Louis’s lips twitched up, and he nodded. “I’ll discuss your position with some of the other, more conservative members of the council.”
“I was wondering if the time had come, however, to choose a sovereign not based on the order of precedence from the previous sovereign, but perhaps the person best suited for the position from among the nobles.”
Marie-Therese raised her eyebrows and dropped her chin.“Oh.”
Nice acting, there, considering she’d given him the idea. No wonder she was asocial media influencer.
Louis frowned. “That’s quite a change.”
“Yes.”
“There would have to be a discussion among the Council.”
“There might not,” Maxence said, “not if there was agreement beforehand about the concept and a candidate.”
Louis raised his eyebrows. “Acoup d’état.”
“I prefer to think of it as afait accompli,if we’re going to stick to French terms.”
“Who do you suggest stand for the nomination?”
“There are several possible candidates,” Maxence said, breaking eye contact and shuffling a few papers on his desk. One was, actually, a soybean import contract.
“I’d be interested to know who,” Louis said.
“And so would I,” Marie-Therese said, her voice squeaking at the end.
Even gathering votes in front of Jules Grimaldi’s daughter was risky enough. Maxence wasn’t going to tempt fate by asking Louis if he’d like to be the Prince of Monaco.
As Nico had noted, Great-Uncle Louis might end up floating face-down in the harbor if Jules perceived him as a threat.
Max said, “I’m sure we’re not near the time to consider the final selection yet. The Council election process might take months.”
Even though he was hoping to elect and crown a prince sooner than that.
Offhandedly, Maxence flipped his fingers in the air toward Dree, “Take notes.” He glanced over at her at just the right time to see her legs part, and her pink softness between them exposed for him to see.
Her cheeks and even her chest blushed when she did it.
But she’d done it.
Perfect.
Chapter Nine
The Desk
Dree
Dree sat with her tablet on her lap, staring down at the screen where she’d taken notes in very shaky handwriting.
Her red dress was riding up on her thighs again, andMaxence had made her hand him her panties.
And then he’d tucked them in his suit jacket pocket and his two guests must be staring at it, wondering why he hadredpantiesfluffing out of thepocketof his black suit. The bright red didn’t match his blue tie.
That was so wrong.
And yet, every time he’d told her toTake notes,her body had been on the trembling edge of an orgasm while she’d parted and then crossed her legs.
