Page 24 of Once Upon a Royal Billionaire

Emily woke up the next morning to about two hundred notifications from her staff at work.

She scrolled through most of the emails, glancing at the subject lines. “What on earth.”

Finally, she found the original email from her assistant and clicked on the video link he’d included. “New Queen of Aegira?” Someone had caught video of them singing into pretend microphones, getting out of the Jeep, and stretching in an overly dramatic way before taking off together into the woods.

Other emails had headlines of “American queen of rugged outdoors store doesn’t stop at retail.” “Emily and Rhett are back at it again?” “Once wasn’t enough for the dynamic duo.” She groaned and called her dad.

“Hey, it’s her royal highness.”

“Oh brother. Has it hit the news there?”

“Not really. I’m getting calls from board members, but not the tabloids. Yet.”

“Why would they even care?”

“He’s a bit of a hot commodity, Em. He’s called the elusive bachelor king.”

“What?”

“Truly. For years he was the talk. Who would he marry and make the queen?”

“I don’t remember any of this.”

“Well, you were a bit distracted back then.”

“Fair. So are you saying this might hit it big?”

“Maybe. Either way, I’ve hired our security guys back. Mostly for Lily.”

Gratitude filled her. “Thanks, Dad. If we have to bring the tutors back in, do that too.” Just like they had when Jackson was a threat and Emily was busy at work.

“Will do. Look, don’t you worry. We’ve got this. If you want to make things work with the king of a small country, we will support you.”

“Very funny, Dad. He really is great, but there are so many complications. We couldn’t hang out for four hours yesterday without some of the old stuff coming back up. It’s complicated running a country.” She knew she sounded ridiculous—of course it was complicated. “And I hate Kenworthy.”

“Is he still running the show?” Her dad humphed. “He’s half the problem.” She could almost see her dad pacing. “And what about Lily? Honey, have you thought this through? Because I see lots of red flags here, and I—”

“Dad, I told him no.”

“Oh, you did? Now, are you sure about that honey, because he’s a great man, complications or no. Sometimes it’s worth all the trouble if you really love him.”

“What are you saying?” She felt her frustration rising. “Pick a side.”

“I don’t know. I’m just saying choose wisely and carefully.”

“Thanks, Dad.” But he’d been no help. In about thirty seconds he’d created doubt on both sides of her decision. If there even was a choice to be made. Who knew if Rhett wanted to pursue anything or if Kenworthy would let him.

She drafted an email to the board and to her staff. “Rhett and I are old friends. The press is trying to read into an afternoon spent hiking a mountain, but that’s all it was. If anyone asks, your answer is, ‘No comment.’ Not because I have anything to hide, but because I don’t feel that my personal life is for public consumption.”

She felt good about that response. Then she scrolled through the mess until she found an email actually relating to her job.

The investments were coming in. Finance was thrilled. She felt more grateful than ever for her friends. Now, to put their funds to work on some of her new ideas.

She was certain they could pick up the pieces and make something special out of Mountain Blue once again. After a couple hours of touching base back home, she packed her backpack. Today she was going to train with the water ski team. With a skip in her step, she made her way down to the car. But as soon as she walked outside, she was surrounded by press.

“Why are you here? Do you hope to win a crown? Couldn’t stay away? Some say we don’t need Americans here—that you should keep your liberal ideas to yourself.” The reporters’ questions assaulted her from every side.

“Wow,” she muttered and tried to push her way through to the limo. But the reporters wouldn’t budge. “Please. I need to get through.”

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