Page 39 of Royal Player
As soon as it shuts behind him, I sink to the bed. I’m disappointed and grateful and frustrated all at the same time.
But mostly I’m grateful.
~ ~ ~
Oscar
Adrian’s brows shoot up over wide hazel eyes. “You did what?” he asks for the second time.
“I sold my vineyard.” I flop down on the sofa in his hotel suite. It’s late, but I’m wired after the enormous willpower it took to leave Polly untouched (mostly) tonight. “It was a handshake deal. It’ll take some time to draw up the paperwork and for everything to clear, but I’m sure it’ll go smoothly. The neighboring vineyard has been making me offers for years. So now we’re a go with the casino.”
He shoves a hand in his hair. “Oscar, that is your legacy. You said it was for your future family. And it must be the last thing you had from your football days.”
I lift one shoulder. “Football days are over, and I’m not getting married anytime soon. I’ll probably make even more money with the casino and buy another piece of land.”
He sits next to me on the sofa, his brow furrowed. “You did all this for a woman who’s leaving soon to marry another man.”
I blow out a breath. She won’t be blackmailed into marrying Peter once I can pay off her parents’ debt, but it’s true that she needs to marry soon to rule as queen. That’s the way it works in her traditional kingdom.
He doesn’t understand because I’ve never stepped up like this before. No one ever needed me to. “I did it to rescue her from a bad situation, which she wants to keep quiet. And I did it for us too. Now we have something of our own to contribute. I never thought I’d have a chance to be part of the family’s legacy. Now we both will be.”
He shakes his head. “Believe me, I get it. I’m the youngest of seven. Even my twin beat me out of the womb by a minute. But, Oscar, this is a big deal.”
“She needed me.” It’s the plain and simple truth, and I’m proud that I came through for her.
He jabs a finger at me. “You’re in love with her.”
I stiffen. “No, I’m not.”Am I?I don’t want to be. The last thing I want is to give up my place on Villroy to marry her and move to a backward kingdom. I may find her tempting, but I’m not that far gone.
“Yes! From the moment you met her, you were stupid with it. Lucas and I both saw it.”
I pull at my collar, suddenly overheated. “Stupid with lust maybe. Other women will come along.”
He rests his elbows on his knees, quiet for a moment before saying, “There’s nothing I want more than to build and run this casino with you.”
“And her.”
He gives me a sideways look. “This is what I’m saying. You could’ve just sold your vineyard, and then you and I would’ve been partners. Now we have a third party, who…forget it.”
“Just say it.”
He straightens. “She’s part owner of the casino, profiting in perpetuity without putting up any of the funds. Ask yourself why, Oscar. What do you think you’re going to get out of this?”
“You don’t understand. I didn’t do this for me.”
“Okay, tell me how it is.”
“She’s going to contribute. She has great ideas for the casino.” And I want her to have everything she dreams of. She’s just as excited about the casino as I am. And maybe, selfishly, I want to keep a connection to her, even if it’s just business. I keep that to myself.
Adrian gives me a hard look. “Great ideas and no money, yet she’s part owner. You justgaveit to her.”
I clench my jaw. “I did the right thing. She’s suffered her whole life under rigid, backward rules just so she can take her rightful place. She’s a queen.”
He exhales sharply. “Okay.”
“She was in a bad situation. I fixed it for now and for the future.”
His gaze is direct. “You’re setting yourself up for disappointment.”
