threw himself down in the chair.
“Are you going to tell me or am I going to badger you some more?” The smile on his father’s face was sincere, but his expression came across as determined. He wasn’t going to let this go.
Chloe was a grown woman now, there was no way she would remember him. Part of him didn’t believe she’d forgotten him―something about her still wearing the necklace after all this time felt like a glimmer of hope. He would be a fool to think or believe otherwise. “It’s crazy and really, dumb if you want to know the truth.”
His dad waved his hand. “I know, I know, yo u keep saying, instead just tell me the story.”
“I’m not going to California, it’s pointless. Like I said, she deserves more and I’m scarred and not worthy of her.” He paused and his chest ached from the invisible band tightening around him, making breath impossible. “You saw her; she’s beautiful and deserves so much more.”
And therefore I’m doomed.
“ Luciano―”
“Fine,” his sigh moved his shoulders, but did nothing to remove the weight on his chest. He sipped his scotch and stared at his father over the glass. “Once upon a time i n Beverly Hills, California...”
“ What do you mean King Mario and Queen Ella are coming for a visit?” Chloe couldn’t believe she was holding this conversation. She was supposed to be her father’s partner. Instead, she resembled more a glorified secretary that doubled as concierge service.
Her father peered over his reading glasses at her. “Chloe, sweetheart―”
“No, don’t even, Dad. The Queen is a royal pain in the ass. Seriously, she hates me.”
“ She doesn’t hate you. Mario and Ella adore you.” He chuckled and she longed to beat him with the nearest file folder until he came to his senses.
“ I said nothing about Mario. I like him and the king is a good man, though I don’t know why he just doesn’t send his son since you talk to him more than King Mario.”
Her dad simply shrugged, like always when the topic came up , his expression turned nonchalant―unreadable and it irritated the hell out of her. “The prince is shy.”
Here we go again, same old excuse over same old topic.
“Whatever, he sounds like a hermit crab that does nothing but work.” She shook her head and frowned. That description fit her life as well. She didn’t even remember what a social life was―not that she longed for one. Chloe recalled what she knew. The Prince seldom entered in public and the paparazzi never―ever captured him on film. Rumor was there was an unspoken law never to photograph the prince. “I think there is something wrong with Prince Charming―possibly a mental disorder or phobia.”
“Careful, you sound like Stella.”
“ Don’t insult me.” She hated when her father mentioned her sisters, both had proved to be as useless in adulthood as they had during their teenagers. So much to be proud about there.
Not!
“Don’t make assumptions about the prince.” He paused and studied her a moment. “You usually aren’t one to judge.”
“ Enough about my sisters, my antics and everything else that is not related to why you waited until now―the last minute may I add―to tell me the royal family of Cammarata is arriving? Dad! You told me we were having a simple black tie get together.” Her head started to hurt.
“ It’s two extra people.” He sounded so calm. Of course he could be calm, he had nothing to worry about―he’d officially assigned that department to Chloe.
Oh-so typical of dear old dad.
“Right and one of them has certain tastes and criticizes everything, plus there is only one kind of champagne she drinks, Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque, it’s almost thirteen hundred a bottle and―”
“She's a nice lady, and she is also the queen to a country that has kept this family in luxuries. Hell Chloe, what do you think paid for all your degrees? Education i s far from cheap.”
And here comes the
“Are you going to tell me or am I going to badger you some more?” The smile on his father’s face was sincere, but his expression came across as determined. He wasn’t going to let this go.
Chloe was a grown woman now, there was no way she would remember him. Part of him didn’t believe she’d forgotten him―something about her still wearing the necklace after all this time felt like a glimmer of hope. He would be a fool to think or believe otherwise. “It’s crazy and really, dumb if you want to know the truth.”
His dad waved his hand. “I know, I know, yo u keep saying, instead just tell me the story.”
“I’m not going to California, it’s pointless. Like I said, she deserves more and I’m scarred and not worthy of her.” He paused and his chest ached from the invisible band tightening around him, making breath impossible. “You saw her; she’s beautiful and deserves so much more.”
And therefore I’m doomed.
“ Luciano―”
“Fine,” his sigh moved his shoulders, but did nothing to remove the weight on his chest. He sipped his scotch and stared at his father over the glass. “Once upon a time i n Beverly Hills, California...”
“ What do you mean King Mario and Queen Ella are coming for a visit?” Chloe couldn’t believe she was holding this conversation. She was supposed to be her father’s partner. Instead, she resembled more a glorified secretary that doubled as concierge service.
Her father peered over his reading glasses at her. “Chloe, sweetheart―”
“No, don’t even, Dad. The Queen is a royal pain in the ass. Seriously, she hates me.”
“ She doesn’t hate you. Mario and Ella adore you.” He chuckled and she longed to beat him with the nearest file folder until he came to his senses.
“ I said nothing about Mario. I like him and the king is a good man, though I don’t know why he just doesn’t send his son since you talk to him more than King Mario.”
Her dad simply shrugged, like always when the topic came up , his expression turned nonchalant―unreadable and it irritated the hell out of her. “The prince is shy.”
Here we go again, same old excuse over same old topic.
“Whatever, he sounds like a hermit crab that does nothing but work.” She shook her head and frowned. That description fit her life as well. She didn’t even remember what a social life was―not that she longed for one. Chloe recalled what she knew. The Prince seldom entered in public and the paparazzi never―ever captured him on film. Rumor was there was an unspoken law never to photograph the prince. “I think there is something wrong with Prince Charming―possibly a mental disorder or phobia.”
“Careful, you sound like Stella.”
“ Don’t insult me.” She hated when her father mentioned her sisters, both had proved to be as useless in adulthood as they had during their teenagers. So much to be proud about there.
Not!
“Don’t make assumptions about the prince.” He paused and studied her a moment. “You usually aren’t one to judge.”
“ Enough about my sisters, my antics and everything else that is not related to why you waited until now―the last minute may I add―to tell me the royal family of Cammarata is arriving? Dad! You told me we were having a simple black tie get together.” Her head started to hurt.
“ It’s two extra people.” He sounded so calm. Of course he could be calm, he had nothing to worry about―he’d officially assigned that department to Chloe.
Oh-so typical of dear old dad.
“Right and one of them has certain tastes and criticizes everything, plus there is only one kind of champagne she drinks, Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque, it’s almost thirteen hundred a bottle and―”
“She's a nice lady, and she is also the queen to a country that has kept this family in luxuries. Hell Chloe, what do you think paid for all your degrees? Education i s far from cheap.”
And here comes the
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