Royal Heir (Westerly Billionaire #3)(21)

Eric covered his face with one hand. “One visit. One kid. No press.”

Rachelle looked like her heart was breaking for him. “You’ll be glad you went, Eric.”

Eric raised his eyes to Magnus’s and shot him a not-so-subtle silent warning. “Would you like to come, Rachelle?”

With a tentative smile, Rachelle said, “I’d like that.” Looking as if she’d lost a battle with herself, she threw her arms around Eric again and hugged him. “I was so worried when you didn’t answer my texts last night.”

Eric awkwardly patted her back. “Sorry, I misplaced my phone.”

Rachelle looked past him and met Magnus’s eyes. “That’s funny, I lost mine recently as well. Since I know it’s here, though, I have high hopes of finding it quickly.”

Magnus fought a smile. She’s angry with me. “Things happen. I’m sure it will turn up.”

“I hope so, since I’m not going anywhere without it.”

I do like her spirit. “I find that when I am patient and calm, I don’t lose things.”

She stepped away from her brother, and her chest heaved. She placed her hand on Magnus’s arm. “Could I have a moment alone with you?”

“Absolutely,” Magnus said, surprised at how much he enjoyed even that brief touch.

Eric looked as if he wanted to say something, but he didn’t.

Magnus led the way to the office and closed the door. She had impressed him again. He was also pretty proud of how his plan was coming together. Eric was on board with making the appearance. Rachelle had had her moment with her brother. Finn would meet his hero. If everything else went as well, the trip would end with Eric in a rehab center and Rachelle in his bed.

I should tell her there’s no need to thank me now. What I’m imagining for later will be thanks enough.

The finger she poked into his chest took him off guard. “I don’t know how things are done in your country, but we need to clarify a few points before I go anywhere with you. First, what’s with the goons? They’re freaking me out. Are they keeping me safe or keeping me here? Either way, they’re too much. I was half convinced you were kidnapping me before I saw Eric.”

Magnus smiled, which only made her more angry.

“You think it’s funny to scare people? If so, I hope your country has a second option for a king or I feel sorry for them.”

His humor and smile faded away. “Be careful, little Rachelle.”

Even though she only came up to his shoulders, she stepped closer and put her hands on her hips. “No, you be careful. Don’t become so enamored with power that you forget how to treat people with respect. I was raised around people like that. It’s not pretty.”

“I haven’t treated you poorly. In fact, I have gone way out of my way to help you.”

“Really? If you’re helping me, then why take my phone? That’s not helping; that’s controlling. Don’t confuse the two.”

Magnus sighed. “I was in the middle of something when you texted me that you were about to phone the police. You left me with no choice.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Magnus,” she said angrily. “I’m so sick of people blaming others for their own bad behavior. You always have a choice when it comes to how you treat people. I won’t be bullied. I want my phone back, and I want an apology.” She folded her arms across her chest and glared up at him.

Had anyone else spoken to him in that tone, he would have quickly put an end to such insolence, but it was different coming from her. Perhaps because her motivation was selfless. Her only agenda was the happiness of those she cared about. His mother had been similar and had also taken people to task when they disappointed her. Something his father often said he’d loved about his wife—he was a better husband, father, king, because she had never feared telling him what she thought. Not in public, but in private, as Rachelle had.

Magnus didn’t like that he might have scared Rachelle, nor did he like the way she was looking at him. Her eyes flashed, but not with the desire they’d held the night before. He wasn’t a man who wasted his time worrying about what others thought of him, but he wasn’t comfortable with the opinion she currently had of him.

“Phillip,” Magnus called out. His head of security opened the door. “I believe we have something of Miss Westerly’s.”

“Of course.” Phillip handed the phone back to Rachelle.

“That’ll be all, Phillip.”

Once they were alone again, Magnus took a moment to replay what Rachelle had said. Dr. Stein had said something similar the night before. “It was not my intention to scare you.”

“And?”

“And the guards were meant to be my eyes and ears while I was otherwise occupied.”

“And?”

He almost smiled again, but he was learning. “And I apologize for taking your phone.”

“Thank you.” Her eyes narrowed. “Something doesn’t add up. You said Eric was going to Vandorra, but he hadn’t agreed, had he?”

“No, he had not.”

“Then why did you tell me he had?”

“I did not.”

“Yes, you did. You said—” She stopped and seemed to be going over his words in her head. “You said you would be taking both of us to Vandorra, not that he had agreed. What was your plan if Eric said no?”