Page 22 of A Royal Disaster
The fact was, the crown—his parents—needed to think more strategically about the internal threat. Valeria was a European powerhouse when it came to banking and finance, and despite a prosperous reign, they were still dealing with political machinations from their enemies at court, fueled by rising unemployment and limited job prospects for recent graduates. It was going to take a hell of a lot more than a favorable trade deal and a blue-blood marriage to strengthen the might of the crown and squash the call to relinquish power.
Liam’s phone buzzed and he glanced down to see a text from his brother.
Xander:I’ll give you this much, you don’t do anything halfway. The press is having a field day and I have to say, I’m kind of liking this new rebellious side of you. It’s like you’re an actual person. Thanks for taking the heat off. I owe you one.
“Prick,” Liam muttered. He started to type a reply, reminding his brother that he owed him a hell of a lot more than one, but there was a knock at the door and Fin entered, tablet in hand.
“You wanted to see me, sir?”
Liam gestured for Fin to take one of the leather chairs opposite the mammoth desk. The Valerian embassy was relatively small but impeccably furnished, the ornate mahogany desk a gift from the Italians when they’d first opened their doors more than a decade ago. Thankfully, what the embassy lacked in size, it more than made up for in quietude. Unlike the palace, which was always overrun with courtiers and politicians scheming for his time and favor, the embassy afforded him the opportunity to actually work without constant interruption.
“I’ve been reviewing the trade prospects you provided.” Liam steepled his fingers as Fin settled into one of the chairs. “If the Colombians want to play hardball, I guarantee they won’t like the outcome.” Fin’s usually expressive face remained impassive. “I sent you an email with the details. I need you to set up meetings with each of the countries on the list.”
Fin’s fingers flew over the iPad as he pulled up the email and scanned it, his eyes growing wide. “All of them, sir?”
“Yes, all of them.” Liam grinned. “I want to keep our options open.”
“Should I follow up with the Colombians?” Fin asked, once again tapping furiously on the screen.
“Not unless they’ve made new overtures of which I am unaware?”
Fin’s silence was answer enough. Not that Liam was worried. He had a plan and once he put his mind to something, he wouldn’t quit until he’d seen it to fruition. The Colombians had overestimated their value to Valeria, but Liam wasn’t about to show his hand.
Liam’s phone vibrated on the desk, the number for the king’s personal secretary flashing on the screen. Bloody hell. “I’ve got to take this, but I want you to look into something for me.” He handed Fin a single sheet of paper. “Find out everything you can and get me a meeting.”
Fin scanned the page. “I assume you want this kept quiet, sir?”
Liam nodded. Secrecy would be of the utmost importance. A deal like this would be hard enough to negotiate without tipping his hand to the competition.
Fin rose as Liam swiped accept on his phone and greeted his father’s personal secretary, Beatrice, who was, as usual, all business.
“Please hold for His Majesty, King George.”
Liam drummed his fingers on the desk as he waited for his father to come on the line. The waiting game was an old favorite of his father’s, and the length of the wait would tell Liam just how much trouble he was in with Their Majesties. There was no doubt they’d be pissed off about the bad press, but to what extent?
Only time would tell.
When his father joined the call in under two minutes, Liam figured he was in a fair amount of shit.
“Why in the bloody hell do I keep seeing your face in the populars?” his father demanded, skipping the usual pleasantries. His words were carefully clipped and coated with a healthy amount of disdain, the kind usually reserved for his brother. “Honestly, William. I expect this kind of behavior from Alexander, but you are the crown prince. The future of this monarchy rests with you, and I will not stand idly by while you make a mockery of it.”
“Your father’s right,” his mother’s cool voice cut in, nearly causing him to drop the phone. His parents rarely agreed on anything, so the fact that they were presenting a united front sent warning flares up to his brain. “This whole ugly business has been a dreadful headache for the press secretary.”
Right, it was the press secretary’s workload that concerned them.
“Hello, Mother. I didn’t realize you were on the line, but I suppose it’s for the best.” At least this way if his father had an aneurism, there would be someone present to call for the palace physician. “I can assure you there’s nothing to worry about. Just a misunderstanding. Fin will have it all sorted out soon enough.”
“Misunderstanding?” his father scoffed. “You’re making an arse of yourself in the American papers.”
Liam didn’t bother to respond. There was no placating his father when he got like this, so why waste the breath? Better to let his temper run its course so they could get to the business at hand.
“Do you have any idea how much pressure your father and I are under right now?” his mother demanded in a voice hard enough to cut glass. “We have our hands quite full dealing with Parliament, which is why we trusted you to deal with the expiring trade agreements.”
Bollocks. Liam knew the timing was terrible, but it couldn’t be helped. When an opportunity presented itself, you had to grab it with both hands. “The trade negotiations are well in hand. I have every confidence we will have signed agreements before I return to Valeria at the end of the month.”
“Perhaps we should send Lord Chamberlain to assist,” his father said, no doubt trying to rattle Liam. The last thing he needed was one of his father’s puppets watching his every move and reporting back to the crown. “He’s quite well versed in trade negotiations and has a wealth of experience.”
The implication was clear:unlike you.
