Total pages in book: 230
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
The event was at a location ten blocks away. During the drive, Ben asked me questions about the happenings in my life (literally nothing at the moment), what I planned to do now that my brother was king (continue to serve the Crown and make more appearances on its behalf), and what I would do if I wasn’t a princess (I had absolutely no idea because no one had ever asked me that question). Needless to say, the entire conversation centered around me, and I had no idea how to put the spotlight on him. Finally, when I finished explaining that I had no idea what I would do if I wasn’t a princess, I turned to him.
“What would you be doing if you didn’t play football?”
“I’d probably be dead. Or in jail.” He said it with such ease that it took me a moment to wrap my head around the statement.
“Why?”
“A lot of the guys I grew up with are either dead or in jail.” He shrugged a shoulder. “I’d have to assume I’d be one of them.”
“That’s…intense.” I frowned. “What are they in jail for?”
“Drugs. Mostly. A couple are in for homicide.”
“Which would you be in for?”
“I’m not sure.”
“You’re not sure whether or not you would have killed someone by now?” I all but squeaked.
“Things happen, Princess. The real world isn’t black and white.”
“I know it’s not.” My frown deepened. “But still. Murder is murder.”
“With all due respect, a lot of people consider your father a murderer,” he said. “Do you know what the difference is between your father and one of my friends?”
“No, but I’m sure you’re about to tell me.”
“The crown on his head.”
“Right.” I looked out the window and thought about that.
Of course, I didn’t consider my father a murderer, but there was no use denying the things he’d done when he was alive. Even if I tried to blind myself to his sins, I couldn’t hide from the truth—the families affected, the news articles that brought it all to light, etcetera. I wished I could say that I was disturbed by all of it. In a sense, I was. But I was also incredibly embarrassed because he was supposed to be a servant to his subjects, a leader, someone people could go to for help. Instead, they found a person unwilling to yield for the sake of his own traditions. It didn’t matter. My father was dead, and my brother Elias wasn’t like that. And more importantly, his new wife would never let him become that way. The car slowed and came to a stop in front of the museum where the event was being held.
“Hey, I didn’t mean anything by that. I’m just trying to make you see things from another perspective,” Ben said.
“I get it. I…thank you.” I smiled.
He searched my eyes for a long moment before nodding and getting out of the car to come around and open the door for me. The cameras were on us the second we stepped into view. His hand was around mine, leading me forward, and I focused on that instead of the attention.
CHAPTER 5
Ben
She was unbelievably nervous, which was something I’d never expected. I’d seen her at galas, at parties, at her mother’s Sunday dinners, which were like entering a world summit, with global leaders and famous actors in attendance. She’d never been nervous at those events. It fueled the mystery of Pilar, which wasn’t necessarily a good thing since it meant I wanted to see her again. And like David had pointed out to me, sex between us could not happen, and all roads led to sex. I didn’t believe that men and women who were attracted to each other could just stay friends, and I couldn’t afford to complicate things with the princess. I wanted her for one night, that was it. No strings. Was it a possibility? I wasn’t sure, but I’d find out tonight as soon as I got her to loosen up a little.
I let go of her hand when we reached the red carpet they’d rolled out, and she stepped forward to have her photo taken in front of the signs with the logo of my foundation. This would be great press, having her standing in front of those. It would be in all of the tabloids tomorrow morning, which was what I wanted. Not for me, but for what the foundation stood for. I watched Pilar as she smiled, then made a more serious, sexy face and turned to show off the back of her dress. She was a complete natural in front of the camera. All of her previously displayed nerves seemed to vanish when the lights from the flashes hit her. It was baffling. I snapped out of it when David appeared in my line of sight.