My heart sinks to my toes.

If I had known that my indiscretions were going to cause this much trouble for me when they happened so many years ago, I would have dropped out of medical school. But at the time, I hadn’t seen many choices. My mother had just died, and my brother… I felt like I owed it to him and to my mother’s memory to see it through—to do what I had to do to stay in school. It was the only thing she had asked of me before she died—to make sure I finished my medical degree, no matter what.

And in my defense, I was young. And stupid, obviously. And I carried the shame of that incident with me for years until I realized that my professor was probably more at fault for taking advantage of a young, vulnerable, and naive girl than I was for taking him up on his offer.

Not that I don’t still blame myself, though.

I just never could have imagined that my stupidity would come back to bite me in the ass like this—damn, almost eight years later. I did what I could back then to make up for my actions. I retook the class so that there could never be any question as to whether or not I had earned my degree. But I suppose I should have dropped out. I should have failed the course and had to sit out a year. Though, if I had I never would have returned to medical school at all. And then I never would have gone to Rio de Campo, and I never would have met Leo.

It’s hard to believe such a stupid action might be what brought Leo and me together in the first place. If things had been any different, we probably wouldn’t be here now—we never would have known each other.

I hate that Matthias can’t seem to make eye contact with me now. Now that he knows. And the only reason anyone knows is because of my stupid mouth that won’t shut itself off when I get upset.

I look between the two men. “What do you want me to do?”

Matthias merely stares at his feet, not saying a word.

Leo looks at me with such pain in his eyes that the same ball of shame I’ve felt all these years wells in my chest again.

I close my eyes for a moment. “Maybe I should do an interview or something. If I tell my side of the story first, maybe it won’t be so bad. I mean, I’ll probably lose my medical license, but it isn’t like it’s much use to me right now, anyway, right?”

Leo frowns. “It isn’t a terrible idea, but it would definitely have our relationship in the front and center of the tabloids. And from what I understand of your situation, you don’t deserve to lose your medical license. The troll who used you deserves to be hanged.”

“Then maybe I should go public—maybe I can tell a reporter what happened. Maybe he or she will be sympathetic—I know I wasn’t the only girl who got, you know, extra credit.”

Leo rubs his chin, shaking his head slowly. “Any acknowledgment on your part will only reflect badly on us both.”

“Perhaps not.” Matthias’s voice is low, almost hesitant. “If Doctor Parker were to frame it that way, perhaps an investigation could be conducted into this professor’s actions. If it were presented that way—if she is portrayed as the victim of this matter, which she rightly should be…”

Leo looks at him for a moment. “She would still be in the news, though. We both would.”

Matthias nods, lifting his gaze to meet Leo’s. “When you go out into the city this afternoon, you are sure to have photographs taken. Even with our laws against the paparazzi, it hardly stops the citizens from taking photos on their mobiles. And those photos often make it into the tabloids.”

Leo almost growls. “I hadn’t thought of that, though I suppose you’re right.”

“Wasn’t the agreement that we not cause a scandal, Leo?” I know I sound desperate, but after everything that happened last night, I almost am. “We wouldn’t be causing a scandal. This is one I instigated all on my own.”

Leo shakes his head. “That sort of reasoning would never work with my father.”

“Then I should leave.” I frown. “And not because I want to, Leo. Because it’s the right thing to do—at least until this blows over. Stephan doesn’t want me here because of what he overheard you telling Sophia.” I shrug. “I deserve this. I did this—this is my cross to bear.”

“Elle…” His shoulders drop and he closes his eyes for a moment. He finally opens them to meet my gaze. “Last night, I saw no way out of my dilemma. But after a night’s sleep and forcing myself through those files…” He motions at the stack of folders on his sofa. “I’ve come to realize that perhaps things are not always as bad as they seem at first blush. Perhaps we should give this a bit of time—see what actually comes to pass before we rush to judgment.” He shakes his head. “I nearly forced you to leave last night because I was afraid to face the possibility of working.”

I lift a brow. “I take it the tax stuff wasn’t as bad as you thought?”

He gives me the smallest of smiles. “Indeed, it was not. It was almost…enjoyable, though I hesitate to say that aloud.” He glances at Matthias. “Do you have any other people in the local press you can contact? Anyone who might be connected to the larger media outlets?”

Matthias nods. “Yes, Your Highness. There is one person—he is well connected with the press in America, which is our greatest concern. Though he has been very…hesitant…in the past to take payment in lieu of publishing a story of national interest.”

I let out a small huff. “He won’t take a bribe.” I try not to roll my eyes, though I’m almost disgusted that it’s come to this. “You can’t really blame him. If he’s a decent journalist, he wouldn’t be bribed.” I turn my gaze to Leo. “What other stories have you paid reporters to hide?”

His cheeks redden, but he doesn’t answer. He turns his gaze back to Matthias. “See if there is something he needs—I take it this is the same reporter we convinced earlier this year?”

Matthias nods.

