Royal Secrets (27 page)

“I see.” A glimmer of hope stirred inside him. “Then I should apologize.”

“Yes, you should,” Alora agreed, a hint of anger still vibrating through her voice.

“I am sorry I didn’t say good-bye. I didn’t know if you would want to see me before I left.”

Alora’s cheeks flushed, and her eyes lowered for a moment.

Stefano reached for her then, pulling her close to satisfy his need to hold her, to prove to himself that she was whole and alive. That she was his.

He felt her arms come around his waist and cling for a moment before she shook her head. “Stefano, don’t.” She pulled free and motioned down the hall. “I thought your parents were waiting for us.”

“They are.” His eyes were dark as he stared down at her. “Perhaps we can talk later.”

Alora gave a slight nod and then followed him into his father’s office. Even though her posture didn’t change, he sensed her nerves when his father stood to greet them. She dipped into a curtsy. Gently, Stefano placed a hand on her back as he offered an introduction. “Father, this is Alora DeSanto.”

Eduard extended his hand. “My son tells me you have some information to share with us.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Alora said as she shook his hand. She shifted her briefcase from her shoulder and then gave the king a wary look. “I’m afraid I do.”

“Please sit down, and you can walk us through your findings.”

Stefano pulled a chair out for her, and they all sat down at his father’s worktable. Alora slipped several sheets of paper from her briefcase. She looked apologetically at the queen as she slid a copy to Stefano and another to the king. “I’m sorry. I only brought two copies.”

“What are we looking at here?” Eduard asked as Marta shifted closer so she could read the paper with him.

“Stefano asked me to conduct an in-depth audit of your household accounts, specifically for the expenses of the gala event held at the chateau.” Alora tapped a finger on her own sheet. “The initial findings were that everything was in order, but when I began tracing the funds used to pay the expenses, I found several irregularities.”

“Like?” Stefano prompted.

“Your main expenses for the gala that were drawn out of your household accounts were security, catering, flowers, and music.” Alora pointed to the top sheet of her report. “A physical check was cut to the caterers for the exact amount of their contract, but for the other three categories, the payments were made via electronic fund transfers.”

Alora’s eyes lifted to meet Stefano’s, and then she looked at the king. “All three of the accounts that received the payments were dummy accounts.”

“What do you mean
dummy accounts
?”

“The accounts were set up in the names of the various contractors you hired, but the authorized users on the accounts didn’t belong to anyone within those companies,” Alora told them. “The money was transferred into these dummy accounts, and then the amount that was actually billed by the various companies was paid to them. The difference remained in the dummy accounts, and a few weeks later, the money was siphoned off and transferred again, only this time the funds went to a numbered account in the Caymans.”

“Why didn’t the other auditors catch this?”

“There wasn’t any reason they would. The invoices on file all matched the amounts that were paid,” Alora said. “My guess is that the amounts on the original invoices were replaced before the payments were ever made. The auditors would have verified those invoices to the payment amounts and seen that the money went to bank accounts that they believed belonged to the contractors. They wouldn’t have had access to dig any deeper, nor would they have had any reason to believe they needed to.”

“How much money are we talking about?”

“At this one event, it was just over two hundred and forty-seven thousand euros.” Alora glanced at Stefano. “The bank only allowed me access to the past eighteen months of records, but I did find similar anomalies last year as well. It’s possible this has been going on for some time.”

Stefano’s jaw clenched. “Do you have any idea who’s behind this?”

Alora nodded. “I’m afraid I know exactly who’s behind this. I also have an idea of how we can prove it.”

* * *

Alora walked out of King Eduard’s office nearly an hour after she had presented her initial analysis. The royal family clearly had a lot to consider, and she didn’t envy them their task of deciding how to handle the fact that someone so close to their family had been stealing from them, most likely for years.

The office door snapped closed, and she looked up to see Stefano standing next to her. “We need to talk. Privately.”

