Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
I said nothing, just stood in my jammies staring at him.
He continued speaking.
“Considering you have employment, classes will be in the evenings. They will, of course, be interrupted by any engagements made with you by His Royal Highness.”
I felt my brows wing up, but I still could find no words.
Allain pulled out another tablet. It wasn’t a DY5000XX, but it wasn’t shabby either (if you’re curious, it was a DS3500Pro).
“Now, I have a few things that need to be sorted,” he declared.
I opened my mouth, to say what, I had no idea, but it would be something regarding asking after what the heck he was on about.
He got there before me.
“It’s established you have no dealings with your parents.”
My middle swayed back like I’d been hit by a wave.
How did he know that?
He looked from his tablet to me. “However, you haven’t officially filed for no contact. Do you wish to do so?”
I didn’t even have a chance to open my mouth (not that I would, I was still stunned), before he went on.
“And before you answer, it’s recommended by the Palace that you do. Your sires have no offences on record, outside your father being flagged by His Majesty’s Revenue Department for underpayment of taxes. Your father fought this. He lost. He filed his official displeasure, which is, obviously, on record, but he was refused reevaluation. He then missed the three initial payments, until incarceration was threatened, and then he began paying. This isn’t good, but it isn’t dire. However, we’re operating under the assumption that, since you have not logged time with them, and they have also not logged time with you, there’s some issue that’s lasted at least thirteen years. Rather than there being an attempt at reconciliation, considering what’s to come, which makes you vulnerable to emotional manipulation due to lofty connections, we recommend an official filing.”
Logged time?
Boy, I was seeing I might need to message my province rep to share my displeasure about the Trace and Log Law which allowed the government to collect data on where your crafts went, as well as any Palm, tablet and portable comp units registered to you, because really…it was none of their danged business.
Sure, when the whole thing went down, they’d said they’d only use this data during criminal investigations, and then only after a magistrate provided a warrant after receiving probable cause.
But obviously, that was not the case.
Allain turned his tablet toward me and carried on. “You can do that by signing here, and it will be filed, retroactive to the date of your seventeenth birthday, so they, or anyone who might dredge up the order, can be under no mistaken impression about how you regard them.”
“What’s going on?” I finally asked.
His dark brows formed a heavy V between his eyes, and he repeated, “What’s going on?”
“Yes. Why are you here? Why are you invading my privacy, physically and otherwise?”
The V got even heavier, but it was added to an expression on his face that did not hide he thought I was a moron.
“Why? Obviously because the prince intends to court you.”
What?
Whoa!
My mouth dropped open, and such was my shock, I didn’t close it.
“Naturally, as that’s the case, you’d be vetted,” Allain continued.
The words were squeaky when I asked, “The prince intends to court me?”
Allain crossed his arms on his broad chest, still holding the tablet, and declared, “He made that clear last night.”
“He did not.”
“He most certainly did.”
“When?”
Now he appeared like he didn’t think I was a moron, but instead, maybe touched.
“The moment you walked into the club.”
Oh my gods.
Prince Aleksei had been staring at me from the moment I walked in.
Shit, the heat coming off you is mately.
And he’d marked me!
I hadn’t even met the male and he’d marked me!
My voice sounded choked when I noted, “He’s very decisive.”
Allain uncrossed his arms from his chest and proffered his tablet to me again, muttering, “Get used to that.”
“I will assert the fact he did not make it clear he intended to court me,” I stated.
“He did.”
“Did not.”
“He very much did.”
“No, he did not!” I snapped.
Definitely he thought I was touched with the way he was regarding me, and the manner in which he asked, “Do you…not want him to court you?”
Of course I did. It had been my heart’s desire from when I was six years old. By all the levels of hell, it was every girl’s heart’s desire.
And…I didn’t know.
He was arrogant and elitist.
And what could come of it?
Not much.
Though, the champagne was pretty awesome.
And, of course, the small fact the prince was ludicrously gorgeous.
“Well?” Allain prompted impatiently.
I threw up my hands. “I don’t know. It never occurred to me this was in the cards. Our conversation was strange, at best.”
Though, the bedroom comment was not at all veiled.
I just thought he was playing games with me.