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“Thank you,” I said, and went inside the room. For a powder room, it was large.
I gripped the edges of the counter and took a good look at myself. “What are you doing?” I asked my reflection. What I got back was a pair of sad eyes in a face that wasn’t me. I turned on the faucet, uncaring of what my father would do and began to wash away the heavy makeup job.
When I was done, my face was flushed, my fake eyelashes were removed, and I was me again. I wasn’t done though. The hair. I twisted and turned until I could wash my hair free of all the spray. The poor hand towels didn’t fare well. Between makeup stains and sopping wet hair, I’d left a mess for someone to clean. I honestly felt bad about it.
Air filled my lungs with a cleansing breath before I stepped outside. I thought I would face my father, instead, the area was clear, and David stood waiting.
I glanced down, and then I met his eyes. “I know I’m a fright, but I thought it’s better you see what you are getting.”
His smile appeared genuine when he said, “You’re stunning.”
If I’d met him before Liam, the way he said that and how he looked at me might have stolen my breath.
“You’re very nice.”
“Please,” he said holding out a hand for me to follow him. I moved in that direction and he met me halfway.
His hand landed on the small of my back where it should have sent tingles. It didn’t. His hands weren’t the ones I wanted to touch me. I held back the ache in my heart for a man I could have loved a lifetime if I were an optimist. We never had the chance to find out because I’d stupidly called the wrong person for help in desperation.
We stepped into a conference room of all things. At least it looked like one. I guess it could have been an unconventional dining room. I wasn’t quite sure.
He closed the door and stood there as I faced him. “I have a feeling you aren’t very excited about this arrangement.”
I thought about what my father said. I couldn’t ruin things. The man before me wore an earnest expression and was no doubt an honorable man. If I told him no, would he call it off? Did I believe my father would follow through on every threat? Yes.
“It’s out of the ordinary for sure. But I assume we both have our reasons.”
His smile was sad. “That I guess we do.” He was about to say something else when there was a knock at the door. When it opened, I gaped.
Eight
Liam
Anticipation can kill a man. I managed not to let it. Instead, I worked on what I would say to my girl when I saw her.
The time arrived without much fanfare as Natalie and her father didn’t show up. David paced like a caged animal. It was a good thing his brothers were there to keep his mind occupied. While sitting in the security office, I monitored their conversation because I was in charge of their security.
“She’s a looker,” his youngest brother who’d introduced himself as Dean said. “I’d marry her.”
“Keep your dick in your hands,” Declan said to Dean. “David, you don’t have to do this.” He was the most sensible of them.
“And what happens to the family if I don’t?”
It was true. The Royals were facing mounting financial concerns based on what Connor uncovered. What I didn’t understand was why the Royals had chosen to fix that trouble with the likes of Nicolas Cortez. He wasn’t exactly a shining beacon of purity.
“She’s a pretty piece of ass but are you willing to give up the rest of your life to fix Dad’s mistakes?” Deacon asked.
“Very pretty,” Dean added.
Clearly the youngest Royal hadn’t matured from his college days.
“It’s done,” David declared. “I’m the oldest and will make the sacrifice.”
“Great sacrifice, brother, for a dying company. Reservations at our hotels are zero because of this virus. Conferences are getting canceled like crazy. You’re going to marry some woman you don’t know for cash that won’t sustain us in the long-term. We should sell off the properties while we can and leave the management company in place,” Declan said.
“You know Dad won’t sell. And as long as he breathes and sits on the board, we can’t do shit,” David barked back.
“You don’t know anything about this woman. She’s likely her father’s daughter,” Declan said.
“The prenup won’t allow her access to anything involving the company. She’ll have an expense account that will be monitored,” David said.
“What if they want to use the hotels to launder money?” Declan asked David.
“As I said, she won’t be involved with the company. She will have no authorization to do anything, including booking a room without my approval.”
