Page 8 of Some Like It Royal

“Regulations aren’t the issue precisely. Approval from the conglomerates that control the regulatory bodies are. They negotiate on a social and economic basis. We won’t have problems meeting the technical specifications or economic necessities.”

A ghost of a smile flirted on Daniel’s lips. The attorney confirmed his earlier story about needing social access.

“And if he is engaged to a princess?” The question just didn’t taste right, but she forced it out anyway.

“Then, yes, we could very well have social capital to negotiate with.” She and the attorney were on the same wavelength. He sounded less enthusiastic about the idea than she. He cleared his throat. “Or at least to open the doors to those conversations.” So it wasn’t a home run, but it would get him up to bat.

“Thank you, Mr. Grange.”

“Miss Dagmar. Daniel, I’ll be calling you shortly.” The attorney hung up and Alyx laughed.

“I think he’s mad at you.” She pocketed the phone.

“Probably. I make his life hell some days. Do you believe me?” He’d uncrossed his arms while she talked to Martin and tucked his hands into the pockets of his khaki pants. If not for the expensive shirt and equally expensive shoes, he looked like a man ready to take a walk on a sandy beach.

“Honestly? I don’t know. It still sounds ridiculous. You have no idea what kind of a person I am and I haven’t any idea what kind of a person you are, other than you make outlandish offers and go to some extreme lengths to have your case heard.” Which was a little bit romantic, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. Romantic or insane, at the moment she wasn’t seeing a lot of difference. Adjusting the grip on her purse, she shrugged. “And even if I believed you and your intentions, this is all based on the supposition that I’m actually a princess. Which I’m not. I don’t care what your proof says I am…” She spread her hands out, the last line a lie, but he didn’t need to know it. “I don’t know how to be one. I grew up in Sonoma and Sacramento. I went to public school. I lived in foster homes. I can make a mean burger and memorize a hundred-item menu, but those aren’t exactly princess-level skills.”

“You can learn to be a princess. You can learn the walk, the talk and the manners. You’re thelostprincess, after all. No one will expect you be perfect. That’s all window dressing, anyway. We can’t manufacture a lineage. Butyouhave that.”

However impossible, it didn’t sound improbable. She leaned against a seat and folded her arms. “How long?”

He didn’t quite grin. “At least six months, a year would be better. Engagements take a lot of time and we’ll both need time to learn how to act and to get our manners and mannerisms down.”

A year.

She rubbed her forehead. A year was a hell of a long time. That was a lot of classes to miss and her job…

“I can pay you for every hour of every day you spend on this. You’re going to help me secure a multi-billion-dollar deal. You’re going to get a publicity blitz like you’ve never experienced, and name recognition. That’s golden capital in the acting world. Consider for a moment that you’ll have front-page access, network news—domestic and international. You can’t buy the kind of stardom this will net for you.” He ticked off the items on his fingers. “You can have all of that, secure your future acting career. Name your price, it’s yours.”

“That’s awfully blasé and open ended. I need to think about the money, and the time, and we’re going to need a legally binding contract—one that draws it all out in black and white.” Could they evenenforcea contract like that? This wasn’t just taking a role, this was going to take every hour of my life.

Still, anticipation thrummed through her at the mention of name recognition. He wasn’t wrong. She didn’t merit a blip on the radar yet, just another pretty face with a too-thin resume and a lot of audition experience. This could change absolutely everything. Like a reverse Grace Kelly or something.

“Anything.” His grin grew. “We can go see Martin right now and start hammering out the deal.”

“I need a few days to wrap my mind around this.”And to talk myself out of this. Is his madness contagious?“I also want to see this proof you have about my family.”

“I’ll bring it to the restaurant. But a few days? You’re still going to be in your car.” His brow crinkled. “Why don’t I set you up at the Beverly Hills Hilton? It’s not far from the restaurant. You can have the time and the security to review everything.”

“The car thing really bothers you, doesn’t it?” She didn’t get it. They were strangers. So what if she slept in her car?

“A lady shouldn’t have to sleep in her car.”

“I’ll be fine. Just drop the folder off at the restaurant and I’ll pick it up. I can call you in a few days.”Maybe by then I’ll have located my sanity again.

“Can I buy you dinner? Coffee? I’ll book the room at the Hilton—if you change your mind, just go by and they’ll have a room key for you.” He wasn’t going to let that go.

“Mr. Voldakov, I’m considering your proposal. Maybe I’ll marry you, maybe I won’t. That is just going to have to be enough. But when a lady says she needs to think about it, piece of advice, let her think.”

He held out his hand. “Three days?”

“Sure, why not.” She huffed a breath and took his hand. Shock raced up her arm and set her pulse tingling. He smiled, squeezing her hand gently, and her heart hitched at the breathtaking grin.

“You won’t regret it. I promise.”

We’ll see about that.

Chapter4

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