The Billionaire Prince and His Secretary

Chapter 17

Ember POV

We bumped into Mr. Orion Blackwood in the hotel where we were staying. It felt like a strange coincidence considering we saw each other the previous day in Solandia. However, it was also a nice surprise. I just couldn’t help but find it odd that Mr. Blackwood greeted John on a first-name basis. John was a prince, and Mr. Blackwood knew that. Regardless, the hotel must have been famous to attract such big names.

John’s expression was tight, his jaw clenched in that way he had when he was annoyed. I tried to be warm enough to not make Mr. Blackwood feel unwelcome.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said after the two men shook hands.

“Mr. Blackwood. It’s certainly unexpected,” John replied with his expression neutral.

Mr. Blackwood turned to me, smiling warmly. “Miss Ember, it’s lovely to see you again. Are you enjoying your stay?”

“Yes, very much,” I replied, returning his smile. “This place is beautiful.”

“It is indeed,” he agreed. “I’m here for a few days before I fly to London. I’m doing a European tour to expand my company’s reach. Europe is ripe with opportunities.”

John nodded, his politeness unwavering but his impatience clear. “Well, we must be going. We have dinner reservations.”

“Of course, of course,” Mr. Blackwood said, raising his hands in mock surrender. “I hope to see you again soon.”

With that, we walked away, John guiding me towards the restaurant. He took my hand, and in each passing second, his grip got tighter than usual.

As we entered the restaurant, the maitre d’ greeted us and showed us to our table. The ambiance was perfect–candlelight, soft music, and a stunning view of the sea. But John’s mood was still clouded by our encounter with Mr. Blackwood.

“John, is everything alright?” I asked, placing my hand on his across the table.

“It’s nothing.” He shook his head then squeezed my hand. “I’m sorry. We’re here to enjoy ourselves. It’s just that I don’t trust Blackwood. I can’t shake the feeling that he’s up to something.”

“I understand. But we’ll deal with it if it comes up,” I said confidently. “For now, let’s enjoy our dinner.”

The menu was filled with delicious-sounding options, and we decided to order a variety of dishes to share. As we waited for our food, we talked about our plans for the rest of the trip. John was intent on keeping most of it a surprise, but he did let slip a few hints that had me even more excited.

“But first, I’m so sorry to add this to our itinerary, but it is kind of necessary. We will meet the Prime Minister tomorrow morning, after we have our breakfast. It will just be a short courtesy visit, so nothing to worry about. Then, I have a meeting with a friend who is going to sell his shares in a huge company here in Greece. I was studying it and am considering buying them. He’s already retired and wants nothing from the company anymore, wanting his retirement years in peace.” John went on to tell me about our meeting with his friend. I had no problem with the activities the following day, but I was worried about one thing. “Is there something wrong? Well, I can meet my friend another time.” John must have noticed the change in my expression.

“No, it’s not that. I don’t have anything to wear tomorrow,” I confessed. “I’ll just go around by myself while you’re with them.”

“No.” John was confident with his reply. “No. Remember, I helped you pack your clothes. You might not have seen the couple of dresses I put in your luggage. I put two pairs of shoes in there, too.”

When I thought about it, I didn’t remember seeing the dresses or shoes. It was because I dumped everything on the bed while John was the one who put the items inside my luggage.

“That’s great,” I said in awe. “Thank you so much.”

“Well, you won’t get rid of me that fast.” John chuckled and then winked, to which I replied with a big smile. “After all the meetings, we are free to roam around Athens.”

At that exact moment, the food arrived. It was a feast for the senses. Each dish was a work of art, and the flavors were incredible. We laughed and chatted, the earlier tension melting away as we savored each bite.

“This is amazing,” I said, savoring a bite of grilled octopus. “I’ve never tasted anything like it.”

“I’m glad you like it,” John replied, his mood much lighter.

After dinner, we took a leisurely stroll back to our room, the night air cool and refreshing. John was much more relaxed, his arm around my shoulders as we walked.

“I have more surprises in store for you,” he whispered in my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

“I can’t wait,” I replied, leaning into him.

We spent the rest of the evening on the balcony, enjoying the view and each other’s company. In the middle of comfortable silence, John’s phone buzzed with a message. He glanced at it, his expression unreadable.

“Everything alright?” I asked.

He nodded, putting the phone away. “Yes, just some business. Nothing that can’t wait.”

I decided not to press further. That night was about us, and I didn’t want to spoil it. We settled in for the night, and as I drifted off, I couldn’t help but wonder what surprises the next day would bring. With John by my side, I knew whatever it was, it would be unforgettable.

.

.

.

John and I were up early as usual. He ordered breakfast through our butler, which I didn’t know was available. I ate light, not wanting my tummy to act up during the meetings. When I started to prepare for our meeting, I searched for the dresses John had packed for me. I found them in the closet, already pressed. I wore a navy blue dress with long sleeves and a hem that covered my knees. John surely had great taste in fashion!

The short meeting with the Prime Minister was exactly that: short but very meaningful.

“The Royal Kingdom of Solandia is always in our hearts,” the Prime Minister said warmly, shaking John’s hand. “We are excited about Princess Alya’s ascension to the throne. It will usher in a new era for your country.”

John nodded, his smile genuine. “The Royal Kingdom of Solandia also supports the Greek economy. We are looking into potential investments here.”

