The Princess Finds Her Match

Nic kept his face deliberately blank, refusing to let Butler see how this information affected him.

“The Princess will be stripped of her title and wealth if she doesn’t marry Walkden.”

“Is that it?” Nic managed a fucking laugh. “That’s the information you have? You could have saved yourself the trouble, mate. Lexie and I understand each other. We have nothing but a pretend affair resulting from her brother’s tendency towards the dramatic.”

“You forget, Fernandez, how easy it is for people to believe what they want to believe. For instance, some polo enthusiasts might catch whispers of a certain horse-breeding farm faking some papers to pass off their ponies as champion pedigrees.”

Nic assumed his poker face. He wanted his fists to fly, but he knew that was Butler wanted. For him to lose control. A horse-breeder’s reputation can make or break his business, and in the polo world where people moved in the same rarefied circles, rumors quickly spread. His father and his grandfather had established the estancia as one of the world’s best breeding farms, producing champion polo ponies for royalty and the elite, and he’d be damned if he let this prick let it all go to waste.

“When I want something, Nic, I don’t play fair. Following rules is for losers.” Butler’s tone was nonchalant, but his eyes were hard as flint. “I’m a winner, and I want that alledramite contract.”

“You must be crazy if you think the Prince is going to deal with you, let alone hand you that contract when he knows how you conduct your businesses.”

Butler laughed, a sound that grated on Nic’s nerves. “That’s why you’re here, Fernandez. I’m going to make sure after you give me what I want, he will begging me to take the contract.”

“I told you I have nothing to give to you, Butler,” he reiterated forcefully.

“You don’t, but his sister does.” At Nic’s uncomprehending look, Butler added with malicious enjoyment, ”Oh, be creative for once, dear boy. I see how you look at her. And Her Highness acts like a mare in heat around you,” he added crudely. “Give her what she fucking wants and then give me the video after.” He named a staggering amount. “I’m prepared to be generous. It’s a win-win situation for everyone all around.”

“You bastard!” Nic’s control snapped and it was as if some devil had suddenly possessed him. Leaping over the desk, he grabbed the collar of Butler’s shirt and hauled him up from his chair. He shoved him to the nearest wall and said in a dangerously low voice, “If you ever do anything to hurt the Princess, I will kill you. That is a promise. Stay away from her!” He stepped back from him in disgust. “Good luck finding yourself a captain for the Argentine Open,” he added with relish, naming the most prestigious polo tournament in the world, “because I quit.” He added for good measure, “I’m pretty sure Walkden and his team will win again this year.”

Leaving Butler in an apoplexy of rage and spitting invectives, he walked out of the study to find Lexie so they could depart with haste.

The party was still in full swing when he stepped out onto the lawn, scanning past the couples on the dance floor and to the tables surrounding it, flickering with tea candles and throwing flattering light on Botoxed foreheads and injected lips. Lexie was nowhere in sight. A glance at his mobile revealed no missed calls. She must have gone to the ladies’ room. He was already pulling out his mobile to call her to meet up at the foyer when he saw a familiar face staring at him from the other side of the dance floor. He froze. It was Melissa.

“Lookin’ for someone?” a slurred voice asked. Dragging his gaze from his ex-lover, Nic was confronted by Tansy’s slightly unfocused eyes.

“Did you invite Melissa?” Nic demanded in a low growl.

Tansy shrugged, a thin strap of her dress sliding down a shoulder. “Oops,” she giggled, not doing anything to pull it back up. “It’s a free country, Nic,” she said, surging towards him drunkenly. Nic straightened her with barely veiled distaste.

“Sober up, Tansy,” he said sharply, and he thought he saw a fleeting second of calculating lucidity, but he must have imagined it because in a blink, she was back to her vapid self.