Chapter Four

Alexander

I was done. Done with the endless stares, the whispers, and especially him. Even before the conference ended—after his outrageous performance onstage—I made a beeline for the exit, hoping I could escape the building without another run-in from press and or my dad.

Just my luck. I cringed.

A cluster of dignitaries and aides clogged the foyer. I threaded through them, forcing a polite smile on my face—I was almost to our private quarters when an unpleasantly familiar voice, accompanied by a shock of dark hair, materialized almost in front of me.

“Alexander!” he called out, brazen as ever.

I stiffened, scanning the remaining onlookers. Didn’t he realize this wasn’t the time or place? “First,” I said sharply, “you are not authorized to follow me here. And second, don’t call me by my first name, Mr. Vittorio.”

Leonardo’s lips curved into that maddening grin. “Very well… Prince Charming it is, then,” he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. “I just wanted to finish our little talk. You left so soon after the conference.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You’ve said enough out there. If your purpose was to embarrass me in public”—my voice rose, turning heads—“which I can’t fathom, considering we’ve just met… well, congratulations.”

I spun on my heel to leave, but before I could take two steps, he grabbed my arm. The contact of his skin against mine sent a strange shiver through me. Strangely enough, I wanted his hand there, his warmth. I craved it and I wanted to touch him back.

What is happening to me? Anger twisted with something else, something I refused to name.

“C’mon, Charming,” he said, sounding more earnest now. “Don’t get so mad. Nothing wrong with spicing things up a little here and there…”

I glared, yanking my arm out of his grip. “Let go of me. You don’t get it, do you? My image—my royal position—isn’t some kind of game. And if I wanted any sort of spice in my life, I guarantee it wouldn’t come from you.” My tone was ice. “Next time you need to approach me, make an appointment. Good day.”

I turned and stormed off before he could utter another word. My blood was boiling, my mind spinning with irritation and, much to my disgust, a flicker of something that shouldn’t be there. At all.

I finally reached my private suite—away from the cameras, the diplomats, and, most importantly, away from Leonardo Vittorio. Slamming the door shut, I leaned against it, letting out a frustrated breath. That should have been the end of it. But as I tried to steady myself, my heart hammered like I’d just sprinted a mile.

I couldn’t shake him. Vittorio. That damn Italian.

Who the hell does he think he is? How dare he talk to me like that in front of all those people and then try to follow me here? I thought as I paced back and forth.

As if I were just some puppet, ready to bend to whatever criticism he threw at me. I wasn’t some politician he could just push around, not without a fight. But damn it, the audacity. The way he challenged me. Like I was the one who was out of line for trying to defend my family’s work.

And the way he looked at me…. As if he wanted to devour me.

I ran a hand through my hair, staring at the footage playing on the screen in front of me. The headlines flashing—Royal Prince Shaken by Outspoken Guest at Environmental Summit—and the endless clips of me trying to keep my composure while that Italian prick took shots at everything I stood for.

I slammed my fist against the desk. What the hell was that? How did he just walk in there and dismantle me so effortlessly? That sneer of his, the cocky grin, like he was trying to get a rise out of me. And the words. I couldn’t stop hearing them. 'How much of this is just for show?” “Are you just another prince with a nice title and a pretty face?'

So he thinks I have a pretty face? I caught myself feeling flattered, before I snapped right out of it.

The audacity, again. The nerve.

But I couldn’t lie to myself. There was something else. Something that twisted deep in my gut, like a flicker of heat I couldn’t control. Damn it, Alexander, stop. I knew what this was. It was the attraction. It was him, standing there with that glint of tease in his eyes. He wasn’t afraid of me, not in the slightest. In fact, it felt like he was enjoying making me squirm.

And that pissed me off... and turned me on.

I let out a sharp breath, running my hands through my hair again. Focus. Focus.

“Your Highness,” a voice interrupted my spiraling thoughts. My advisor, Marcus, was standing at the door, his expression tight. “We need to discuss damage control. The press has already caught on to your... heated exchange with Mr. Vittorio. There are calls for an apology or clarification of your position.”

I stared at him for a moment, trying to clear the fog of frustration. “Apologize? For what? For defending myself against a man who doesn’t even understand the complexities of what we’re trying to do?”

“Your Highness,” he said, stepping closer. “I understand your frustration, but there’s a perception issue. We can’t afford to come across as defensive or disconnected from the public. An apology would show strength and humility.”

An apology. You’ve got to be shitting me…. The last thing I wanted to do was apologize to that arrogant prick. He wasn’t worth it.

But then again, did he have a point? His words... they kept echoing in my head. Was it just about speeches? Was I just giving out empty promises to make myself look good, to keep up the royal image?

No. I can’t...

I shut down the thoughts before they could take root. “Fine. But no apology. A clarification will do.” I didn’t want to admit it, but I was frustrated. And a little unsettled. Damn him for getting to me like this.

Then Marcus dropped the bombshell.

“Mr. Vittorio has made an appointment and requested a meeting,” he said, watching me closely. “He wants to apologize as well for his earlier behavior.”

I froze, eyes narrowing. What the hell is he playing at? Fuck! I did tell him to make an appointment though….

“Does he now?” I muttered. “And what, he’s just going to walk in here, all contrite, and we’ll forget what happened?”

Marcus cleared his throat. “Well... not exactly. He’s requested to meet with you privately, Your Highness. Alone.”

A slight spark of interest flickered. Alone? I stood up, narrowing my eyes. “Fine. Set it up. But I want to speak to him. No apologies. No fake pleasantries. I’ll handle this my way.”

Inside, a relentless adrenaline hum filled my veins. If that man thought he could charm his way out of this, he had another thing coming. Still, a treacherous part of me—perhaps the same part that’d felt that spark of heat in the hallway—wondered what Leonardo Vittorio was really planning.

I brushed off the thought with one final order: Never let your guard down.

Because whoever Leonardo Vittorio really was, he sure as hell wasn’t afraid to push my buttons. And I was starting to wonder if I was more upset at his gall—or at how much a tiny part of me wanted him to keep going.