by Riley Love
Her Royal Master
Riley Love
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
About the Author
Chapter 1
“WHAT IS IT THIS TIME?” Kate overheard her boss ask as she got off the elevator to the twelfth floor.
Dressed in all pink, and with even pinker lips, Ann, Peter’s secretary, held a finger up for Kate to wait.
Kate stepped to her desk that stood in the center of the lobby of Pruitt and Associates law firm. She tossed her wavy black hair out of her way, wishing that she’d worn it in a ponytail instead of down. Leaning over Ann’s desktop, she lowered her voice to a whisper.
“What’s going on?”
“Who could he be accused of murdering now? The mayor?”
Their eyes met at hearing Peter’s question coming from behind his closed office door.
Kate cringed. “Roberto?”
“Here we go again,” Ann said under her breath.
Holding a stack of files to her chest, Kate sighed and looked toward Peter’s office. She could only guess that he was referring to Roberto Mancini, one of their top paying clients.
Roberto would always be known as the Wife Killer. Lucky for him, her boss had gotten the charges dropped, and Roberto was back on the golden streets of the most expensive neighborhood in Charleston, South Carolina.
Good lord, she thought. She hoped they didn’t have to bring that man to the office again. Just being around him creeped her out. There was something in his dark, beady eyes that made her want to hide whenever he looked at her.
“Come on in, Kate,” Peter said.
Inside waited Kelly James and Peter Pruitt, the name partner at the firm. With dark eyes, Kelly looked her up and down and turned her back to her.
“Just give me a moment,” he said. He nodded to the sofa at the back of the office. “Wait over there.”
With a nod, Kate crossed his large office that was sectioned off into three spaces: one for his desk, another for hosting clients in the sitting area, and one for practicing his golf. All of the sections were full of too much clutter to actually move around with ease. So, Kate stepped over his gym bag and sat on the leather sofa.
“I just need to know if you will handle his bail hearing, or if I need to get Paul to go. It was an escort,” Kelly said lowering her voice. Kate could hear the disgust in her voice. “It’s not going to be easy.”
Peter shook his head. “It never is.” He sighed and looked at his watch. “I’ll be there, just leave a note with the details on Kate’s desk and she’ll remind me.”
Kelly glanced back at Kate with a grimace on her face. “Fine. Don’t be late.”
Kate looked down at her freshly manicured nails. She didn’t mind the looks. She didn’t like Kelly either.
Once Kelly left, Peter leaned against the back of his desk and looked over at Kate.
“The jerk just won’t lay low,” he said, shaking his head.
Kate shrugged. “There was nothing you could do to make him change his ways.” It was unsaid between everyone, but they all had a feeling that despite representing Roberto, that he was guilty.
“You’re right.” He checked his watch again and stood to his full height. “Well, we have a potential client arriving in about half an hour.”
“I know,” she said. “The British businessman. I was the one who reminded you.”
He cracked a smile. “Right. You did.”
“Do you think he’ll sign on as a client? I’ve done my research on Sir William Alexander and his sister, Zara. They are a team, and it looks like you will have to win them both over. And her flight from Vienna was delayed, which means she won’t arrive until this evening. So…” Kate’s voice trailed.
“So, this meeting is probably pointless if they make decisions together,” Peter said. “Good work. He sounds like a cocky bastard.”
“I think you should still go through with it. It’s too late to cancel, and you can still make a good first impression.”
The phone on Peter’s desk rang. He pressed a button. “Yes, Ann?”
“Mr.—I mean, Prince William Alexander has arrived.”
“Thank you, Ann,” he said and hung up. He nodded to Kate. “Why don’t you let him in? First impressions, right?”
Kate tried to keep a calm face. Perhaps she’d done too much research on the British businessman. Just imagining coming face to face with a man who looked like he could be a magazine cover model made her face flush. There wasn’t time to be shy, she stood and walked over to the door, opening it.
Once the door opened, she swallowed.
There he was.
Prince William Alexander, the man she’d been researching for months now. Royalty.
Dressed in a gray suit that looked as if it cost more than her car, William stood from his seat in the lobby area before Ann’s wraparound desk.
He was tall, about six-five, with dirty blond hair, kept long on the top and tapered along the back and sides. Very David Beckham-ish. What made her almost forget where she was…were his eyes.
Enchanting green was the only way to describe them. Their eyes met as he approached her.
For a moment, he just looked down at her. Then, he cracked a smile and held out a hand. “William Alexander,” he said. He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “The Prince bit isn’t really necessary.”
Oh my, she thought. His British accent made her thoughts scramble and left her voice useless. She shook his hand instead and stepped aside so that he could enter Peter’s office.
“Lovely,” he said. “I suppose I’ll get your name another time.”
“Kate,” she said a little too loudly. She couldn’t miss her chance to introduce herself.
