Page 10 of Awakened On Her Royal Wedding Night
Her mental toughness, however, glowed like a simmering star deep within her. It mesmerized him, not that he allowed his attraction to show. It wasn’t appropriate under the circumstances. Also, her fear and hatred of his brother didn’t mean Felipe could trust her. Any pull he felt toward her had to be ignored while he delved for the information he needed.
“I will make arrangements for you to go home in due course, Claudine. Right now, I want to know how you feel about calling out my brother for what he did. I realize that could be difficult for you on many fronts. That’s why I’m asking, not insisting.”
“What use would it do?” Her hands came up, palms empty and helpless. “He’ll vilify me! Imightget some modeling work after this, if I keep my mouth shut, but not if I’m seen as the type who makes waves. You’re probably right about previous winners. I would tell you to go back and ask them, but I don’t know if they can say anything, either. They would have to admit that their win was essentially a consolation prize after he took advantage of them. No, I just want to go home and try to forget any of this happened.”
Her eyes were glistening as she stared at the far wall of the courtyard. She bit her lips to stop them from quivering.
“Claudine. I believe you,” he said quietly. Firmly.
She sucked in a small breath and snapped her head around to stare at him, seeming to disbelievehim.
“That surprises you?” He frowned.
“Men in your position don’t see how the world really works.”
“We’ll argue my comprehension of the world another time, but I assure you I know how my brother works.” He paused to consider his words. “Perhaps that’s inaccurate. I knew Francois objectified women. Other pageants have evolved to be less sexist, but Miss Pangea is appalling. I didn’t ever imagine it was also a cover for Francois to commit sexual assault. Men in our position,” he used the phrase ironically, “generally receive enough offers for companionship that we don’t have to stoop to taking it by extortion or force.”
Her mouth worked unsteadily, as if she was trying to find words and couldn’t.
“I take responsibility for not stopping the pageant sooner. My dislike of it was seen as pettiness, so I allowed him to keep his toy. I’ll insist this one be our last.” It would widen the rift between himself and his mother. Their father would see it as another skirmish between his sons, taking accusations of Francois’s crimes with a grain of salt. Ultimately, the King would side with canceling the pageant for the sake of the royal reputation, though.
“Losing the pageant will punish Francois,” he continued, “but if you want him held accountable for his actions against you, that will require your testimony.”
A tiny sob sounded in her throat. She looked down to pick at her broken fingernail.
“You don’t have to decide this moment. I believe he’ll be dissuaded from targeting another contestant if he’s already stewing in the discomfort of one who has gone missing.”
His brother really did think he was untouchable if he was prepared to leave a woman for dead. That news was very sobering and it pinched at Felipe’s conscience that he had allowed himself to believe there were lines Francois wouldn’t cross. He didn’t think of himself as naive, but in this case, he had been.
“I imagine people will be asking for you at this photo shoot. When will your mother make inquiries? I would like my brother to begin fielding awkward questions as soon as possible.”
“I text her updates through my day. She sees them when she gets up, but because of the time zones and how busy I am during the day, I usually only talk to her in my evenings. She—” Claudine hesitated, eyeing him as though wondering how much to trust him. “She knows I can get tied up with other things. She won’t really worry until it’s been a few days.”
Felipe touched his phone. One of his security guards poked his head onto the terrace.
“Sir?”
“Use our back channels to offer generous payments for paparazzi shots of Claudine at the swimsuit photoshoot.”
“When was the shoot, sir?” He glanced between her and Felipe.
“It’s happening now.”
“But—” He looked at Claudine, frowning at the obvious fact she was here, not there.
“I want photographers to ask the organizers why she’s not among the contestants,” Felipe spelled out. “If they see an opportunity for a generous reward, they’ll then start looking for her elsewhere, stirring pots of curiosity as to why no one can find her.”
“Ah.” The guard nodded and retreated.
Claudine sent him a considering look.
“It’s a start.” He shrugged. “Let’s walk in the garden. I think you’ll find it soothing.”
“I think I’ll find it excruciating, but okay.”
He bit back a grin of amusement, pleased by that spark of cheekiness in her. Her color was better and, despite a few winces as she rose, she was moving more fluidly, which also reassured him that, physically at least, she would bounce back from all of this.
Four stone steps took them down to the hedges that were trimmed to waist height.
