Her mobile pink mouth quivered, like she wanted to confess all and the words hovered on her lips. “I think he just wants to make me happy.”
“How touching.” In spite of himself Rigo felt a teeny pang of pity for Bella. It couldn’t have been much fun growing up as the child of Maurice Beauvoir. There must be poisonous snakes more affectionate than him. And her mother died when she was young so he was all she had. “And what a relief that he can buy your happiness.”
She flinched. “It’s not like that.”
He studied her face. She was trying to convince herself. From what he’d overheard it was exactly like that. And she’d sold herself to achieve her ends. Who said picturesque Altaleone was so different from the soulless canyons of Manhattan?
“It’s always been my dream to help animals. It would be such a relief to have my own place and not to have to hide them from a landlord.”
He raised a brow. “You freely admit to deceiving your landlord?” The song they were dancing to grew faster, and he pulled her closer as they whirled around.
She swallowed. “They won’t usually allow more than one pet. And sometimes not even that.”
“And you’re one of the many people who feels like the rules shouldn’t apply to you.”
“I hate breaking rules, but I have to follow my conscience and put the animals first.” Conviction burned in her gaze and almost—almost—melted the ice that had formed around his heart.
“It seems your conscience is selective.” He pressed his fingers into her back, feeling her muscles move as they danced. “As a student of the law I find that disturbing.”
She tried to shrug, but her shoulders were so tense they barely moved.
“What if your principles steered you onto the wrong path?” He spoke the words low, a half growl in her ear.
“Then I’d have to live with that choice.”
Her quick and quiet response surprised him. And irked him—she showed no remorse. But she would by the time he was finished with her.
He was tempted to slide his arm further around her waist and tighten the polite vice-like grip he held her in, but his arousal hadn’t abated and he didn’t want to bump against her. That could prove embarrassing.
The song ended, and he let her go with a mix of remorse and relief. “I’ll see you in my office first thing tomorrow morning.” He turned and strode away as fast as he decently could without breaking into a run.
No doubt she thought he’d fire her. She couldn’t be more wrong.
Bella’s nerves jangled as she strode up the drive to the palace the next morning. She’d been tempted not to show up for work today, but that would mean blowing off the royal rulers of her own country, which didn’t seem like such a hot idea.
No doubt she’d be fired. Which was fine. She’d sold her own soul for a hundred thousand lousy euros and now she could build her animal shelter, which was the whole point, right?
She tried to focus on all the needy animals she would save. With a rural property with paddocks she could nurture rescued cows and pigs and horses. She’d have room for chickens and ducks and maybe even exotic circus animals that needed a home.
It would be worth it.
Wouldn’t it?
She sucked in a deep breath and tried to keep her expression pleasant as she climbed the palace steps. She could quit before she was fired.
But the prospect made her heart sink. Then she’d be betraying the family who’d been so kind to her—except Rigo, of course. No one could accuse him of being kind. But the rest of them were warm and funny and had welcomed her into their midst and they didn’t deserve to have her quit.
So getting fired would be just fine.
She walked along the elegant hallway to her usual spot as if it was a regular day. But it wasn’t a regular day, it was the day after a royal wedding and everything was out of place. Glamorous strangers lounged on the furniture, and she could smell a large breakfast being cooked. When she arrived at her familiar work table, it was filled with breakfast dishes and laughing wedding guests.
Squiggles writhed in her bag, emblematic of her own awkwardness. Now what? She’d have to go to Rigo’s office. She approached the door and knocked, noting the way her fist shook as she raised it to knock.
No answer. He’d either been sucked into the post-wedding festivities or was hiding somewhere to avoid them. And the files she needed to work on where probably in his office. She tried the handle—it was locked. Now what?
“Bella! Come sit with us.” Emma hurried toward her. “I’m so glad you’re here. Yesterday was so frantic that you barely had a chance to get to meet Lina. I know everyone wants you guys to get to know each other so you can go on some of her royal visits with her.”
Bella didn’t know what to say. Lina was Rigo’s mom—everyone’s mom—and she was pretty sure Rigo wouldn’t want her breathing the same air as her. And they’d all seen her kiss him. She wished she could just melt into the stone floor and disappear. “Sure. That would be great.”
No wonder Rigo thought she was fake.
“I haven’t seen Rigo all morning. He’s probably on the phone to New York or something.” Bella decided not to point out that it was the middle of the night in New York. “But that’s great. He can’t keep you tied up with busywork so you can spend more time with us.”
Bella smiled, like she was excited by the idea, when really it filled her with dread. More fakeness, more false intimacy that would only end in disappointment and betrayal when Rigo told them that her father was paying her to be here.
If only Rigo would show up and fire her!
She helped herself to some melon and brioche at the sumptuous buffet, then joined the family at the big dining table. She had no choice but to take the open spot next to Lina.
Rigo’s mom was beautiful, her blonde hair pulled back into a smooth ponytail. She had an air of being calm, kind, and unflappable. Rigo would probably end up marrying someone like her.
“Did you enjoy the wedding?”
