reached the car, a small smirk crept onto my face.
“Congratulations, Winslow,” I muttered under my breath. “You just became my girlfriend.”
- Writer
