Cassidy knew how much Logan would hate this new development. How much he would hate being critiqued and analysed by the world’s media. And no doubt it would make his conversation with his brother that much more difficult. But would it make the King more or less inclined to abdicate? And what would that mean for her if Logan did become King? Would she keep working for him? Would he want her to? Would she want to?
Not wanting to think about any of that, she shoved all thoughts of her family and the changes afoot in her life to the back of her mind and concentrated on the information in front of her. From what she could see, the palace had not yet commented on th
e growing crisis, but in her estimation they would need to do so soon. Already the London Stock Exchange had responded to the news of the King’s imminent abdication with a downward turn of Arrantinian stock, and no doubt New York would follow suit when it opened.
In addition, the paparazzi were trying even harder to find out the identity of the petite brunette seen in the King’s arms and Cassidy was only glad it wasn’t her.
She knew how it felt to have everyone talking about you behind your back and she never wanted to go through that again.
Wondering where her boss was now that they were so close to landing, she looked up to see him walking toward her.
Freshly showered and shaved, with his honey-blond hair scraped back from his forehead and wearing a crisp navy suit with a pale blue shirt that highlighted his olive skin, he looked like a man who could give a woman a night of endlessly hot sex.
And since when did she start her mornings thinking about sex, endless or otherwise?
She swallowed heavily, and sternly reminded herself that wide shoulders and a powerful physique were the least important attributes that made a man desirable. A caring nature and a good sense of humour were far more favourable.
Unfortunately those traits didn’t even rate as he sprawled in the seat opposite her like a model, his brilliant blue eyes scanning her face as he picked up the espresso the co-pilot had not long since delivered. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Why do you think something is wrong?’ she parried.
‘You’re staring.’
‘Oh, I...’ She sucked in a deep breath and forcibly shut down the disastrous attraction she was struggling to get on top of. There was the much more pressing issue of the conjecture surrounding Leo’s abdication to inform him of. ‘I think you need to brace yourself.’
Logan stretched out his long legs beneath the table, taking up most of the space. ‘Just give it to me straight.’
‘The media have picked up the story that Leo is thinking of abdicating, pretty much the whole world now knows.’
Logan didn’t move a muscle as he looked at her, his thickly lashed gaze narrowing dangerously. ‘Perhaps next time I say give it to me straight, don’t listen.’ He let out a frustrated breath and massaged his forehead. ‘Anything else?’
‘Arrantinian stock has fallen four percent in London this morning and there’s intense speculation as to whether you will become King or not.’
‘Let them speculate.’ The dangerous look in his eyes deepened and he suddenly pushed to his feet and paced around the cabin. ‘It’s what they do best. Lying in wait for one of us to slip up.’
Cassidy grimaced. ‘Todd Greene is also one of the journalists on the story.’ And she knew how her boss would take that news and he didn’t disappoint, cursing volubly under his breath.
Todd Greene had been searching for dirt on Logan for three years now. Ever since Logan had insisted that he be fired from a respected newspaper for writing a salacious story about an actress Logan had dated that had ended with her checking into rehab. Todd had struggled to find work after that and as a result he had promised that he’d get Logan back. So far he’d come up empty.
‘From his article I get the feeling he’s either in Arrantino or on his way,’ she added, frowning as she scanned an article questioning the King’s health.
‘What is it?’ Having noticed her hesitation, Logan’s interest sharpened to that of a sword tip.
‘I’m not sure. There’s something here about your brother’s illness returning.’
She glanced up in time to see a flash of pain cross her boss’s face. ‘It hasn’t,’ he said woodenly. ‘Leo is fine.’
Cassidy knew very little about his brother. She’d never had any inclination to delve into Logan’s royal history so she hadn’t. But she knew all about what it felt like to have people whisper about you behind your back and she wouldn’t wish it on anyone. ‘What did he have?’
Logan arched a brow at her question. ‘You mean you haven’t done an Internet search on my background already?’
‘No.’ She could sense his anger from across the enclosed space and some deep-seated part of her wanted to reach across the small distance and sooth him. ‘Should I have done?’
He gave a harsh bark of laughter. ‘No, but it’s not a secret. Leo had leukaemia as a teenager.’
‘Oh, that’s terrible.’
‘Yes, it was.’ Logan dragged a hand through his hair. ‘But it was a long time ago. I rarely think about it now, but at the time...’ His eyes took on a shadowed hue. ‘It was pretty ugly. I took a leave of absence from school for a few months to be with him and basically ran amok, dodging the palace tutors and entertaining Leo as much as I could during his weaker moments.’ He shook his head as if to clear the memory. ‘You do not want to challenge me to a game of Monopoly,’ he said. ‘I’m an expert.’