Page 21 of Owned By Royal

I move quickly, opening drawers, searching folders, photographing documents whenever something looks remotely connected to Madera Holdings. Financial statements. Property acquisitions. Shell corporations.

Nothing. Frustration builds. “There has to be something.”

I move behind the desk. Another locked drawer. Then I notice a hidden release beneath the desktop. The drawer clicks open. Inside sits a slim black folder. I barely manage to lift it before the office door opens behind me.

“What are you doing?”

The sound of Royal’s voice makes me freeze.

Slowly, I turn. He’s standing in the doorway, confusion already giving way to disbelief as his eyes move from my face to the folder in my hands. For several seconds neither of us speaks. Then he quietly closes the door.

“Sierra.” His voice is calm. “Explain.”

I lower the folder onto the desk. “I can.”

“So do it.”

I swallow hard. “My father was investigating Marco before he died.”

Royal’s expression doesn’t change. “What?”

“When I took over Dad’s company, I found emails... notes... unfinished reports.” My voice trembles despite every effort to steady it. “He ended a business deal with your father because he’d discovered something.”

Royal stares at me.

“I think Marco had him killed.”

Silence. Finally, Royal laughs. “You think my father murdered your father.”

“I know how it sounds.”

“And you decided the best way to investigate was sneaking into my father’s office?”

“I needed proof.”

“So that’s what this has all been?” His eyes harden. “The dinners. The time together? The relationship?”

“No…”

His voice rises for the first time. “Then tell me when it stopped being an investigation.”

“It changed.”

“When?”

“I fell in love with you.” The words leave my mouth before I can stop them.

His jaw tightens. “I don’t know what’s real anymore.”

“It was real. Everything between us was real.”

“You expect me to believe that after finding you standing in my father’s office, going through confidential files?”

Tears sting my eyes. “I was trying to protect my family.”

He steps aside, opening the office door. “You need to leave.”

“Royal...I never wanted to hurt you.” I’m crying now.