Alexander & Rebecca (Royals of Valleria #1) by Marianne Knightly Page B
Authors: Marianne Knightly
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expect anyone to, Marcello spoke. “Let me assure the Council that this is a threat against the royal family. As such, their staff are also at risk for the time being. Additional security will not give rise to fear but will assure that the royal family members and their staff are protected.”
More whispers and looks were exchanged around the room. Had the king not been present, there would have been a more lively exchange of views on the subject. However, Marcello’s strategy had been a sound one. The Council often tried to overrule the king but with a threat against the royal family at stake, none of the council members would take the risk of opposing the request.
“Let us take a vote,” Alexander said, speaking to the room for the first time. As heir apparent, his role was mostly an administrative one on the Council. It was meant to prepare Alex for his future role, though he often acted as his father’s proxy for those times Gabriel could not attend. “All those opposed to providing the royal family and their chiefs of staff additional security until the threat is resolved, vote now with a show of hands.”
Not one hand was raised, though by the looks of some of the ministers on the Council, they wanted to vote against it.
With a slight smile Alex said, “All those in favor of providing the royal family and their chiefs of staff additional security until the threat is resolved, vote now with a show of hands.”
Every hand in the room went up, and Alex breathed an internal sigh of relief now that he was assured that Rebecca would be protected for the time being. “Since all hands have been raised, there are no abstentions. The motion is passed. We will, of course, keep the Council informed as to when this threat is resolved.”
Gabriel nodded then stood, forcing everyone to stand quickly and haphazardly. “If that’s all for the priority business, I take my leave. Alexander,” he said gesturing to his son beside him. “Will see to the rest of today’s business.” With another nod, he strode out, everyone bowing as he passed.
“Now, then,” Alexander said as he settled comfortably into his seat. “Next item of business.”
As one of the ministers was recognized and began speaking, Alex glanced at his phone after it vibrated in his pocket. Keeping his ears on the minister and his eyes on the message from Tavin, he began to shift his obligations for the afternoon and pondered how soon he could end the council meeting.
He sent off a quick message to Tavin, then Catharine, and slipped his phone inside his jacket. As he answered the minister’s request, he calculated he could finish the meeting in twenty minutes, perhaps fifteen if the Minister of Finance chose not to wax poetic about the state of the stock markets, as he usually did.
Alex had a press conference to attend, and this was one he would not miss for anything.
***
When Rebecca entered her office, for a moment the worries of the morning faded away as memories of last night assaulted her. Memories that had haunted her dreams, were now haunting her at work. Hardly surprising given that she was mere feet away from the couch where Alex’s broad hands had roamed her body and his expert lips had ruined her for all other men.
Rebecca shook her head and walked on, greeting the secretaries as she passed, knowing the whispers she heard soon after were about her and that damn video.
With a sigh, Rebecca dropped her purse and briefcase on her desk, still slightly cluttered with papers she had not been able to focus on after Alex had left last night. As she tried to settle in, sort through emails and tasks outstanding, the back of her neck was thick with tension.
She was just finishing up a call when Catharine entered the offices, and everyone rose to curtsy as she passed. She headed straight for Rebecca and entered her office, closing the door behind her. Rebecca curtsied and saw a flash
More whispers and looks were exchanged around the room. Had the king not been present, there would have been a more lively exchange of views on the subject. However, Marcello’s strategy had been a sound one. The Council often tried to overrule the king but with a threat against the royal family at stake, none of the council members would take the risk of opposing the request.
“Let us take a vote,” Alexander said, speaking to the room for the first time. As heir apparent, his role was mostly an administrative one on the Council. It was meant to prepare Alex for his future role, though he often acted as his father’s proxy for those times Gabriel could not attend. “All those opposed to providing the royal family and their chiefs of staff additional security until the threat is resolved, vote now with a show of hands.”
Not one hand was raised, though by the looks of some of the ministers on the Council, they wanted to vote against it.
With a slight smile Alex said, “All those in favor of providing the royal family and their chiefs of staff additional security until the threat is resolved, vote now with a show of hands.”
Every hand in the room went up, and Alex breathed an internal sigh of relief now that he was assured that Rebecca would be protected for the time being. “Since all hands have been raised, there are no abstentions. The motion is passed. We will, of course, keep the Council informed as to when this threat is resolved.”
Gabriel nodded then stood, forcing everyone to stand quickly and haphazardly. “If that’s all for the priority business, I take my leave. Alexander,” he said gesturing to his son beside him. “Will see to the rest of today’s business.” With another nod, he strode out, everyone bowing as he passed.
“Now, then,” Alexander said as he settled comfortably into his seat. “Next item of business.”
As one of the ministers was recognized and began speaking, Alex glanced at his phone after it vibrated in his pocket. Keeping his ears on the minister and his eyes on the message from Tavin, he began to shift his obligations for the afternoon and pondered how soon he could end the council meeting.
He sent off a quick message to Tavin, then Catharine, and slipped his phone inside his jacket. As he answered the minister’s request, he calculated he could finish the meeting in twenty minutes, perhaps fifteen if the Minister of Finance chose not to wax poetic about the state of the stock markets, as he usually did.
Alex had a press conference to attend, and this was one he would not miss for anything.
***
When Rebecca entered her office, for a moment the worries of the morning faded away as memories of last night assaulted her. Memories that had haunted her dreams, were now haunting her at work. Hardly surprising given that she was mere feet away from the couch where Alex’s broad hands had roamed her body and his expert lips had ruined her for all other men.
Rebecca shook her head and walked on, greeting the secretaries as she passed, knowing the whispers she heard soon after were about her and that damn video.
With a sigh, Rebecca dropped her purse and briefcase on her desk, still slightly cluttered with papers she had not been able to focus on after Alex had left last night. As she tried to settle in, sort through emails and tasks outstanding, the back of her neck was thick with tension.
She was just finishing up a call when Catharine entered the offices, and everyone rose to curtsy as she passed. She headed straight for Rebecca and entered her office, closing the door behind her. Rebecca curtsied and saw a flash
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