Page 25 of Once Upon a Royal Billionaire

“Just answer a few questions for us. How’s Mountain Blue? How do you respond to questions about the solvency of your business?”

“Mountain Blue is doing better than ever.” Or would be as soon as she could get some of her new ideas going.

“Now that you’re siphoning off some of the royal treasury.”

“No, that’s not…”

“Step aside.” Three men in black suits pushed their way through the crowd.

The reporters parted. The men had the royal crest embroidered on the front of their suit jackets. The closest gestured for her to join them. “King Santoro sent us. He asked if you wouldn’t mind coming with us.”

She bristled and then nodded. “Thank you.”

They pushed their way through the reporters and the curious crowd. She saw few looks of recognition, but she knew she would see more once they saw the news. Perhaps it was time to go home. She’d already gathered most of the investors she would need.

She slid into the limo’s back seat, and the car started moving. “Hello.”

The driver nodded to her.

“Where are we going?”

Her phone rang.Rhett. “Hey. Thanks for saving me back there.”

“Does that make me your knight in shining armor?”

“Um, maybe shiny limo?”

“I would have come, but it would have only drawn attention.”

She looked out the window. “So, you have me hostage. Where are you taking me?”

“Hostage, huh? Does that mean you are at my beck and call for once?”

“It appears so.”

“I’m meeting you at our smaller chalet on the coast.”

“The one with the lavender?”

“Yes.”

“And the swing.”

“Yes.” His voice was quieter, and the distance between them suddenly felt more intimate as her last memory of the swing played through her mind. And the kiss that followed.

“I’ll meet you there in the helicopter, and then we can figure this out.”

“Sounds about right.”

“It’s gonna be fine.”

“But very inconvenient. I could just go home.” She waited, hoping he didn’t want her to go, but at the same time hoping she could.

“Stay. For now. At least let’s talk.”

“I’m already on my way. Don’t have much of a choice.”

He laughed. “Exactly.”

---