She nodded. ‘Okay. Well, now that’s sorted, can I leave?’
‘No. This misunderstanding is...’ His frown was massive as he stared at her. ‘You must be hungry. Airline food isn’t fantastic.’
‘As if you’ve ever flown commercial.’
‘And apparently you wouldn’t say no to a free dinner.’ He ignored her mutter. ‘So, please, attend tonight’s banquet.’
She stared at him. ‘Pardon?’
‘You lost your job as a consequence of your association with Amalia and me. As recompense, please attend tonight’s banquet.’
‘Sorry, what?’ Her jaw dropped. ‘You think that’s going to make everything better?’
‘Small things can have large consequences.’ He actually smiled. ‘What better way to restore your reputation on Silvabon than as a guest of the royal family?’
‘You mean approval by association?’ What if it backfired and he was found guilty by associating with her? No, thank you.
‘I’m not interested in restoring my reputation,’ she said stiffly. Hot humiliation flooded her cheeks—that was an impossibility. ‘I don’t want anyone to know I’m here.’
His gaze narrowed. ‘What happened to not saying no to a free dinner?’
‘I don’t think this one will be free. I think there’ll be another kind of payment attached,’ she said bluntly.
His voice was velvety soft. ‘Does that scare you, Elsie?’
Her pulse suddenly tripled its pace. ‘Absolutely. I’ll likely have my head on a spike before the night is over.’
His smile flashed again. ‘But I’ll be there.’
‘To slay the dragons for me?’ She shook her head. ‘Don’t you understand you’re the dragon.’
He stepped closer. Dangerously close. ‘Should I breathe fire, Elsie? Is it threats you want?’
As he walked forward, she stepped back and both kept going until she was in a very small corner of the very large room. At that point she tossed her head and stared him down. Anger—energy—blooming.
‘What’ll you do if I say no, Felipe? Will you lock me in this dungeon of a room and throw away the key?’ She half hoped he would as long as she was alone—away from him.
But wicked vitality gleamed in his gaze. ‘Don’t tempt me.’
Tempt him?
‘Prison doesn’t scare me,’ she said defiantly.
‘Prison?’
‘You don’t know my past, so you don’t know what you’re inviting into your precious banquet.’ She shook her head. ‘Bet you regret not reading the security report on me now...’
‘On the contrary, I’m happy not to have. It means I get to investigate you all on my own. I’ll skip the banquet too. I’ll stay here and find out exactly what the hell is going on with you.’
‘Why do you care?’
He shrugged. ‘I want to know. Everything. What’s on that video, Elsie?’
No. That was an infinitely worse proposition. She didn’t want to open up to him in that way. She didn’t open up to anyone.
‘You’re bored,’ she said scathingly. ‘It’s the eve of your coronation and you’re bored.’
‘Maybe I am. Spoilt royal, at your service.’ He mock-bowed. ‘So, come to the banquet. Let us apologise and make amends. For the loss of your job. For “dragging” you from the airport. Plus, you can catch up with Amalia and I know you want to do that.’