She couldn’t help but feel her resolve falter a tad when he made that sound that seemed to imply he didn’t think much of her demands. Maybe it was a waste of perfectly good blackmail but to her it was perfect. There was nothing else she wanted from the boy because he didn’t have anything better to offer her. There were many things in the world Henrietta Blythe couldn’t stand but at the top of that list was bullying, well, when she was being bullied and the moment that Alex had spoken to her in that corridor she had felt herself unravel ever so much. She wouldn’t describe herself as a control freak but in the matter of her betrothal, she preferred a certain amount of authority and knowledge that placed her in control of her own destiny…Unfortunately for her, this sort of matter rarely was decided by the bride-to-be and family almost always got in the way. Trent’s oldest brother seemed bound and determined to meddle in their affairs and she wanted him out. She didn’t need him threatening her every time Trent shot his mouth off (since, knowing him, that would be quite often) so this request was entirely logical. She certainly didn’t need him trying to intimidate her like he so often tried to do and this was the best way to make sure that didn’t happen. If he wanted some peace then he’d have to allow her some as well.

"Shouldn't be too hard, Miss Blythe. It's not like I deeply enjoy your presence."

“Clearly,” she snapped back, her green eyes narrowing. “So do we have a deal? You leave me alone and I’ll keep your little affair a secret? I mean, until you blow it since we both know you’ll likely screw the pooch.” She grinned rather deviously. “No pun intended.”  

She knew she needed to keep her mouth shut but she always just kept talking.   




They say the poisoned vine breeds a finer wine.