"Or should I say, Princess Laura."

I stared at him for a few seconds not believing what he just called me.

Deny. Deny. Deny. Whatever happens, or whatever he says, just deny.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Are you alright, Mr. Kinsley?"

He chuckled rather evilly. "Denying won't do you any good, Princess"

I am really starting to get annoyed with that word coming from his mouth.

"It's Miss Carter for you, Mr. Kinsley. I don't like this familiarity of yours towards me much more your nickname for me."

"Why? It's not a nickname. It is your title after all, or would you want me to call you the queen-to-be, Ms. Carter?"

Okay, forget it. No matter what he calls me, I think I will hate it anyway.

"Ms. Carter is fine," I said, raising my chin in defiance. "Mr. Kinsley, I suggest you remove your hands from either side of me or–"

"Or else what?" he challenged, closing his face more dangerously on mine. "I'd like to know what you're going to do, especially after your secret is revealed."

I narrowed my eyes. Okay. So, denying will not bring me anywhere, might as well admit it and use it against him.

"Are you threatening me? Are you seriously going to use my secret as leverage to get what you want? Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"

He lowered his head so our faces are leveled. "I know exactly who I'm talking to."

"Then you should know better than to speak with me in that manner. You should know that I, alone, have the power to give you severe punishment for threatening me like that," I said, giving him an I'm-a-princess-so-you-should-back-off look.

He raised his hands immediately in surrender, but the evil smile still lingers on his eyes and lips. "Woah there. Now who's threatening who now, huh?"

"Now, I am. If you don't like my threat, I suggest that we keep it professionally."

"You don't understand, Princess," he said, giving me that knowing, evil smile again. I formed a fist on my hands but kept it on my side, resisting the urge to punch that stupid smirk right out of his face.

"I am not afraid of your little threat. Besides, since I know your secret, you are in no position to give such meaningless threats. Unless, you want to ruin the perfect reputation of your family, that is. Besides I am not threatening you, nor use your secret as leverage," he paused. "Well, at least not yet."

He took a seat on the head chair, and smiled triumphantly.

"So you will, eventually. What exactly are you planning to do?" I folded my arms on my chest.

"Like what you said, let's keep it professionally. Your secret is of no use to me, yet."

Right now, I am planning on how I could murder this man without people pointing me as the main suspect. I could ask my brothers to strangle him until he dies, or maybe I could just ask Jessica to judo-flip him.

"Now, Princess. There's no need to kill me in that beautiful mind. We don't want your family to disown you just because you gave the family a more scandalous act than what you already did."

"Fine. Let's just talk about business then," I said, taking a seat at the other end of the conference table.

"Why are you seated there? Don't you think we could understand each other better if you're seated next to me? Or on me?"

I cringed at the thought. That is the most disgusting question I have ever heard.

He chuckled. "So, no funny business, then?"

Did I just say that out loud?

"No funny business," I responded, raising my voice at him.

"You should lower voice when talking to me. After all–"

"After all what? After all you know my secret? Is that what you're going to say?" I leaned in a bit, putting my arms on the table. "If you're thinking you have me wrapped around your finger, you can forget it. I am not afraid of being fired from this company, or my secret being out in the open."

"Brave words, Princess. But your eyes don't exactly coincide with your statement."

I will not let this man see through me.

"Maybe it doesn't, maybe it does. I'm not sure."

What I said was not a lie, though. True, I am not afraid to be fired from this company, but I am afraid of being found out. I mean, I just got here. I haven't even started my "freedom list" yet. Not that I have one. It's just too early to go back, I want more time.

"Touché"

I was about to say something back when the conference door suddenly opened. A confused Nathaniel came into my view as I stood from my seat.

Oh crap! He didn't hear it, did he?

Panic rose from my chest as Nathaniel looked at me then at Alexander who is currently smirking at my panic state.

"Are you okay, Vanessa?" I stared at him. His eyes full of concern. "You look pale."

"I'm fine, sir."

I saw him clenched his jaw and glared at Alexander.

"Well, I think I will be taking my leave. I will just inform your PA on when my schedule will be cleared next week."

