‘Really?’ Relief then a small bit of happiness hit—maybe he could have a little family. But he wanted so much more. He wanted Elsie. ‘Okay. Talk more later.’
Amalia nodded. ‘Thank you, Felipe.’ Her smile was shy.
As if he were a kind and benevolent king? He shook his head. ‘I should have asked what you wanted sooner. I’m sorry.’ He glanced at his watch and his heart stopped.
‘Are you sure you’re okay?’ Amalia asked.
‘Yeah.’ He flashed his sister an appreciative smile and hoped like hell he would be.
Adrenalin flowed in his veins and he ran up the stairs three at a time. He knew what he needed to do. And he needed to do it now.
‘It’s time for the balcony appearance.’ His aide was reading his tablet as he walked into the antechamber. ‘The flyover is four minutes out.’
‘No. I need a brief break.’
‘Sir?’His aide froze. Only his eyeballs swivelled, giving a side-eye that would’ve been funny if Felipe weren’t so frantic.
Elsie’s flight couldn’t leave until after the flyover. Which meant he had only minutes to contact her. Four minutes wasn’t going to be enough. ‘I need to make a phone call. Stall the flyover. Give me a phone.’
He hadn’t had one on him for the ceremony. This action was so unsophisticated. So simple. So desperate. But it was all he could think to do.
‘Sir, we can’t.’ The poor aide was having conniptions.
‘We can and we will. Adapt and get used to it.’ He shot the guy a twisted smile. ‘Some things are going to have to change.’