Page 6 of The Prince's Secret Daughter
Still, the reality of her position was inescapable. Paul and Nathan, the supposed powerhouses of the deal, weren’t what everyone believed them to be. They weren’t impressive dealmakers—no, they were slimy bastards, liars and cheaters. Scam artists? Con men? Helen’s gut twisted at the thought of them, but she forced herself to focus on what mattered most.
Her daughter.
Their daughter, actually.
Helen knew that this moment, this twisted game they were playing, could cost her everything. She might lose her beautiful, bright little girl because of the choices she had to make today. But if Angela was safe, that’s all that mattered. She could lose it all as long as her daughter wasn’t harmed.
So, with a mix of determination and fear coiling in her chest, she walked toward Raj, each step measured, keeping her focus despite the heavy dread clouding her mind. She could feel the shift in his demeanor as she approached, his eyes following her, heated with something that stirred deep within her. She recognized the unmistakable arousal in his body language and smiled—her confidence as much an act as her calm facade.
But as her gaze met his, a strange rush of nerves tugged at her, and she was acutely aware of how close she was now, how tall he stood before her. He really was magnificent—a dark angel, powerful and magnetic in a way that made her heart race and her thoughts falter. She had forgotten how he could affect her like this.
She reached out, her fingers trailing over the lapel of his suit jacket, the smooth fabric a stark contrast to the raw tension thrumming between them. “Don’t take the deal,” she whispered, her voice low, the words barely audible. “They’re trying to scam you.”
Her breath caught in her throat as she leaned even closer, her lips near his ear. “Pretend you’re falling under my spell,” she murmured, the words a mix of desperation and hope. She was playing a dangerous game, but she couldn’t afford to fail.
Raj blinked but didn’t move, his body stiffening just slightly, and for a heartbeat, Helen wasn’t sure if he understood, if this ruse would work. But then she saw it—a flicker of understanding in his eyes, and her breath caught in her chest as he nodded.
“You’re the bait?” he asked quietly, his voice low and measured, as though he was processing the depth of her words.
“I think so,” she replied, her pulse hammering in her ears.
He paused, as if considering something, then asked, “Did they drug the coffee?”
The question stopped her cold.The coffee?Her mind spun, and for a moment, her hand froze against his lapel, her thoughts scattering. “It’s possible,” she said, a frown crossing her face as the implications sank in. “They’ve been pushing coffee on me all morning. I haven’t had any.”
Raj’s gaze sharpened as he leaned in just slightly. “Where’s your daughter?”
Helen swallowed hard, willing her voice to stay steady. She lifted her chin and managed a small, bright smile, despite the storm of emotions crashing over her. “She’s at the Little Tree Day Care on Fifth Street.”
Then, without thinking, she inched even closer, the barest brush of her breasts against his chest as she tilted her head up. “They threatened to hurt her if I didn’t play along.” She lifted her lashes to look into his dark eyes. “Please tell me you can get her out of there safely.”
She held her breath, the desperate need to protect her daughter almost too much to bear. Tears welled in her eyes, but she forced them back, willing herself to stay strong, to get through this one moment. Raj didn’t respond immediately, but his eyes softened as if taking in the weight of her words. Then he nodded, his voice calm and certain.
“I’ll send someone to pick her up,” he promised. “I’ll let you know when she’s safe.”
Helen exhaled the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, the tension in her body slowly unwinding. But Raj wasn’t finished.
He leaned forward, his face close enough that she could feel his breath on her skin. His smile was more than a gesture—it was a promise. “After that, we’re going to talk. Are we clear?”
Helen nodded, her heart still racing. She pretended to simper, putting on an air of compliance as she moved away from him, heading towards the food laid out on the table. She took two steps, then stopped, the memory of his words still pulsing in her mind. She turned back over her shoulder, her voice low and urgent.
“Don’t eat the food,” she said quietly. “If they drugged the coffee, there’s probably something in the food too.”
Raj’s eyes locked onto hers, a faint glimmer of approval in his expression as he let his gaze slowly move over her, lingering just a little too long. “Later,” he promised, his tone laced with an unspoken understanding.
Helen nodded, praying that he truly understood the gravity of the situation. Her pulse fluttered, but she forced herself to stay focused on the task at hand. The only thing that mattered now was getting her daughter out of harm’s way.
Raj paused, his eyes returning to her with a sudden intensity. “What’s her name?” he asked quietly, the question hanging in the air between them, an anchor to this moment of fragile trust.
Helen hesitated for a moment, then whispered, “Angela.”
Helen swung her hip out, hoping that Paul and Nathan thought Raj was asking about meeting up later in the day. “Her name is Angela,” she whispered. She moved to the table andpicked up a pen, writing her cell phone number on a piece of paper, then handed it to Raj.
“Help me!” she whispered. She paused at the stunned look on his face, but knew that she couldn’t linger much longer. Paul and Nathan were watching. She could feel their eyes on her as they pretended to oversee the luncheon in the next room.
As soon as Helen entered the lunch area, Nathan came over with a plate of pasta piled high with cheese and two pieces of garlic bread. Helen smiled as she took the plate. Nathan had a slightly glazed look in his eyes, but it wasn’t as odd as the older woman off in the corner laughing at whatever Paul was saying, or the…she suspected he was Raj’s accountant…who was making out with a woman that Helen didn’t recognize. Was that woman in the older man’s arms a member of the administration team? If she was an employee, she had to be new. Helen hadn’t ever seen her until today.
Considering everything else that was going on, Helen suspected that the woman was actually a hooker.
