AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Rafe shoved his hands deep into his pockets and strove for the calm he’d always had when dealing with delicate business situations. And this was the most delicate merger of his entire life. He had to keep calm and not lose his temper.
“Thanks.”
“Thanks. That’s it? You’re losing control of the situation and that’s not like you,” Gabe said.
“You think I don’t know that? Emily is still trying to figure out if marrying me is a good idea. She’s got morning sickness and looks more vulnerable every time I see her. The entire family desperately wants me to make this right and for once, Gabe, I truly have no idea how I’m going to do it.”
Gabe clapped his hand on Rafe’s shoulder. “You always make things work. I’ve seen you pull off deals that everyone else thought were lost.”
Rafe nodded. He wished it were that easy. But from the first, this entire situation had too much emotion in it. There was Tia Isabella and her emotional plea for them to consider the offer from the Alma government to return to the throne. His father’s bitter disappointment that he couldn’t be the next king and his determination that his eldest son and namesake would be. All of it reeked of emotion, not common sense.
His chest felt tight and for once he needed that legendary coolness he was known for.
The rest of his family trickled in. Juan Carlos led the way. His expression read loud and clear: Rafe needed to act like a monarch and not a jet-setter.
Bella gave him a sad sort of smile as she came in. And his father’s glare was icy to say the least. Gabe was sort of in Rafe’s corner but he knew his brother didn’t want to have to give up his lifestyle if Rafe abdicated.
Right now, he knew that was the only way for them to get him out of the picture.
After his family, the Alma delegation filed in. They had their lawyer and PR agent with them and quickly sat down on one side of the big walnut boardroom table.
His family settled in on the other side and Rafe took his customary seat at the head of the table.
“Rafael, has the girl agreed to marry you?” his father asked without preamble.
“We’re not even sure he can marry her without the approval of this board,” one of the members of the Alma delegation said.
“I think he should be allowed to marry. Look at the surge of popularity in the British monarchy after William and Kate tied the knot,” Bella said with a wink at Rafe.
He gave his little sister a smile.
“A royal wedding would be grand. But we need to settle the subject of her being a commoner first.”
“Did she say yes?” his father asked again. “If she’s accepted then there is nothing more for this committee to consider. He’s a Montoro and she’s carrying an heir. The heir to the throne. I think that if he’s engaged before the coronation that should be good enough for your council.”
It was the first time Rafe could remember his father being on his side. Rafe was grateful to have his family’s support for once in this situation.
“We can all appreciate that, Uncle Rafael,” Juan Carlos said. “But Rafe has already let our family down and not just with the baby scandal. He’s been very cavalier toward royal protocol and taking over the throne.”
All of the voices at the table rose as everyone kept arguing their points until Rafe stood up and walked out of the room. He needed to come back to them when he’d made his decision and no sooner. Because they were going to keep fighting and tearing into each other, and in the end they’d tear him and Emily apart if he let them.
* * *
Emily wandered through the sculpture garden, admiring the eclectic collection. Famous sculptures stood next to pieces by unknown artists that reflected the Montoro taste.
As much as she’d enjoyed the few days she’d spent in Miami with Rafe, she was ready to go back to Key West. She’d be happy to grab her baseball bat and get rid of the reporters who’d been hanging around Key West hoping for a glimpse of her and then go back to normal.
She’d heard that life changed when a woman got pregnant, but this was more than she could deal with. She wanted things to work out for her and Rafe. For his family to just let her continue to try to figure out if marriage was a good idea or not.
“Emily?”
“Over here,” she said, standing up from the bench where she’d been sitting and walking up the path toward Rafe’s voice.
One look at his face and the turmoil of his expression and her heart sank. There was no way she could keep doing this to herself or to him. She knew in her heart that she would always love him, but she wasn’t going to move to Alma. It hadn’t taken more than a night in Miami to remind her how much she loved living in Key West.
