“Signor?” His private secretary and lifelong adviser cleared his throat very pointedly, forcing Luca to abandon his musing and focus on the fact that Guillermo was standing in his office, awaiting acknowledgment.
“Yes?” Luca prompted.
“About Ms. Miller’s work with the charity...” Guillermo closed the door.
“Is she shaking things up? Because that’s what I hired her to do.” If she appeared to be an impulsive, misguided decision on his part, all the better.
Guillermo’s mouth tightened before he forced a flat smile. “The palace PR team is perfectly capable of handling this last-minute promotion of the gala. In fact, the foundation’s board could carry the event over the finish line without any help at all so I’m not sure why Ms. Miller is necessary.”
This was the sort of micromanaging Luca had suffered all his life and would have burned to the ground if he’d been planning to remain king. Given their lifelong relationship, Luca could also tell Guillermo smelled an ulterior motive and was digging to find it.
“The board of directors are my mother’s contemporaries,” Luca said. “They’re committed and passionate, but at some point, adhering to tradition only demonstrates a lack of imagination. We’re there.”
“Have you seen Ms. Miller’s contemporaries? Her online presence is very colorful.” It wasn’t a compliment.
“She’s well-connected and understands how to leverage that community.”
“But to whom is she connected, signor? That is my concern. She’s photographed with a lot of men, often in relation to a drug charge or the like.”
“It’s her job to mitigate scandals.”
“Are we certain she’s not actually the source of them?” Guillermo wasn’t being an alarmist. Their previous head of PR had been an enabler to the former king’s vices. “Even if she’s aboveboard, she wishes to pitch the directors on having the foundation’s logo embroidered onto pajamas to be sold as a fundraiser. She thinks celebrities could be encouraged to post photos of themselves wearing them. Might I remind you, signor, of your standing instruction that all those associated with royal interests project a more dignified profile than we’ve seen in the past? Have I missed an announcement that your attitude has changed?”
“You know it hasn’t,” Luca said flatly. “I’ll have Amy tell me about the pajama idea over dinner and judge for myself.”
Guillermo didn’t take the hint that he was dismissed. “Is dining with her a good idea? She’s very familiar. She makes frequent jokes.”
Dio aiutami, his patience was hanging by a thread. “Off with her head, then.”
“I’m merely pointing out that if she were a true British subject, she might understand the role of a sovereign, but she was born in America—”
“She has the gall to be an American? What will we do?”
“Signor, I wouldn’t want her levity or imprudence to cast any shadows upon you.”
“A moment ago, she was too colorful. Would she not cast rainbows?”
“She is already rubbing off on you if you’re not taking my counsel seriously. Ms. Miller is a poor fit for any palace endeavor,” Guillermo insisted.
“On the contrary, Amy understands influence and image better than you or I ever will. That’s why I hired her.” Luca was genuinely annoyed by his secretary’s snobbish dismissal of a woman who was a font of problem-solving ideas. She had quickly grasped the pros and cons of his unusual request and shaped a workable plan in the shortest possible time. She was the type of person he loved to hire. Instead, he was surrounded by stodgy relics who started their day by shooting protocol directly into their veins.
“I’m sure her image is what influenced you,” Guillermo sniffed.
“What are you implying?” Luca narrowed his eyes.
“Only that she’s very beautiful. The sort of woman who might charm and distract a man from his duties. Impact his judgment.”
“I hadn’t noticed,” Luca lied flagrantly, adding with significant bite, “But if you’re having trouble seeing past the fact she’s attractive, I’ll work with her personally. Safer for all.”
“Signor, I am perfectly capable of working with her.”
“But I’m not?” Luca was down to his last nerve. “I am thirty-one and the king. It’s time you trust me to know what I’m doing.” As I nuke my own life...but needs must.
Do you? Guillermo didn’t say it, but the words echoed around the room all the same.
“You’re dismissed.”
Guillermo closed the door on his way out with a firm click.
Luca hissed out a disgusted breath. Guillermo wasn’t stupid. Or wrong. If he’d been a true detriment to the family, the palace, or Vallia, he wouldn’t hold the position he did.
Luca was resolved, however, in giving up the crown. The part where he was all too aware of Amy’s attributes wasn’t part of the plan. He was crossing certain lines if only within his own mind, imagining how snugly silk and lace would sit against Amy’s skin. It reinforced temptations that were already difficult to resist.
And much as he was willing to appear fallible, he didn’t want to do anything that would sit on his conscience—like make an unwanted pass at an employee. Dignity and responsibility had been his watchwords all his life. He had never had room for even those small human mistakes that Amy found so forgivable.
Her accepting nature was as disarming as her sense of humor and sparkling beauty. He’d signed the contract she’d sent him so he knew she was legally bound to keep his secrets, but he was still unnerved at how easily he’d told her about his father. The night of his father’s death had been horrific and something he’d expected to take to his grave—even though it sat inside him like a boil.
Lancing that poison had been a profound relief. Maybe she was onto something about building rapport with her clients.
He choked on a fresh laugh as he recalled her blurted joke. Half-past oral sex and quarter till—
What had she been about to say? Doggy-style?
So inappropriate, considering their professional relationship, but damned if he wouldn’t recall that remark every time he looked at the sundial in future.
