Page 13 of Redemption of a Prince

“I didn’t realize they were telling everyone this morning.”

“I don’t know about everyone, but I was told in a meeting.” She looked down. “I’ll let you get back to your lunch. I just wanted to let you know, and that I’ll stay out of your way while I’m working here. I didn’t know the job would be here, or I wouldn’t have applied. I thought it would be somewhere else.”

“It’s fine.” He wouldn’t see her often. “I’m glad you got the job. You’ll be good at it.” Zeke didn’t really know that. He didn’t know the adult Nikki at all.

“Thanks. Enjoy your lunch. I’ll be praying.”

She left before he could say anything else, though Zeke watched her find a seat at another table all by herself, though not directly in his line of sight.

When he finished his lunch without any further interruptions, Zeke returned to his office.

He managed to immerse himself in the contracts again, but every time he stopped for a moment, all Zeke could see was Nikki sitting by herself as she ate.

Gideon showed up about four o’clock wanting to talk about another section of the Auverignon deal.

“I don’t even know why we’re messing with this,” Zeke leaned back in his chair. “The king’s trial is in a few months. He’s going to be found guilty and sentenced to most of the rest of his life in prison. His son is going to take over before Christmas. This will all be void once he does.”

Gid tossed the thick folder onto Zeke’s desk. “Agreed. But if he’s hoping we don’t notice the asylum clause, it makes sense.”

“I’m inclined to just recommend Papa tell him to stick it until after the trial. If he’s acquitted, which we all know won’t happen, then we’ll talk. If he’s not, we deal with Stephen or Charles or whatever name he’s going by now.” Zeke twirled a pen in his fingers.

“I agree.”

Zeke nearly threw his pen onto the desk. “Then tell him that. He’ll listen to you on this. You’re the point man on it.”

Something Zeke couldn’t let Gid know it irritated him to no end.

As his brother left, Zeke sighed and wondered if he could just give up his spot in line officially and move halfway around the world.

Then he wouldn’t be reminded every day of the one mistake he made.

And how, in some ways, it wasn’t a mistake at all.

4

After a week of working in the palace, Nikki found herself calling her boss Kari for the first time.

It made the princess laugh.

“Thank you. I’m much more comfortable as just Kari than Your Royal Highness and all of that.” Kari grinned.

“I can imagine it’s quite an adjustment.”

“You have no idea.” Kari closed her laptop. “But it’s time for lunch. I’m meeting Gideon in his office in a few minutes. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, unless you need something else?”

Nikki shook her head. “Nope. I’m good for now. I’ll email you if I need something.”

She packed up her things and headed back to her office. Once there, she stashed her things and headed to the dining hall.

One of these days, maybe she’d make a friend or two and not sit by herself all the time, but until then, a lonely lunch was her fate.

She could call and order lunch into her office, and she had several times, but they strongly preferred you have your order in fairly early, though they would still bring it to you if you ordered later. It was just frowned upon.

The last thing Nikki needed was to get on anyone’s bad side, though, so if she didn’t get her order in early enough, she simply sat alone.

This time she remembered to take her ereader with her so she could make some progress on her book.

She had the same waitress every day she’d been in. The woman had tried, subtly, to find out why Nikki had been talking to Ezekiel, but Nikki never said. Apparently, there was an unwritten rule that no one outside of their inner circle talked to the royal family when they were in for a meal.

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