My father ground his teeth together, glancing back at his side of the table before he pressed his hand to my back guiding me in Godric’s direction. I pushed against his palm, digging in my feet, but my father only pressed harder. I breathed in through my nose deeply, trying not to hyperventilate the closer we got.
Godric’s brows rose, but he stood calmly to his feet.
We stopped directly in front of his bare chest.
My father kept his hand on my back and gestured to Godric with his free one. “Poppy, this is Mr. King.” His hand waved in my direction. “Mr. King, this is my daughter, Poppy.”
My jaw dropped an inch.
Godric’s jaw ground together.
Our eyes held one another’s.
One of his guards coughed in the silence, a hacking cough that had a few of my father’s men turning their gazes in his direction.
But not my father’s.
Not mine.
Not Godric’s.
My father glanced back and forth between us, his brows furrowing as he stopped staring at me. “Poppy…”
I shook my head and instantly stuck out my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. King.” My nostrils gradually flared in a fury. “I hope your stay here so far has been pleasant.”
Another cough from Godric’s bodyguard. Same guy.
Godric popped his neck and placed his hand in mine. “It’s lovely to meet you too, Ms. Carvene.” He dipped and kissed the top of my hand and then glared up at me. “And, yes, my stay has been amenable thus far.”
I jerked my hand away from him, crossing my arms over my chest as he straightened to his intimidating height.
Godric tilted his head. “Poppy is an interesting name.”
“I guess so.” I shrugged. “My middle name is Bree. Poppy Bree Carvene.”
He rubbed absently at his chest—his very bare chest—as he continued to stare at me through thin slits of his eyes. “Lovely name. Mine is Godric Leon King.”
I shrugged again, looking away from him.
Mr. King was my father’s sworn enemy.
CHAPTER EIGHT
My father grunted, muttering under his breath, “That’s about how I thought the introduction would go.”
I glared at him. “Why did you want me in here?”
Godric muttered just as quietly as my father had, “Because he’s an overbearing ass.”
I flayed him with a death stare.
My father chose to ignore Godric’s comment, and motioned down the table, flicking his wrist. “Poppy, someone arrived in time for this meeting. Because it was late.” He managed to snub Godric—or so he thought.
I swiftly understood my father had no clue why the meeting was derailed. Oh, like his only daughter having sex with the richest man in the world, the man who ran every single corporation on this fucking planet. The man who battled with him constantly on the Liberated Army’s involvement with restoring our world to working order, not just what the corporations deemed as law.
And the corporations were the law.
If the LA hadn’t been formed years ago and had such a wide span hold on the world’s remaining population, Godric would have crushed them instantly. Now he just did it over time.
One base gone over two years?
No one notices.
One hundred bases gone in an instant?
Godric would have an uprising.
He was intelligent, feared, wealthy, and owned the Corporate Army to do his blood work if needed. It had also been said he did his own dirty jobs when he was bored.
Bored of…ruling the world.
An egotistical ass wasn’t a strong enough name for what he was. His power knew no bounds. And he relished it.
I could see that now in the way he stood, how he didn’t give a shit how he dressed for his most prominent adversary. The man knew he couldn’t be toppled.
My father flicked his wrist again, his attention still down the table on his side of the room. “Brandon, I’d like you to officially meet my daughter.”
I sneered once more at Godric.
He merely raised a brow, but he was still scowling.
I turned slightly, not giving him my back, but looked to where my father was indicating. A man stood from his chair, his gaze on mine. He walked with a steady gait in our direction, his eyes never leaving mine. His hair was raven black and his eyes a piercing green. He was at least a foot taller than me, and his red uniform fit his muscled form with care. His features were rugged, yet refined in a cultured money way.
Brandon was simply breathtaking to look at.
I glanced back to my father, confusion written all over my features. “Father?”
He had been watching my reaction, and a silly grin lifted his features in pleasure. “Poppy, this is Brandon Moore.” He peered to the newcomer. “Brandon, this is my daughter, Poppy Carvene.”
I lifted my hand to him. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s wonderful to meet you too, Ms. Carvene. Your father has told me all about you.” He bent and kissed my hand. His lips lingered a second too long.
I blushed at the action and gradually took my hand back as he stood straight. I had to blink a few times before I jerked my head to my father, a silent question in my eyes.
My father still had that stupid smile on his face. He tipped his head in Brandon’s direction, keeping his gaze on mine, entirely too pleased with himself for some reason.
“Poppy, this is Brandon. Your fiancé.” And my father freaking winked. “I told you that you’d like him.”
All expression cleared from my features.
I sucked in a harsh breath.
My head snapped back to…my fiancé.
Then back to my father.
“Oh, my God,” I muttered.
Godric’s bodyguard started coughing again.
CHAPTER NINE
My father’s smile faltered. “Poppy, are you okay?”
This just wasn’t right. I couldn’t breathe.
I glanced at Brandon again.
His green gaze didn’t miss anything. “It is late, General Carvene.” He turned his striking regard to my father. “Perhaps we can save any further discussions with Ms. Carvene until tomorrow morning? This is a lot for her to take in without sleep.”
I nodded enthusiastically, unable to speak.
I needed to get the fuck out of here.
A train waited with my name on it.
My father touched my cheek. “What are you doing up so late?”