Page 21 of Savage Little Lies

Cara’s mouth twitching a little. “Right. To Annika.”

I nod before sighing and reaching into the lowest drawer of my desk to pull out a top-shelf bottle of Russian vodka and two glasses. “It isn’t love. Our families want it.”

Cara lifts her eyebrows. “So, it’s an arranged marriage?”

I pour us both a drink, telling her. “It would be good for our families if we got together, and Annika is ready to get married. I’m not as thrilled as she is and that’s a problem for her.”

Cara picks up her glass once I slide it over to her. She takes a sip and grimaces a little. “Sorry, I’m used to whiskey.”

That’s surprising. It seems I have a lot to learn about her.

“So, you’re being forced to marry someone you don’t really know,” Cara says. “Do you like her at all?”

I swish my vodka around my glass a few times before shaking my head. “We don’t get along. You’ve seen how she is.”

Cara starts to smile, but she drinks from her glass again instead. She’s trying to be polite, as usual. “Did she do something to upset you today?”

“She’s pressuring me to put aside time to plan the wedding with her, but…I don’t want to,” I admit. “Honestly, I’m not even sure if I’m ready to set a date.”

Cara sets down her glass and shakes her head. “I get it. You’re trapped in a situation that you don’t want to be in.”

Her words remove some of the weight from my shoulders. “I shouldn’t even be talking about this with anyone. Her father probably would want me dead if he found out that I broke his daughter’s heart.”

“Do you think she has feelings for you?” Cara asks me.

“Romantic ones? No, but I think she actually wants to be married to me,” I tell her. When Annika looks at me, I’m sure all she sees is a bank. Just like how she sees her father. “She likes what I can provide for her. And I think she’s attracted to me.”

“Are you attracted to her?” Cara asks as she lifts an eyebrow.

“No,” I say without hesitation and with a chuckle. “We’ve never even kissed.”

“You mean you two haven’t…you haven’t had sex?” Cara asks.

I don’t say anything at first as surprise hits me. I didn’t expect Cara to be so curious about my sex life with my bride-to-be. That intrigues me.

“No, I have zero interest in her,” I tell her. “Starved, narcissistic heiresses aren’t exactly my type.”

Smart, beautiful, curvy assistants are though.

Cara allows herself a little amused smile. “Well, I’m sorry that you’re stuck in this situation. I don’t think anyone should be forced to marry someone they don’t love.”

I finish off my vodka before running a hand over my hair, a dull ache filling my chest. I need to stop opening my mouth, but it’s like a dam breaking down. “I hope this marriage is worth it in the end. I don’t want to feel trapped forever.”

Cara’s brows lift a little in surprise.

I grimace internally. What the hell am I even saying? Locking up these damn sappy thoughts in my head is the best move if I want to protect my family, my position, and the alliance. Not complaining to my assistant.

“You could always back out,” Cara tells me.

I shake my head. “I can’t. Not now. It’s too late for that.”

Cara frowns. “I grew up with a strict father. Sometimes, it felt like I was crushed under his thumb. I had to do things that I didn’t want to do. But the only way you’ll be happy is if you fight for at least a bit of freedom for yourself too.”

I understand where she’s coming from, but this is all that I know. I like being the head of my family, even if that means giving up pieces of myself. But the idea of marriage has left me feeling a little more uneasy than usual when it comes to business decisions.

When I don’t respond, Cara finishes her drink and slides the glass over to me before standing. “Thanks for the drink. I’m sorry that I barged in like this. I just…I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

She came to check on me off the clock.