Tempting the Crown (The Crown 1)

Her head pounded. Why was Bruce giving her a hard time? “Sure. But I need a consult first,” she spat the words with more anger than she intended.

“Sorry.” He pushed back from the table. “Let me know when you have something for me to see.”

He marched out of the conference room.

Abby sighed. She had let her fear surface in front of everyone. She smiled at the group. “Let’s reschedule this meeting for tomorrow. Ok? I think we all need a day after the Vegas success.”

She hurried out of the meeting, looking for a place to hide. She ran to the ladies’ room and splashed water on her face. She dabbed a towel to her neck. She had broken out in a sweat.

There was no way she was going to give Cal money, but if she didn’t, she could lose Cole and Deacon.

She didn’t have enough in her savings to make a payment that would satisfy her greedy cousin. She could take out a loan, but she knew that still wouldn’t be enough to make him happy. If she had been worth six-digits to Deacon in a poker game, Cal had to be thinking a figure somewhere near that.

She leaned into the wall for support. The chills ran through her. Heat and cold. Back and forth, controlling her body with fear and rage.

Where was she going to come up with that kind of money?

***

Douglas greeted her at the door when she arrived at the manor. Cole and Deacon were stuck at the office in a meeting. They told her to go ahead and eat dinner without them.

“Anything you need, Miss?” Douglas asked.

“No. I think I’m going to take a hot bath.”

“Should I draw it for you?”

She looked at him. Douglas had been doing thing for her since she arrived, but that wasn’t something she needed help with.

“I think I’ve got it.” She smiled. “Will you let me know when Deacon or Cole are home?”

“Yes. Dinner is at six.”

She rolled her eyes. She thought maybe since they were out for the night she could eat on her own schedule.

“Ok.” She climbed the stairs, feeling the exhaustion hit her.

Her phone buzzed. She saw Cal’s name appear on the screen this time.

“What is it?” she asked quickly.

“Are we meeting tonight?”

“What? I said I would call you when I had something for you.”

“I’m not patient.”

She reached the top of the stairs and rushed to her room. The last thing she needed was Douglas to hear her conversation.

“You’re going to have to be. I don’t have the kind of money you think I do. You gambled me into this situation, Cal. It’s not like you sent me with a dowry.”

“What the fuck is a dowry?”

She hung her head. “It doesn’t matter. It just means, I need some time.”

“You have until the morning. Or I go to the press.”

“Morning? There aren’t piles of cash lying around the house, Cal. I don’t know what you think happens with rich people and money. It’s in accounts, not stuffed in a mattress.”