by Ali Parker
Any peace that I had in the time between my apology and making plans for dinner had lit up in flames. “What meeting?”
“She stopped over here yesterday looking for you,” he said, smiling. “I didn’t think you’d mind doing a quick interview. It will be good for the company. And she’s a real hottie. I bet you will enjoy it.”
“I don’t have time for this,” I said. “Why don’t you speak with her?”
“Come on, Luke. She wants to write an article about us. She seemed very keen, which can only be a positive thing.”
I slammed my phone down on my desk. “I can’t believe you agreed to this without my permission.”
“I had Victoria send you the confirmation,” he said. “I understand you’re under a lot of stress with your family, but you need to think about the company, too.”
I did recall something added to my calendar, but I was too distracted to look or care. Didn’t he know that my life was the company?
Turning my phone around, I swiped the screen to pull up my calendar. “The meeting is in five minutes?”
“It will be quick, I’m sure,” Maddox said.
“No,” I said. “I refuse to give an interview.” It felt more than coincidental that an American reporter arrived days after Father had come to tell me the news. It seemed that none of my employees had heard, but there were always nosy people sniffing around the kingdom for a good story. I wasn’t sure why an American outlet would be the first to break the news, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to speak with the reporter.
“Don’t be like that,” Maddox said.
My door opened, and the both of us turned toward it. Justine always knocked.
Instead of the familiar face of my secretary, I looked into the pale blue eyes of some strange woman. Her dark hair fell over her shoulder, and she was dressed in a gray skirt suit that made her eyes appear even bluer, if that were possible.
“Speak of the cheeky devil,” Maddox said with a grin. I knew that smile. He’d already made up his mind about her. I wished he’d think with his brain more often.
You’d have to be blind not to think she was gorgeous, but I’d been around enough news outlets to know that they always sent in the pretty girls to get their foot in the door before the real questions began. Questions I didn’t want to answer at the moment. She was right to get to Maddox first. He was a pushover when it came to a pretty face. But I knew better. She was going to have a tougher time with me.
“I’m Sophia Holmes,” she said, stepping into my office as if she owned the place.
I wasn’t impressed. “I don’t know what my associate told you, but I’m not interested in giving an interview at this time. I’m sorry I’ve wasted your time.”
“Mr. Walters, I won’t take up much of your time,” she said. Her accent struck me. It was sweet, and it had a lovely drawl to it. Wherever she’d been sent from, they were smart.
“I don’t have any time for this,” I said. “If you want to talk to someone, then talk to Maddox. Right now, I need both of you out of my office. I have a lot of work to do.”
“Don’t be rude, mate,” Maddox said.
I shot him a look. It was the one I reserved for moments such as this. Even though we were best friends, currently he was crossing a line. Showing any weakness in front of the reporter would give her the opportunity to pounce.
“I don’t appreciate people barging into my office,” I said to the reporter. “Even if they have an appointment. It shows incompetence and unprofessionalism.”
She didn’t even flinch at my insult. I bet she had a thick skin; she needed it for her job. “Your secretary was away from her desk.”
I glanced out into the hallway to see Justine returning to her chair with a mug of coffee. While it was her job to keep the order of my schedule, she wasn’t my bouncer. She wasn’t at fault. Maddox was for allowing this woman to even step foot in my building.
“Ms. Holmes,” Maddox said. “I do apologize for wasting your time. Let me show you out.”
I expected her face to fall or for her to beg to do the interview. Instead, she locked eyes with me before allowing Maddox to show her out.
“Mr. Walters,” she said by way of a farewell.
I turned around, showing her that I wouldn’t change my mind.
When the door finally closed and I was alone, her expression still lingered on my mind. It wasn’t disappointment; it was determination.
Little did she know that I was more determined than anyone to keep my family’s secrets. If she really wanted to do an interview with me about the company, then she could do it over the phone, but I wasn’t about to be bullied into speaking with some random newspaper about my life. Especially when I hadn’t fully figured it out yet.
If she thought I did, then she was in for a surprise.
For the rest of the day, I had peace. Other than constant emails and requests for the end of year paperwork from our accountants, I was able to delve into work and make up for the days I’d been away. I fell back into a routine that didn’t involve thinking about my future.
The only break I took was for lunch, which Justine had ordered and left on my desk before closing my office door. I’d mentioned the little break in with the reporter, so I knew she’d be on high alert for any more unwanted interruptions.
By the time I looked up at the clock above the door, it was already five-thirty. I didn’t want to keep Maddox waiting, so I packed my briefcase and grabbed my jacket.
I had the urge to hit up one of the pubs for dinner. As much as I enjoyed the food at the palace, I’d missed the greasy fish and chips with a pint in the few days I’d been away.
Sending Maddox a quick text, I intended to head home to change before we went out. Usually, I didn’t mind going out in a suit, but when it came to pubs, I preferred looking like a local instead of a CEO or a prince. Hiding in plain sight had been something I’d perfected over the years.
