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CHAPTER ONE

‘FI?’

Hester Moss heard the front door slam and froze

‘Fifi? Damn it, where the hell are you?’

Fifi?

Hester gaped as it dawned on her just who the owner of that voice was As Princess Fiorella’s assistant while she was studying in Boston, Hester had met a few of the important people the Princess consorted with, but she’d been in the Princess’s brother’s presence only once That one time there’d been many present and she certainly hadn’t spoken to hiant and entitled Not surprising given he ruled the stunning Mediterranean island kingdoround

She’d had no idea he was co to visit his sister It wasn’t in the immaculate schedule she kept for the Princess, nor in any correspondence Surely it would have been all in caps, bold, underlined and highlighted if it had been planned? Perhaps he was trying to fly beneath the radar—after all, he attracted huge publicity wherever he went But if that were the case, as he shouting?

‘Fifi?’

No one spoke with such familiarity to the Princess, or with such audible i silent and hiding, but she suspected it was only a matter of seconds before he storlance at the corner Hester sped to the door and quickly stepped out into their living room

And there he was Prince Alek Salustri of Triscari, currently turning the lounge she and the Princess shared into a Lilliputian-sized container—one that was far too small to hold a man like him Not just a prince Not just powerful He was lithe, honed perfection and for athe way his jet-black suit covered his lean muscled frame The black shirt beneath the superbly tailored jacket was teamed with a sleek, lasses in his hand, totally exuding i and luxurious style He was so at ease in his place in the world—monstrously self-assured and confident because he just owned it Everything Except right now?

He was angry The rier still

‘Oh’ His frown slipped from surly all the way down to thunderous ‘You’re the secretary’

Not for the first ti who or what had been hoped for But she was too practised atemotion to flinch No matter what, she never let anyone see they’d struck a nerve And being the source of irritation for a spoilt playboy prince? Didn’t bother her in the least

‘Your Highness’ She nodded, but her knees had locked too tight to perform a curtsey ‘Unfortunately Princess Fiorella isn

’t here’

‘I can see that’ He ground his teeth ‘Where is she?’

She kept her hands at her sides, refusing to curl them into fists and reveal any anxiety It was her job to protect Princess Fiorella froher up the ladder than most of the people she shielded the Princess from, he was at the very top The apex predator himself

‘At a bio lab,’ Hester drew breath and answered ‘She should be back in about half an hour unless she decides to go for a coffee instead of coht away’

‘Damn’ Another stormy emotion flashed across his face and he turned to pace across the room ‘She’s with people?’

Hester nodded

‘And no phone?’

‘Her bodyguard has one but the Princess prefers to be able to concentrate in class without interruption Would you like e—?’

‘No,’ he snapped ‘I need to see her alone I’ll wait for her here’

He still looked so fierce that Hester was teardless Except blatantly disobeying his order didn’t seem wise

She watched warily as he paced, brusquely sidestepping Hester’s scrupulously clean desk

‘Is there anything I can help you with?’ She was annoyed with how nervous her query sounded She was never nervous dealing with Princess Fiorella But she wasn’t quite sure how to handle this man Any man, actually

He paused and regarded her, see to see her properly for the first time She stared back, acutely aware of his coal-black bottoaze Whether those beautiful eyes were soulful or soulless, she wasn’t sure She only knew she couldn’t tear her oay

With sloning horror she realised the inanity of her question As if she could ever help hiht, of Sinof Scandal

His phone buzzed and he answered it impatiently ‘I’ve already said no,’ he snapped after a moment

Even fro tones of so

‘I will not do that,’ the Prince said fire I have no desire to—’ He broke off and looked grim as he listened ‘Then ill find another way I will not—’ He broke off again with a smothered curse and then launched into a volley of Italian

Hester stared at the top of her desk and wished she could disappear Clearly he wasn’t concerned enough by her presence to bother re the ancient laws of his own lands

The world had been waiting for hio, but he hadn’t because ‘Playboy Prince Alek’ had so far shown little interest in acquiring the wife necessary for his coronation to occur None of those billion Ten Best Possible Brides lists scattered across the world’simpatience of his people

Perhaps he’d been taking ti Hester had seen Princess Fiorella’s bereft grief and had tried to alleviate any stresses on the younger wo and how incredibly isolating it was to becoun spending more time with friends recently But Prince Alek hadn’t retreated from his social life—in fact he’d accelerated it In the last raphed with a different wo his refusal to do as that old law decreed and settle down

Now the Prince growled and shoved his phone back into his pocket, turning to face her As she desperately tried to think of so innocuous to say a muffled thud echoed from the bedroom she’d stepped out of Hester maintained her dispassionate expression but it was too much to hope he hadn’t heard it

‘What was that?’ He cocked his head, looking just like that predator whose acute hearing had picked up the unmistakable sounds of nearby prey ‘Why won’t you let me into her room?’

‘Nothing—’

‘I’? Is she in there with a ?’

Before she could move, the Prince strode past her and opened the door as if he owned the place

‘Of course you would think that,’ sheafter him