“Yeah, they were freaky when I was younger. They were silver like Jackson’s and emerald green. Now that I’m older they’ve calmed down a bit, so it’s not as embarrassing.”
“Don’t be embarrassed. They’re beautiful. So, what are the chances my boss won’t find out about Zain spending the night with me?”
Greer shrugged. “It should be pretty good. We usually don’t say anything to outsiders.”
Mila cringed at the word outsiders. She was one. She wasn’t part of this tight community. She wasn’t royal. She wasn’t . . .
“Stop. I can see the wheels spinning. You’re not an outsider,” Greer said kindly.
“Of course I am.”
“Nah, not when you love one of our own. That automatically makes you part of our group. You do love Zain, right? I mean, I’m twenty-one. I’m not na?ve enough to think just because you have sex with someone means you’re in love with him, but you two just seem to be beyond that stage. Don’t tell my brothers I said that about casual sex, okay?”
Mila laughed. She had spent some time with Jackson. While he was incredibly nice, he didn’t appear to be the kind to accept the news of his sister having any kind of sex life. “I promise. I won’t say anything. And yes, I love him. I just need to keep it quiet until this job is done. Two more days. What can happen in two days, right?”
Mila took a deep breath as they pulled up to the main house. The chancellor and his assistant were already waiting. Mila thanked Greer and made a move to get out, but Greer stopped her. “Let me see your phone.”
Mila handed it to her and Greer typed away on her phone until a text appeared on Mila’s. Greer smiled and handed it to Mila. “See, you’re one of us now. Have a great day.”
Greer drove off and Mila looked down at her phone. She had been added to the Keeneston text tree. If the chancellor hadn’t been standing right there, she would have cried.
“Guten Morgen,” the chancellor greeted.
“Good morning!” Mila happily called out as she walked over to them. Today was going to be the best day of her life. “Are you looking forward to the tour?”
“Very much. Ah, here comes our tour guide.”
Mila turned and saw a blaze of mahogany hair driving an extended golf cart. The woman pulled to a stop in front of them and smiled brilliantly at the chancellor. At least, that’s what Mila thought she did. Her lips were so plump she couldn’t pull them all the way back to be able to expose her teeth. But then the woman turned to Mila and narrowed her eyes.
“Hi. I’m your hostess for this morning, Nikki Canter.”
Mila thought for a moment. That name sounded familiar. Where had she heard it? Oh no. She was the president of the Belles and the one Abby and Jackson had warned was after Zain. Great.
“Why don’t you sit up here with me, sir.” Nikki patted the spot on the bench next to her. Mila didn’t think the chancellor noticed, though. His eyes hadn’t moved from the ample display of overinflated breasts. With that much saline in there, it would be like the Hoover Dam breaking if one of those sprung a leak. “Your assistant and your secretary can sit in the back.”
Mila climbed in the second row and took her seat directly behind the chancellor so she could interpret everything Nikki was saying. They drove through the farm and stopped at various barns to see specific horses. It really was fascinating, and as much as Mila hated to admit it, Nikki was a great guide.
At last they made their way back to the main house. Mila breathed a sigh of relief. As Jackson said, they’d avoided an international disaster. Speaking of Jackson, he and Dylan were standing out front talking when the group arrived at the house. They saw Mila in the approaching group and Jackson sent her a smile. Dylan nodded his head.
As they stopped, Nikki’s head swiveled as if possessed to catch Mila mid-wave. “Seriously? What are you, some German strumpet? First Zain and now you have Jackson and Dylan eating out of your hand! I mean, we all know you put out for Zain, but are you putting out for the entire town of Keeneston?” Nikki followed it up with a very suggestive thrust of her hips and a gesture with her hands that had the chancellor blushing.
“Nikki!” Dylan snapped. Nikki and Mila both jumped. Even the chancellor stopped in his tracks. By the firm press of his lips, he had figured out enough of what Nikki was saying and wasn’t happy about it.
“What? We all know Zain won’t marry her. He needs a good woman used to leading philanthropies, who knows his farm, and understands his life to be his wife. Certainly not someone sleeping with half the town.”
“You’re a cold bitch, Nikki,” Jackson said, his eyes flaring silver steel.
Nikki smiled cunningly. “That didn’t stop you from wanting a little piece of Nikki.”
“That was when you were younger and less . . . fake. I certainly liked you a lot better then than I do now,” Jackson said with a hardness to his voice that let Mila see him now for the man he was—a rescuer. He held out his hand to Mila and she took it.
“Ms. Thiessen, I need a word in private,” the chancellor ordered as he walked by, expecting her to follow.
Nikki smiled victoriously. “Aww, I don’t speak German, but it sounds like you’re in trouble.”
“Stuff it, Nikki. That is if you can find your mouth under those over-injected lips,” Dylan threatened softly.
Nikki just shrugged as the insult rolled off her. “You wouldn’t believe what I can do with my mouth. Stop by and find out. But you’d better hurry before Zain and I get together. And I do believe he will have an opening for the girlfriend position in a matter of minutes.”
Jackson put his arm over Mila’s shoulder. She knew he could feel her shaking. Instead, he just shook his head and turned Mila toward the house. “Forget her. Zain cares for you. We all know that. I’ll be right outside the door. Just call if you need me.”
Mila looked up and saw that they were in front of the sitting room reserved for the German chancellor. His assistant was sitting outside in the hall, looking irritated that he wasn’t inside to see the fireworks. With a deep breath, Mila walked into face the chancellor.
Zain thanked Veronica for his suit. She looked nervously at the office door when Jamal flung it open and stomped into the hallway. Zain took one look at the vicious expression on Jamal’s face and took the other suit from Veronica. “I’ll give it to him. You can head back to your office and get everything ready for the panels today. Thank you, Veronica,” Zain said softly as she handed him Jamal’s suit.
Zain took a calming breath and turned to his pouting cousin. “Here’s your suit. Take a moment to gather yourself and change. I know you’re angry right now, but we are family and we will always support each other.”
Jamal didn’t look like he believed him. Instead his face flushed a deeper red. “Stop lying. I’m so sick of you—the golden boy. The one who will save Rahmi’s future with some international laboratory. The one who has beer with the masses. Yeah, I know all about that. The one my father tells me to be more like. The one the citizens want as king. No. Don’t deny it. You’ve seen the polls. Well, I’ll show you. And I’ll show the people, and I’ll show my father. I will be the greatest king Rahmi has ever seen. And you will be nothing.”
“I hope so,” Zain said quietly.
“I know so. And you can forget about that stupid lab. I’m going to be the one to save Rahmi. Not you,” Jamal snatched the black suit from Zain’s hands and stormed back into the office. The sound of the door slamming echoed up the hallway.
How was it still morning and he was already exhausted? He needed to get cleaned up and meet with his father if he was going to see Mila before the conferences started. She was the only bright spot on the day so far.
“Kareem,” Zain called out when he saw his assistant heading his way.