“Oh, yes.” She prayed Rigo’s mom hadn’t noticed her kissing him. “It was lovely. I know you recently got married yourself. Congratulations.” She wasn’t sure if this last part was appropriate since she knew Lina had pretty much eloped, but at least it changed the subject.
She made small talk with Lina and Amadou about the ceremony and Serena’s dress. Bella had almost managed to forget about Rigo when suddenly a tall form appeared in the doorway and she felt her heartbeat slow to a crawl.
Is he going to fire me right here in front of everyone? That wasn’t really his style. She heard Squiggles snuffling in her bag, which was hanging on the chair, and she stuck her hand into it to reassure him. Or maybe it was she who needed reassuring.
“Good morning, Rigo,” she said primly, like the ideal admin she’d never be.
“Good morning, Ms. Beauvoir.” His face had an odd expression of amusement that chilled her. “I trust you slept well.”
“Oh, yes. Very well.” A total lie. She’d tossed and turned all night, racked with guilt. He was playing with her like a cat with a mouse. In front of all these people who’d watched them kiss last night.
“And your ferret?” He glanced at her bag.
“Squiggles is doing fine, too.” Now everyone in the room was staring at her bag.
“You have a ferret with you?” asked Lina with a surprised expression. “Can I see her?”
“Sure, though Squiggles is a male.” Bella unbuckled the bag nervously. He wasn’t a gregarious ferret. Squiggles blinked in the bright light of the multiwindowed dining room, his black and white fur bright against the dark polished wood of the table.
“He’s beautiful. May I hold him?” Lina stretched out her manicured hands.
Bella swallowed. “Sure.” She prayed Squiggles would keep his claws and teeth to himself. Lina took him confidently and held his little face up to hers. Squiggles peered at her, perhaps enjoying the expensive scent wafting around her.
“Let me ho
ld him,” said Rigo. He reached down and took Squiggles in those big, capable hands. Suddenly Bella got nervous. Would he take his anger out on Squiggles? He wouldn’t hurt a defenseless animal, would he?
She stood and reached up for him, anxious to grab him back, but Squiggles instead stretched up toward Rigo, resting his paws on his shoulder and gazing adoringly up at him. “You’re a handsome fellow, aren’t you? Oh, how I wish he could talk.” He looked pointedly at Bella for a second. Bella reached her hands out to Squiggles, who promptly turned and bit her softly on her pinky.
“Ow!” She snatched her hand back. “Squiggles! What did I do to deserve that?”
Rigo’s eyes glittered with mischief. He lifted Squiggles until his tiny mouth was level with his ear. He listened carefully as if Squiggles was whispering her secrets to him. Then he lowered Squiggles to his chest, where her ferret leaned back and luxuriated against his pecs.
Traitor.
She couldn’t help smiling. “He likes you.”
“Why wouldn’t he?” Rigo stroked her baby with a broad finger. Rigo reached for a mini-brioche from the table, and Squiggles snatched it from him with unfamiliar confidence and took a bite out of it. Grinning, Rigo reached for another and took a bite. “We’ll be in my office. Bella, please join me there when you’re ready.”
He turned and walked away, leaving her with an empty bag and an open mouth.
“Rigo’s always loved animals,” said his mom with a smile.
“He has?” Bella blinked.
“Oh, yes. I lost count of how many pets he had when he was a boy. He was always finding them somewhere. He’d bring home injured birds and squirrels and what have you, and fix them up with all the concentration and care of a brain surgeon. We all thought he was going to be a doctor.”
Bella stared. Rigo was such an enigma.
“Then when he was about fifteen there was a strange case involving a stateless man seeking asylum in Altaleone. There was local opposition to the idea of giving him citizenship, and Rigo became obsessed with finding a legal precedent. Since then he’s been fascinated by the law and always fighting for one cause or another.”
“Sounds like a man after my own heart,” said Amadou.
“Absolutely. The two of you should work together.” Lina turned to Bella. “Amadou does a lot of work to stop human trafficking. In fact he recently blew the lid off a big case in France that involved someone high up in the police there. He’s supposed to be keeping a low profile because that ruffled some feathers.”
“Marrying into a royal family probably doesn’t help with keeping a low profile,” said Bella. “Though you’re so famous already for your music I doubt it makes much difference.”
Amadou laughed. “Nothing about our relationship is sensible, but I waited more than thirty years to get Lina back so nothing could stop me now.”
Lina’s shy smile and the glow of love on her young-looking face made Bella feel wistful. How was it that everyone around her was awash in true love and all she could do was get tangled up with one totally wrong guy after another?
“I guess I should go do some work.” She didn’t want to wait around until they asked about the kiss.
“I saw you kiss Rigo last night.” Lina whispered the words with a tiny smile. “He needs some romance in his life.”
Bella cringed inwardly. Rigo’s mom had no idea that romance had nothing to do with it—and that Rigo knew it and was probably about to fire her.
“Oh, I don’t think it meant anything. I got swept away by the romance of the occasion.” She hoped her nose wasn’t growing.
“Rigo never does anything lightly. You should know that by now.”
She swallowed. “He was probably humoring me.” She rose. “I really should go get to work. It’s been lovely talking to you.”
