Suddenly Royal

“Okay. I’ll have to go like this.” I turned back to my dad and wrapped my arms around him. “You call the doctor today and tell him you’re going to be moving to Lilaria. Tell him you need all your charts for Dr. Bielefeld, okay?”

“Samantha, I’m sick, not stupid.” Dad kissed my forehead.

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t forget.” I laughed as I pulled my coat back on. How long had I been here? Five minutes? Six? Is this how life would be once I accepted the family title?

“Be careful.”

“Love you.” I smiled at him over my shoulder as I followed Duvall back to the car. The news crews were still setting up, obviously expecting me to be there longer than the amount of time it took to say hello.

“Love you too.”

Becca pulled the door closed behind us and we left for the Parallel.

Chapter Eleven

Reluctant Royal

—Lilarian Gazette

The hotel was busy, guests checking in and out, people meeting for lunch or relaxing in the lobby. When we pulled up, the doorman opened the car door and Becca exited first. He smiled at her before looking at me. When he realized I was in the car as well, his whole demeanor changed. He bowed his head a little and made a sweeping gesture with his hand.

I looked at Becca to see if this guy was serious but she just smirked. As I walked past him, I realized he was the same guy who had been on duty the night I’d met the duchess and Alex for dinner. I squashed my urge to demand if he had been the one to sell photos to the press and walked past him with just a mumbled thank you.

Inside, Duvall and Becca took us in an elevator to the penthouse. I found myself wondering if Alex would be there and tried to calm my racing heart. I wanted to see him, to tell him I was sorry again, but wasn’t sure if that would be a welcome thing or not. There was a short hallway outside the elevator that led to a large double door. Duvall knocked and we waited until another suit clad person opened the door.

“Samantha!” Rose stood up from a small desk next to the windows and walked over to me. She kissed my cheek and squeezed my shoulders. “So good to see you.”

“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”

“Not a problem at all.” She led me over to a small sofa and offered me some tea. “Have you come to a decision?”

“I have.” I took a polite sip from the teacup before setting it back on the table. “I would like to go back with you if the invitation is still open.”

“Of course! That’s wonderful news.” She leaned back in her chair and smiled. “And will your father be joining us?”

“He has to finish his current chemotherapy treatments, but he’ll come shortly after.” I frowned, realizing there was a great deal for me to take care of, like plane tickets for him and setting up appointments. “Alex gave me some information on Dr. Bielefeld, but I’m not sure how to go about contacting him for my father. I imagine he must have a large client list.”

“Oh, no worries there. I’ll have someone set that up for you. In fact, there will be several things to take care of.” She turned and motioned over her shoulder to a lady in a blue dress. “You’re going to need access to your accounts, someone to help get you organized and to help you in the country since you’ve never been.”

“Um.” I looked from Rose to the lady in blue and back. “I have no idea where to start.”

“That’s okay, dear. I knew there would be a lot to take care of.”

The front door opened and Alex walked into the room. The lady in blue and the waitress were setting up dishes on the dining table all bobbed a quick curtsy. Alex nodded his head in acknowledgment before his eyes fixed on me. He smiled politely at me and I felt queasy. There was a distance in his eyes that hurt.

“Samantha.” He sat down on the other end of the short sofa and my body automatically tilted toward him. It was like being caught in a gravitational pull. “Are you joining us for lunch?”

“Oh, no.” I turned back to his aunt, wanting to focus on anything other than the man next to me. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your meal. I can come back later.”

Rose was watching me with that calculating look again. It wasn’t unfriendly, just thoughtful. You could see her trying to figure out what was going on between me and Alex.

“Have you eaten? I called for four people.” Rose nodded toward the table and the three place settings.

“Thank you, but I really don’t want to intrude.”

“Nonsense. We have a lot to discuss.” She turned her attention back to the lady in blue. “Sarah, can you please bring me the green folder on my desk? And call the office and see if Chadwick is available.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Sarah hurried back with the green folder and then quietly left the room to make her phone call.

Rose flipped through the folder before handing it to me. “This holds your account numbers and access codes, including several cards that are linked to them. There is also a brief summary of the lands you hold, your official title, and an itinerary for the next two days and when we land in Lilaria.”

“Accounts? Itinerary?”

“Yes, your family’s holdings have been guarded by the crown. When they left to protect themselves, they only took what they could carry. This meant leaving a great deal of money and valuables in banks and trusts.” Rose sipped her tea while I digested that bit. “The itinerary is to help keep us all on schedule. Since you’ve decided to accept your title, we will need to do a press release. This will help clear up the rumor mill some.”