Page 28 of Redemption of a Prince

She put the receiver down and picked up her tablet to review her notes from the day.

A few minutes later, a knock sounded on the door.

Nikki opened the door to find a woman standing there.

Empty handed.

“Good evening, miss. I was told you have some items that need to be pressed.” The woman smiled at Nikki.

Nikki smiled back. “I do. Did you bring an iron?”

The smile turned briefly to a frown before the look on her face turned neutral. “No, miss. I came to get the articles of clothing from you. We’ll have them pressed and ready for you in the morning.”

Nikki shook her head. “That’s not necessary. I can do it.”

“It’s our pleasure, miss. Honestly.”

“Are you sure? I’m not a member of the family.”

The smile returned. “No, but you are a guest. Technically, it’s our job, but the reality is that we’re happy to help. It’s our pleasure.”

Nikki opened the door wide. “Then thank you.”

The woman took what Nikki needed for the next day and promised to return the clothes in the morning. The rest of them would be taken care of while Nikki was in meetings.

After the best night’s sleep Nikki could remember, her clothes and breakfast were brought in by the house manager she’d met the day before.

“Thank you so much,” she gushed. “I hate ironing, and normally take much more care with packing, but our departure was moved up, and I couldn’t be as neat as I wanted.”

“It’s our pleasure, ma’am. Truly. Is there anything else I can assist you with this morning?”

Nikki stared at the silver dome on the cart. Her brekkie was underneath, but she doubted she’d be able to eat much of it. Turning her day over in her head, she tried to make sure there wasn’t anything else she needed help with.

Finally, she shook her head. “I think everything is under control. I appreciate your concern and assistance.”

He bowed his head slightly her direction. “It is my pleasure, ma’am. Please be certain to let any of us know if you require anything else.”

“I will.”

An hour later, she was ready to leave.

Thirty minutes early.

With her attaché case in one hand and a long coat over her other arm, she left her suite and started for the front door of the house. She could get to the elevator from the fourth floor, but instead she took the stairs down one level.

She stared into the ballroom and wondered what it would look like all glittered and glammed up for a white Christmas.

That never happened in New Sargasso, not even in the mountains.

Such was life in the Southern Hemisphere.

She’d always been a little jealous of the characters in the HEA TV movies where they had these magical white Christmases.

The room would be full of handsome men and elegant women. Tuxedos and ball gowns. Reds and greens. A giant tree.

So many twinkle lights that the normal lighting would be turned off or dimmed to nearly nothing.

With a sigh, she turned away from the ballroom that would never know a white Christmas, and found the elevator hidden in a nook around the corner. When she exited on the first floor, Ezekiel waited for her.

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