Page 53 of The Royal in Room 3

“Good.” He squeezed my shoulder. “You’re doing great, Soren.”

After he left, I checked my reflection in the camera of my phone and groaned. My eyes were red-rimmed, and I didn’t have the cosmetics I needed to disguise them. I made do by pressing some damp towelettes from the bag I’d brought with me to my swollen eyes.

As I was about to put away my phone, I saw that Jude had sent me a few messages asking me what was wrong. I shot him a quick reply that I’d overreacted and everything was fine, then closed my locker. I took several deep breaths before making my way to the VIP floor.

The tightness in my chest eased as I found Phoenix and Martin alone. Evan was gone.

The moment Martin saw me, he waved me over. “There he is. Still as beautiful as the moment I first saw you.”

I shuffled over, bowing my head. “I’m sorry about spilling the drinks on your companion.”

“If anyone should apologize, it’s definitely going to be me for subjecting you to such an unpleasant person on your first night. You would have done me a great service if you had spilled one of those glasses on him sooner.”

I raised my head, surprised, and Martin winked at me. I glanced at Phoenix for clarity, and he smiled with a nod.

“You don’t have to worry about Evan,” he said quietly. “I had security escort him out after he got rather belligerent.”

“I would have asked him to leave if Phoenix hadn’t stepped in,” Martin added. “Please, sit. Let me make it up to you.”

I blinked. “I can’t. I’m working.”

“You’ve had a difficult night. I’m sure Phoenix won’t mind if you keep me company.”

“It’s okay,” Phoenix said. “The client’s always right, remember?” Then he winked at me. “See if you can get him to drop a hefty sum for all the trouble he’s caused me tonight, and there your job ends tonight.”

“Umm, okay. If you’re sure.” Hesitantly, I lowered myself onto the edge of the booth. A part of me couldn’t help wondering if this was a test and I was failing it badly, but Phoenix walked away, leaving us alone.

Martin poured water into an empty glass and slid it toward me. “You look like you need this.”

“Thank you.” I didn’t even refuse it because I did. I downed the drink and sighed as I set the glass on the table.

“I’m sorry for the way Evan spoke to you,” he said. “I brought him here tonight, which makes his behavior partly my responsibility.”

“He was upset. I understand.”

“He was rude,” he said firmly. “I was trying to be patient with him, but he went too far. I draw a line at his prejudice.”

Ah, so Martin had picked up on that too, and it wasn’t just my imagination. It was still such a difference facing microaggressions in this country because of my race. Most of the population of Belvaria was Black, so it wasn’t something I’d ever encountered in my own country.

Martin leaned back, his arm stretching behind the booth and brushing the back of my neck. I almost jumped out of my skin. Phoenix had told me Martin was nice, and I hadn’t thought much of it, but was he hitting on me?

“There’s something about you that’s familiar,” he said after a few seconds had passed and I hadn’t spoken. He pressed his face closer, examining me.

“I doubt that.”

“The accent,” he said. “I’m trying to place it. Where are you from?”

“It’s not a very familiar place.”

He snapped his finger. “Don’t tell me. It’s Belvaria, isn’t it?”

I sucked in a deep breath and my heart skipped a beat. He was the only one I’d met who’d connected my accent with my country. How familiar was he with Belvaria?

“Yes,” I choked out. “How do you know Belvaria?”

“I’ve visited several times.” His expression became thoughtful. “Beautiful country. My company opened a hotel in Belvaria nearly ten years ago. The Royal Opera House was falling into disrepair at the time, and the government was struggling to secure funding for the restoration. I’ve always believed historic buildings should be preserved, so my foundation covered a large portion of the work. I attended a few events at the palace while the work was underway.”

“The Royal Opera House?” I cried. “That was your company behind the restoration? My father was ecstatic to find a sponsor since there was a disagreement about its funding in the court.”