Alexander left the conference room. Nathaniel stared at the closed door then at me.

"What just happened?"

"Laura!"

What?

I looked around and realized that I just spaced out. Jessica's voice brought me back to the present as the car came to a halt.

We were on our way to Mrs. Diaz's house. After the call, I asked Jessica if she could give me a ride. I know she noticed my mood swings and she's dying to know where it came from. Of course it did not help that I was always spacing out for the past week.

"We agreed not to call me that anymore."

"Well let's see, I have been saying something to you for ten minutes. Seeing as you are just staring at my windshield the whole, I tried calling you. I was like 'Vanessa, did you hear what I just said?' and you're like," she paused and mimicked, what I presume, my expression earlier. "Then I decided to call you by your real name. At least it worked."

I let out a sigh.

"Now, spill."

I stare at her, "Spill what?"

"Whatever's bothering you."

"Nothing is bothering me."

She gave me a look that said, seriously? You're giving me that?

I let out a heavy breath before confessing.

"Alexander Kinsley knows my secret."

"WHAT!?! Ho–No! I am not even going to ask how. Why?"

I recounted what happened last week.

"Does he know my secret too?"

"Yes. I think so," I said. "Jess, he's going to use our secret as leverage to get what he wants."

"Obviously. Men like him are manipulative and will do anything to get what they want. Even if it means they have to stoop so low and become EVIL," she scoffed.

"Why are you calling every man evil?"

"Because they are! And their king is that ASSHOLE STEVENS!"

"I think we should get back on the road. I still have to change my clothes for dinner later on. What did he do now?" I quickly added the last part, avoiding the "dinner" subject. She started her car again and drove back to the traffic.

"He's becoming more and more of an asshole lately. Giving me too much work, and making me– wait what did you just said?"

"What did he do now?" I countered, willing her to forget the first part I said.

She gave me a look that said, I'm not buying it.

"I still have to change my clothes for dinner later on."

"With whom exactly?" Her eyes widened as realization hit her. "With as–"

"Will you stop calling him that?"

"Why? He is what I call him," She frowned at me before returning her eyes on the road.

"He's not, okay?"

"Last, I check you hate him for insulting you. Now you're defending him?"

"I'm not defending him!"

"Yes, you are," We stopped at a gate of an incredibly elegant mansion. "Please, don't tell me that you have already forgiven him."

"I think he's doing this to apologize."

"Did he apologize?"

I remain silent.

"Did he even tell you that this is his way of apologizing?"

I still kept my mouth shut.

"See. He didn't even apologize yet he's already been forgiven."

"There's no point in dwelling on what had already happened, Jess."

"I know that. But he should have at least apologized for the things he did before you forgave him. You're being too kind to everyone."

"Like I said, there's no point in dwelling on what had already happened. Even after what he did, he will remain my boss until I decided to go back. I can't just sulk around the corner and wait for him to apologize. He's too proud to do that. Besides, with someone threatening to reveal my secret, I have no time to lose. I might as well forgive and forget and try to enjoy my remaining normal person days as possible."

"But still–"

"Jessica." I said stopping her from arguing with me. "I've been worried about my secret being found out for a whole week. When Nathaniel told me that we will have dinner together, my mind thought of something I know will annoy him. And for once, in a week of gloom, I managed to take my mind out of Alexander's threat."

"So, you're hoping that this dinner date will take away all your worries?"

"I hope so." Ignoring the date in her question.

Jessica let out a heavy sigh before smiling at me. "Fine. Good luck then on your dinner later on."

I gave her a hug. "Thank you."

I went out of the car and was about to approach the intercom.

"Do you want me to come pick you up later?" I heard Jessica said.

"No need. I'll just take a cab. Besides, I know Aaron gave you a pile of paper works today."

She groaned, probably remembering those things.

"Okay! See you later then!"

"Bye!"

I waved as I watched her car disappear from my sight. I went to the intercom and inform the person on the other line that Mrs. Diaz asked me to come.

The gates automatically opened.

I was already inside and the gates are already closed when I saw a familiar car parked at the driveway.