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“Can you get word to Mr. Evers?”
“I can,” Brat said carefully. “What would you like me to tell him?”
“Tell him to meet me at that small pub in the capital in an hour,” I replied. “I’ll listen to what he has to say.”
“Are you sure this is the right thing?” Brat asked. “We already know he is looking for money.”
“We assume it’s money,” I replied. “But we don’t know for sure. Reg Evers might be an asshole, but one thing he is not, is stupid. I want to hear him out before I make my decision on how to handle this.”
“Understood,” Brat replied with a bow of his head. “I will go call him. Do you want me to come along?”
“No,” I replied, looking over at the closed door to the bedroom. “I think it best we keep as many people out of this drama as possible. I’ll meet with him alone.”
“I’ll have the car sent around for you,” Brat replied, before turning and walking from the room.
I sat in the chair, finishing my coffee and staring out into the scenery below, before standing and heading back to change. I wore plain clothes and pulled on my waterproof trench coat. I stepped in front of the mirror and stared at my reflection, wondering how inconspicuous I actually looked. I pulled the collar up on my coat and pulled a hat on, bringing the bill down low to hide my face. I clutched my sunglasses in my hand, wondering what kind of money this asshole was really looking for. I knew, even if I paid him off, this would never end. I needed this to be as discreet as possible. In the past, I hadn’t cared if I was splashed all over the tabloids, but now, I had a family and a kingdom to think about. I had to be extra careful meeting with this man.
As I turned back to walk out of the room, I stared at Adriana leaning against the doorframe. She smiled and walked over to me, pulling my collar up and kissing me on the cheek. She looked tired but more relaxed than the night before. I pulled my arms around her and hugged her tightly, knowing this was all very hard for her.
“I am going to meet Reg,” I said, still holding her tightly.
“I know,” she replied, pulling back. “I heard you and Brat. Just be careful, and don’t do anything you will regret.”
“Of course,” I replied, leaning in and kissing her lips.
I walked out of the room and out into the sitting area, pulling my sunglasses on and looking back one last time as Adriana stood by the fireplace, watching me walk out. She looked worried, which made this all that more important to me. There were so many good things in our lives, and I would be damned if I let this asshole ruin that. I nodded at Adriana and mustered the biggest smile I could manage. She shook her head and smiled, giggling to herself. That was exactly what I needed to see before leaving for this meeting, a reminder of everything I was fighting for.
I took a long way around to the front to avoid walking past my mother’s wing. I didn’t want to bring her into this unless I absolutely needed to. She had enough on her plate. I jumped in the car and headed out to the capital. It had been a while since I had been here alone, in fact, the last time I was here, I was wasted, trying to forget Adriana, not realizing I was doing the exact opposite of what I should have been doing.
I had the car stop two blocks away on an empty street and let me out. I knew the car would be a dead giveaway, and I didn’t want anyone to notice me or even think that I looked out of place. As I rounded the corner, I caught sight of Reg standing in front of the bar. He nodded to me with a shit-eating grin, and immediately, I felt enraged.
I took a deep breath and clenched my fists as he opened the door for me, and I walked in ahead of him. The bar smelled like piss and beer, a perfect backdrop for this type of discussion. There were only two people in the bar, so we moved to the back of the room and grabbed a booth in the shadows. I took my glasses off and looked up at Reg sternly. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and ordered a beer. I waved the waitress off, not wanting anything at that time except the ability to knock Reg’s smug face straight out of the booth. However, knowing I couldn’t make a scene, I kept my cool, ringing my hands together under the table.
“Not drinking?” Reg asked with a smirk. “I see family life has really changed you. Maybe it’s the baby on the way.”
“Don’t talk about my family,” I said with gritted teeth. “What do you want?”
“Not into small talk? I guess that’s a good thing. I am looking to build a new establishment here in your lovely little capital. It will be a huge deal, bring lots of money in, and grow the tourism factor of your city.”
“We are just fine without dirty strip clubs and drunks,” I replied.
“Now, now, Your Highness,” he said with a grin. “Don’t forget who spent the most money last year at my ‘dirty strip club.’ But that point aside, it's not a strip club.”
“I don’t know what any of this has to do with me? Do you need money? Is that what this is about?” I was tired of his games and wanted him to just get to the point.
The waitress walked up, and I looked down at the table, not wanting to make eye contact. It was a small place, and everyone had seen my face a million times. The last thing I needed was to be photographed with the owner of a strip club at a dirty bar. That would immediately catch my mother’s attention and make me look really bad.
I was starting to regret the decision to come out here alone. It might have been less conspicuous to take him to a fine dining restaurant than a dirty, dusty bar where we were lurking in the shadows. But none of that mattered now, because we were here, and we needed to get through this so I could move on with my life.
“I don’t need your money,” Reg said angrily. “I am actually a really good businessman.”
“Because you rob your employees and treat them like shit,” I replied.
“They ain’t really the highest quality of people,” Reg scoffed. “Except your wife of course. She never really belonged there, but either way, she was there, and she was my employee.”
“So, if you don’t need money, what is it you are looking for?” I’d had enough.
“I want to open a casino of sorts,” he replied. “An upscale gambling facility, and I need you to grant me a concession.”