“Good. Then it shouldn’t be too difficult to get him to hide this information from the American press again.” Leo clears his throat—he’s obviously shared too much information with me. “It was a car he wanted last time, was it not?”

Matthias nods again. “Yes, Your Highness. A quite expensive sports car, if I recall correctly.”

“Well, see to it that he gets another. Or perhaps he would rather have a boat. I’m sure there must be something he would enjoy—”

“Leo,” I interrupt. “You are not going to bribe a reporter to defend my honor.”

His lips are pressed in a line. “This is not only for you, Elle. This is as much for me—for us—as it is to defend your reputation.”

“I still think if we get in front of this—if I can somehow be the one to tell the story—”

He interrupts with a stern shake of his head. “I’ll not have you doing interviews with the press—ever. When we are to deal with the media, it will be me speaking with them, and me alone. I forbid you from speaking with anyone about this, Elle.”

My eyebrows rise. “You forbid me, Your Highness?”

His gaze narrows a bit. “Yes.”

“You realize, of course, that as a citizen of the United States, I’m not under any obligation to follow your commands, Your Highness. In fact, I can walk out the door anytime I fucking well please and speak to anyone I fucking well please and do an interview with anyone I fucking well please—”

“Elle.” He almost growls my name. “This is not about your freedom of speech. This is merely about me trying to protect you from what I know is going to happen if we allow this story to get into circulation. You will never hear the end of it.” He shakes his head. “These types of stories—you simply don’t understand. They take on a life of their own, and it won’t matter that you were taken advantage of. That this professor abused his position with his abominable behavior. The media will turn you into the monster because of me—because that is what they do. They won’t care about your feelings or the circumstances surrounding those events. They will only try to make it as miserable and embarrassing for everyone involved, particularly for myself and for my family.”

I’m silent for a moment, considering his words. “Then I really shouldn’t be seen in public with you, Leo. No one knows we’re together—the last time anyone saw us in public together was three months ago. Unless there were photos taken in that restaurant in New York.”

He shakes his head. “That establishment would never tolerate such behavior from its guests.”

I shrug. “Then no one knows we’re together. There’s no proof of it, anyway, other than those photos of us from California. Why would the media give a shit about me—your one-time flavor of the week?” I shrug again. “They lost interest in me pretty quickly, especially after you started dating that lingerie model.”

His cheeks stain an even deeper red, but he ignores the comment about the woman he dated after our breakup. “Perhaps you are correct. Though that would mean you would have to stay in the palace, at least by day. We could walk the grounds, of course, but we would have to stay out of the city. Away from any place someone from outside the palace might see us together.”

“Your Highness, I apologize for interrupting—”

Leo’s gaze turns to Matthias. “You aren’t interrupting.” He bows his head slightly. “Please…”

Matthias nods. “Your Highness, I hate to even suggest…” He clears his throat. “If information is being leaked from the palace, it stands to reason that photographs could be shared as well. It is not outside the realm of possibility that Stephan—”

“He wouldn’t dare.” Leo shakes his head. “Stephan is a weasel, but he isn’t an idiot. If he were to take photographs, they could be traced back to him. Information is more difficult to trace, but a photograph… He enjoys his employ too much.”

Matthias bows his head. “It would be wise, though, to stay away from him for the time being, Your Highness. Just in case.”

Leo nods and turns his gaze back to me. He lifts his brows. “What do you think?”

My mouth is hanging open a little, listening to this bullshit. “You want me to be a prisoner here, if I’m hearing this correctly. Are you planning to lock me away in the dungeon, too? Or am I just to stay locked in my room for the next three months?”

Leo’s shoulders drop. “It wouldn’t have to be that way entirely, Elle.”

“Oh, really? How are you proposing to have me keep my distance from Stephan, then? Didn’t you tell me when we arrived that the walls have eyes and ears? You were talking about Stephan, weren’t you?”

Leo gives me a grim nod.

I let out a long breath. “I can’t stay in that room for three months, Leo.”

He gives me a pained look. “If you have a better idea, Elle—”

“Oh, I have a better idea. I already told you my better idea.” I pause for a moment, looking between the two men.

It suddenly dawns on me exactly what we need to do. I smile. “But I think I have an even better idea than that.” I know exactly who I need to reveal my secrets to—the only people who really need to know the story.

Leo must be able to read my mind, because he shakes his head with a vehemence I’ve only rarely seen from him. “No.”

I nod. “We have to.”

“No, Elle. We can’t.” His eyes are wild and he shakes his head again. “We can’t.”

“I’ll do it myself, then. This is my doing, Leo. My fault. My responsibility. If I own it, maybe—”

He interrupts. “No. Elle—you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.” The look in his eyes changes—he’s almost pleading with me now.

I nod again. “Well, your mom and I seemed to bond pretty well yesterday.”

There’s a sound of desperation in his voice I’ve never heard before—I almost expect him to drop to his knees to beg me not to do what needs to be done. “Elle, please…”

I turn to Matthias. “Matthias, will you please ask if I may meet with Leo’s mother and father as soon as possible?”