Page 25 of Redemption of a Prince

She’d have to explore later. With one last glance, Nikki went down the stairs.

“This is incredible. Thank you for letting me stay here. I’d fully expected to stay at the hotel.” There was only one within a reasonable distance from where the resort was planned. While it wasn’t falling down, it wasn’t exactly five-star either.

“There’s no point in us staying in separate places when we’re working on the same project.” He turned and walked back into the sitting room.

“Still. I appreciate it.”

Ezekiel checked his phone. “Lunch will be served in the dining room on the first floor near the kitchen in about an hour.”

“I have no idea where that is.”

He tilted his head toward a desk. “Everything you need to know should be in there, but take the elevator down to the first floor and head left when you exit. You can’t miss it.”

A smirk crossed Nikki’s face. “That’s great, except you never showed me where the elevator is.”

His phone buzzed and a frown crossed his face. “I’m sorry. I have to take this. The information should be in your packet, or text me if you can’t figure it out.”

Before she could thank him or tell him she’d be fine, he headed out the door as he answered the phone in French.

With the door closed behind him, Nikki forced herself to take her attaché case to the desk and get an office area set up.

She looked quickly through the folder left for her. After checking her email and responding to a couple of them, Nikki checked the time.

Reasonably confident she could find her way to the elevator without taking the map along, she left her room.

She passed several doors Ezekiel said went to other guest rooms. Maybe the family all stayed in the other wing when they were here. She reached a staircase leading down to the third floor.

The elevator was on the other side of the ball room, and though it could be reached from the balcony surrounding the ballroom itself, her way was blocked by a locked door, and she’d have to reach it from the third floor.

Or at least that’s what she’d thought.

The only way to get to the elevator was through the ballroom.

She walked in, trying not to let her heels tap on the polished wood floor, but it was impossible.

When she reached the elevator door, there was only one button.

Odd.

She closed her eyes and groaned as she realized what she must have done.

This elevator only went from the main floor of the ballroom to the balcony and didn’t have access to the rest of the house.

She had no idea where the main elevator could be.

Instead, Nikki went back down the stairs in the same way she and Ezekiel had come up.

But when she reached the first floor, she had no idea where to go.

A snort escaped as a thought occurred to her.

What would happen if she just walked around yellingMarco?

Would someone take pity on her? Or would someone actually answer back?

7

Was that someone calling out?

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