“Ms. McDonough is right, Madeira. Let’s get to the point. I own El Rancho Grande.”
“No.”
“Well, of course, I meant I will own it should I choose to pay the balance of the selling price.”
“And marry the lovely señorita.”
“That’s ridiculous!”
Lucas and Alyssa spoke with one voice. Madeira folded his hands over his little belly and sighed.
“That’s exactly what I tried to tell your grandfather.”
“Well, then? What’s the problem?”
“The problem is that legally, a contract is a contract. It’s the meeting of the minds that’s important.”
“More double-talk,” Lucas snapped.
Madeira shook his head. “What I’m saying, Your Highness, is that enforceable or not, contracts of this sort stand as written unless voided by the signatories.” The lawyer peered at Alyssa. “One of those parties is deceased.” He looked at Lucas. “And the other is incapacitated.” His expression turned solemn. “Did I tell you how sorry we were to hear about your grandfather?”
“You did, yes.” Lucas cleared his throat. “So, what are you telling me, Madeira? That there might be reasons an unenforceable contract can be enforced?” He flashed a chilly smile. “That’s a bit too much bullshit even for a lawyer.”
“Let me ask you something, Prince Lucas. Your grandfather and I discussed his giving you his power of attorney but there doesn’t appear to be any such paperwork in his file.”
“What does it matter? I represent the Reyes Corporation, not my grandfather.”
“Ah, but Prince Felix signed this agreement in his own name, not that of the corporation.” Madeira paused. “Of course, you can simply renege on the contract.”
“Not pay the balance of the money?”
Alyssa made a muffled sound. Both men looked at her.
“Without that money,” she said carefully, “the bank will take the ranch.”
“Unfortunately,” the lawyer said, “that is not Prince Lucas’s problem.”
“No,” Lucas said coldly, “it is not.”
Alyssa rose to her feet. “Despite everything, I know there’s a decent human being somewhere inside you.”
The lawyer blanched. “Señorita McDonough!”
“I know that because I know you love your grandfather. Surely there must be a way—”
“For you to get my money and my title? Sorry, amada. There isn’t. Nice try, though.”
Alyssa looked at him for a long minute. Her eyes glittered; was it with anger or frustration or maybe even despair?
Without another word, she stalked from the office.
Lucas watched her go. Then he cursed, shot from his chair and went after her.
CHAPTER TEN
LUCAS ran down the steps, out the door and into the courtyard.
There was no sign of Alyssa, which was impossible. How could a woman vanish in the blink of an eye?