Page 2 of Legal Attraction

Coral nodded. And then jumped a little when a man was brought out the front door, struggling against two officers who held him, handcuffed. He had odd white blond hair and very pale skin. His shorts were short, above mid-thigh and his shirt almost a crop top. His nose piercing stood out as a large blue sapphire gem. Coral couldn’t turn away even when the guy spit on the ground. His expression was ferocious. “I will come back. I will get what is mine!”

She shivered and stood closer to Jalla.

Another officer joined them. “We need to get your answers for our report.” He held up his phone and Jalla nodded. “Let’s get back inside.” She linked arms with Coral. “I’m glad you’re here.”

The officer turned to stare at her. “What is your relationship to Jalla?”

Coral paused. “Uh…” The last thing she wanted was to become a part of this police report. She’d managed to stay under the radar of the press the whole time of her visit and it would be a shame to end that on her last week.

“She’s my friend. And she helps out.”

“Right. I guess you could call me a volunteer? And a friend.” She stood closer to Jalla who had become her closest friend in Greece at least.

He nodded, glancing over Coral like he might have a few questions for her. “Let’s sit at the table.”

They walked in together and sat, but after only a moment of the first questions about name and age and birth place, Coral stood. “Do you mind if I go back and see the kids?”

“Oh of course.” Jalla smiled. “Thank you.”

They spent the rest of the afternoon calming the children and playing games to get them back into a normal routine.

When Coral stepped into a car to leave, she planned to return to her hotel. But another car pulled out close to the time she left and stayed close to her car.

She leaned forward to talk to the driver. “Do you know those guys behind us?”

His eyes widened, his dark eyebrows pressing together. As he looked in the rearview mirror. Then he shook his head. “No, but I’d not want them following me. Do you have friends where you are going?”

“So they aren’t following you?”

He shook his head.

Coral glanced behind her again. The windows were tinted. The car stayed close to their bumper. She shared a look with her driver again and then made a decision. “We’ll need to make a change of location. Could you please take me to the Palisades?”

His eyes opened even wider. “Do you have a reservation miss? That is location is for royals only. They won’t let you in…”

She nodded. “They’ll let me in.” She began a text to her cousins and some of the other princes.Who is in Greece? Heading to the Palisades.

Their sometimes-dead group text erupted in responses. She smiled. There went her quiet vacation, but her security detail would increase as well.

If she could just stay out of the American press, she might be able to keep up a normal life in Virginia.

ChapterTwo

Rand McCarthy checked his watch for the third time. The Palisades was hopping with royals, but not the royals he was there to see. It was some off-season time to be in Greece or something. He’d set up a meeting with a particular group of the princes and no one had yet arrived. He wasn’t a real royal groupie, but a good number of them had shown interest in becoming a client of Goldstein and Smithson since two of their associates, Anders and Astra, had relocated to the Mediterranean. As second year associates, they’d contributed more clients and capitol to the firm than he had, a partner of five years now. There was something more to it also of course. Anders Rossi was the prince of a small country. He had connections Rand could only dream of. But Anders and Astra’s immediate transfer after only one day at work was one of the most hushed up items of business at their partner meetings.

And these same two newest associates had been given a piece of Muskanza, one of the most elusive and largest of Goldstein and Smithson’s clients. Rand was as competitive as the next guy and something wasn’t sitting right with him. He hadn’t been allowed anywhere near that client.

Ever.

Rand could understand the royals, but not Muskanza. Fortunately for Rand, associates couldn’t sign the deal with these royals, so he’d been sent over to sign on all these princes and seal things up. As the overseeing partner, he’d also get a portion of the salary and the credit. So he couldn’t complain at all about a trip to a beautiful part of the world rubbing shoulders with some of the most wealthy people in Europe and earning a percentage of the dealings.

If they showed up.

He checked his watch again.

The waiter approached with a pitcher of water. “Would you like a refill?”

He nodded. At least at the Palisades you didn’t need to beg for water. They were liberal with the drinks and the refills. His blue suit sat comfortably across his shoulders. His tie knotted perfectly below his chin. The Italian leather of his shoes had been shined for this very lunch. And as he let his gaze drift over everyone at the tables nearby, he knew he’d made the right decision. This was a place to see and be seen. Formal attire rested effortlessly on everyone around him.

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