It was good to see my family again, but the unrelenting pressure of taking over the kingdom had turned my little vacation into a tension-inducing trip that had me more wound up when I left than when I’d arrived.

I kept it all inside, as I always did. It was one of the ways that Abir and I were different. My dear brother wore his heart on his sleeve while I closed off all emotion when I could, especially when it came to the public eye.

From the airport, I didn’t even bother going back to my flat. I had a lot to do at work since I’d missed two days already. I knew Maddox would want to know what happened since I was sure the news of Father stepping down was already known throughout the company, if not the public as a whole.

Promising him dinner would help defeat his curiosity. I had a lot to make up for, and I wasn’t going to let this company suffer because my mind was distracted by the decision about becoming king.

I arrived around the time that the rest of the employees did, so I melted into the crowd and hurried my way to the elevator banks. I didn’t have time to wait around in the lobby before getting to work.

When the next elevator arrived, I stepped in and pressed my back against the corner. I opened my phone and started reading through some new messages in my inbox.

Other than the polite greetings and wishes for a happy new year from some of the senior people at the company, I was left alone. There was a lot to do at the beginning of each month, and I’d curated a lot of top-notch workers to build my empire. There was little time for socialization, which maximized output.

As the last person left the elevator, I hung behind, finishing up the last sentence of an email. I stepped out just as the doors were closing.

“Just the man I wanted to see,” Maddox said.

Glancing up, I saw he was a ways down the hall, but I had a feeling he had been waiting for me.

“Happy New Year,” I said to him and continued to my office. If he wanted to talk, then he could do it on the way.

“You too, mate,” he said, keeping up with my stride. “What was with your pops dragging you home by the ear?”

I pulled a face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, come on, you can talk to me about it,” Maddox said, following me into my office and closing the door. “You were going to spend the holiday working, and the moment he arrived, you were whisked off. Did you get into trouble?”

I knew he was teasing, but it hit a nerve, one that I’d been hiding since Father showed up.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I said.

“All right,” he said, holding his hands up in surrender. “I’m just asking as a friend.”

“Are you?” I asked.

Maddox pressed his lips together. “Is something going on? Is the company in trouble? I thought with the two new accounts—”

“The company is fine,” I said a little too sharply. All I wanted was to work in peace. “It was a personal issue more than anything.”

I guessed the news about Father leaving the throne to me hadn’t traveled this far. I supposed that was a good thing. Maddox wouldn’t be able to hold himself back if he did find out. I imagined finding plastic crowns on my desk or him giving me a scepter for my birthday. I knew it was all in good fun, but to me, this was a change in my entire life. No one other than my Father or other royal families understood what I was about to go through.

“Well, when you get over your jet lag, we can talk,” he muttered.

I gritted my teeth. “Let’s have dinner tonight. I have a lot of work to do, and you know how I get. I’m sorry. I don’t like interruptions.”

“I know,” he said with a little smirk. “Oh, I forgot to tell you that you have a meeting this morning with an American reporter.”

Any peace that I had in the time between my apology and making plans for dinner had lit up in flames. “What meeting?”

“She stopped over here yesterday looking for you,” he said, smiling. “I didn’t think you’d mind doing a quick interview. It will be good for the company. And she’s a real hottie. I bet you will enjoy it.”

“I don’t have time for this,” I said. “Why don’t you speak with her?”

“Come on, Luke. She wants to write an article about us. She seemed very keen, which can only be a positive thing.”

I slammed my phone down on my desk. “I can’t believe you agreed to this without my permission.”

“I had Victoria send you the confirmation,” he said. “I understand you’re under a lot of stress with your family, but you need to think about the company, too.”

I did recall something added to my calendar, but I was too distracted to look or care. Didn’t he know that my life was the company?

Turning my phone around, I swiped the screen to pull up my calendar. “The meeting is in five minutes?”

“It will be quick, I’m sure,” Maddox said.

“No,” I said. “I refuse to give an interview.” It felt more than coincidental that an American reporter arrived days after Father had come to tell me the news. It seemed that none of my employees had heard, but there were always nosy people sniffing around the kingdom for a good story. I wasn’t sure why an American outlet would be the first to break the news, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to speak with the reporter.

“Don’t be like that,” Maddox said.

My door opened, and the both of us turned toward it. Justine always knocked.

