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“No. I’m knowledgeable. You haven’t been able to get work in that field, otherwise you wouldn’t have taken the job as a nanny. This is a move out of desperation.”
Katie laughed in a way that she hoped would say No such thing as desperation in this mind and heart.
“I will give you front-page billing,” Papazyan went on. “I will get you a position in a real journalism industry. Some of my writers have even been syndicated. Have you ever thought of that? New York Times, The Guardian. Big-time outlets. I can do that for you.” Something shifted in his face. “And if that’s not enough incentive, then you should know that the photos of you and the girls at the park aren’t the only ones. The most important photos are the ones taken of you with me, having a very amiable conversation. That would be difficult to explain to Prince Armin.”
All the blood drained from her face. “You’re blackmailing me?” Her voice sounded high and breathless, and she hated it. “If I don’t cooperate with your little plan, you’ll blackmail me?”
He gave an uninterested shrug. “Whatever works. And you needn’t act so scandalized—we both know you made some underhanded moves from time to time in service of a story.”
She was trapped. Completely trapped. Refusing would mean she’d be exposed. Prince Armin would fire her, of course. He might even deport her. Where would she go? What would she do? But how could she say yes—give in to this blackmail and do something she knew to be wrong?
“Come now,” Papazyan said. “We’re both professionals. Let’s come to an agreement so we can both move forward with our lives. Really, such a fuss over just a few little details. I’m not asking you to hack anyone’s computer or release secret files. Just give me a few tidbits I can use about the prince or his associates. I won’t ask for anything about the girls—you have my word. In fact, if you agree to work with me, I’ll see to it that the girls stay out of the paper entirely.”
There was no other agreement to be made. Katie would have to walk the line. Papazyan wasn’t asking her to bring down the monarchy. He wanted inside information about the daily life of the prince, and Katie had that—in spades. And even if she didn’t, she could feed him details that seemed real enough to throw him off the scent. Katie already knew that he would spin anything she told him to fit his purposes, but at least this way she could control part of the narrative.
In controlling the narrative, she would protect the little girls, who had won themselves a place in her heart already.
Katie was down to her last minute. She had to leave the coffee shop, and she knew she couldn’t walk away without striking some kind of deal. It would be a bigger risk not to.
“Fine.”
Papazyan’s face lit up.
“I’ll be a set of eyes and ears inside the castle for you. But now I have to go.”
“Ms. Crestley,” he said as she stood up. “It’s a pleasure to work with you.”
She left without another word, feeling like a grimy film had settled over her skin.
The sun had grown hotter while she was in the café, and Katie’s heart beat fast on the way back to the castle. Her mind was a mess. There was pressure from all sides. Prince Armin didn’t particularly care for her, she was sure of that, and Ms. Mirzoyan was constantly looking for reasons to reprimand her. She was risking so much…but what choice did she have?
All she had to do was to be careful.
Easy enough.
4
Katie hovered in the hallway while Armin tucked in the girls, saying a short prayer in Stolvenian with them. Their voices fit together—their high, lilting ones and his smooth, deep one. But Katie didn’t find it calming.
Usually, she got the girls ready for bed and read a few books with them, then retreated to her rooms while Armin spent his time with them.
Not tonight.
Tonight, she waited in the hall, shifting her weight from foot to foot. Now that she’d made her deal with Papazyan, it was more important than ever that she and the prince reach some kind of accord. If the newspaper editor wanted information from her today, all she would have been able to say was how handsome Armin looked when he was angry. She’d need more information than that.
When he finally came out, closing the door behind him, Katie was practically bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet.
“Prince Armin.”
He turned, registering her presence there with a frown. “Is there something you need to tell me about Lily and Seraphine?” He was still upset with her—it was clearly written on his face.
“I wanted to say that I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
Katie took a deep breath. “I saw the paper. I saw the photo. And I take full responsibility.”
Armin considered her, his muscular arms crossed over his chest. His green eyes flashed in the golden light of the hallway, but he said nothing.
