Page 22 of Owned By Royal

“Congratulations.” His voice is quiet now. “You did.”

I stand there for another heartbeat, hoping he’ll look at me the way he did only minutes ago. He doesn’t. Without another word, I dash past him and out of the office, every step feeling heavier than the last. I’ve finally told the truth, and it may have cost me the only man I’ve ever loved.

Chapter Six

Royal

I don’t move after Sierra leaves.

The office door remains open, swaying almost imperceptibly from where she rushed past me only moments ago. And I continue staring at the empty doorway as though she’ll suddenly walk back through it and tell me this has all been one spectacular misunderstanding.

Instead, the silence settles around me like a weight. It presses against my chest until it becomes difficult to tell whether the ache I’m feeling comes from anger or heartbreak. I replay every conversation we’ve shared over the past weeks, every smile, every stolen moment, every kiss.

And now each memory comes with an ugly question attached to it. Was she falling for me, or was she simply getting closer to Marco through me? I want to believe the answer is obvious because I’ve seen the way she looked at me when she thought I wasn’t paying attention.

I’ve felt the sincerity in her quiet moments, and I’ve watched her slowly let her guard down around me. Yet I also caught her standing behind my father’s desk, confidential files spread before her, as if she belonged there.

The image refuses to leave my mind, and no matter how desperately I want to explain it away, I can’t. The sound of footsteps pulls me from my thoughts.

“She’s gone.”

I turn to find Riccardo standing in the doorway, his expression unusually serious. “You heard?”

“I heard enough.”

He quietly closes the office door before walking farther into the room. His gaze briefly lands on the open drawer Sierra had been searching through before returning to me.

“I saw her run out crying.”

I laugh once, though there’s no humor in it. “Good.”

“No.” His answer is immediate. “It wasn’t good.”

I sink into one of the leather chairs opposite Father’s desk and rub a hand across my face. “You didn’t see what she was doing.”

“I don’t think I needed to.”

“You usually defend people after hearing both sides.”

“I usually do.”

He sits across from me. “But I’ve also known you my entire life.”

I look at him. “And?”

“You look like someone whose heart just got ripped out.”

For several seconds, I don’t answer because saying the words aloud somehow makes them more real. “I think she was using me.”

Riccardo studies me carefully. “Do you actually believe that?”

“I caught her searching Father’s files. She admitted she thinks he murdered her father. And she never told me.”

“I heard.”

I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “How am I supposed to ignore that?”

Riccardo remains quiet long enough that I finally look up again. “What?”