Page 56 of Incognito

Natasha perched on the chair’s arm, remembering the many times she’d done the same thing growing up. Her parents had always had an open door policy and being an only child, they’d been an incredibly close family.

She’d come to them when Debbie MacCraw had bullied her the first day of school, she’d come to them when Samuel Grace hadn’t asked her to the graduation dance, and she’d come to them when she’d discovered Clay’s horrendous motivation for asking her to marry him.

However, no matter how understanding her dad would be, she’d save the Dante disaster for another day. He’d only just arrived home and she wanted to focus on the good news.

“Relax, Dad. You’re going to love this, I promise.” She patted his shoulder, surprised to feel the bony prominences under the thin cotton shirt.

Her dad had always been larger than life, but when her mum died Natasha noticed a frailty about him and it looked like he hadn’t been eating well while away.

“Telford Towers is ours again. One hundred percent debt free.”

His eyebrows shot upwards. “You paid that scumbag off? How?”

“The Prince of Calida helped. I did some PA work for him while he was here, and he paid me well. It was a win-win situation for everyone.”

Then why did she feel like the biggest loser in the world?

“That is good news. I can’t believe it.” Her dad sat back, his frown disappearing, replaced by a stunned expression. “We’re seriously debt free?”

“Seriously.”

Natasha smiled, squeezed her dad’s shoulder, and stood. Now that she’d delivered the good news, time for her to escape while her dad still absorbed it. Otherwise, he’d turn his eagle eye back on her and she couldn’t stand the scrutiny right now. Who knew what she might blab under duress.

“Guess we owe the prince.”

Her smile faltered but she recovered quickly. “I thanked him. He was very impressed with our hotel. I’m sure he’ll recommend us.”

As if.

He’d been so impressed he’d vacated quicker than she could say, ‘please come again’ and crossed town to the opposition.

“Have I told you lately what an asset you are to the hotel? And how lucky I am to have you as a daughter?”

His eyes misted over and Natasha knew she’d have to make a run for it before she started blubbering.

“You don’t have to tell me, Dad, I know. Now, you relax and I’ll organise supper to be brought up to you.”

Her dad smiled. “I am a bit tired. See you in the morning?”

“You bet.”

Blowing him a kiss, Natasha left the room where she’d spent her happiest years with her family. However, come morning, she wondered if the happy times would be a thing of the past once she dropped the next bombshell on her dad.

Natasha had finishedthe new concierge’s orientation when Gina walked into the hotel foyer, her searching gaze homing in on her before she could duck behind the front desk.

Great, just what she needed, a blast from the not-so-distant, not-so-pleasant past.

As Gina strode towards her on impossibly high heels, Natasha muttered, “What do you want now?” not in the mood for whatever the princess had to say.

Gina hadn’t heard her blatant rudeness or chose to ignore it, because she smiled. “Just the woman I wanted to see. Do you have a minute?”

Natasha made a big show of checking her watch, when she knew the only pressing engagement she had was with her dad to tell him her decision.

“I can give you one minute.” Natasha indicated the comfy sofas in a secluded corner of the lobby and Gina nodded, typically smug for a woman who oozed confidence.

She looked amazing in a fitted, burgundy coat dress, with matching designer handbag and shoes, her makeup immaculate, her curls in perfect smooth ringlets. Natasha felt bedraggled next to the glamorous princess.

“If you’ve come here to talk about Dante again, forget it.” Natasha didn’t care how rude she sounded. She had to preemptwhatever Gina had come here to say, well and truly over the Andretti family.

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