Even though the commanding tone put her on edge, Alora didn’t argue. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she had been looking forward to this opportunity to be alone with Stefano, to somehow define what their relationship had become since she had seen him last.

He took her arm and guided her toward a narrow staircase, the scent of potpourri mixing with traces of Stefano’s cologne. When they reached the single door at the end of the hall, Stefano pushed it open and led her outside onto a lit pathway that cut through the wide patch of grass. He nodded to the guard who stood just outside the door and continued toward the gazebo located in the center of the yard.

The moonlight reflected on the structure that had been built of the same white stone as the palace. Thick columns supported the cupola top, and several stone benches were positioned inside. Stefano led her through the wide, arched entrance and then released her arm when he turned to face her.

Shadows played over his face, and she couldn’t read his expression. Could it be that he had decided she was right when she told him they didn’t have a future together? Was that why he hadn’t said good-bye when he left? Questions burned on her tongue, but she couldn’t force herself to ask them. Instead, she looked up at him, braced for what was to come.

He stared at her as though he too was searching for the right words. Several long seconds ticked by before he finally asked, “Why did it bother you that I didn’t say good-bye before I left?”

Alora had pondered that same question herself the past few days, but she offered him the simplest truth she could put into words. “I thought we were friends.”

“We are friends.” He stepped toward her, his hand linking with hers. “But I want more.”

Alora looked down at their hands, hers narrow, the tan line from her wedding band no longer visible. A large sapphire ring adorned his right hand, identifying who and what he was. Impossibly, their lives had merged, and the thought of moving forward without him in her future sent a sense of panic skittering through her. Not prepared to analyze her own feelings, she turned the conversation back to him. “Why didn’t you say good-bye before you left?”

“I hoped that if I gave you some time alone you might miss me.”

“Oh.” His admission should have irritated her on principle, but she could only wonder how he had come to know her so well.

He ran his thumb over the back of her hand, his eyes locked on hers. “Did it work?”

Her shoulders lifted. “Maybe.”

His lips twitched, and he edged closer. “Good.”

She lifted a hand to his chest, surprised to feel his heart beating as rapidly as hers when he appeared so composed. “I still don’t think there can be a future between us.”

“Then we’ll have to live in the moment.” His lips brushed hers, once then twice.

When he released her hand so he could pull her closer, she leaned into the kiss. She was past pretending that she didn’t want this, that she didn’t feel for him what she hadn’t dare let herself feel in a very long time. His hand trailed up her back to tangle in her hair. Chills ran through her, and she pulled back to look up at him.

Decisions would have to be made, issues about their differences would have to be faced, but for tonight she wouldn’t think of the obstacles between them. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to live in the moment just this once.

“This scares me, what I feel for you,” she said.

“You don’t have to be scared. I’m not going anywhere.”

“No, but I am. I will be leaving for the chateau in the morning.” Alora looked past him to the palace standing so solidly on the cliffs. Then she shifted, and her eyes met his once more. “I know your home is here, but will you be coming to visit us anytime soon?”

“My father wants me to stay until after parliament’s first legislative session. It is the only time our entire government body is gathered in one place. As heir to the throne, I shouldn’t be there with him because of potential security concerns, but I will need to remain here in Calene.”

“When will that happen?”

“Next week.”

“We’ll miss you.”

“Stay.” Stefano said the word as though he was surprised it escaped his mouth. Then he kissed her gently once more. “Stay here at the palace for a few more days.”

“Janessa needs me at the chateau.”

“My father has asked Garrett and Janessa to come to the palace. They will be here at least through the weekend. Besides, I would feel better if you aren’t at the chateau until the financial issues are resolved.”

The thought of staying longer, of spending more time with him, was appealing, but she also had to consider the practicality of the situation. “I only packed for one night.”

“Call Patrice tomorrow and ask her to send some more of your things. Or if you would prefer, Janessa can take care of it for you. She can bring whatever you need when she comes tomorrow.”

