Read Online A Royal Holiday (Royals of Valleria #5) by Marianne Knightly - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Marianne Knightly
Ads: Link
keep the scandal at bay for now. Rebecca was very clever to think of it, if it’s not the truth.”
“I’m going to call her now. It can’t be true, Papa.”
Gabriel gave his son a curious look. “Are you so unwilling to become a father that you’re hoping it’s a rumour?”
“No, of course not.” Alex ran an impatient hand through his hair. “I can’t wait to have children with Rebecca, but I know she wanted to wait until after the wedding to get pregnant.”
“Well, life has a funny way of deciding your plans are useless, my son.”
“That’s true.” Alex stood and walked towards the secret door that led from his father’s office to his own. “I’ll let you know once I hear back from her.”
As soon as Alex disappeared into one of the many secret passages snaking through the palace, Gabriel leaned back in his chair and smiled, wondering if he would become a grandfather to two children next year instead of one.
***
When Alex got back to his office, it was to find Marcello seated in front of his desk.
“What are you doing here?”
Marcello’s mouth broke out in a wide grin. “Just wanted to congratulate the new father.”
“Oh, shut up. It’s not true.”
“It’s not?”
“Well, it likely isn’t true.”
“So, you don’t know for sure?”
“I was about to call Rebecca and ask.” Alex sat down behind his desk and gave Marcello a pointed look. “Is there a reason you’re here? If not, please leave, so that I can call my fiancée.”
“In a minute. I wanted to update you on the investigation.”
“Why didn’t you just come by Papa’s office? I was in there a few minutes ago.”
“It’s your business before Papa’s.”
Alex nodded; it was times like these that he loved having his brothers nearby for support. “What did you find out?”
Marcello pointed to a file on the desk between them. “Take a look inside. I’ve outlined everything there.”
Alex flipped open the plain folder to find dossier full of information, topped with a photo of a sleek-looking photographer aiming his camera. Cesaire Sacheverelle . Originally from France. Known for taking indiscreet photos of royalty or world leaders and selling them to the highest bidder. Based on the figures listed, he made quite a living at it, too.
“Sounds like a man with high standards,” Alex said sarcastically as he closed the folder.
Marcello nodded. “My sentiments exactly.”
“He’s the one who took the photo of Rebecca and me?”
“Yes, that much I can confirm. I’m still trying to get a read on his current location; hopefully by tomorrow. Though he’s freelance, he sold those pictures – and apparently others – to the Vallerian Star tabloid. The mainstream news picked it up and published it this morning, too, and you saw one of those articles this morning.”
“Did he take other photos of us?”
“From what we’ve gathered, they’re just more of the same of you and Rebecca from that night. In the copies I’ve seen, Rebecca is clearly visible in some of them, so the paper knew you didn’t have a mistress when they published.”
“I was planning to sue them anyway; at least now we’ve got an open-and-shut case.”
“Definitely.”
“What about Portia? Any word on her purported pictures?”
Marcello shook his head. “Still working on it. We have confirmed that she’s in Valleria. She’s actually in Valentia, if you want to know the truth.”
His first thought was Rebecca, and if she might run into her while shopping. “Do we know where?”
“She’s staying at the Gara Hotel, as it’s one of the swankiest in the city.”
“Holy fucking hell.”
“What is it?”
“That’s where everyone – including Rebecca – is stopping for tea today after shopping. I’ve got to get ahold of her and warn her.”
“Wait.”
Alex
“I’m going to call her now. It can’t be true, Papa.”
Gabriel gave his son a curious look. “Are you so unwilling to become a father that you’re hoping it’s a rumour?”
“No, of course not.” Alex ran an impatient hand through his hair. “I can’t wait to have children with Rebecca, but I know she wanted to wait until after the wedding to get pregnant.”
“Well, life has a funny way of deciding your plans are useless, my son.”
“That’s true.” Alex stood and walked towards the secret door that led from his father’s office to his own. “I’ll let you know once I hear back from her.”
As soon as Alex disappeared into one of the many secret passages snaking through the palace, Gabriel leaned back in his chair and smiled, wondering if he would become a grandfather to two children next year instead of one.
***
When Alex got back to his office, it was to find Marcello seated in front of his desk.
“What are you doing here?”
Marcello’s mouth broke out in a wide grin. “Just wanted to congratulate the new father.”
“Oh, shut up. It’s not true.”
“It’s not?”
“Well, it likely isn’t true.”
“So, you don’t know for sure?”
“I was about to call Rebecca and ask.” Alex sat down behind his desk and gave Marcello a pointed look. “Is there a reason you’re here? If not, please leave, so that I can call my fiancée.”
“In a minute. I wanted to update you on the investigation.”
“Why didn’t you just come by Papa’s office? I was in there a few minutes ago.”
“It’s your business before Papa’s.”
Alex nodded; it was times like these that he loved having his brothers nearby for support. “What did you find out?”
Marcello pointed to a file on the desk between them. “Take a look inside. I’ve outlined everything there.”
Alex flipped open the plain folder to find dossier full of information, topped with a photo of a sleek-looking photographer aiming his camera. Cesaire Sacheverelle . Originally from France. Known for taking indiscreet photos of royalty or world leaders and selling them to the highest bidder. Based on the figures listed, he made quite a living at it, too.
“Sounds like a man with high standards,” Alex said sarcastically as he closed the folder.
Marcello nodded. “My sentiments exactly.”
“He’s the one who took the photo of Rebecca and me?”
“Yes, that much I can confirm. I’m still trying to get a read on his current location; hopefully by tomorrow. Though he’s freelance, he sold those pictures – and apparently others – to the Vallerian Star tabloid. The mainstream news picked it up and published it this morning, too, and you saw one of those articles this morning.”
“Did he take other photos of us?”
“From what we’ve gathered, they’re just more of the same of you and Rebecca from that night. In the copies I’ve seen, Rebecca is clearly visible in some of them, so the paper knew you didn’t have a mistress when they published.”
“I was planning to sue them anyway; at least now we’ve got an open-and-shut case.”
“Definitely.”
“What about Portia? Any word on her purported pictures?”
Marcello shook his head. “Still working on it. We have confirmed that she’s in Valleria. She’s actually in Valentia, if you want to know the truth.”
His first thought was Rebecca, and if she might run into her while shopping. “Do we know where?”
“She’s staying at the Gara Hotel, as it’s one of the swankiest in the city.”
“Holy fucking hell.”
“What is it?”
“That’s where everyone – including Rebecca – is stopping for tea today after shopping. I’ve got to get ahold of her and warn her.”
“Wait.”
Alex
Similar Books
