King's Treasure (Oil Kings Book 3) by Marie Johnston (great novels .TXT) 📗

The man on the other side of Chief was closer to my age and I didn’t like the proprietary way he glared at Savvy. That must be Lex, the guy Chief wanted her with. He fit the stereotype. A tight haircut. A pinstripe suit tailored within an inch of its life. A stick up his ass.

“Well,” Chief clapped his hands and Savvy flinched, “this just turned into a celebration. My dear daughter beat me to forming a partnership between our families.”

Dad laughed good-naturedly, but I could tell when he was humoring someone. “Good thing weddings and business negotiations are usually mutually exclusive.”

We came from a small town where we did business with people sometimes just because we knew them and that they were good people. Dad wasn’t making any promises just because Savvy was my wife.

Lex’s lip lifted, like he was disgusted with Savvy. He mimicked Chief when we’d first walked up and pretended I didn’t exist.

“Let me inform the staff.” Chief rushed into the restaurant and ordered several bottles of champagne. Dad and Kendall murmured together as they walked after him. Dad threw me a careful glance over his shoulder before they disappeared inside.

Lex lingered, blocking our path. I wasn’t a violent guy, but I wanted to beat off the arrogant, condescending look he gave Savvy. “How is that going to affect your career? Aspiring conservationist marries into oil tycoon’s family.”

Savvy stiffened and her response after meeting Dad finally made sense. Either she hadn’t seen my last name last night, or she hadn’t put the two together. Why would she? My last name was generic in most circles, and we’d only talked half the night. We’d described what made us, what formed us, not what our family names said we should be. Our marriage was impulsive and beautiful and I wouldn’t change it.

Lex didn’t give up. “In fact, didn’t you fly here to teach King Oil about how bad they’re being to the world?”

Okay, that detail was unexpected. “You were here to meet with my dad?” We’d gotten around to a lot of specifics about our life, but all she’d said about her work was that it had gone out of business at the most inopportune time.

“Where’s Brady?” Lex’s tone dripped with glee. Like I didn’t know about Brady. “You two are so close.”

I should’ve waited to ask her about the meeting when we were out of earshot of this jackass. Would Lex be shocked that I knew about Brady? I didn’t know a lot. He was her coworker and her best friend. If she’d wanted to be with him, she would’ve been. I wouldn’t dictate who her friends could be. I bet this guy would forbid her from talking to Brady ever again if he could.

“He’s at the hotel,” she answered even though that asshole didn’t deserve it.

Lex turned his arrogant gaze to me. “Does Daddy support you like Mr. Abbot supports Sapphire?”

“I’m a photographer. Also an environmentalist. I might be from an oil family, but the two partner together more than you’d think. I’m surprised you don’t know of King Oil’s effort to reduce their carbon footprint. If you’re interested in doing business with the company, you should also know what’s important to them.”

Savvy’s luminous gaze swiveled to me. An invisible ripple ran through her body. Her eyes narrowed and it was like her mind was restarting from whatever had stalled it earlier. “Right, Lex. I’m sure Chief would appreciate learning everything you know about King Oil’s progress in that area.”

Lex’s lips pressed together. “It’s not critical for security. If you’re so well informed, why didn’t you know who Xander was?”

Her lips formed a troubled line. “I researched the company, not the CEO’s personal life.”

She wouldn’t have found much. I didn’t have anything to do with the company, yet I knew more about it than Lex. I hated to act like a dick, but the situation called for it. “Actually, the environment is quite important to King Oil and its security.” I recalled Dad’s conversation from the anniversary dinner. “Security consultants, right? Tampering with oil equipment can lead to severe environmental impacts, and there’s always someone less concerned about the environment willing to take over.”

Finally, Savvy relaxed under my touch. “We’d better get in. Chief’s starting the celebration.”

Lex spun on his heel. For not being related, he acted a lot like Walter Abbot.

“I’m sorry,” I breathed to Savvy, not knowing if I was apologizing for being a King or for our impromptu marriage.

She sighed and her eyes filled with the weariness of someone much older. “Me too.”

Chapter 4

Savvy

Chief did the cringeworthy toast and proceeded to chew Mr. King’s ear off about how well their companies could work together.

What a mega fucking coincidence. A perfect storm of connected events. My ultimate rebellion had turned out to be the best thing I’d ever done in Chief’s eyes.

I’d come to town to meet with King Oil. Xander had come for his brother’s anniversary dinner, and so had his father. And I’d happened to meet and fall for Xander and fuck up my own stab at independence while making Chief prouder of me than he’d ever been. All because I’d opened my legs for the right guy.

Go me.

The craziness of my sudden marriage finally sank in. What had I been thinking? I shouldn’t need a guy to be independent. Just like I shouldn’t have to live with my parents at twenty-five. But there I was.

Xander King.

How had I missed his last name? Even if I hadn’t, would I have connected him to King Oil? Would I have cared? I’d wanted to work with the company, not marry into it.

Big Oil.

Good one, Savvy. The voice in my head sounded just like Brady. You hit the jackpot of husbands. Now you won’t need Chief to foot the bill.

Since no one chatted to me or Xander while waiting for appetizers, I peeked at my phone. As if sensing juicy drama, Brady had texted. Where you at?

I sent