The Billionaire Prince and His Secretary

Chapter 13

Ember POV

John led me back to our seats, his jaw clenched as he sipped his champagne. “Is something wrong?” I asked, concerned.

He glanced at me, his expression darkening. “I left for a couple of minutes, and you were already flirting with another guy?”

I was floored. “Flirting? I was just making small talk!”

He looked away, frustration evident. “I saw the way he was looking at you.”

I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “John, you’re overreacting. It was just a conversation.”

Unable to contain my frustration, I excused myself and walked out to the balcony, needing to cool off. I took several deep breaths, trying to steady my racing heart. John followed me, his face a mask of conflict.

“Ember,” he began with a soft voice. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

I reached out, taking his hand. “We need to work on our communication.”

“You’re right,” he said as he pulled me into his arms.

I sighed, resting my head against his chest. “Let’s not ruin the night, okay?”

He kissed the top of my head, holding me close. “Agreed.” He swayed me slowly for a few seconds before inviting me back inside. “Let’s go back inside and enjoy the rest of the evening.”

When we returned to the reception, the air was still thick with the celebratory spirit of the evening. Just as we were making our way back to our table, Alya, Leo, and an older man approached us. He was probably around the same age as King Jerry, with a distinguished demeanor and a warm smile.

“John, we have been looking for you,” Alya said. “Anyway, this is Mr. Orion Blackwood, CEO and President of Blackwood Corporation. You may have heard of the Blackwood Corporation. They will be opening a branch here in Solandia.”

“Good evening, Sir,” Mr. Blackwood greeted, extending his hand to John. “It’s so nice to meet you. As mentioned to Madam earlier, I am so honored to be invited to this wedding and to meet all of you.”

John and I exchanged quick glances. John shook his hand first. “John Desmond. And this is Ember, my secretary.”

Desmond was John’s second name. He was used to giving it as his last name as last names were typically non-existent for the royals in Solandia.

I smiled politely and shook Orion’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Blackwood. I’ve read a few things about Blackwood Corporation recently, and it’s exciting to have you here in Solandia. Welcome to the country.”

John shot me a quick side-eye, his expression unreadable, but quickly turned his attention to Mr. Blackwood. I may have shown too much enthusiasm meeting Mr. Blackwood. Who wouldn’t? It wasn't often we got to meet new investors in Solandia, especially not a big one like Blackwood Corporation.

“Ah, an informed lady,” Orion said, his eyes twinkling. “Our company is new to Solandia, but we’re excited to invest here. The country’s growth is impressive.”

John nodded, his demeanor polite but distant. “Yes, Solandia has been thriving. What brings you here, Mr. Blackwood?”

Orion chuckled, a rich, warm sound. “Opportunity, mainly.” He gave me a smile before continuing. “Solandia’s market is ripe for expansion, and I believe our company can contribute to its economic development.”

As he spoke, I found myself impressed by his confidence and charisma. He had a way of making me feel included in the conversation, and he often glanced at me, acknowledging my presence.

“The king has been very supportive,” Orion continued. “And it’s been a pleasure to witness such a joyous occasion. Weddings always remind me of the importance of family and tradition.”

John nodded, though I could sense his skepticism. Alya and Leo excused themselves, as they still had to make rounds. Mr. Blackwood continued his talk, with John offering occasional inputs, but it was clear he was merely going through the motions. Despite this, Orion carried the conversation with ease, his enthusiasm unwavering.

Towards the end of the conversation, Orion turned to me with a grin. “Ember, if you ever decide you want a change of scenery, I’d be more than happy to pirate you as my secretary.”

John’s expression darkened, and he raised an eyebrow at me. I laughed, knowing Mr. Blackwood was only joking, hoping also to diffuse the tension. “I’m sorry, Mr. Blackwood, but I’m loyal to John and his family. I couldn’t imagine working anywhere else.” That was the truth, even when I browsed on the job market the previous day.

Orion laughed heartily. “Loyalty is a rare trait these days. And, please, just call me Orion. John, you’re lucky to have someone like Ember on your team.”

John’s cold demeanor didn’t waver, but he nodded curtly. “Indeed. And I’m glad to know that Ember is happy with where she is.”

We made our way to a quieter corner of the reception area, away from the bustling crowd. I finally broke the silence. “John, I didn’t mean to–” I didn’t even know what I was about to apologize for.

“It’s fine, Ember,” he cut me off. “Let’s not talk about it here.”

