Page 86 of The Billionaire's Royal Secret

Her chest heaved as though she’d just run a marathon. “Terribly sorry, the line for the ladies’ is outrageous.” She shifted her bag onto her lap.

He knitted his brows as he stared down at it, not recalling the bejeweled clutch from earlier. He could have sworn the black wristlet she often used had been on her arm earlier.

As the music swelled around him, a growing sense of unease gnawed at Nate. Her sudden departures and her breathlessness upon return didn’t add up. He clung to her explanation, desperate to ignore the signs of anything beyond it. “It’s okay. I’m sure you could hear them from there.”

“Oh, yes,” she answered. “They were quite good.”

He nodded as he slipped an arm around her shoulders to enjoy the next set before an intermission. Elena drummed her fingers against her thigh as the music played.

He wondered if she didn’t care for this group. As they finished their time on stage, he leaned closer to ask when she leapt up from her seat.

“Intermission,” she announced. “I’ll grab us a snack. You wait here.”

“Ellie!” he called after her as she flitted away.

He rose to follow her when a figure blockedthe path. He rolled his eyes, setting his hand on his hips. “Of course, you’re here. I’ll bet my brother isn’t far behind.”

“I noticed your girlfriend isn’t,” Chloe said.

“Not that it’s any of your business,” Nate answered with a shake of his head, “but she’s getting us something to eat.”

“She’s a real go-getter, huh? I guess that’s why you like her. You never were good at knowing how to take care of a woman.”

“Shut up, Chloe.”

“She missed the entire second set, too,” Chloe pointed out.

Nate pressed his lips together as he curled his fingers into fists. “Been keeping close tabs on us, huh?”

“I’ll admit I have been. I’m…interested.”

“Well, don’t be. It’s not your business.”

Chloe smirked at him as she took a step closer. “Where is she disappearing to, I wonder?”

He heaved a sigh. “I don’t wonder. She went to the ladies’ room.”

“Really? For an entire set?”

“There was a line,” he said with his eyes narrowed.

“No, there wasn’t. I went there shortly after she left. Never saw her. No, I’m sorry, Nate. Something else is going on here. You’re just too stupid to see it. Just like you always are.”

“Did my brother put you up to this? He wasn’t too happy when I warned him about what a worthless tramp you really are.”

Chloe’s features twisted into an angry frown. “I’d be careful who I call a tramp. Because I’m fairly certain your new girlfriend is two-timing you.”

His blood ran cold. The words echoed in his mind, a chilling reminder of past deceptions. Was history repeating itself? Was he being duped again?

CHAPTER 19

ELENA

Elena adjusted her dangly emerald earring. “You remember the plan, right?” she called to Caroline who juggled a silver, bejeweled evening bag along with a simple leather wristlet.

“Yes. Go to the gala, put in your appearance, quick change in the ladies’ room there, flit to the concert, stay for a set, race back, change back to the evening wear, stay for a time, another change, back to the concert, then back to the gala, then finally, excuse yourself saying you are unwell, and to the concert of the remainder of the night. Have I got it?”

“Yes,” Elena said with a curt nod. “We can do this. I’ve selected an ensemble that will be easy to swap. Just one dress for another.”

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