2

THAYER

I’m doomed.

The moment I stepped out of the family jet, I only had one goal—to prove to my father that he was wrong. I knew my birthright, and I had a huge shoe to fill in, but I’d been molded since birth to take his place one day. 

At the black-tinted limousine, I glanced at Lud and Ash. They’d been briefing me since we took off. I raised my hand to stop them from repeating what had been stuck in my head since I learned how to talk. I knew the protocol, but they were just doing their jobs. Aside from working for my family, they were also my closest friends, and they would surely take the bullet for me even if they were not in my family payroll, and so did I to them.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Lud asked warily. He was tall, stuffed with pure muscles with a strong jaw, and dark seated eyes.

“If you’ll ask me one more time, you’re going home.” I looked out of the window. This was not my first time to be in New York—the city never really sleeps. Unlike from where I came from—less polluted, not overpopulated, and less crime. Thanks to our men in uniform.

“If he said it’s a good idea, meaning, he got through with it a hundred times. You know him.” Ash was more mature than Lud, the one-nighter.

“I just don’t want him to home empty-handed and end up—”

“Man, you can’t just shut up, can you? As soon as he settles in the hotel, you can go gallivanting in the nightclub. I got you covered.”

“No way. He’s my job. And I don’t wanna be jobless because I shagged a pretty woman’s brain’s out.”

“Jeez.” Ash winced, shaking his head. 

“We already talked about this. I don’t care what you do with your life for the whole two weeks. Do whatever you like. Just leave me alone.” 

The car halted in front of the hotel. As we’d discuss, no grand entrance or convoy. We were just tourists like other tourists. And that was what we were doing. Of course, Lud and Ash were on their duties while I was with them. Their eyes were like hawks as they scanned for risk and potential that someone might recognize me.

My security details took two weeks to canvas this hotel for previous and possible guests. And I just lost two weeks of my time instead of looking for her.

I changed to white crisp shirts and pants after a quick shower. I was used to having someone prepare what I wore, but I was also taught how to be flexible and efficient. 

I looked at myself in the mirror. I loved my long dark copper hair, but I had to cut it short to get into my disguised look. I hated wearing contacts, so it didn’t matter if my eyes were forest green. Not that it was uncommon in millions of people in this city.

A soft knock before the door opened. 

“She’s here,” Ash informed. 

I took a deep breath before I faced my aunt Alessia. She always looked radiant and composed. New York did well on her.

“No, no, no.” She shook her head violently. “What did you do to your hair, your high—Thayer?”

“You should practice a little more.” My smile broke. I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed her into a hug. “I missed you, Aunt Alessia.” She was emailed ahead, including some details before my arrival.

“I missed you too, honey. How did you manage to come here unnoticed? Your disguise is poor.” She chuckled.

“I beg to disagree, Ma’am. Maybe, it’s because you know, you—”

“One more mistake, you’re both fired!” I raised my voice. They looked down and shut their mouth. “You’re not going to—what American used to say? Screw this up for me. I only have two weeks left, Ash, Ludovic.”

“I apologize, Thayer.” Lud eased.

“I’m sorry, Thay,” Ash followed.

“Anyway, what’s this is all about? You did not run away from your father or your duty, did you, honey?” She held my arms, tilting her neck. Aunt Alessia was taller for a woman, but I was also taller than the two wankers.

I slightly shook my head. “No. I would never do that and put you in trouble. And United States should be the last place I choose. Timbuktu or Maldives. I love beaches.” I grinned.

“You’re installing.”

“I’m not.”

“Then why did you cut your hair? I know you loved it. That was why you kept it long.” She knew me well.

“You should stay and be with your family, Auntie. We need you there.”

She chuckled. “You’re lying. I don’t have a place there, Thayer.”

“That’s not true.”

She sighed. “I love my job here. And bastard daughter will forever be a bastard in the eye of your people. My life here is great, and this is where I belong.”

My chest ached for here. Even if she was my grandfather’s illegitimate daughter, my father and I had never treated her as a commoner.

“We should go.” She walked past me. 

“You two would not follow me,” I warned them. They may be here because of me, but my family was still their employer.

“We’ll check the coffee shop I saw on our way.” Lud’s excuse was poor, but I let it go when Aunt Alessia was out of the room.

I found her waiting in the lobby. 

“What’s going on, Thayer?”

“I’m surprised you haven’t had any idea until now.” I walked beside her towards the black Mercedes waiting for us in front of the hotel. 

“I have a few ideas, but you’re miles away from home.”

“I love it when you called it home.”

“Can’t deny half of my DNA is running through yours. But I won’t pry. Sure, I’ll figure it out myself.” We stuffed at the backseat of the car.

“When was the last time you pay him a visit?”

“Sunday. And he’s deteriorating —”

I squeezed her hand. “So, I’ve heard.”

“Now I understand why you’re here.”

She had no idea.

***

The last thing I wanted to be in was a publishing house or any media in any form. I just hoped my disguise would work before the end of the day.

“Don’t worry, if anyone recognizes you, I have my lawyer for NDA,” she said as we entered her private elevator. She must have noticed my sudden discomfort.

I knew she was also aware that my father had someone to keep a tab on her.

“I don’t belong to a British Royalty, Auntie.”

She raised her eyebrow. “Don’t be too confident, Thayer. We have vast coverage in social media.”

As she did a brief announcement with her staff, I checked out the stuff in her office. She built her empire without her blood influence. That was why I admired her so much. I stared out of the floor-to-ceiling glass walls that showcased the skyscrapers surrounding us. Magnificent.

We just had like this in my country, but mostly, modern classic architectural buildings.

I was still standing at the corner of her office when she entered, my gaze focusing on the building at the center. 

My skin crawled up with goosebumps as soon as the door shut closed. The room was not even close to the coldness I was used to, but it felt like an icy wind was blowing my skin. Then my heart beat a little bit faster as if I dawn more caffeine.

I wasn’t aware we were not alone until Aunt Alessia started talking.

I kept my stance, hoping her guest would not see me. But then, it was hard to ignore when she kept on taunting the poor woman. 

“Thank you.” Her voice was soft, melodic like a symphony at the Opera. Two words. Just two words, yet she caught my attention. It was clear in her voice the anticipation of good news. 

I wanted her to talk more—to hear her voice. She suddenly intrigued me.

I turned my head to look at the woman with such an alluring and melodic voice. I could only see the side of her face with her honey blonde hair cascading down her shoulder. Her porcelain skin looked so creamy and soft. 

From my vantage point, I swore she had sky blue eyes. She had high cheekbones with a small and straight nose. Her lips were full, painted in red lipstick. Right now, she was biting the bottom. 

Damn. 

I wanted to trace the rest of my lips with my tongue until she opened them for me to plunge it inside her mouth and taste her sweetness.

Jesus Christ.

My gaze traveled down her fitted blouse, which unbuttoned down her chest, revealing her well-rounded breasts. The hem of her deep red miniskirt ran up an inch higher half of her thighs, showing her well-toned legs.

I blinked my eyes to make sure my sight was not playing a trick on me. 

So striking. Gorgeous. 

This couldn’t be her. 

My American Girl. 

No fucking way.

“Oh, for God’s sake, Alessia. Just get to the point.”