Photos were taken, and I was able to manage to snap a couple as souvenirs, and something to share with Alya. The Prime Minister and his wife were incredibly welcoming, expressing their delight at our visit.

“Well, it’s wonderful that you’ve chosen Greece for your vacation,” the Prime Minister said with a broad smile.

John corrected him. “Actually, it was my secretary who made this happen.” They all gave me a smile that made me blush in my seat.

They extended their assistance to make our trip memorable, and we exchanged gifts before parting. John gifted them a beautiful painting by a renowned Solandian artist, while they gave him a hand-painted ceramic plate with a wooden stand, perfect for decoration. It was a fruitful meeting indeed, and John seemed pleased as we left.

After the meeting, we joined his friend, Nicolas, for coffee at one of the posh hotels in Athens. Nicolas was very welcoming, like every person we had met so far in the country. He ordered coffee for us, being our third cup of the day, and it wasn’t even noon yet.

John and Nicholas did a lot of catching up. They talked about business updates in each other’s countries, and then the conversation shifted to Nicolas’ shipping company. John was interested since shipping was one of his businesses. They had once been competitors but had since become partners.

“Orion Blackwood approached me about buying my shares. Do you know him? I didn’t, so I ran a background check on him, and his interests are far from shipping. He’s into real estate and hospitality in New York and some states in the east, but that was that. It has only been recently that he has branched out to other countries. I am not sure why he would venture into shipping all of a sudden. It is a totally different world,” Nicolas said. “But after not hearing from you for weeks, I was considering it. It was a good thing you called though. It changed my mind. I’ve known you longer and trust you’ll take care of my legacy.”

John’s expression tightened at the mention of Blackwood, but he was relieved that Nicolas decided to sell his shares to him instead. They shook hands, sealing the deal, formality to follow.

“Really. It was a good thing I called. It was all because of Ember,” John added after he thanked Nicolas.

“Well, don’t let go of your girlfriend then. Ember’s your lucky charm,” Nicolas teased, giving me a wink. “I’ll initiate the documentation within the week, and we’ll finalize everything when you return to Solandia. It may take a while for the process to finish.”

I sat there taking notes, but wondering why Nicolas thought I was John’s girlfriend? John introduced me to him as his secretary. On the other hand, why would John bring a woman on a trip to Greece for a week?

“I have a private island…somewhere there in the sea.” Nicolas laughed. “Just tell me if you want to use it. It's free for you, of course.”

I was glad the meetings for the day were over, and I was sure John was too. For two consecutive days, Orion Blackwood had been a shadow over our plans. John didn’t mention anything as we headed back to our hotel to change and rest.

“Rest” in John’s terms meant s*x. I gave in, missing him inside me, even though I knew he wanted it to release stress.

When we got back to our villa, I went straight to the bathroom. However, before I could do anything, I traced my steps back and saw John by the closed door. His eyes locked onto mine, dark and intense, as he took a step closer.

“Come here,” he murmured. His voice was low and commanding.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I moved toward him, drawn by an invisible force. His hands were on me in an instant, fingers digging into my hips as he pulled me against him. Our mouths met in a fierce kiss, all tongues and teeth, a clash of raw need and unspoken emotion.

John’s hands roamed over my body, rough and insistent, as if he couldn't get enough of me. He spun me around, pressing me against the wall, his breath hot on my neck. “I want to f**k you, Ember,” he growled. His voice, a throaty whisper, sent a wave of heat through me.

I arched my back, pressing my body into his. “Then take me,” I whispered back, the words a challenge and a plea.

His response was immediate. He gripped my hair, pulling my head back to expose my throat, and kissed a searing trail down my neck. His other hand found the hem of my dress, yanking it up roughly, the fabric tearing in his urgency. I gasped, the sound swallowed by his mouth as he captured mine again, his kiss hungry and demanding.

He lifted me, and I wrapped my legs around his waist, feeling the hard press of this body against mine. There was nothing gentle in the way he touched me, nothing soft in his movements. It was all raw, primal need, and I matched his intensity with my own, my nails raking down his back as I held tight.

John moved us to the bed and then dropped me onto the mattress. He hovered over me for a moment, his eyes dark and wild, before he descended, his mouth claiming mine in a brutal, passionate kiss. His hands were everywhere, touching, squeezing, exploring, leaving no part of me untouched.

“Tell me you want this,” he demanded. “Tell me you want my d**k inside you, my seed inside you.”

“I want this. I want you. Give me everything,” I breathed, my hands clutching at his shoulders, pulling him closer.

His eyes blazed with a fierce satisfaction as he moved above me, his body powerful and unyielding. He tore my dress apart; my underwear followed. In one thrust, I was full. I loudly moaned and tried to keep up with him. However, there was no finesse, no rhythm, just a driving need that consumed us both. Each movement was a declaration, a statement of possession and desire.

Our bodies moved together, each thrust and arch a testament to the fire that burned between us. The room filled with the sounds of our passion–lots of moaning and skin slapping on skin–two people lost in the heat of the moment.

And then, with a powerful surge, we both shattered, almost at the same time. I reached my climax just before John did. Our world exploded into a kaleidoscope of sensation. We clung to each other, riding out the waves of pleasure, our breaths mingling, hearts pounding.

As the intensity faded, John collapsed on top of me, his arm around my waist, but his hand on my butt. We lay there, spent and sated.