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

“I’ll track Em down for you.” He walked toward a group of women that must contain his wife, leaving me alone at Mrs. Abbot’s side.

“Oh, there’s Walter.” Mrs. Abbot curled her hand around my elbow. I let her guide me toward a crowd that was laughing boisterously.

Lex stood next to Chief. He was the first to spot us. I didn’t like the Cheshire cat grin that spread across his face as soon as he saw me. Tension crept up my spine, making me stand straighter.

What the hell did that bastard have in mind?

Chief’s grin, at least, was genuine when he saw us. He ignored his wife and held his arm out for me, beckoning me into the fold.

“There’s my new son-in-law,” Chief boomed, his strong arm clutching my shoulder. “Xander King of King Oil.”

Nothing about me was “of King Oil” except my Dad and the small amount I still had left in the bank. This time next year, I’d have a shit-ton of money thanks to King Oil, but I’d feel less guilt about each dollar of those millions than the meager amount I was sitting on.

Introductions took place, a round-robin of names and titles thrown at me. One was a barrel-chested man about Chief’s age. General Something Or Other. Darren Cornantzer was about my age and in military intelligence, and the third gentleman also had a military background and was affiliated with West Point. I was the only member of the group who hadn’t attended the military academy.

The general was the one who asked the question I dreaded whenever I had to socialize with Dad’s associates. “So, Xander. Tell me, what do you do?”

“I’m a photojournalist.” Like always, I kept the answer simple and hoped there were no further questions.

“What do you cover?” Darren asked.

I went through the usual song and dance. International locations that have no other notoriety than their residents and the struggles they face. No, I hadn’t been featured in any reputable publication. No, I didn’t work for anyone.

“What branch of the military where you in?” This was the West Point guy. Based on the rigid stances and close-cropped hair of the men in the room, I was one of the few, if not the only, nonmilitary men here. I was sure many of the women were military too.

“I didn’t serve,” I said. I had no excuse. Recruiters had approached me in high school but I’d grown up getting told what to do. I’d wanted freedom after graduation. “I needed more flexibility with my travel.”

That earned me a laugh.

Lex swirled the wide-bottomed glass in his hand that held a giant square ice cube. An old-fashioned. “What’d you go to college for again?”

The tone of his voice sent prickles of awareness down my spine. It wouldn’t be hard for someone like Lex to dig into my school records and find a whole lot of nothing.

“I started in business media.”

The men lifted their chins, waiting for more that I wouldn’t give them.

“What degree did you end up with?” Lex took a sip of his whiskey, his glittering blue eyes pinned on me, his expression smug.

I wasn’t about to confess to this group of men something my own father didn’t know. “Nothing that sounds impressive.” I opened my mouth to excuse myself. Unlike my wife, I didn’t have to put up with men like Chief or their attitudes. I could go where I wanted when I wanted.

But Lex beat me to the punch. “You did graduate, didn’t you?” He laughed, and glanced around the group. “No need to be modest. The man that married Sapphire Abbot must have some impressive initials behind his name. How would you travel the world otherwise?”

I stuffed my hands into my pants pocket and bowed my head. At my side, Chief’s eyes narrowed on Lex. Chief might not like the tidbit Lex was gleefully revealing, but he had an image to uphold, and more importantly, a client to attract—my father.

True to form, Chief joked, “His last name is credential enough.”

As the group laughed, I gave Lex a perfunctory smile. “Good thing I never claimed to be anything more than humble. If you’ll excuse me.”

I nodded to Chief. Like it or not, he was my father-in-law and he’d done nothing but respect me. My last name might be the only reason why, but it was enough for tonight. Whatever I was doing to get my trust was between me and Savvy.

I wove through the crowd, nodding greetings at random guests as I sought a snack table, or guest book, or something to keep me occupied for a few minutes so I didn’t have to talk to anyone.

“What’d he do?”

I turned as Savvy caught up with me in the far corner of the room. A table held elegantly wrapped gifts, gift bags that somehow matched the aesthetic of the room, and a basket of cards.

It hit me. This was my wedding reception. Complete strangers thought we were married for real and wanted to send us forward on the best footing possible. If I hadn’t been humble before, I was now.

What had Lex done? Nothing more than knowing more about me than my wife did.

I swept my gaze over Savvy. She carried herself like a queen. Around Chief and her mother, she was meek and uncertain. But when he wasn’t nearby she stood straighter with her shoulders back and her chin lifted.

“Did Chief say something?” she asked.

“It wasn’t your father. He was cordial.”

“Right. Of course. With you he would be.” She peered at me. “Then what’s wrong? You looked like you’d mow down anyone that got in your path.”

I took a deep breath, my gaze straying to the group of accomplished men I’d just stood with. My secret wouldn’t be a shameful one if I didn’t come from the family I did. If I hadn’t lied to my dad and then avoided the truth around others like Savvy’s entire social circle.

“I dropped out of college.”

She frowned, her plump lower lip sucking between her teeth. “Okay?”

“I’m guessing Lex