Page 24 of The Last Resort
From what had come out in the press over the past couple of years, it was clear Chloe’s life as a popstar hadn’t been allglamor and fun. Her original management team had controlled her every move to the point where she had been gaslit into letting them take a considerable amount of her money. But with Jordan by her side she was now striking out on her own terms. Experiencing the freedom to be herself.
Being surrounded by these happy loved up couples was great, but it also served to remind him that he was still very much single. His recent morning coffee catch ups with Rachel was the closest he’d been to a woman not of his family or a work acquaintance in what had to be almost forever.
Rachel was the first woman he’d met who had just been normal around him. Their playful banter, and breakfast catch ups always made his day. He hadn’t planned that kiss, but like she’d said in her text, it was perfect. Yes, it was, and he was glad she’d enjoyed it, because he’d already decided he was going to kiss her again.
But she thinks I’m Matthew the accountant.
When Bryce and Vivian had first met, the older Royal brother had kept his true identity a secret, and that had set their romance off to a rocky start. Matthew had no intention of doing the same with Rachel. Their connection was too important. Too rare to risk.
The very first chance I’m able to tell her who I am, I’m doing it.
Vivian gently clasped her hands together and announced, “If everyone would like to come into the dining room and take a seat, Chloe and I shall serve the first course.”
Matthew and the other men exchanged excited grins. It wasn’t often that the three brothers got together, and having the two future Royal wives cook for them was a special treat.
It’s good to be home and sharing this evening with family.
The dining area of Bryce and Vivian’s elegant apartment, situated on the forty-sixth floor of the Manhattan building, was nothing short of breathtaking. His brother had dropped a lazy twenty-five million on the pad, and from what he couldsee it had been money well spent. The view out the floor-to-ceiling windows was stunning. It was almost the same view that Matthew had from his apartment on the forty-third floor, but his place lacked the same ambience. The same warmth.
I wonder what Rachel will say when she discovers I could afford to buy a twenty million dollar house in Aspen.
At the end of the hand-crafted timber table, Chloe was busily directing traffic. Telling people where they were to sit. For some reason, the girls had decided that couples were not allowed to sit together. That rule went out the window the moment Vivian and Chloe headed back into the kitchen to get the food. Bryce and Jordan quickly swapped seats, leaving Matthew with Jordan on his left and an empty seat to his right. His gaze flittered over the empty chair, and then away.
When the women returned, their commands for their men to swap back to their assigned seats were met with a firm no. The Royal males held their ground.
“If I can’t run my hand casually up your skirt during the evening, I’m not staying at the table,” noted Bryce.
“What have I said about being sleezy when we have guests?”
“Don’t get caught,” said Bryce giving his fiancée a wicked wink.
A red face Vivian glowered at him, but when he rose and whispered something softly in her ear, she immediately turned timid. Matthew reached for his cell. If his brothers and their future brides were going to flirt like this all evening, he would get Mia on standby to place an emergency work call to rescue him. He’d opened his phone and was about to send a brief message to his assistant manager when his cell was snatched out of his hands. “Thank you. I shall take that.”
Chloe marched across the room and placed Matthew’s cell on a sideboard next to some other phones. Words of protestdied on his lips as he noticed that no one else at the table had their cells either. Tonight had been declared a night for socializing, for family talk.
And it was something he privately craved.
Vivian placed a plate in front of him. “Tonight’s entrée is smoked salmon risotto.Bon appetiteeveryone!”
Matthew reached for his knife and fork, then stopped to join with Bryce and Jordan as they applauded the first course. The risotto looked amazing, and it was obvious the girls had gone to a lot of trouble to make every plate look cookbook worthy.
“If I had my phone, I would take a photo and post it on Instagram.”
Chloe pointed a finger at him. “Which is why we don’t want anyone taking pictures tonight, Matthew. My fans don’t just stalk my profile, they will be checking yours as well.”
It hadn’t ever occurred to him that Chloe’s Garden might take any sort of interest in his social media. Then again, he’d heard that some of her fans were keen to the point of being ruthless. “Maybe I should make my social media accounts private,” he suggested.
Chloe’s mouth dropped open. “Oh my god! You mean to tell me they aren’t already? Jeez, Matty, you need to lock your life down.” He might have thought she was joking but there was genuine concern in her voice. “I tell you what, I can get my publicity people to do an audit of your social media footprint tomorrow and tell you how it looks.”
“I doubt if I have much of a footprint.”
Next to him, Jordan’s brows formed a deep furrow. “Believe me, bro, you have a footprint. I would do as Chloe asks and get her people to check it. Especially in the lead up to the wedding.” He winked at his fiancée. “Whenever and wherever that is.”
Matthew nodded. Of course they were worried aboutsocial media leaks. It wasn’t common knowledge outside of the immediate Royal family that Jordan and Chloe planned to marry soon.
I would hate to be the cause of any of their private images getting out and into the public sphere.
“I’ll send you over my social media details in the morning.”