Instead of the familiar face of my secretary, I looked into the pale blue eyes of some strange woman. Her dark hair fell over her shoulder, and she was dressed in a gray skirt suit that made her eyes appear even bluer, if that were possible.

“Speak of the cheeky devil,” Maddox said with a grin. I knew that smile. He’d already made up his mind about her. I wished he’d think with his brain more often.

You’d have to be blind not to think she was gorgeous, but I’d been around enough news outlets to know that they always sent in the pretty girls to get their foot in the door before the real questions began. Questions I didn’t want to answer at the moment. She was right to get to Maddox first. He was a pushover when it came to a pretty face. But I knew better. She was going to have a tougher time with me.

“I’m Sophia Holmes,” she said, stepping into my office as if she owned the place.

I wasn’t impressed. “I don’t know what my associate told you, but I’m not interested in giving an interview at this time. I’m sorry I’ve wasted your time.”

“Mr. Walters, I won’t take up much of your time,” she said. Her accent struck me. It was sweet, and it had a lovely drawl to it. Wherever she’d been sent from, they were smart.

“I don’t have any time for this,” I said. “If you want to talk to someone, then talk to Maddox. Right now, I need both of you out of my office. I have a lot of work to do.”

“Don’t be rude, mate,” Maddox said.

I shot him a look. It was the one I reserved for moments such as this. Even though we were best friends, currently he was crossing a line. Showing any weakness in front of the reporter would give her the opportunity to pounce.

“I don’t appreciate people barging into my office,” I said to the reporter. “Even if they have an appointment. It shows incompetence and unprofessionalism.”

She didn’t even flinch at my insult. I bet she had a thick skin; she needed it for her job. “Your secretary was away from her desk.”

I glanced out into the hallway to see Justine returning to her chair with a mug of coffee. While it was her job to keep the order of my schedule, she wasn’t my bouncer. She wasn’t at fault. Maddox was for allowing this woman to even step foot in my building.

“Ms. Holmes,” Maddox said. “I do apologize for wasting your time. Let me show you out.”

I expected her face to fall or for her to beg to do the interview. Instead, she locked eyes with me before allowing Maddox to show her out.

“Mr. Walters,” she said by way of a farewell.

I turned around, showing her that I wouldn’t change my mind.

When the door finally closed and I was alone, her expression still lingered on my mind. It wasn’t disappointment; it was determination.

Little did she know that I was more determined than anyone to keep my family’s secrets. If she really wanted to do an interview with me about the company, then she could do it over the phone, but I wasn’t about to be bullied into speaking with some random newspaper about my life. Especially when I hadn’t fully figured it out yet.

If she thought I did, then she was in for a surprise.

* * *

For the rest of the day, I had peace. Other than constant emails and requests for the end of year paperwork from our accountants, I was able to delve into work and make up for the days I’d been away. I fell back into a routine that didn’t involve thinking about my future.

The only break I took was for lunch, which Justine had ordered and left on my desk before closing my office door. I’d mentioned the little break in with the reporter, so I knew she’d be on high alert for any more unwanted interruptions.

By the time I looked up at the clock above the door, it was already five-thirty. I didn’t want to keep Maddox waiting, so I packed my briefcase and grabbed my jacket.

I had the urge to hit up one of the pubs for dinner. As much as I enjoyed the food at the palace, I’d missed the greasy fish and chips with a pint in the few days I’d been away.

Sending Maddox a quick text, I intended to head home to change before we went out. Usually, I didn’t mind going out in a suit, but when it came to pubs, I preferred looking like a local instead of a CEO or a prince. Hiding in plain sight had been something I’d perfected over the years.

A few others were working late but not many. Most would head home to their families for a nice home-cooked meal. That was something I never knew and would never get to know. Even if I didn’t accept the throne, I would always be royalty. Mother would probably force me into an arranged marriage in which we’d have staff with a cook.

I was reminded of the woman that Mother tried to set me up with at the party. The girl was pretty enough, but the spark in her eyes when we made eye contact made my stomach twist. She looked at me for what I was, not who I was. All of the women that Mother set me up with would know that about me. But I wasn’t just a prince. There would never be a setup that allowed me to get to know someone before they knew my title. It was custom. Another custom I wanted nothing to do with.

I was nearly to the exit of the otherwise empty lobby when rapid clicking started up behind me. I whirled around, not expecting to see the American reporter—Sophia—close on my heels.