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“Oh.” Steffan wasn’t sure what to say. The man had settled the discussion, but it bothered him that Hattie didn’t want him to pay. Yes, he was doing a lot for her. He could be risking a whole lot if the Rindlesbachers ever discovered the connection, but he wanted to do it. He was a gentleman and a prince.
He handed the guy forty euros. “For a tip,” he said when the guy looked ready to refuse it.
“Thank you.” The young man nodded to him.
“Wait,” Hattie said. “No. Letmetip him.”
“I’ve got it.” Why was she fighting with him about paying for things? What was she planning to tip the young man with? “Is seven all right for breakfast so we can get to Bern for your appointment with your embassy?”
“Yes, thank you,” Hattie murmured. She studied him as if seeing him in a new light.
Was she too independent to accept him paying for things? Was he being too decisive? As the CMO of a busy hospital, he had to make decisions all the time. The last woman he’d dated, an accomplished violinist for the Austrian Symphony, hadn’t liked that at all. She had told him he was ‘a male chauvinist parading as a gentleman prince’ a few times before they parted ways. He’d hated that and hadn’t known had to defend himself without digging himself deeper.
“Perfect. Thank you, sir, ma’am.” The young man bowed his way out.
“I’m sorry,” Hattie said. “I’ll pay you back.”
“No, you won’t.” He gave her what he hoped was a gallant smile, nervous for her reaction and wondering if she was the type that didn’t like a ‘decisive gentleman,’ as Malik liked to call him.
Hattie’s eyes widened. She stared at him for a few beats.
The hotel phone rang.
“I’ll get it,” Steffan said.
“It could be Sadie.”
Hattie turned and picked up the phone. When she first thanked the caller for the clothes, food, computer, and snacks, he realized it was the hotel manager. She filled him in on the situation and from Steffan’s limited side of the conversation, the man was apologizing profusely and asking what else he could do. Hattie kept insisting it wasn’t his fault and that she appreciated his help.
She was very gracious for a billionaire heiress. Steffan’s family was wealthy and royals and they all treated people kindly, so he supposed he shouldn’t be so shocked with Hattie’s intriguing mix of feisty independence and polite sweetness.
Half an hour later, they’d filled Jensen in on the situation. He agreed to use his contacts with Interpol to help find Franz Wengreen. They contacted all of her credit card companies, the U.S. Embassy, the state of Texas, and her cell phone company. Every credit card company and her cell phone provider promised to have replacements sent to her in Bad Ragaz by tomorrow afternoon at the latest.
Hattie was gracious with everyone, but it was obvious the status and wealth she had. Though each person was professional, they bent over backwards to help her. The government wasn’t quite as accommodating. She’d have to get to the closest U.S. Embassy—they said in Traverse, Augustine, but she insisted on Bern—to get a temporary passport. She had an appointment for tomorrow morning. Would he go with her? He’d texted a few of his colleagues and they’d readily agreed to cover for him, but he didn’t like being away from his hospital for too long.
It was sickening to hear from each credit card company how many charges had accrued over the past six hours. Some of the charges could be stopped, but for most, the credit card companies would have to swallow accrued charges as fraudulent. Franz had definitely taken advantage of his time with Hattie’s unlimited credit cards. The latest charges were in Zurich. Apparently, he’d booked a river suite at the Baur au Lac, a posh hotel at thirty-five hundred a night. The Swiss police were informed and were on their way to capture him.
Hattie tried to get ahold of her cousin Sadie and Sadie’s husband Wolf. Again. It rang straight to voice mail.
“Crap,” she muttered. “They must be on a mission without service, or it’s the middle of the night wherever they are.”
He nodded his understanding. “We can try again in the morning. I really think as your doctor that you need to get some rest. This has been a lot of stress and you were in an accident not long ago.”
“I just want to wait up long enough to hear if the police captured that jerk.”
“Okay. Are you hungry for something other than chocolate?” She’d had a few squares, and he’d eaten more than his fair share of the chocolate and snacks. He’d skipped dinner.
“No.” She leaned back against the couch. She looked vulnerable, beautiful, and … “You don’t need to stay with me. I’ll be fine to deal with this on my own.”
He studied her. Was she testing him? Trying to get rid of him? Ready to assert her independence? She’d asked the front desk earlier for toiletries for both of them. Had she changed her mind about him staying? Was he being overbearing like Analisa had felt?
“Hattie. I don’t think you should be alone right now. I’m happy to stay here with you.”
She jutted out her chin. He thought she was going to argue with him, but then suddenly her eyes got bright, she was blinking quick, and tears spilled out and raced down her face.
Jumping to her feet, she hurried toward her suite.
It might’ve been the wrong move, but Steffan rushed to intercept her. He stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Hattie … it’s okay. You’ll be okay.”