She hurried away from the frying pan, heading straight for the fire of Rigo.
Be brave. You can do this. She knocked on the door of his office.
“Come in.”
She opened the door to see Squiggles perched on his lap, still gnawing on his brioche, while scattering crumbs over Rigo and his desk. The scene was so unexpected and adorable that it almost made her forget what she had to do next.
She cleared her throat and straightened her shoulders. “I’d like to offer my resignation.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Your proposal is not accepted.” Rigo leveled a steady gaze at her.
“But surely you want to get rid of me?” Her hands shook. It was getting increasingly hard to remain calm and cool around Rigo.
“What I want is not a matter for your concern. I represent the interests of the Royal House of Leone, and to that end, your presence at the palace is required.”
“Oh.” She frowned. “Why? I’m sure you can hire another admin.”
“You know the old admonition keep your friends close and your enemies closer?”
“Sure.”
“That.”
“Ah.” She was his enemy. Or at least he thought so. “Do you really think my father murdered your family?”
“You can’t deny that it’s a possibility.”
“Then why don’t you arrest him?” Her exasperation showed in her voice. She didn’t imagine for one second that her father could be a murderer. The idea was preposterous—and offensive.
“Because I’m a lawyer, so I know to wait until the evidence is gathered and the time is right.”
“So I’m your hostage here, while you figure out how to frame him.”
“Something like that.” Squiggles stared at her over his half-eaten brioche.
“And you’re holding my ferret hostage.”
“On the contrary. I think he’s holding me hostage.” He surveyed the mess of crumbs on the papers on his desk.”
Bella leaned toward Squiggles, but he chirped and threw himself against Rigo’s chest. She rounded the desk and reached for him, and he lunged and bit her finger.
“Ow!” She leaped back. “You’ve even turned Squiggles against me.”
“Perhaps Squiggles is simply a keen judge of character.” One arched brow lifted slightly.
“Maybe he can tell you who the murderer is.”
Rigo pulled a file of papers out of a drawer in his desk. “Read this file. It’s a collection of articles and police notes about the murder in South Africa. Then tell me if you think your father was involved.”
Bella took the papers, holding her arm steady so it wouldn’t tremble. For some reason she had a nasty feeling in her gut. “And you can have your ferret back.” He held out Squiggles, and she eagerly took him back. Squiggles snuffled a bit, but went back calmly into her bag.
“And don’t think about leaving.” Those brown eyes bored into her like a laser. “That would be treason.”
“Would I get beheaded?”
“Quite possibly.” Now she did see a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. Being beheaded probably couldn’t be all that much worse than being looked down on from a great height by Rigo, could it? But then she’d leave her animals alone and that couldn’t happen.
So she’d have to brazen her way through this until he got tired of toying with her. Hopefully, her heart wouldn’t crumble into a million pieces before then. “Is there anything else you’d like me to do?”
“Read the file, then come back and tell me what you think.”
She hurried away. It wasn’t easy to find a quiet corner to sit and read, with wedding stragglers still clogging the downstairs rooms, so she ended up outside on a stone bench in the garden. The first page she pulled out was a clipping from a local paper. “Stanex Exec Murdered. Body Found in Drainage Canal.” It went on to say that he’d been identified as the chief financial officer and that members of a local criminal gang were being investigated.
Ha. Her father was hardly part of a local gang. He rarely went to South Africa, and even then only to go on safari or for a sailing competition or something. But the next article said that suspicion had shifted to the pr
incipals of the company because the murdered man had been doing an audit and had mentioned to his wife that he’d found irregularities on the books.
Bella bit her lip. No mention of her father. It could be anyone.
Next she pulled out a stapled sheaf of typed pages that turned out to be a confession. Someone named John Langa confessed to hitting the dead man over the head with a tire iron and dumping him in the canal. It was grim reading, but once again, pretty much let her father off the hook…until she got to the last page, where John Langa named Maurice Beauvoir as the man who had hired him to do the job.
The words blurred before Bella’s eyes. Impossible! She couldn’t imagine her father on the phone with a hired killer, giving him the macabre directions about whom to kill. Still, her knees shook and she felt lightheaded. She had to put the papers down and steady her breathing.
And Rigo had read this. No wonder he thought her father was guilty of something.
The whole situation was impossible. Her father was being framed. John Langa—whoever he was—had decided to try to shift the blame from himself and her father was his convenient target.
She rifled through the rest of the papers, including internal memos from Stanex about the audit, a police letter to a local lawyer stating that excessive force might have been used in questioning Langa, and more articles about how the company was going to declare bankruptcy. The local police had interviewed and investigated her father but due to the lack of evidence they hadn’t been able to build a case against him. She closed the file with trembling fingers and more questions than answers running through her head. John Langa must be lying to protect someone else who hired him, but who?
She ran into Lina and Amadou on her way back into the palace and tried to chatter politely with them about the roses in the garden—apparently they were Lina’s pride and joy—without bursting into tears. She managed, then headed back inside, still attempting a smile at all the guests and staff milling about the place.
She knocked on Rigo’s door with a grim sense of foreboding.
Taming the Royal Beast (Royal House of Leone Book 6) Page 10