I nodded, feeling a lump in my throat. The night was supposed to be a celebration, but the tension between us was unimaginable.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. We danced, mingled with other guests, and enjoyed the festivities. However, there was an undercurrent of unspoken words between John and me, a tension that neither of us addressed.

As the reception began to wind down, John excused himself to speak with his father once more. I found myself alone again, watching the guests slowly make their way out. Just then, I felt a presence beside me. It was Dean. Again.

“Hey,” he said, offering a friendly smile. “Everything okay?”

I nodded, though I wasn’t sure if it was true. “Yeah. It’s just been a long day.”

Dean chuckled. “Weddings can be exhausting. My sister got married a month ago, and it was extremely tiring.” He then looked toward the stage. “But it’s worth it, seeing Alya and Leo so happy.”

“Absolutely,” I agreed, smiling.

Before the conversation could continue, John returned, his expression still tense. “Ready to go?” he asked.

I nodded, saying a quick goodbye to Dean. As we walked to his bedroom, I could feel the weight of John’s unspoken words pressing down on me.

When we finally reached his room, he turned to me, his eyes dark and unreadable. “We need to talk.”

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. “I know.”

We sat down in his sitting area, the silence between us heavy. Finally, John spoke. “Ember, I need you to understand something. You’re not just my secretary. You mean more to me than that.”

I looked up, surprised by the intensity in his eyes. “John,I–”

He held up a hand, stopping me. “Let me finish. I care about you, Ember. A lot. This is more than s*x. And seeing you with other men, even if it’s just talking, it makes me…uncomfortable. Dean definitely has the hots for you. He talked to you twice tonight, while I was away.”

I took a deep breath, trying to process his words. “John, you can’t get jealous every time I talk to someone.”

He nodded, running a hand through his hair. “What? And just accept, take it easy as I watch Dean take the opportunity while I am not around? You are a very stunning woman. I hope you see how I see you. And I assure you, there are more men like Dean who want to be with you.”

I reached out, taking his hand. “You need to trust me more. Like what I said, you can’t get jealous every time I talk to someone. I also work as your secretary. I talk to many people in my line of work.”

He squeezed my hand, his eyes softening. “God.” He shook his head as if digesting what I said. “That will be hard, but I’ll work on it. But don’t expect that much progress so soon, Ember. I can be very possessive.”

I smiled. At least he said he would work on it. “I know.” I sighed inwardly. “Well, I’m sorry if I made you feel insecure. That was never my intention.”

He pulled me into a hug, holding me close. “You don’t have to apologize.” After a moment, John spoke again. “And about Orion Blackwood. Don’t go near him. I don’t like him.”

Not wanting to argue with him, I said, “Yes, boss.” I climbed up on his lap and sat there to ease his mind. We stayed in that position for a long time. Without moving, I asked what time he would take me back to my apartment. “You will take me back to my apartment, right?” I added. “Sorry, I assumed you would take me home.”

“You are home. With me,” he murmured.

“What?” I pulled back from the hug.

“You’ll stay here for the night. You don’t have to go home.”

“But I can’t be seen here inside your room!” I exclaimed.

“We can just say I slept on the couch.” He shrugged his shoulders. “You don’t have to say anything. I’ll do the talking. And I don't think they will be surprised.”

“John! I don’t have clothes with me,” I argued. I didn’t want to bring scandal to the royal family. Though the family was not traditional, the elders behind the council, the consultants, were still conservative. However, John was still my boss and I knew he would protect me no matter what.

“I packed a pair for you. It’s inside that bag.” John pointed to the black bag on the floor across his room. I didn’t notice it earlier.

Curious as to what John had packed for me, I stood up and crossed the room. I took the bag and rummaged inside. “You forgot my pajamas.”

“You don’t need pajamas when you’re in my bedroom.” John’s eyes twinkled in the dimness of the room.

“You’re so—”

“What? You can wear any of my shirts.” John chuckled at my reaction. “What were you thinking?”

I shook my head but smiled just the same. John could be a funny man outside of being a prince and a CEO. It was one of his traits that I found endearing among many more.

“I’ll prepare us a bath, and I would love to put that rabbit to the test,” John teased. “And it’s time this bedroom was baptized.” He approached me and took me inside his walk-in closet, positioning me in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror. Kissing my exposed neck, he trailed kisses down it as he slowly unzipped the zipper of my dress.