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CHAPTER 14

AMELIA

“Amelia, I’m Charlotte, nice to meet you.”

The woman in front of me holds out her hand. She looks to be early forties, dressed as if she’s a member of the royal family and avoids my eyes as I try to get a good look at her.

“Hi, Charlotte, nice to meet you too. May I ask”—I take a sip of my coffee—“what are you here to teach me, because you’re obviously here to teach me something.”

She smiles patiently before pulling a briefcase from behind her body. I’m not sure if she was hiding it from me, but it wasn’t completely visible. “You’re observant, Amelia. Can I call you Amelia?”

“Please do.” I nod. There’s not a title attached to my name yet, and for now, I like it that way. I prefer for people to treat me as they would their friend, instead of being intimidated by who I’m going to be.

“Do you have an office?” Her gaze takes in what’s left of my breakfast and coffee. Apparently she doesn’t want to get into whatever it is we have to discuss at the kitchen counter.

“I believe I do.” I push my hair back from my face. “I’ve not used it yet, so I’m not exactly sure where it is. For the past week or so, Tristan and I have been getting to know one another, there hasn’t been any need for an office.” I feel the need to explain, feeling stupid, because I didn’t even realize I’d need such a place. Especially here.

Parker appears out of nowhere—he’s very good at that. “Ma’am, your office is right off the second landing of the stairs. To the left, first door. Tristan’s is the third door down that hall.”

So if we’re both working in our offices, we’ll be close to each other for the day. For some reason that warms my chest and makes me halfway giddy. Maybe it’s because yesterday, I had no idea what he was doing for the entire day, just like he had no idea what I was doing.

“I’ll show you up,” I tell Charlotte as I grab my plate, taking it over to the sink.

One of the women who works in the kitchen, I’m still not sure of her name, grabs it from my hands. “Ms. Amelia, how many times have I told you to leave it?”

More than I care to be reminded of, but I’m used to cleaning up after myself, and it’s a hard habit to break. “I’m trying.” It’s the same thing I’ve told her every morning since I arrived.

“Try harder, Ms. Amelia. This is what I’m here for.”

I sigh, nodding. “If you’ll follow me, we’ll go up to the office.”

As I enter the room I absolutely knew nothing about, I wonder who decorated it. It’s not really in my style, and I make a mental note to check with Tristan to see if I can change it. They won’t be huge changes, but there are some that would make me feel more comfortable. As Charlotte walks in, I close the door to give us some privacy, before going around and having a seat behind the desk.

This feels completely odd and out of character for me, but it appears to be what she expects me to do. “Okay, what can I help you with?”

She reaches into her briefcase, pulling out one of the biggest stacks of paper I’ve ever seen. “These are all charitable entities that would like you to support them, Amelia.”

“What?” I’m astonished as she keeps pulling papers out. It’s like the never-ending bag—like that thing in Harry Potter that doesn’t have a bottom to it.

“Part of your duties to the royal family will be picking charities to support, and you want to make sure you throw your support behind causes you care about. Things you believe in, and to a point, things that will make the palace look good. It’s your duty to do your research, to make this decision to the best of your ability. And this”—she taps the papers—“is where you’re going to begin. You have a week to get through all of these and select possibly fifteen that we can whittle down even further. I’ll be back to speak with you about what you’ve learned.”

She gets up from her seat and I feel as if I’ve been dismissed instead of her. “I look forward to seeing what’s been offered.”

“Oh dear, it’s a little bit of everything. No need to show me out, I know the way.”

As I sink back down into my seat. I wonder what in the world I’ve gotten myself into. The pile of papers in front of me looks absolutely daunting, but I reach forward, grabbing the first folder and start reading to see what gets my interest.

Two hours later, my mind is blown. First because of how detailed this information is, and second by how some people in our country don’t have basic needs. This will definitely be something I take a stand on. I’d had my mind made up previously when Tristan had asked me. Now, I’m wondering if I have enough in me to help all these people. My eyes are starting to cross when I hear a knock on the door.

“Yes?”

Tristan slips in, closing it, before walking over to sit in the chair Charlotte vacated. I give him a bright smile. One I’ve come to learn is reserved for him. “What brings you here?”

“I’ve managed to slip Parker.” He gives me his own bad boy grin.

There’s one thing I’ve learned about Tristan. It doesn’t matter that he’s going to rule this country in a few short months. There are certain things he makes his own rules for. And I’m beginning to learn there are certain things he needs to be the person he is. He can’t be put in a box, and I don’t think he ever will be able to. There’s a fire in his eyes, a mischievous look on his face.

“What exactly does that mean? You’ve managed to slip Parker?”

He gets up, coming around to where I am, he turns me so that we’re looking outside. “It’s a gorgeous day out there, Lia. The sun is shining, the sky is a deep blue.

“It’s cold out there,” I argue, knowing that it’s cold enough to snow again if we get enough moisture .

“Be that as it may, it’s also gorgeous. Almost as gorgeous as you.”

I laugh so hard I let loose with an unladylike snort. “What in the world is it you want so bad that you’re laying it on this thick?”

He holds out his hand. “Take a ride with me?”

Immediately I’m back to where I was sitting behind him on the bike, my arms around his waist, the wind whipping past us. “Are we allowed to?”

“Who cares if we’re allowed to.” He pulls me into him, pushing my hair back with his fingers, palming the side of my face with his hand. “When we get back to the city, we won’t be able to do these things. That will be the fact of life there. Here, we still have a little bit of freedom left, and there’s no one I want to express that freedom with more than you. So, Amelia, do you want to take a ride?”

His eyes blaze hot, and for a moment, I wonder if he’s asking about a ride on the bike, or a ride on him. The way a smile plays at the edges of his lips makes me narrow my gaze. “On your bike?”

He chuckles, the sound deep, flowing through my body, right to all the places he makes me tingle. “On my bike.”

Looking down at the desk, I see the papers, and I know I should work, I know it with every part of my being. But him, coming to me in the middle of the day, asking me to spend time with him? How long will that last—especially when we get back to the city? I can’t say no. I crave being around him, loving being in his arms, and live for the moments when he lets his guard down and is the real Tristan behind the mask. These are those times when he’s the real man, and the real man is what’s got me hook, line, and sinker .

“I guess all of this will still be here later. Promise to take me somewhere I’ve never been before?”

He nods. “Have you been to Agua Park yet?” He mentions a wilderness area.

“No, but I’ve heard it’s beautiful.”

“It is. Come on, let’s get dressed and get out of here before Parker catches on.”

With giggles, shushes, and hands held we run to the edge of the stairs, take the landing to our room, and quickly get dressed. Then we do the same as we sneak into the garage.

“Don’t laugh so loud,” he cautions as I wait for him to put his jacket on.

I flip my visor down, hoping it will hold in some of my giggles.

“Oh no, we’ve been spotted.” He laughs loudly as he climbs on the bike, motioning me to get behind him. He starts up the bike, and revs the engine as we make our way out of the garage.

Looking behind us, I see Parker running.

“Hold on tight, Lia.” I hear him through the visor, doing as he says, as we race down the drive and hit the main road.

I realize he was right. I’ve never felt so free in my life.