Page 4 of Royal Affair
I shook my head violently and pushed away from the door, alarmed by the intensity of the thought.
"Get a grip," I whispered to myself, walking to my dresser and staring at my reflection. I needed a cold shower. These thoughts were wildly inappropriate. He would be my bodyguard for two months—the most infuriating, presumptuous bodyguard I'd ever met.
And yet, something about the challenge in his eyes made my heart race. I'd never backed down from a challenge before, and I certainly wasn't about to start now.
Chapter Three
James
Iwatched her stride confidently from the room and thought, What the fuck have I gotten myself into? I should never have agreed to this, but I covered for him since one of my best agents got injured. It was a mistake, yet I already felt responsible for her safety.
Why did I have to fucking say anything? I was usually better than that, always in check, always professional—until an hour ago when I called her self-centered. I exhaled, then Dara walked back into the room. She had this look on her face that told me this wouldn't work.
"James, before–"
"It's sorted. I'm staying whether or not Your Highness likes it. I have reviewed her previous security. Cameron was good, but he missed a few things, and I'm going to find out who is sending her death threats," I cut Dara off, because we both knew this was the only solution. She closed her mouth and stared at me with a worried expression.
"Cameron was Princess Evangeline's personal bodyguard, and I oversaw her security; therefore, you're essentially claimingthat I didn't perform my duties adequately," she finally said, eyeing me intensely.
"Just hand over everything that you have, and I will look into it, Dara, after you show me to my new accommodation," I said quickly, hoping that she would drop the subject of who needed to be blamed for this oversight.
"Fine, but keep me informed. Queen Sophia wants a report as soon as possible," Dara muttered, and I decided not to respond. It wasn't my nature to open my mouth to reassure people or make them feel better about themselves. I didn't like talking too much; it was a waste of my breath. "All right, Lily, I will show you to your room. I will send over everything shortly."
Lily was one of the female staff members who worked in the palace. Dara had already arranged for my luggage to be brought up during the meeting.
"The princess's room is on the second floor, correct?" I asked when Lily opened the door to a spacious room that looked out onto the gardens.
"Yes, upstairs on the second floor," she replied with a smile.
I looked around the room, immediately calculating distances and response times. Three floors separated me from my principal; multiple stairwells existed, and there were too many variables.
"This won't work," I said flatly, setting down my bag.
Lily's smile faltered. "I'm sorry, sir, but I've reserved those rooms for?—"
"I don't care what they're reserved for. I can't protect her from three floors away." I was already calculating response times, escape routes, and vulnerable entry points. "Get Dara back here. Now."
"Sir, I can't just?—"
"Then get me a palace phone. I'll call her myself." My voice carried the authority that made people move, and Lily practically fled.
Twenty minutes later, Dara appeared in my doorway, clearly irritated. "James, what is going on with these room changes?"
"From a security standpoint, the accommodations are terrible," I interrupted her. "I need to be on the same floor as the Princess, preferably in an adjacent room. Maximum response time should be thirty seconds, not three minutes."
"That's impossible. Those rooms house senior palace staff, and protocol?—"
"Protocol didn't stop Cameron from compromising security, did it?" The words came out sharper than intended, but I didn't apologize. "Move someone. I don't care who. This is non-negotiable."
Dara's jaw tightened. "I'll see what I can do. But James, you can't just bulldoze through our systems?—"
"Watch me." I turned away, dismissing her. I want a new room by tonight, a complete review of all security protocols by morning. If you can't handle that, get me someone who can."
The door slammed behind her. Good. Better she understood now that I wasn't here to play nice with palace politics.
Once Lily left, I pulled out the security files Dara had given me and spread them across the desk. It was time to see exactly what kind of mess Cameron had left behind.
I realised the death threats were more serious, as there had been twelve letters in the past six weeks, with each one being more specific. Someone knew Evangeline's schedule, her routines, her preferences. This showed that someone was organized and methodical, not random.
