a complete bitch.”
My smile grew at that. “He’s doing wonderfully. They put in a stent and his heart is back to pumping more blood. The only issue now is convincing him to change his diet from that of an eighteen-year-old boy in the throes of a growth spurt.”
“At least something is looking up today. I’m glad he’s okay.” Both hands landed flat on the desk before her. “Now, let’s get busy dropping Banelo’s arse and finding someone better. I never liked his smile anyway.”
And that was that. It was time to get back to what I did best: shoving everything but the job aside and not letting anything fall through the cracks.
Chapter 3
Malcolm
The moment the voicemail engaged, I properly unleashed. “So, I’ll spare Ruby because I find it difficult to uphold resentment for any decent length against someone with such a fine pair of tits, but you’ll be getting her share of my ire. How could you not tell me Alice is in North Carolina with Ruby?! I hereby disown you as my sibling and will only claim Clara from this day forward. And forget about the new title I was considering for you. If you want to be Ambassador to Victoria’s Secret Underwear Models, you’d better learn to live with disappointment. Goodbye forever, you worthless excuse for a brother.” Finger poised to disconnect the call, I had a last minute thought. “And don’t forget to bring me some of Ted’s Pop-Tarts from D.C. The boxed ones here are rubbish.”
That should do it.
“Victoria!” My voice echoed off the walls of my sitting room where I’d been busy pacing.
Her face immediately appeared around the half-open door, eyebrows raised in expectation. “Sir?”
“Pack my bag and cancel my appointments for the next twenty-four hours.”
Expectant switched to troubled as she fully entered the room, the reflection of light off her glossy hair almost blinding me. “I’m afraid that will be impossible, sir.”
“Then make it possible.” I all but stalked to the liquor trolly and then changed my mind. Stone-cold sobriety would be to my advantage on this little mission.
“You have dinner with the king and queen, Princess Clara, and members of the Belgian royal family this evening. It’s Duchess Vera’s fiftieth birthday.”
“We’ll have to reschedule.”
“Reschedule her birthday?”
My pacing resumed as I formed a plan in my mind and waved a dismissive hand at my assistant. “I have every confidence in you. Now let’s get that bag packed and the jet fueled.” Andrew and his team would accompany me; there was no arguing that. But I’d need to invent a reason for Victoria to remain here. I could tell her my closet needed urgent rearranging. Or she could write my coronation speech. Or perhaps letting her go now would be the kindest thing since Alice would be reclaiming her position and there would be no need for Victoria’s services any longer. I was confident someone in this place could find her a new position—or it was conceivable Mother would adopt her if nothing else.
Victoria inexplicably erupted into a riot of giggling that set my teeth on edge. “You almost had me there, sir.” She pointed a finger at me. “I admit it’s taken a bit to become accustomed to your sense of humor, but that one was quite funny. Canceling dinner with the queen, indeed.” Her head shook at the hilarity of it all.
What was wrong with this woman? She found no humor in Zach Galifianakis’s genius performance in Masterminds but my instructions to fuel the jet had her utterly tickled. She’d have me wearing a bare spot on this heirloom rug before long with all the pacing.
“I’m being perfectly serious, Victoria. Bag and jet. Let’s get cracking, shall we?”
“Oh.” All mirth ceased as I made another mental note to request a Galifianakis movie marathon on the flight. “My apologies, sir, but the jet is in Belgium retrieving the royal family.”
I turned on my heel to face Victoria. “Bloody hell. It’s not as if I can take the helicopter to America, now can I?”
“America? Why on earth would you need to go there? Prince Leo departed just this afternoon for Washington D.C. I’m certain he could address this issue if it’s so urgent.” Her voice was almost pleading as she held her phone before her, thumbs poised over its screen. “Just tell me what’s wrong and I’ll see to it.”
“You can’t.”
“Please, sir. It can’t be that difficult. Now, what is it?”
I shoved my hands in my trouser pockets and scanned Victoria’s face. Why wasn’t she