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He checked her at every turn. ‘You’d break your word to the prince?’
‘Had you already decided this plan between the two of you? Was my agreement to the prince’s proposal merely a formality?’
Nero smiled faintly. ‘You’re so suspicious, Bella.’
‘With good reason, I think,’ she flashed.
‘I will hold myself personally responsible for maintaining the high standards you have set at your yard in the UK. As I told both you and the prince, I will send my most trusted team to ensure you have nothing to worry about—financially, or otherwise.’
Was he serious? T
he systems she had set in place to take care of things should she be incapacitated by illness, or be taken out of the picture in some other way, would ensure the yard ran smoothly. If she chose to do this, it was Nero she was worried about, working in close proximity to him being the major problem. ‘I have made enough money to keep everything ticking over nicely, thank you. I don’t need any help from you!’
‘Your reputation does you much credit, Bella,’ Nero snapped. ‘It seems you are your father’s daughter, after all.’
Bella blenched. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
Nero’s powerful shoulders eased in a shrug. ‘You can’t make a decision and stick to it.’
‘How dare you—’
‘How dare I speak the truth?’ Nero’s eyes drilled into her. ‘If you break your word as easily as this, Bella Wheeler, I’m not sure I want you as part of my scheme.’
For a moment she didn’t trust herself to speak. Nero had blatantly manipulated her, but if she lost her temper and blackened her father’s memory even more she would never forgive herself. Taking a deep steadying breath, she buried her pride. ‘You give me your word that my work in England wouldn’t suffer?’
‘I do,’ Nero assured her in a clipped voice.
‘And my visit to Argentina would be conditional on coming home as soon as the scheme is set up.’
‘I can’t imagine why I would want you to stay beyond that.’
Her heart beat with outrage. Nero really knew how to cut her with words, she realised, smiling prettily for the prince as Nero escorted her out of the royal presence.
‘This is a win-win situation, Bella,’ Nero insisted as they strolled across the room. ‘I’m surprised you can’t see it.’
‘How do you reach that conclusion?’
‘The prince secures you as his representative. My project secures your experience. And you get to keep your pony.’
‘In spite of your scare tactics, my ownership of Misty has never been in doubt. So what do you get out of it?’ Bella demanded suspiciously.
‘I get to keep Misty on my yard—and even ride her—if you will allow me to?’
Nero’s tongue was firmly planted in his cheek, Bella suspected. And his face was close enough to make her lips tingle. ‘Do you really need my permission?’ she countered. And would she be able to resist seeing the world’s best polo player mounted on the best pony? Nero’s laughing eyes and the curve of his sensuous mouth reflected his confidence that this would be the case.
‘Most important of all, Bella, the children benefit,’ Nero said, turning serious.
And that was the one thing she couldn’t argue with. ‘Believe me, your project is the only reason I’m saying yes to Argentina.’
‘But of course,’ Nero agreed smoothly. ‘What other reason could there be for a respectable woman to visit my estancia?’
‘I can’t imagine,’ Bella said frostily, smiling her thanks as a royal footman opened the outer doors for them.
‘And where will you go now?’ Nero asked her as a driver brought his ink-black four-wheel-drive up to the foot of the steps for him.
‘Back to the stables for one last check on the horses.’
‘As I’m going there myself, why don’t I give you a lift?’