He nodded and turned to walk inside.
Kate’s eyes widened as she looked over her shoulder at Ann. “Oh my God,” she mouthed. Ann grinned and nodded, pretending to fan herself. He was even hotter in person.
Kate followed William inside, discreetly closing the door behind them, and took a seat again on the sofa at the back of Peter’s office.
Inside, Peter and William shook hands. “You’ve met my assistant, Miss Carter.”
“Indeed.” William nodded, his eyes raising to meet Kate’s.
Peter extended an arm toward the seating area. “Let’s have a seat and discuss your needs. Here at Pruitt and Associates, we like to make sure our clients are well taken care of.”
William sat down in the leather armchair near the sofa. With his back to the large open windows facing the lake, the sun spilled into the room and seemed to shine only on him.
Just as Peter sat across from him, the conversation took a sudden turn.
“I think you misunderstood the reason I came by today,” William said. He took out a folded white paper from his jacket’s inner pocket.
Peter glanced at Kate, giving her an icy look. “And what is the reason?”
Kate gulped. Apparently her research had been useless. She was in for an intense scolding.
“I came to buy your firm,” he said.
Peter raised a brow and sat forward in his seat. His face paled. “What?”
“Yes. Since relocating to this beautiful city, my sister and I have decided to expand the Alexander Empire. Therefore, she would like to take over the firm. She is fully capable of practicing law in the states, and being that this is one of the top law firms in South Carolina, she wants it. We will keep the staff of course…but we don’t real
ly need you.” William folded his hands, the corners of his mouth lifting into an earnest smile. “Just your clients.”
“Empire?” Peter let out a chuckle. “That’s absurd.”
“We are prepared to pay you handsomely for the firm.”
Kate’s jaw dropped. He spoke as if he were buying a new watch, not a multi-million dollar business.
“You’re insane,” Peter said.
William shrugged. “Perhaps, but my sanity is none of your concern.” He stood and handed Peter the paper.
Peter didn’t even look at it, he simply stared up at William in disbelief.
“That’s our offer. There will be no negotiations. You’ll see that we have been more than fair,” William said. He looked back at Kate and their eyes met again.
It was as if something mystical passed between them whenever she was brave enough to look him straight on. He held the gaze and seemed to think of something that took his attention away. Without a word, he walked over to Peter’s desk and took a pen from the jar and picked up a notepad. He jotted something down and ripped the sheet of paper from the pad.
Peter and Kate watched in silence, awestruck. She was surprised that Peter was keeping quiet. She’d expected him to tell William to get out of his office, just as he had told her many times throughout her career at the firm.
“Pardon my abrupt exit, but today is a busy day, and I have another appointment. One with your competitor actually. So, it’s entirely up to you, Mr. Pruitt, if you’d like to retire early and take your wife on a lavish vacation somewhere exotic”— he rubbed his jaw—“or, you can let the Bernstein brothers have this opportunity. I’d rather save myself a trip. So you have an hour to give me your answer.”
Peter opened the folded paper. His brows rose, and his eyes widened at what he saw.
William’s dimples deepened, and his smile seemed to reflect a secret held in his eyes. Such a smile made Kate forget how to think properly, as he handed her the slip of paper he had just taken from Peter’s desk.
Their fingers brushed as she accepted it.
Confused, she read it.
One million dollars.
Her head snapped up. “What is this?”
“Your offer to be my personal assistant.” William looked back at Peter. “I’ll send over a contract and all of the legal paperwork in the morning.”
To Kate’s surprise, Peter nodded. Judging by how much he was willing to pay Kate to be his assistant, she couldn’t imagine what astronomical amount he offered her boss. William Alexander, the man she had been studying for the past week, had just doubled her current salary...and she knew he had the money to do it.
“Miss Carter, I will call you tomorrow as well. We have a lot of work to do, you and I.”
Kate shook her head. “You cannot be serious. You can’t just buy me.”
What was she saying? He absolutely could, and in her mind, he already did. But, she felt like it was necessary to put up a little fight.
One fucking million dollars.
“I just did.” He winked and was out the door.
Silence passed between Peter and Kate as they tried to comprehend exactly what had just happened.
Still in awe, Kate looked at the paper again. Her hands were shaking. “You’re right,” she said. “He is one cocky bastard.”
Chapter 2
“TELL ME EVERYTHING,” Zara said as she slid into the passenger seat of William’s black Ferrari.
William shrugged, and let the top down. “I can’t imagine how it could have been any more perfect. I gave the proposal, and I’m sure Pruitt and Associates will accept. I told them I was going to make the offer to Bernstein and Associates as well.”
Zara lifted a brow. “And, did you?”
“Of course not. I went to play tennis with Tom.”
“Well done.” As they left the airport, Zara reclined the seat and stretched her feet onto the dashboard. “You’re a good little brother,” she said as she let the soft breeze fly through her shoulder-length blond hair.