A few others were working late but not many. Most would head home to their families for a nice home-cooked meal. That was something I never knew and would never get to know. Even if I didn’t accept the throne, I would always be royalty. Mother would probably force me into an arranged marriage in which we’d have staff with a cook.
I was reminded of the woman that Mother tried to set me up with at the party. The girl was pretty enough, but the spark in her eyes when we made eye contact made my stomach twist. She looked at me for what I was, not who I was. All of the women that Mother set me up with would know that about me. But I wasn’t just a prince. There would never be a setup that allowed me to get to know someone before they knew my title. It was custom. Another custom I wanted nothing to do with.
I was nearly to the exit of the otherwise empty lobby when rapid clicking started up behind me. I whirled around, not expecting to see the American reporter—Sophia—close on my heels.
6
Sophia
To keep up my charade about doing a piece on the company, I agreed to speak with Maddox after leaving Mr. Walters’s office. I hoped he hadn’t realized how struck I was by him when I burst through the door. I’d seen pictures of him, but they were mostly random candids that showed his hands in front of his face, or ones taken at a press event. I hadn’t thought he’d be as attractive as he was.
He towered over me with a brooding gaze that gave me a different type of feeling than Maddox and the bellhop. Power rolled off him in waves, and I wondered what it would be like to be in his presence on my own. It was a good thing Maddox was with me for the initial meeting.
Even though I couldn’t care less about the actual business, I stroked Maddox’s ego for about a half hour before delving into the nitty-gritty. I couldn’t get Mr. Walters out of my mind. Even though I planned on speaking to him at some point, getting some dirt on him from his friend would prove to be helpful to get him to talk to me.
Despite my best efforts, Maddox wasn’t helpful at all. He skirted my more personal questions about Mr. Walters.
“Thank you so much for agreeing to meet with me,” I said, shaking his hand. He squeezed a little too hard and held on a little too long.
“My pleasure,” he said. “Sorry about Luke. You coming in when you did was a bad time for him. I wished I could have predicted that. I would have asked you to come in tomorrow.”
“Should I come back tomorrow?” I asked. “Do you think he’d speak to me then?”
“Probably not after today. He can be a bit stubborn about these things.”
“Families can do that to people,” I said, pushing my luck.
“How do you mean?” he asked.
“You said he was with his family,” I said casually, flipping my hair over my shoulder. Maddox’s eyes flicked to my gesture. He was too easy. “I know when I’m with my family at any event, I can’t wait to leave.” It wasn’t the total truth, but if something was going on between Luke and the king that would disrupt him getting to the throne, that would be the story I wanted to tell.
“Oh,” Maddox said. “I don’t know. As I said, he’s pretty private. Whenever his father comes here, Luke gets cranky for a few days.”
“How so?” I asked, leaning closer to him.
He cleared his throat. “I shouldn’t tell you these things. He’s a very private person, and I’m afraid the both of us have already pushed his buttons.”
I deflated. I couldn’t imagine Mr. Walters being upset with his friend and partner for some time. Had I ruined my chances? There was no way I could go back to Mr. Fraser and explain that I was unable to speak with the only person he had asked me to. I wasn’t going back to Dallas without a story; I just had to find another way to break through Mr. Walters’s tough exterior.
“May I show you out?” Maddox asked.
I sensed he wanted to spend more time with me, but I wasn’t here to be chummy with him. “I’ve interrupted enough of your day. I’ll show myself out.”
“Cheers, then,” he said with a wide grin.
That damned flutter returned to my stomach again. I had to get over these accents coupled with some seriously hot men.
“Bye,” I said and left his office.
Glancing down the hallway, Mr. Walters’s office wasn’t that far away. Though without Maddox to defend me, it didn’t seem the wisest decision to piss him off so soon.
I went down to the lobby and settled onto one of the chairs. I had a lot of waiting on my hands, but I wasn’t a stranger to it. Mr. Walters wasn’t the first tough interview I’d encountered in my career.
He’d claimed he had work to do, so I gave him that time. Maybe when he felt more accomplished and relaxed, I’d be able to get through to him.
Throughout the day, I was aware of Victoria staring at me every so often. After the first inquiry about me needing anything, she hadn’t bothered to ask me again. With the never-ending phone calls and her fingers clicking on her keyboard, she had more to worry about than a quiet American sitting in her lobby.
It was a good thing that I came prepared with a bottle of water, a granola bar I’d purchased from the hotel gift shop, and my laptop.
I transferred my notes from Maddox’s interview into a document while checking out every single person who entered and exited the building. Mr. Walters had to leave sometime.
The last two hours proved more difficult as I’d already done as much work as I could for the day. Without the big interview, the story was at a standstill.
Around five-thirty, I was about to give up. If Mr. Walters had been gone for several days, he would probably stay late to make up for it. I knew I wouldn’t be able to make another appointment, so I’d have to try something else.
As I was packing up my things, the elevator bell dinged, and fate stepped in to deal me a sweet hand.
Mr. Walters strode out of the elevator with his briefcase.
Having the moment to look at him without a grimace on his face, he looked almost kind and almost prince-like in his demeanor.
