Page 8 of Lily and the Billionaire Prince

She still couldn’t believe he’d offered to help her. Of course, a prince would have that kind of money to throw around.

The elevator finally opened, but before she could enter, Prince Henrik was there.

“Hello, again,” he said, taking her by the hand and slipping into the elevator just as it dinged. The chittering girls squealed, but the elevator door closed before they could follow.

Lily jerked her hand free, gaping at him as he caught his breath. “You—you really are a prince.”

“I am,” he said, ruffling a hand through his blonde hair. The silence between them was noticeable after the echoing giggles in the lobby. “As you can see, I’ve got a bit of a problem.”

“So you went and wrangled me into it?”

The shine of his smile could make the stars jealous.

“Of course, I couldn’t let you slip away again.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

“I’ll make this brief,” he said as the elevator dinged. Tugging her out with him, they stepped onto the tenth floor. “I think we can help one another out.”

“How so?” Lily was still trying to grasp everything. She couldn’t concentrate with him this close to her. He was too gorgeous for his own good. No wonder he went around approaching girls without a thought.

Alone in the hall, he continued. “I heard your conversation earlier. I’ll give you the money you need if you help me keep a low profile.”

Lily folded her arms. She’d been about to report to Mr. Elir the opposite. “How am I supposed to do that? What did you do? Go down there and announce your title to the entire lobby?”

“My face says enough, unfortunately.”

Lily wanted to reject his offer, but her boss had asked her to see how the staff could help the prince while he was here. And she didn’t have ten grand to give to Damon, not when she was planning on using her savings to run away and start a new life in Italy.

She pressed her lips. “Okay then. Say I agree. How am I supposed to help you?”

“You work here, yes? You probably know all the ins and outs of this hotel. The best cooks, the most convenient exits. Bring me food. Sneak me out. I’m here to find a future princess, but I can’t exactly do that with cameras and fans swarming everywhere I go, can I?”

What did he mean, he needed to find a future princess? Was he here to find a wife after all? Why would he come to America for that, didn’t they have noblewomen lining up to marry guys like him back in Europe?

“You don’t even know how much I need,” she said.Or why I need it.

He leaned against the glass window behind him. “How does ten thousand sound?”

She gawked. “What? I couldn’t accept. That’s too much.”

“Okay, then. Fifteen.”

“You’re full of it.”

“But I’m not. Think about it, will you? You know where to find me.” And with a wink, he strolled back toward the elevator and slapped the down button.

A woman and her young son passed Lily in the hall. Lily smiled at them, waiting for her thoughts to settle. She wasn’t sure what to make of Prince Henrik’s offer. How could she accept? That was a disgusting amount of money. She could never pay him back. Then again, he hadn’t said he expected her to. If she agreed to help him so he could…find a wife…

“Who even does that?” she asked the quiet hall.

She could help him, she supposed. But how could she know he wouldn’t turn it on her and hold it over her head for the rest of her life like Damon would? How she wished she could call Ethan right now. Her big brother always knew what to do. Even when her parents had written them both off, he’d kept in touch.

Ethan would tell her not to get in over her head. But the money would help with her goal. She wouldn’t have to use the funds she’d been saving up and have her animals be without food—not to mention the rent she needed to pay. It wasn’t easy to find a landlord who would agree to let her keep so many pets.

Aaliyah texted.Any luck contacting the prince?

It was now or never. Lily smoothed her thumb over the screen a few times before answering.I just spoke with him. He’d like help remaining incognito.

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