Page 14 of The Prince's Secret Daughter
“Yes. One of my guards drove them directly to the hospital after yesterday’s meeting. A blood sample was drawn, but we’re still waiting to hear the results.”
Helen pursed her lips as she thought through the next steps. “I can head over to the project site and walk through the building to see what’s going on. I don’t have the pictures from the presentation yesterday but I should be able to get into the building tonight after everyone goes home.”
Raj didn’t like that suggestion. “You said Paul took the papers from you before you were allowed to go into the conference room.”
Helen bit her thumbnail. “You’re right.” She turned, pacing along the carpet of the sunshine filled office. “Maybe I can get into Paul’s office somehow. He probably has a copy of the project presentation on his desk, right?”
He chuckled, leaning against the desk as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Why don’t you let my guards do that?” he suggested. “They have a few more…skills…that could help with the stealthy aspect of the job.”
Immediately, Helen shook her head. “No, this was my mistake. I never should have gotten wrapped up in this mess. I don’t want anyone else to put their reputations on the line for me.”
Raj chuckled and she spun around, frowning.
Helen scowled at the man. “What’s so funny?” she demanded, mimicking his posture.
“Nothing,” he replied, shaking his head at her. “Just…I guarantee that my guards can get in and out of that office building without setting off alarms. In fact, they’ve probably already logged into the office building’s security system and know how to turn it off and on.”
It took a moment for Helen to realize what he was actually saying. “No way!” she gasped. “We all needed key cards to get into and out of the office. Even if we had to use the restroom, we needed a key card.”
He waved his hand in the air. “That’s child’s play for my team.” He stood up and walked towards the door, taking her hand in his. “Trust me, they’ll have the information for us before we get back from walking through the site.”
Out in the hallway, Helen tugged on his hand and Raj stopped, looking back at her. Instantly, his body tightened when he saw her nostrils flare.
“Did you just work out?” she whispered, her voice low and she licked her lips.
“Earlier,” he replied. “I haven’t showered yet. Do I smell bad?”
Slowly, Helen shook her head, her eyes moving over his short-sleeved shirt. “I just…,” she started to say and attempted to pull away. But their laced fingers held her in place.
“Helen?” he prompted, pulling her slightly closer. “Talk to me,” he urged. “We didn’t spend a great deal of time talking the last time we were together.” He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, his finger soft and gentle. “Why don’t we fix that this time?”
Helen opened her mouth to say something, to argue with him. She wanted to tell him that this was just a temporary moment in their lives. When they’d discovered what Paul and Nathan were trying to do, Raj would return to his country and she’d be alone again, trying to find a new job. They’d meet each other only when they were handing Angela off for visitation and…the thought made her heart ache.
“Talk to me,” he urged again. “What are you thinking?”
“You smell good,” she replied, thinking it was the safest response. It wasn’t. Safe, that is. She’d just admitted that she still wanted Raj in a physical way. But that was “safer” than telling him that the thought of not seeing him again, or only seeing him when it was his turn to take care of their daughter…or maybe she was merely agonizing over the fact that Angela wasn’t just her daughter anymore?
Yes, that seemed likely.
“Momma!” Angela came running down the short hallway. She was dressed in a pair of pink jeans and a white top, and the outfit looked more expensive than anything Helen had ever purchased. Her hair was tied up with pink ribbons and she twirled around, showcasing her adorable outfit. “Look what Emily helped me put on!”
The name of someone new startled her. “Emily?”
“Yeah!” Angela replied, jerking her thumb behind her. “She came with a bunch of games and said we’d have to ask if it was okay if she played them with me.” Her big, brown eyes widened hopefully. “Can I, Momma? I can play the games with her, right?”
Helen glanced at Raj. “I asked my assistant to hire a sitter for today. My guards have vetted her and she’ll never be left alone with Angela. Not for a moment.”
Helen was startled. A babysitter? When she needed a sitter, she had to call four or five different women she knew and arrange a time weeks in advance. Then she was charged about twenty dollars an hour. Usually, it was easier to just stay home.
“Yes, that sounds great,” she replied.
“Yeah!” Angela yelled, throwing her arms in the air. Then she flung herself against Helen’s legs, hugging her. “Thank you, Momma!”
She pulled away and grinned up at Raj. “Will you play with us?”
Raj bent down and gently touched her nose. “Let’s have some breakfast and then we’ll figure out a schedule for the day, okay?”
“Okay!” Angela said and put her hands into his. “I think you’re my daddy. Are you?”
