Page 67 of Shattered Throne
"Kim." The name landed between us like a stone. "Your Kim?"
"Yes."
My grandmother was quiet for a moment. Her eyes moved from me to Zoe, then back again. I could practically see the calculations happening behind her gaze.
"Is she yours?"
"What? No." I shook my head quickly. "No, of course not. Kim and I only started dating recently." I hesitated, unsure how much was mine to share. "Zoe's father is... not in the picture."
"I see." She studied Zoe again, something softening in her expression. "And you've been spending time with her? Getting to know her?"
"Yes."
"Interesting." She reached out and touched Zoe's cheek gently. "Very interesting."
I didn't like that tone. It was her scheming tone, the one she used when she was three steps ahead and waiting for everyone else to catch up.
"Grandmother—"
"This is good, Xavier." She cut me off, turning to face me fully. "A woman with a child. A ready-made family. This is exactly the kind of responsibility you need." Her eyes gleamed. "You should put a ring on her finger. Solidify your place in their lives before she realizes she can do better."
"I don't think?—"
"Don't think, darling. Act." She stood, smoothing her skirt. "You've finally found someone worth keeping. Don't let her slip away."
Movement at the door. I turned to see Kim standing in the doorway, her face carefully blank, her eyes blazing.
Uh-oh.
"Kim!" My grandmother's voice warmed immediately. She crossed the room and pulled Kim into a hug before Kim could react. "I was just getting to know your lovely daughter. Why didn't you tell me about her before?"
Kim's eyes found mine over my grandmother's shoulder. The fury in them could have melted steel.
"I..." Kim started.
"I told her not to," I jumped in quickly. "We wanted you to get to know Kim first. Before... complicating things."
My grandmother pulled back, studying Kim's face. "Well, now I want to know Zoe, too." She glanced back at the little girl on the couch, who was watching the adults with obvious curiosity. "Bring her to dinner next time. We have a lot of bonding to do."
"That's very kind," Kim managed. Her voice was strained. "But?—"
"No buts." My grandmother touched Kim's cheek the same way she'd touched Zoe's—gentle, almost maternal. "Family is family. And if Xavier is serious about you, then your daughter is part of this, too."
She gathered her handbag, pressed a kiss to Kim's cheek, and swept toward the door. As she passed me, she paused and wagged a finger in my face.
"Don't mess this up," she said quietly. "She's the best thing that's ever happened to you."
Then she was gone, her heels clicking down the hallway, leaving destruction in her wake.
The silence stretched.
Kim stood frozen, her hands clenched at her sides, her jaw so tight I could see the muscle jumping beneath her skin. Zoe was looking between us with the confused expression of a child who could sense something was wrong but didn't understand what.
"Kim—" I started.
"Your office." Her voice was ice. "Now."
"Yes, ma'am."
