Page 14 of Redemption of a Prince

Nikki was definitely not part of the inner circle - at least not for anyone but maybe Kari.

She managed to let herself get engrossed in her book and didn’t look up when someone stopped near her table. When the person didn’t move on, Nikki finally looked up.

“Your Majesty.” She struggled to push her chair back so she could stand up and curtsy, but nearly fell over backward.

“Stay seated,” he told her. “May I join you?”

Nikki closed the cover of her e-reader. “Of course.”

He took a seat and looked at her. That look most parents mastered eventually. Hers certainly had. Before they kicked her out.

But the fact he was the king added an extra dimension to it.

“How are you?” he finally asked.

“I’m fine. I’m enjoying my work with Kari... Princess Karsen.”

A half-smile crossed his face. “I can’t imagine she takes too kindly to calling her anything but Kari.”

“It’s not her preference,” Nikki conceded. “It took me over a week to get to the point where I called her that this morning.”

The waitress walked up and set Nikki’s salad in front of her before turning to the king and giving a slight curtsy. “May I get you anything today, Your Majesty?”

“Not at the moment, thank you.”

“Thank you,” Nikki told her before she left.

“I would like to speak with you later today. I’m in my office all afternoon. Please contact my assistant to set up a time.”

Dread filled the pit of Nikki’s stomach. “Yes, sir.”

He stood. “I’ll see you later this afternoon.” He walked over to another table and spoke to someone else. This time he didn’t sit down, and soon left the room.

The hushed conversations picked back up with his absence. It was the first time she’d seen him in there, though Ezekiel had been in a couple of times. She assumed the three couples ate lunch together in their apartments - when they were on palace grounds during the day at least.

She wouldn’t be able to get any work done with the upcoming conversation hanging over her head, so she messaged the king’s assistant and set up a meeting time in an hour.

Her salad was excellent, as it had been the other times. Soon, she’d need to branch out in her lunchtime menu. She liked salads well enough, but not every day.

When she finished eating, Nikki returned to her office and tried to get something accomplished before time to make her way up the forbidden staircase.

As soon as she reached the outer office, Nikki was ushered into the waiting area outside the king’s office and then straight inside.

This time she did curtsy as the king motioned for her to take a seat across from his desk.

For several of the longest moments of her life, he looked straight at her, a pensive look on his face.

“I’m told you are quite good at your job so far,” he said.

“I hope I am. It’s what I’ve been working toward for years, though I certainly didn’t expect this kind of opportunity, certainly not at my age. I’ve dreamed of a Trilunium theme park, though, so I’m sure that will help at some point.” She stared at her hands for a moment then looked back up at him. “I had no idea this job was in the palace until after I accepted it. I’m just here to do what I’m paid for. That’s all.”

He gave a nod. “That’s what I expect. Your nondisclosure agreement is still in place.”

“I know. But even if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t say anything to anyone. I’m doing my best to keep my distance from your family. Aside from a brief conversation with Prince Ezekiel, I’ve done so, though I do see Prince Gideon on occasion as part of my job.”

He leaned back in his chair but not straight back. A bit to the side so his weight was resting more on his right forearm where it lay on the arm of his chair. “I would appreciate your continued discretion.”

“Believe me, I have no desire to insert myself where I don’t belong. I did get tested for a possible kidney match, but I would imagine the odds are so slim, and really, it wouldn’t require any more contact than what is already being had if I were to be one.”

---