Behind Palace Doors (Hollywood 3)

Stefan nodded. “Duly noted.”

“If you two are done kissing and making up, can we get back to our family night?” Anthony asked.

Stefan knew an opening when he saw one. “Actually, I’d like to run something by you two since I have you here together.”

Bronson gestured toward the doors. “Let’s go out on the patio then.”

Bronson led the way out the glass double doors and onto the stone patio surrounded by lush plants and flowers and a trickling waterfall.

Stefan took a seat in one of the iron chairs and waited for Victoria’s brothers to get comfortable on the outdoor sofa across from him.

“What’s up?” Bronson asked.

“I know you’re both aware that my mother passed away when I was younger and there was speculation that she either committed suicide or my father may have had something to do with the accident.”

When both men nodded, Stefan went on. “I have wanted to clear my family’s name because my father never would go public before. He just wanted the rumors to die down, and he feared if he kept bringing it up people would assume he was covering his own tracks. Well, now that he’s gone, I want to shed some light on the situation and prove that he had nothing to do with her accident, nor did she, and they did indeed love each other very much.”

Anthony eased forward in his seat. “What do you have in mind?”

“I know that you two don’t normally take on projects like this, but I was hoping we could discuss working on a documentary.” Stefan wanted to hold his breath and wait for a response, but at the same time, he wanted to keep talking to convince them. “I have proof my father had nothing to do with the accident and that my mother wasn’t depressed or suicidal. There’s not a doubt in my mind that while, yes, he had an affair, he was not trying to get rid of my mother. The affair had been years before the accident, and when she died, I saw him go through pure hell. I just want to clear his reputation and go into my title with a clean slate for the Alexander name.”

“You sound certain that this was an accident,” Bronson said. “I’d be willing to discuss this further. I may not typically do documentaries, but that doesn’t mean I’m not open to the possibility.”

“I agree,” Anthony said. “Could we set up a time to talk about this in greater detail? I mean, we’d have to look at the police reports and interview credible witnesses who are willing to come forward.”

“I can provide you with anything you need.” A spear of relief spread through Stefan. “Victoria and I are going to be here for another few months, so whenever you two are free, let me know. We have a few engagements coming up, but our schedule in the States is still pretty light. I can work around your shooting times.”

As Victoria’s brothers discussed their upcoming schedules, Stefan couldn’t help but be overly thrilled. He had no idea they would be so open to the idea and respond so quickly. Though they hadn’t agreed to anything, they hadn’t shot down the idea.

Moving forward with this project and his coronation, Stefan knew that if everything fell in the right place, his life would be just as he’d pictured it. Clean family reputation and his country secured in the Alexander name.

What more could he want?

Nine

“So what did my brothers talk to you about?”

Victoria’s fingertip circled the top of her wineglass as she eased forward in her seat. Stefan had taken her to her office, then afterward she wanted to show him a new restaurant that had opened. They were just having drinks and a dessert, but sometimes it was nice to get out of the house and enjoy society like a normal person—or as normal as one could be between her iconic family and her royal status.

With the outdoor seating and sunset in the distance, the ambiance screamed romance...even if a bodyguard was seated a few tables away trying to blend in.

Yeah, this was now her “normal” life.

Stefan shrugged. “Nothing much.”

Victoria glared at him across the intimate table. “You’re lying.”

His eyes came up to meet hers as he reached across and took her hand from her glass. He kissed her fingertips one at a time, and she relished the familiar shivers that crept over her body at his simple, yet passionate actions. But she wasn’t letting the question go.

“Stefan?”

Lacing his hand through hers, he smiled. “Yes?”