The Mediterranean Energy Commission left the building, and everyone breathed in a cleansing breath. Nico buzzed Trane on his intercom. He took it on his phone. “They’re gone.”

“Thanks for dealing with them, brother.”

“They should be pleased with their audit results. We are doing much better than most other countries. The only ones beating us with lower emissions and better quality of ecosystem are the small islands where no one lives.”

Nico chuckled. “It is the Torren way, to care for our nation, to leave our children a yet beautiful place to live.”

“Jo sweet talked them and made a few suggestions to their policy.”

Jo waved a few fingers as she walked away, all business now, to her own next meeting. Trane was happy yet again she had joined their family. And she brought with her a passion to protect the ocean and its oceanic wildlife. Trane shook his head. Nico won lotteries and struck all kinds of jackpots with her, not to mention the gold at the end of any rainbow. She reminded him of Seraphina. He checked his schedule. No time to call her yet.

“Nico, we are completely in compliance with all their listed regulations. But I suggest, and Jo agrees with me, that we should set our own standard, much stricter than is required by the MEC and stick by it.”

“I will support whatever you come up with if you can convince our corporation owners.”

That was the trick, ensuring that the efforts made to protect their island country and its resources did not detract from the economic growth of the nation.

Lucan entered the conference room where Trane still stood and turned on the television. To Trane’s happy surprise, Seraphina’s voice carried over the room’s speakers. “While Torren is ahead of its neighbors in most environmentally concerned areas, the small Mediterranean nation falls behind in a few small, though vital, areas.”

He flipped off the television and texted her. “Just heard your news segment. Coincidentally just finished an audit with the MEC. What are these small though vital areas?”

He could see the three dots that meant she was responding.

“I’ve been assigned Torren and its dealings with the ocean. Your nation typically leads out in healthy Ocean treatment.”

“Assigned? And thank you.”

“Yes. We’re doing an eco-friendly segment. I’ll be flying in this week.”

Trane’s face broke out in a grin.

Lucan turned the television back on. “I assume from the sappy smile you are texting her right now?”

He looked up from his phone. “She’s coming, been assigned Torren’s handling of the environment as her next reporting gig.” He smiled even larger. “Maybe we can take her out on the lake.”

Lucan frowned. “But you did hear what she said, right? She’s not here to paint roses in the press for us.”

Trane hesitated. True. And she never answered his first question. It didn’t signify. “No matter Lucan. Whatever she tries to dig up will be positive. We’ve been proactive about this for a decade now, back when others were still just barely catching on.”

Lucan’s frown continued. “Stick close. I don’t want any surprises from her. If she digs up something, I want to be the first to know about it.”

Stick close to Seraphina? Excellent. “No problem there.” He stood, his grin matching Lucan’s frown in strength. “I think I’ll meet her at the airport.”

He had so much to do to get ready for a summit they were planning. Torren had agreed to host a Mediterranean country environmental summit to create a mutually agreeable plan to save the waters they all shared. But he couldn’t focus. His steps felt light, brisk, his heart happy. Seraphina was coming to Torren, and he had to stick close. He felt sure she would be covering the summit and everything leading up to it.

He stopped. Perhaps he should invite her to stay at the palace? Participate in the meetings. His grin started to hurt his face.

Nico rounded the corner. “What are you so happy about? Should I check my shoes? Or was it my underwear this time?”

Trane put a hand on Nico’s shoulder. “Very funny brother. The truth is, you and Jo have inspired me. Seraphina is coming this week on assignment to report on the summit and our dealings as a country with the environment and I’m thinking about asking her to stay here in the palace, to sit in on some of our meetings.”

Nico’s eyebrows lowered. “Trane.”

“What? She’s one of us, Nico.” A hint of irritation jabbed at him. “What do you think she’s gonna say about us? Come on man, I’m finally finding a way to share my business life with my personal.”

He looked away. “That’s my biggest concern. She may not be our friend in this. Everything she hears or sees is game for interpretation. She works for Gateway, you know. That Calloway would love a reason to take us down.”

“But I’m confident she won’t find any dirt.”

“There’s always dirt, Trane.” Nico’s eyes looked troubled and Trane began to doubt his plan. “Would it be too much work if she stayed with us? Lucan could put a man on her.” He hated to say it, almost bit his tongue while it formed the words, but Nico’s concerns were valid.

His brother turned to face him fully. “I know the thought of her makes you happy. Sure, invite her here. We will let Lucan know. Give it a real go. If you can find the happiness I have with Jo, I’ll support you in this.” His eyes held a good amount of concern but Trane appreciated his support.

“Thanks man. Now, I’ve just got to convince her to stay here.” He thought that might be the biggest challenge of all.

“I’ll give you the same advice you gave me. You know how to sway a woman’s heart, but you’re too close to this one. What would you do if this were some other woman you cared little about?” He raised his eyebrow in a challenge.

Trane swung his arms around and worked through his shoulders. “You’re right. I got this.” As he walked away, he called over his shoulder, “Let’s put her in the East wing, with the ocean views.”

“Jo’s old rooms?”

“Hey, every little bit helps.” Trane winked at him. Though he knew Phina wouldn’t be as affected by the sudden royal lifestyle, being a princess herself. At least he could put her within easy access to himself. He picked up his steps again. Even though he was as busy as ever, life seemed simpler now that he had a plan to make Seraphina more a part of it.

As he was entering his next set of meetings, a concern about her loyalties surfaced. He tried to push it away but it persisted. He texted Lucan. “Let’s talk.” She wouldn’t welcome being spied on. Hopefully she would never know. But no matter how much he cared for her, he would not let her sabotage his efforts or blacken his family name.