Page 10 of Royally Tempted

Something wasupwith Julia. She’d been acting strangely since starting the new job as Prince Snow’s PA. On top of that, both of us had apparently decided to ignore and not talk about the bruises on her neck that wereclearlyhickeys. But this was icing on the cake. Julianeverwent out — and definitely not out in sexy, crazy-expensive looking little black cocktail dresses like the one hanging on her closet door.

She was also never thissecretive.

“It’s really just a work thing,” she said quickly, her face red.

I didn’t have to be a reporter to see she was bullshitting me.

“Verymysterious.”

“Emma,” she laughed nervously. “Look, it’s just a thing, okay? Some people from work invited me out, and it’s kind of a fancy place.”

“Fine,” I finally threw up my hands, rolling my eyes. “Fine, I yield. I’ll stop. I have to go out anyways.”

I don’t know how the thought came to me, or from where, but suddenly there it was. I knew it was wrong, and that it made me a terrible friend, but I was already thinking through the plan before I even opened my mouth.

“Oh?” Julia raised a brow at me.

“Yep, just going out.”

This story was bigger than me, and I knew it. I’d also investigated enough leads and stories to know when there was a hint of something real in a mountain of bullshit.

Something — a gut instinct, or intuition, or whatever — told me the Triple Crown Club was real. That same sixth sense or intuition told me Julia was involved.

…And I was going to get to the bottom of this.

I shrugged. “You’re not the only one with a hot date tonight, you know.”

“Wellwell!” Julia grinned at me. “And do I get to pester you for details now?”

“Nope! I’m giving you a taste of your own medicine.”

I was a terrible friend. I felt awful, knowing what I was about to do, since it felt like a serious breach of trust, even if shewasprobably lying to me about what she was up to that night.

“Well, have fun tonight, girl. And you’dbettereventually tell me about what you’re up to.”

“I know, and I will,” Julia said quietly.

“Good.”

* * *

Twenty minutes later, I was sitting in the backseat of a taxi parked across the street and halfway down the block from the front door of our building. I felt my pulse skip as I watched Julia step out of our apartment building and walk towards a black, sleek town car.

“That’s the one,” I nodded, pointing it out to the driver. “Can you just follow that one please?”

“Any idea where we’re going?” he grumbled.

I shook my head as the town car pulled away with my friend, and my taxi began to follow. It didn’t take long for me to realize where we were going.

“Lady, I can’t follow that car in there.”

The taxi came to a stop as we watched Julia’s town car get waved through the gates of Prince Snow’s royal palace.

What are you up to, Jules, I thought to myself.

“Hang on, just wait here for a few.”

“Meter’s running.”

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