He was nearly to the exit doors before I snapped out of it and raced after him. I came up to him before he whipped around.
Then the grimace returned.
He glanced at his gold watch. The face was outlined with glittering diamonds. “You’ve been here all day?”
“Yes,” I said. “I don’t give up that easily, Mr. Walters.”
He held the door open for me. “Neither do I, Mrs. Holmes.”
“It’s Miss,” I said quickly. A blast of cold air pressed against me, and I buttoned my jacket tighter. I knew it was a dumb idea to wear a skirt, but I had to use all of my assets to get the job done. “All I want to do is sit down with you to talk. Do you have dinner plans? My treat.”
He shook his head. “I already have plans. And even if I didn’t, I don’t plan on giving you any interview.”
Were we back at this again? Hadn’t he realized I’d waited hours for him? The least he owed me was five minutes.
Though, he was a prince with apparent secrets to hide. He owed me nothing.
He turned away from me, but I kept on him, desperate not to let him out of my sight. His skin was so smooth, enough that I wanted to run my hands across the surface. He was the opposite of his partner. Dark-skin and clean-shaven. His lips were full and totally kissable.
I inwardly scolded myself. My thoughts were so inappropriate, it wasn’t even funny.
“Did you speak with Maddox?” he asked me.
Hearing him speak to me like a normal person—even though there was still an edge to his voice—showcased his accent a little bit. It wasn’t as formal as Maddox’s; it had a little bit of something else to it. Damned if it didn’t make my knees weaken a little more.
“I did.”
“If you came here to do a piece on the company, then he would have given you everything you needed.”
“My editor wants to get to know you and your successes,” I said quickly. I had spent all day thinking of ways to counteract anything he might throw at me. I was just as relentless as him, no matter how attractive I found him.
The corners of his lips lifted. He reached his car and opened the passenger door to toss his briefcase inside. I wasn’t sure of the brand of the vehicle, but I was sure it cost more than my salary.
“Ms. Holmes,” he said. “I know what you’re after.”
“Do you?” I asked. He was a smart man, but he wasn’t going to outsmart me. I wasn’t about to give him the real reason for the interview, unless he figured it out for himself. And if he did, then I knew I would have a much harder time getting what I wanted.
He sighed. “Sorry, you’ve wasted your trip.”
Pulling open the door, I moved aside. He got in before I could utter another word.
He wasn’t budging. He’d built a wall up between us, and I didn’t have the tools to chisel through it.
As he drove off, defeat coiled around my stomach like a large snake, squeezing harder and harder. Was this it? Had I failed within two days of arriving? What was Mr. Fraser going to say? He’d never send me anywhere again if I couldn’t nail this interview. All my dreams of a full passport book floated away into the icy breeze.
Going back inside the building, I called a taxi. I waited by the double doors, knowing that I was no longer wanted.
After heading back to the hotel, I sat in the restaurant and ate more than I normally would. For some reason, the food tasted fresher than it did at home. It probably was. Or I had been hungrier than I realized?
All the while, I mulled over what to do next. Mr. Walters had already turned me down several times. I couldn’t play the same game that I did with Maddox. And if I pissed him off enough, he might report me for stalking or something. I couldn’t imagine that Mr. Fraser would appreciate a phone call from the UK to bail me out.
I’d used every tool that I knew when it came to getting an interview, but Luke Walters wanted nothing to do with me.
Since I was sure the other patrons would
n’t care for me talking on my cell phone, I sent the bill to the room and headed to the lounge to call Matt.
He always grounded me, and I needed his optimism in an otherwise bleak situation.
I sat in a large chair in the corner of the room, closest to the windows. The view of the city was magnificent, and I wasn’t ready to give it up entirely yet.
He answered on the second ring. “Hey, Soph.”
“Matt, I’m failing miserably out here.”
“Okay, slow down. Tell me everything.”
I wasn’t sure about the slowing down part, but I told him about meeting Maddox the day before and then the failed interview that morning, including the part where I waited for him for hours in his lobby.
“You wore the gray suit, right?” he asked.
“Yes!” I said. That suit was my closer. The fact that it hadn’t worked made me rethink everything. “He was so adamant. I think he’s hiding something good.”
“Then you can’t give up,” Matt said. “Change your tactics.”
“To what? I’m not going to degrade myself like some other people.” I had a few people in mind from the Post and other news outlets in the area.
“I would never expect you to,” he said. “People like him have been in the limelight for years. He’s probably sick of reporters trying to get into his private life.”
“He already knows I’m a reporter,” I said. “This information might have been helpful before I tried to barge into his office.”
“If you had asked me—”
“You could have never known!”
He chuckled. “I know. Only teasing.”
I sank into my chair. I didn’t need teasing. I needed solutions.
“You have a natural talent for getting people to open up,” he said.
“Yeah, that’s why I became a reporter.” I wasn’t egotistical at all. I knew what I was good at, and I chose a career that showcased it.
“Win him over with your charm,” he said. “Don’t come in strong with the interview. Find him and talk to him like a person. I bet it will knock him off his feet.”