Prince With Benefits: A Billionaire Royal Romance by Nicole Snow Read Free Book Online Page A

what I am.
    I just need to dial it back enough to prevent the Bearington crown from falling into the streets instead of my hands once grandmom's done.
    I need a girl to play the part, to give me a new image. An actress, that's what I'm after.
    Preferably, a girl who doesn't know a thing about who I really am, and who won't think twice about upsetting the whole arrangement because she starts to get attached.
    Smiling, I sip my coffee, tasting all the sweet notes of the Hawaiian plantation it's imported from, just for me. Truthfully, everything seems bright and decadent and beautiful today.
    It's glorious, because I woke up with my head straight, instead of a hangover. And it's only going to get better, damn it, because I have a plan.
    I'm finishing up my goose eggs and coffee when Victor knocks. “You know it's open!”
    He comes in, a somber look on his face, very much back to being my personal servant instead of my chaperon for Her Majesty.
    “Your Highness, I heard about Miss Hastings and her chat last night with you in the club. I'm deeply sorry, particularly because I'm the one who's warned her about inappropriate discussions before. If you'd like me to discharge her from her position immediately, I certainly would have no qualms.“
    “No. It's my fault for bringing her to bed. She's crushing like a stupid schoolgirl,” I tell him, owning up to it, as much as the bitch annoys me. “She's doing her job, giving me ideas to iron out my image. As long as she's doing that, she ought to keep what she's earned. She'll get over the rest of it, I'm sure, she's a professional at heart. Don't let her go, Vic. Just...keep her the hell away from me for awhile. Please.”
    “Understood, sire,” he says, the look on his face telling me that's going to be easier said than done. “Is there a reason you've called me up here?”
    “Yeah. I've been thinking about the Warwicks, wondering how they're doing.”
    Victor narrows his eyes. Probably wondering what I'm really up to.
    Screw him. He doesn't need to know. Not until it becomes absolutely necessary to spell everything out. Not a day sooner, because I know he'll try to talk me out of it, if he even gets a hint of what I'm after.
    “If you're certain, Your Highness, it would be my pleasure to find out and relay the message for you.”
    “I'd like that. I'd also like to know exactly what's wrong with her father, and what their finances look like.”
    Victor blinks. “Prince, I can find out the details of his condition without issue. The financial arrangements might be another matter. As you know, they're both foreign nationals, and the kingdom has no agreement in place with the United States to look so closely at their private details.”
    “Give me a damned break.” Shaking my head, I fold my arms and glare at him. “No more games, Vic. You know as well as anybody that they've had special agents checking over the island's bank accounts forever. Trying to catch the rich assholes who tried to use our banks as a conduit to Switzerland to avoid their taxes. It was all over the news, just a year or two ago.”
    “That's true, Your Highness, but I don't see how American nosiness has anything to do with –“
    “No buts. I'm not asking you to comb through the personal accounts of anybody at the US embassy. I'm just asking for the financials on the Warwicks. Two journalists nobody's going to start an international incident over. Can we do that?”
    I wait tensely for the answer, and it better be yes. Vic hesitates.
    Finally, he bows his head slightly. “Of course, sire. Anything you wish. I'll have to file a request with the intelligence office. You know how these things go. Hopefully, they'll process it promptly, and pass along something I can give to you by late tonight.”
    “Make it happen. Mark it high priority, or whatever. I want that file.” Dismissing him with a wave of the hand, I stand up and head to the shower.
    This bathroom is bigger than most people's homes.