“Little? We’re twins.”
She smirked. “But I was born first.”
“Ah, yes,” he said nodding. They’d had this exact conversation at least a hundred times in their lives, and it never got old.
“But you are the best brother. How many girls can say their brother bought them a law firm? Aren’t I lucky?”
“You are indeed.” He turned toward downtown Charleston, where his high-rise condo awaited them. In and out of traffic he weaved like a professional driver. “I have a little surprise for you.”
Zara sat up with a grin on her pale face. Her green eyes lit up like a little girl’s on Christmas morning. “Do you really?” She folded her hands before her face. “Is she pretty?” She poked his arm, teasingly. “She’d better be.”
William raised a brow. “You make it sound like I’d just go out and buy you a supermodel. We both know how much you like the chase.”
“True.”
“Let’s just say you can have your choice of girl tonight. We have a VIP table reserved at Suite.”
“Ah,” Zara said, melting back into her seat. “You really do spoil me.”
“I did treat myself today as well,” he said, giving her a sidelong glance.
“You deserve it,” she said while rubbing her neck muscles. “I need to treat myself to a decent massage. I’ll be happy not to get on another plane for at least a year.” She sighed and lolled her head to the side to watch him drive. “Go on. Tell me.”
“She’s stunning. Fairly short. Blue eyes, creamy white skin, and wavy black hair. Can you envision her?”
Zara chuckled. “Good work.”
“She’ll be my new assistant.”
“Boring!”
“Now that was harsh,” he said with a grin.
“Talk about not buying someone, William. How much did you offer her?”
“Giving someone a job is entirely different from buying them. I only want her professional skills, and I offered her a competitive salary.”
“That’s fine. I believe you. I guess I would have been happier if you were interested in her romantically. From the way you described her, she sounds like your type.” She watched him for a moment.
He could see that her smile had faded and noticed the worry in her eyes, and it made him look away. He focused on the highway, wishing he’d waited to even mention his new assistant.
“When are you going to get back out there? Honestly, William. I’m starting to worry about you.”
The way her voice softened made him tense. This was not what he wanted to discuss right now. He would date again when he was ready.
“I’ve invited a few guests to join us back at my place before we go to Suite.”
William knew that Zara could sense that he was evading the conversation, but she also knew when to back off. He could feel her eyes on him, and the silence that filled the air made him speed toward the Richter Tower. He needed to get out of the car, and away from his sister’s judgment.
To his relief, she went along with the change of subject. “Who did you invite?”
“A few locals,” he said.
“Boring. And? Please tell me it’s not just a bunch of southerners.”
He grinned. “I happen to like southerners. I find them quite charming. Don’t you?”
Zara rolled her eyes and gave him an expectant look. “And?”
“Henrik Bauer,” he said.
“That’s more like it,” Zara said. “Bring in the Germans and things are always more fun. A little business, and a little pleasure. My favorite.”
“I figured as much. We need his connections in Germany. I think a night at Suite will solidify the relationship between Bauer Cosmetics and Alexander Designs. It was an easy decision.”
“And you know how I adore him.”
“You adore anyone with a pretty face.”
“And he is so very pretty.”
“Good. I’m sure you can work your charms on him.
”
Once they pulled up to his building, they stepped out of the convertible, and William handed his keys to the valet.
“Have a good day, Prince Alexander.”
“I’m going up to my place to get cleaned up. Let’s get lunch and discuss the buyout.”
William nodded. “Good idea.”
She stepped through the glass front doors as they opened for her.
“And then we can do some shopping. I need something for tonight. It’s going to be simply magical.”
He watched her disappear into the building, whose glass doors only reflected the outside world. Once alone he stood there for a moment, reflecting on what his sister had said. Didn’t she know how much he wanted to be free of his heartache? She wasn’t the type to fall in love. Love only got in the way of her fun and her goals. Perhaps Zara didn’t understand.
He gazed up at the sky and squinted against the powerful rays of the sun.
One day the right girl would come along, and make him forget the pain of the past.
He was almost ready for that day.
Chapter 3
WHAT THE ALEXANDERS HAD done to the firm in just one morning left everyone in the building on edge. The partners hadn’t been unanimous in their decision to sell the company.
Still, the final vote was to accept the offer.
Within an hour, everything Peter and the partners had built over the past ten years was to be turned over to Zara Alexander.
The tension in the break room was unbearable. Kate poured herself another cup of coffee and kept her eyes down.
Paralegals and attorneys whispered over the tray of donuts Kelly had bought.
Everyone was terrified.
If the Alexanders took over, how many of them would be kept?
As Kate left the break room, she checked her text messages.
Nothing from mom.
That was rare.
Her mother and younger brother lived her and always seemed to need something. She let out a long breath. That was all she needed right then.