Page 15 of Once Upon a Royal Billionaire

“I could have done that. I’m here.”

She shook her head. “Come in. Shut the door.” Everyone would be arriving soon.

Rhett wiggled his eyebrows as soon as the door was shut, which made her laugh and dissolved some of the tension. “What are you doing here, really? Besides trying to scare away Brooks?”

Not many could scare that man away. Brooks had probably left only because he didn’t want Emily to be uncomfortable, which she appreciated.

“Just checking on you.” He reached into the drawstring backpack he carried. “I brought you something.”

When he pulled out a unicorn, she laughed and ran to him. “Is this?”

“Pointy.”

“What!” The white on the hoofs was scuffed up and the point of the horn seemed a bit bent, but it was obviously Pointy. “How did you find it?”

“I’ve had it for years. I just wasn’t sure what to do with it.”

She hugged it to her chest. “I can’t even believe it.” He’d made fun of her unicorn for almost the whole time they’d known each other, but he knew why she loved it. “No one believes in them, but that doesn’t make them fantasy.”

“Yes, I know.” He reached for her. “Even though I haven’t been around, and you probably had plenty of moments you could have used a friend, I guess I just want you to know I believe in you.”

Tears welled up. “Oh, Rhett.” She allowed him to enfold her in his strong arms. And the strength that came from his declaration filled her. “Do you?”

“Believe in you? Absolutely. If Emily Harrington is involved, magic happens. You can do anything you put your heart to.”

She nodded. “Thank you.” She stepped away, took one more look at Pointy, and put it on her desk. “Let’s do this.”

He opened the door. “After you.”

As she passed him, he whispered, “And it was good thinking to involve Brooks.”

She eyed him in suspicion then nodded. “Thank you.”

They made their way down the hallway, and she had the absurd wish to hold his hand. But he’d given her Pointy, and that was enough.

They opened the door to the conference room in the chalet she’d rented. It was huge, and a table filled most of it. At the table sat some of her best childhood friends and all the princes from the newly formed Prince Society. She’d also invited the women she most admired in the area. Sera sat next to Trane. She smiled at that. Hopefully they could make things work.

She moved to take her place at the head of the table. Brooks sat at her left, and Rhett moved to sit at the opposite end of the table. He winked. She took a deep breath and began.

While she talked, she felt Brooks’ support, and she sought out Rhett’s response. How was it coming across? Would he approve? But he showed no emotion as he studied her, just as he had last time they were together. But she thought about Pointy and what he’d said. “I believe in you.” And those words carried her.

She felt like a fraud, and she knew she was in essence begging for money—but he believed in her. She could do this. Mountain Blue could overcome its challenges and rise to what it once was.

“And so as a team we can push Mountain Blue into a new decade of continued growth and returns.”

Brooks clapped when she was finished. “That was awesome, Em. You have our full support. We’ll take the highest investment percentage possible.”

Others joined in his exuberance, and by the end of the meeting, they’d all signed on in one form or other. Except Rhett.

The guys all headed to Rhett’s boathouse to practice. The competition was five days away.

Brooks high-fived her. “You nailed that.”

“Thanks to your additions. Really, Brooks. It made all the difference.”

He shrugged. “I’m here for you, Em.” He looked over his shoulder at Rhett still standing in the back of the room. “No matter what.”

She nodded. “Thank you. That means a lot—all of your support does.”

---