Page 32 of The Billionaire's Temporary Governess (French Conquests 2)

He was on his feet in an instant. “You are involved in a relationship right now?”

Her eyes swiveled ceiling ward, as if she was searching for the right words. “Not a relationship, per se. An entanglement that has loose ends. I need to tie them up.”

William felt the anger shoot upward, from deep in his gut, through his chest and into his head. Naisha had someone back home? He wasn’t sure what this ‘entanglement’ entailed, but there was one thing for certain. It had been in existence that night when, a week ago, Naisha had shared his bed with wanton abandon.

The idea of that made him vaguely ill. He could feel the stoniness of his gaze and see the expression on Naisha’s face as she recognized it and shrank back a little. But he was too angry to care.

He took several careful steps back to her door, feeling his fingernails carve moon-shaped dents into his palms as he struggled to regain control. At the door, he put one hand on the knob and spoke, without turning around: “I apologize. I was not aware of this entanglement, as you put it. I can assure you that I am not the kind of man who foists his presence on a woman when there is another man in the situation. You have my word that I will not be raising the subject ofusagain.”

She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but he’d heard enough. He let himself out. If the door closed behind him a bit harder than he intended, well, he was sorry about that, too.

12

“And then the K-Pop group just turns up out of nowhere and serenades the princess, right?”

“Oui.Andher friends.”

“And they came riding horses?”

“Somewere riding horses.The otherswere riding unicorns.”

“Oh, of course.” Naisha set her red-ink pen down next to Willa’s French essay and smiled at her. “Well, you certainly get anAfor creativity.”

“And maybe if I write it down, it might come true,” Willa said optimistically. She lovingly patted the two neatly handwritten sheets of paper lying on Naisha’s desk. “If an actual boy band turned up to my sleepover, it would be awesome!”

Naisha gave her a surprised look. “So, your story is about arealsleepover? Are you actually having one?”

“Sure. My birthday’s coming up—”

Naisha squealed. “Get out! You’re turning eleven? How did I not know that?”

“I am turning twelve! And my grandmother invited three girls from my tennis class and one from choir practice.” The girl smiled, but there was a bit of anxiety in her eyes. “I never had a sleepover before. Do you think it will be okay?”

Naisha felt a pang of sympathy. A first sleepover was a big milestone in a young girl’s life. She remembered the excitement and panic when she and Toni used to run around the house, getting things ready before their classmates turned up. Dusting off board games, making sure there were enough snacks, and bugging their parents for new music to listen to and movies to watch. Sleepovers were fun, but oh, the damage to your reputation if your special night was a dud!

And for poor Willa, to be navigating such an event without a mom.

Naisha gave her a tight hug. “It’s going to be great,” she promised. “I’ll help you. We’ll decorate and go into town for games and supplies. You guys can do a spa night and give each other mani-pedis. Would you like that?”

“Can we bake cupcakes? Do girls like baking cupcakes?”

“They do, and I’m sure Yvette would be only too happy to open up her kitchen to you and your girlfriends.” To be honest, Yvette guarded her kitchen like Cerberus guarded the entrance to the kingdom of the dead, but she adored Willa and was sure to make allowances.

“You don’t think papa would actually hire a boy band if I asked him nicely, do you? The other girls would like that.” Again, that uncertainty. The need to be liked by her peers, even if she’d have to go to extreme measures.

Naisha pretended to think about it, then shook her head. “Pretty sure he wouldn’t be crazy about the idea of hot boy band stars running around the château with a bunch of K-Pop-crazy girls,” she said with a smile. “But surely if you and I worked as a team, we could persuade him to spring for lots of their music. Maybe a pay-per-view concert.”

Willa’s eyes were hopeful. “I think the girls would like that.”

“Then we’ll ask him at dinner.”

Willa looked disappointed, almost desolate. “He’s not here. I’m eating alone tonight.”

Naisha was curious. William didn’t go out at night that often. His business meetings took place mainly in the day, unless he was on video call with someone on the other side of the world, in which case, he took to his office. “Why’s that?”

She shrugged and gave a small pout. “Papa’s gone to see his girlfriend, I guess.”

Naisha wondered if her shock showed on her face. It took effort to bring her expression into a semblance of nonchalance. “His what?”

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