The Millionaire's Royal Rescue

“Really? Hmm... I must have been mistaken.”

“I think it must just be from me working so closely on this project.”

“Of course. Mirraccino seems like it would be a great place for a young family. And that fountain, I can imagine kids wanting to make wishes there. And that bakery, it was fantastic...”

Grayson’s voice faded into the background as Annabelle latched on to a fuzzy memory of her mother. They’d been here, in this very piazza the day before her mother was murdered. The memory was so vague that she was having a hard time focusing on it. But she did recall her mother had been upset. She definitely hadn’t been her usual happy, smiling self.

“Annabelle? Are you okay?”

Grayson’s voice jarred her back to reality. Heat rushed up her neck and settled in her cheeks. She was embarrassed that in the middle of this very important meeting she’d zoned out and gotten lost in her memories. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“I can see something is bothering you.” He led her over to one of the benches surrounding the fountain and they sat down. “I know we barely know each other, but maybe that’s a good thing. Sometimes I find it easier to talk to a stranger about my troubles.”

What did she say? That she had some vague flashback? And why did she have it? What did it even mean?

It was best to deflect the question. “What troubles do you have?”

He glanced away. “We...um, aren’t talking about me right now. You’re the one who looked as though you saw a ghost.”

So he did have a skeleton or two in his closet. Was it bad that she took some sort of strange comfort in knowing that he wasn’t as perfect as she imagined him to be, not that she’d done any digging into his past. When she’d done her research on Fo Shizzle, she’d been more interested in his company’s financial history and their projections for the future—all of which consisted of glowing reports.

“Annabelle?”

“Okay. It’s not that big of a deal. I was just remembering being here with my mother.”

His brows drew together. “I don’t understand. Why would that upset you?”

She’d told him this much; she might as well tell him the rest. After all, it wasn’t like the memory was any big deal. “It’s just that the memory is from a long time ago and it’s vague. I remember that day my mother wasn’t acting like herself. She was quiet and short-tempered. Quite unlike her.”

“Was your father with you?”

Annabelle shook her head. “I don’t know where he was. I’m assuming back home in Halencia with my brother.”

“You have a brother?”

She nodded. “He’s six years older than me. But what I don’t get is why I’d forgotten this.”

“It’s natural to forget things that don’t seem important at the time. Do you think the memory is important now?”

“I have no idea.”

“Why not just ask your mother about it?”

“I can’t.” Though Annabelle wished with all of her heart that she could speak with her mother.

“You don’t get along with her?”

In barely more than a whisper, Annabelle said, “She died.”

“Oh. Sorry. If you don’t mind me asking, how old were you at the time?”

“I was thirteen. So I wasn’t really paying my mother a whole lot of attention.”

“I remember what it was like to be a kid. Although I spent most of my time holed up in my bedroom, messing around on my computer.”

“So that’s how you became so successful. You worked toward it your whole life.”

He leaned back on the bench and stretched his legs out in front of him. “I never set out to be a success. I was just having fun. I guess you could say I stumbled into success.”