Page 63 of Revelations of A Secret Princess

‘You’re assuming the investors would reap the financial rewards.’

Now Caro really was intrigued, despite the low-grade frisson of nerves, reminding her they had more personal things to discuss. Was that why she was eager to talk business? To put off the evil moment?

‘You make it sound like a great mystery.’

He laughed. ‘No, at least not now we’ve got agreement. I developed a self-perpetuating investment scheme. But instead of profits returning to investors they’ll be channelled into programmes for child victims of war and natural disaster. I came here to lobby some powerful corporations and governments. Especially corporations that need to rehabilitate their reputations as global citizens.’

‘Companies that could do with positive press?’ Caro could name a few. ‘You tapped into the high-level talks here to establish a charity?’

The region regularly hosted talks between governments and attracted lobbyists from some of the world’s most powerful corporations.

‘There’s nothing like face to face meetings to drive a project, especially when you’re asking for substantial sums they’ll never see again.’

Caro sat back, taking in the satisfaction on Jake’s face. He glowed like a man who’d sealed a deal to make his fortune. Instead the deal was for others.

‘Why children? Why in war zones?’

‘Not just war. In areas hit by tsunamis, hurricanes, any large-scale disorder.’ His eyes held hers. ‘You don’t think it a good cause?’

‘I think it’s wonderful. I’m just curious.’

She’d thought she knew Jake. Living with him and Ariane, seeing him with his staff, she’d discovered many sides to his character. This was something new. He loved Ariane but she’d thought that was because he was her uncle. Maybe there was more to his motivation.

His gaze slid to the window. ‘I spent a few years in the army. We were deployed in the Asia Pacific region mopping up after natural disasters, and once after a civil war. Some of the children...’

He stopped and Caro realised he wasn’t seeing the glorious Swiss scenery. Her heart squeezed as his features tightened.

‘Children are the most vulnerable, especially if separated from family. It can take years to reunite kids with remaining family, if thereisany. Most disaster support is for food and shelter. Only a few agencies address the longer term process of finding secure, loving homes for lost children.’

Caro heard emotion beneath his words. She recalled images of disaster-ravaged zones worldwide and shuddered, imagining Ariane alone and lost.

Jake must have seen her shiver. His hand covered hers. This time she didn’t object.

‘What you’re doing is important. Clever too, to target the big companies to contribute.’

‘It will be good PR for them.’

Caro guessed Jake wouldn’t claim any of those kudos. She wanted to say she was proud of him but stopped herself. She had no right to sound proprietorial, even if she felt it.

After her earlier revelation she needed to be careful.

‘I didn’t know you’d been in the army,’ she said, trying to distract herself.

‘It wasn’t a long career. I didn’t have the temperament for being ordered about.’ At her questioning look he said, ‘I got into trouble as a kid and my sister convinced me it was a ticket out of the place we lived.’

No mistaking his bitterness. ‘You weren’t happy at home?’

Reading the tension in those broad shoulders, she wondered if he’d answer. But eventually his lips curved in a rueful smile. ‘It probably wasn’t too bad but I was trouble. A misfit. My sister told me if I didn’t sort myself out I’d end up in gaol. I was starting to act out.’

‘Your sister, not your parents?’

Gunmetal-grey eyes met hers. ‘I never knew my father and my mother abandoned us on a regular basis. She only came home when her latest boyfriend dumped her. The last time she left I was barely fourteen but Connie looked after me, stopped me from going into foster care.’

The air whooshed from Caro’s lungs. No wonder he had a thing about lost children. And women abandoning their kids. She remembered his lacerating words when he thought she’d abandoned Ariane. No wonder he’d been so savage.

‘Yes.’ He nodded, as if reading her thoughts. ‘I’ve got baggage. Usually I keep it under wraps. But with you...’ He shook his head. ‘It was like a red rag to a bull. I’m sorry I—’

‘Don’t.’ Caro put her hand up. ‘It’s in the past. So you went into the army. That’s a far cry from finance.’

---