Page 52 of The Billionaire's Royal Challenge

“Father, may we speak?”

“If this is about–”

“It is, but not what you think,” she answered as she hurried forward to the desk, her fingers squeezing around the damp fabric in her hand.

He sucked in a breath as he motioned to a chair across from him. “Please, sit.”

She sank into the chair, perching on the edge. “I feel an apology is necessary.”

His eyebrows shot up at her words.

Elena sucked in a breath, raising her chin. “My behavior has been…poor of late. And for that I am sorry. Mother made me realize that I am behaving as a child.”

Her father’s features softened. “I appreciate your coming to me with your apology. It shows maturity.”

“Something I have been lacking lately,” she lamented.

One corner of his lips curled into a half-smile. “You have been afraid. Afraid to face an important decision. But it is one you must make. I only hope to help you make the right choice.”

“Yes, I know. Mother explained to me your thoughts. I have been too stubborn to listen, but I promise to keep an open mind.”

“That is all I ask.”

She glanced up sharply at him. “Though I will be clear, I love Nathan.”

“I understand. And I understand that weighs heavily on your decision. But please do not allow it to cloud your judgementinto making a foolish call. Love is often not enough to carry us through the hardest times.”

She nodded at the words, unwilling to be as vulnerable as she had been with her mother.

“For what it is worth, Mr. Kingsley seems…eager to please. I have not made my final decision yet, but I rather like the boy.”

The words brought a slight smile to her face.

“Then we shall both move forward with our minds open.”

“An excellent decision, Elena.” He rose from his chair and skirted the desk, leaning forward to kiss her forehead in a rare moment of fatherly affection.

“And I have some news for you that you may be delighted to hear.”

“What is it?” she asked.

“I have come to a different decision on the first dance of the ball. You will not share it with Mr. Kingsley, but…you will not share it with Prince Eric either. Instead, you will share it with me. In that way, we avoid insulting the royal family, but you are not subject to the diplomacy. No one can deny a father a dance with his daughter.”

She smiled up at him. “Thank you, Father.”

He returned her gesture as she rose. “See you at dinner.”

She bobbed her head as she stepped away from him, leaving the office behind. She checked the time, seeing that she could still make the last few minutes of the dance lesson if she hurried.

Despite her misgivings, she desperately wanted to spend time with Nate.

As she rounded the corner, though, her heart skipped a beat. Standing between her and the doors to the ballroom, a smirking Isabelle stopped her from making progress.

She heaved a sigh. With the turmoil reigning in her, she had no desire to speak with hercousin. “Go away.”

“I’d love to, but I thought I could join the dance lesson. After all, I believe I’m paired with Nate Kingsley. And I would like to practice with him so we are in sync.”

Elena wrinkled her nose at the statement, knowing her cousin was deliberately pushing her buttons. “It is an inappropriate pairing. I will speak with my father about changing it.”

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