“I guess that would work . . .”

“Good.” Stefano smiled. “Does that mean I can talk you and the boys into eating breakfast with me tomorrow?”

Her smile was instant. “We would all love that.”

Chapter 35

“What is the meaning of this?” Martino looked at Garrett, disbelief and indignation on his face. “I have been loyal to this family for more than thirty years. You can’t possibly believe I would steal from you.”

“Martino, I’m sorry, but the evidence is compelling. I’m afraid you’ll need to come with us.” Garrett placed his hand on Martino’s arm. He could feel the fury vibrating from him, but Martino nodded stiffly and moved forward without another word.

Garrett escorted Martino out of his office to where Levi was waiting with two uniformed police officers. As Garrett released Martino’s arm to turn him over to the police, he leaned closer to the older man and spoke quietly. “Martino, I promise you, the truth will come out.”

Martino didn’t look at him, but he gave a curt nod before falling into step with the men who had come to take him away.

Garrett let out a shaky breath. He still couldn’t believe the holding accounts Alora had discovered had all been in Martino’s name. He watched Martino disappear down the hall and then pulled his phone free to call his brother. “It’s done. Now it’s in your hands.”

Stefano’s voice was sympathetic. “How did Martino take it?”

“About as well as can be expected,” Garrett told him. “I sure hope you know what you’re doing.”

“So do I.”

* * *

Stefano hung up with his brother and immediately dialed Luigi Ovalle’s phone number. The man answered on the second ring.

“Your Highness, what can I do for you?”

“Luigi, I need your assistance with a rather delicate matter.”

“Of course. What do you need?”

“As you may already know, Martino was just taken into custody. It appears he may have been involved in some questionable financial transactions in relation to the gala this summer.”

“Martino? I find that difficult to believe.”

“So do I,” Stefano agreed. “From what I understand, inflated bills were submitted to replace the originals, which were lower amounts. The only way to prove conclusively who was behind this fraud is to find the original invoices or the blank invoices used to create the new bills.”

“You want me to look for them?”

“Yes. If Martino really is guilty, they should be hidden somewhere in his room or his office.”

“I’ll see what I can find.”

“Let me know if you uncover anything.”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

* * *

Alora stared out the window at the drizzling rain, memories of last night still occupying her thoughts. Her concern that she was falling for a man who wasn’t LDS was forefront in her mind, but she couldn’t deny that her prayers seemed to have led her to this point. Every time she thought of life without Stefano in it, she felt hollow inside. She knew there were plenty of women out there who had managed to stay active in the Church after marrying someone who wasn’t a member, but she also knew they faced challenges she never hoped to understand.

She shook her head to clear her thoughts. She knew she was worrying about a future that was unlikely in the best of circumstances. Despite the attraction she felt for Stefano, the circumstances that had brought them together were coming to an end. In a matter of weeks, he would relocate permanently to the palace, and she and the boys would have to adjust to life without him at the chateau. She dreaded the time when that would happen, as much for her sons as for herself. They had so enjoyed having breakfast with Stefano this morning, even though an important phone call had forced him to leave them earlier than he had planned.

Already Alora could see the change in him since their time at the chateau. His duties weighed more heavily on him here at the palace, and she imagined his free time would be even more limited than before. The demands on his schedule would surely affect their relationship sooner than later. Undoubtedly time and distance would erase whatever closeness they now shared, but even with that knowledge, she found herself looking forward to enjoying this time together.

He had called shortly before noon to let her know he wouldn’t be able to meet her for lunch because of meetings. Feeling awkward about wandering around the palace, she had let Brenna bring lunch up to their rooms instead of venturing out to the kitchen. Now that their dishes were cleared, Alora found herself restless.

Giancarlo climbed onto the window seat beside her and cuddled onto her lap. “Mama, I’m bored.”

“Why don’t you go watch a movie?”