Page 63 of The Billionaire's Royal Secret

Nate stared at the phone message in his hand, his eyebrows knitting. The odd request had left him stunned. He puckered his lips as he considered it.

“Would you like me to return the call to let him know you’d be interested in meeting?” his secretary asked.

Nate drummed his fingers on the chair’s arm as he bobbed his head up and down. “Yes.”

Melinda bobbed her head as she backed toward the door. “Right away.”

He stared at the note in his hand again. Prince Julian of Eldoria was interested in investing in a few of the projects he oversaw.

Ironically, he’d just looked at that country’s Crown Jewels with Ellie when they visited the museum. He wondered if he could use it as a talking point to open up their conversation before his mind turned to curiosity over the man’s interest.Was he an avid investor in this sort of thing? How had he come across the project?

Nate twisted to his computer, prepared to do a little research on the man and his country when his phone buzzed. “Mr. Kingsley?” Melinda asked.

“Yeah?”

“The prince would like to meet this afternoon. He suggested the Royal Garden at four-thirty. Should I confirm that?”

Nate glanced at his watch, noting the time. “Yeah, go ahead and confirm. I’ll leave now.”

“All right. I can call a car for you.”

Nate slid his jacket on. “No, thanks. I’ll make it if I leave now.”

“All right, Mr. Kingsley. I’ll let him know.”

Nate grabbed his briefcase and hurried from his office, waving at his secretary as she spoke into the phone. The impromptu meeting seemed rushed, but he supposed when royalty had time for a meeting, he’d better take it.

As he hit the sidewalk, setting a hard pace toward the cafe, he tugged his phone from his pocket. He wanted to text Ellie to tell her about the development, but his frenzied pace made typing difficult.

He returned his phone to his pocket. He’d have to let her know the good news later. Maybe they’d even have something to celebrate. If he landed this deal, he’d cement his place in the company.

The thought brought a grin to his face. He chuckled as he imagined telling her he’d met the man who one day may wear those Crown Jewels they’d perused at the museum. She’d probably lecture him on how he should have bowed or something because the man held a royal title.

He wondered if he should call her to askas he rounded the corner and approached the restaurant. His footsteps slowed as he studied the greenery surrounding the patio cafe.

Ellie and her roommate, Caroline, hid behind them. Ellie held her phone, zooming the camera on a specific man in the eatery.

“Ellie?” he questioned.

She whipped around to face him, her eyes wide.

He closed the gap between them. “Ellie? What are you doing?”

“Nathan!” Her voice betrayed her surprise, an octave higher than normal. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m about to have a business meeting. Why are you hiding in the bushes?”

“Uh, I was… looking for my necklace and…”

He pinched his eyebrows together. “You’re necklace? It’s around your neck.”

She touched the chain, her eyes still wide. “Is it? Oh, lucky. Caroline, false alarm. There is no need to search. It’s around my neck.” She chuckled nervously.

“What a lucky break,” Caroline answered, seeming just as nervous.

“Ellie,” he said with a laugh, “what’s really going on?”

“I don’t want to say…you may judge me.”

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