Page 20 of Crowned For The King's Secret

Had she been promised a marriage to his cousin? He didn’t understand why the roar of incandescent rage began to build inside him. No, that pretender wouldneverget his hands on her. Anyway, she professed not to know who Gregorio was, even though the man visited her home on a regular basis. His security had been keeping track of him before Sandro’s visit to the UK. They hadn’t put together Victoria’s importance until he’d asked them to find her...

‘She says she doesn’t know him,’ he said. ‘Security is still looking into her claims that she contacted the palace. She’s given us the name of her solicitors.’

What if she wasn’t lying? He’d driven his people hard to get answers. The frustration built that he still didn’t have them. Until then, they hadn’t wanted to return her phone or allow her anywhere near a computer. He pinched his nose, the pressure of all the unknowns building behind his eyes.

‘Occam’s razor.’

Another of his advisers. The newest, perhaps the most shrewd and insightful.

Sandro turned to him. ‘Your meaning?’

‘The simplest answer to a question is often the correct answer.’

That statement began another round of discussion amongst the assembled team that he barely paid attention to, fixed as he was on those words. What was the simplest answer to all of this?

Outside there were raised voices. Some kind of commotion. He stiffened. Someone pushed the door open.

Victoria. Nic on her hip. Security detail behind her. The only way she could have found his office was to be directed here. She glared at him, a vicious, entirely fake smile on her face. There was no pretence with her, not today.

She was magnificent. Full of fire. Fury. As ferocious as a mother lion. Standing there in casual clothes. Cargo pants. A simple T-shirt. Hair piled on her head in a messy bun. Why did she look more enticing than if she’d been wearing a revealing evening dress? His heart thumped hard, every part of him running hot and rich. The way she affected him was pure, undiluted chemistry. Inexplicable and intoxicating.

She gave a quick and disdainful curtsey, delivered with all the disrespect he was certain she meant.

‘I’d like a word.’

‘Of course.’ He then addressed his staff. ‘We’ll continue this discussion later.’

Victoria moved aside as they left the room, some smiling at Nic, others stony-faced. He motioned to one of the many seats in front of him and she sat down with a slight wince.

‘Are you all right?’ he asked. ‘You seem in pain.’

Her eyes widened, a slight flush bleeding over her cheeks as if she was surprised and pleased someone might have asked after her welfare.

‘Old injury. Not been doing my stretches. But I’m not here to talk about me.’ Her gaze hardened and he knew his concern was being dismissed.

‘You engaged a nanny without talking to me first. How dare you?’

Her tone sounded bland enough, falsely polite, no doubt given Nic’s presence, but he knew the words were tossed at him like daggers. He needed her to understand.

‘It’s in everyone’s interests—’

‘Don’t give me that. I know what it’s like to be sidelined. Your interests and mine don’t align. Do you seriously want your child cared for by a stranger?’

Nic sat on her lap and sucked his thumb, blinking at him with his huge blue eyes. So much time he’d missed. Time he’d never get back.

‘That’s what has happened for twelve months.’

Her mouth tightened. ‘I’m not a stranger, I’m his mother. I feel like you’re blaming me for an old and well-worn story. Two people attracted to each other spend a night together, and contraception fails. Well, I wasn’t the one who handed you a condom that had been sitting in a wallet for who knows how long, after we ran out. That isn’t my fault.’

‘You said you couldn’t fall pregnant.’

Those sad eyes of hers, looking up at him from a dishevelled bed when she told him. He’d believed her.

‘Not that it’s any of your business, but I’d tried for years. Every time, I failed. I was told I was probably infertile, and it almost crushed me. You want to see my medical records along with everything else? Go right ahead. But I’ll never regret Nic, ever. If you do, then I don’t want you to have anything to do with either of us, because you don’t deserve him.’

‘That’s not what I said.’

She shook her head. ‘It’s like I’m in an alternate universe. You talk to me as if I should know things when I don’t. Have you been in touch with my solicitors? Your aide organised—’

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