Page 34 of Some Like It Scandalous (Going Royal #2)

He nodded and with one gesture, her security fell in around her and they began to weave their way through the crowd toward the side of the room. Kate, swept up by the security force, stayed with her. “Are you all right, Anna?”

“I’m fine.” Anna lied through her teeth. “I just need to catch my breath and maybe splash some water on my face.”

At the restroom, Kyle opened the door and Kate slipped in to check for him. “It’s empty.”

Anna followed her inside, grateful for the sudden silence away from the murmuring crowd.

She planted her hands against the cool marble and closed her eyes.

Breathing through her nose and out her mouth, she tried to calm the wild stampede in her chest. He brought Nikole.

It didn’t matter that those other women were with him with their poured-on dresses and glittering jewels and overwhelmingly gorgeous bodies—he’d brought Nikole.

The woman who name-dropped him as her fiancé. The woman with whom he’d shared an on-again, off-again affair.

Was it suddenly on-again?

Nausea surged up and she pressed her lips together. She would not get sick. She would not do this.

A cool washcloth draped against the back of her neck and she jerked, glancing up to find Kate looking at her in the mirror. “You’re not okay.”

“I am fine. But thank you. I just?—”

“Need a moment, you said.” Quiet empathy echoed in the woman’s voice. “What can I do?”

Anna looked at herself in the mirror and saw a pair of hollow eyes gazing back at her.

She took another lungful of air and exhaled.

“How are we doing with donations?” Focus on the job.

We’re here to raise money, a lot of those people came to gape and point at the royal sideshow…

but they’re paying for the privilege. Hold on to that.

“Well, in addition to the per-plate fee, of which we take half directly for the scholarship and the checks and pledges we’ve taken so far…

” Kate glanced down at her digital tablet.

“About four million, five hundred thousand. And we’ve only spoken to about a fourth of the people in attendance.

I’m sure there will be more after your speech… ”

Oh God. Nausea burned up again and she barely made it into the toilet in time to throw up. Kate was there again, holding her dress and hair out of the way. She didn’t hesitate, disappearing to the sink and returning with another cold washcloth.

“I’ll get you some water.” She walked over to the door and had some quiet words with Kyle.

By the time she returned, Anna was back at the sink and rinsing out her mouth.

Thankfully, she didn’t soil her dress. Kate passed her a cold glass with ice and water in it. She also held two tablets in her hand.

“They’re for motion sickness. It’s not quite anxiety, but they should help. Just don’t drink any more wine or champagne.”

The thought of alcohol revolted Anna. She took the pills and washed them down with the water.

Kate leaned against the counter. “Can I give you some advice?”

“You just watched me throw up and freak out.” Anna blotted the damp washcloth against her mouth and pulled open her clutch to find something to repair her makeup with. “I think you’ve earned the right to give me some advice.”

“His Highness is a prince, a grand duke, CEO of a large international corporation and sits on numerous boards and advisory councils in the European Union. He’s wealthy, famous, a celebrity of sorts, and really not hard on the eyes.” Kate ticked off the qualities with her rounded, red nails.

“I’m pretty much aware of that.” Being reminded only made her unease sink its claws deeper into her belly.

“Of course you are.” Kate smiled. “But you’ve forgotten the most important part.”

“That is?” Irritation crept into her voice. The woman had become something of a friend over the last couple of weeks, but she didn’t know Charlie—not the way Anna did.

“He’s a man, sweetie. And all men are stupid.

” Kate’s quick grin was equal parts amused and sympathetic.

“I don’t know why he brought the freak shows with him, but he isn’t paying any attention to them.

He watched you when he came in that room.

He knew exactly where you were and when you left, his gaze followed you all the way out.

So you go out there, you put on your game face and you show him exactly why he can’t take his eyes off you. ”

Anna gaped. “He’s your boss.”

“That doesn’t make him any less male or any less prone to their fits of stupidity.

” Kate turned to the mirror and leaned forward to check her teeth.

“Besides…you look amazing, you do amazing work and you’ve been busting your ass to get this event off the ground.

It’s your night—take it. Now, fix your lipstick, dab some perfume on and let’s go knock them all dead. ”

“You’re right,” Anna said after a long silence.

“Of course I am.” Kate winked and gave her arm a friendly pat. “You ready for it?”

Not even a little. I’d rather go have my teeth extracted than walk back out there.

“No, but let’s do it anyway.” Anna fixed her smile, burying the hurt beneath a veneer of professionalism.

She would do it. She would give the crowd a show—maybe not the romantic love story they came seeking, but she would make the most of the opportunity to fill the scholarship fund’s coffers and raise enough money to send a thousand kids to the colleges of their choice.

She could get through the next few hours.

Right?