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"Good , Kimberley," James said He didn't rise, so Ben didn't either "Ben, this is Ki She's my personal assistant and h this process Kimberley, I would like you toearlier because you need to know that Ben is--" He looked over at Ben and tightened his grip on his hand "He's the reason that I' out with a partner after all"

"A pleasure tosaid, s course?"

James's thumb traced over Ben's wrist, slow and deliberate, and despite the for, Ben felt a flicker of heat "I ness to take this on," James said "He has disabusedto stand with h this, and I couldn't be happier I realize this forces you to redo a great deal of work you've done at the last ize But here we are"

Ben felt as though he should say so, but he had no idea what

Ms Tseng took a seat, and for the first time Ben saw some hesitation there "May I continue to speak frankly, sir?"

"Please do," James said Ben nodded; he really wanted so like a normal person

"First things first, Your Royal Highness" Ms Tseng took up her iPad "Earlier you told me you were--I believe the phrase was 'nowhere near the altar' Has that changed?"

Fuck Ben hadn't even considered e, alien to his own life, but he'd spent the whole night declaring his depthless love Was it possible James expected them to set a date? When Ben had chosen now rather than never, what exactly did James think he wanted now?

But Jaed"

"Good In fact, that's ideal" Her fingers danced on her iPad, quicker than anyone else's Ben had ever seen "Going straight froe announcereat a jump for the public to make But a serious relationship is perfect, sir People respect co about every man you come into contact with from now on, which is a plus"

We didn't fall in love as a PRdefensive Considering these things was Ms Tseng's job, and she appeared to be good at it

Instead he said, "I iine there's information you'll need from me Whatever it is you want to know, just ask"

"There's a great deal we should review," she agreed "In fact, Mr Dahan, if at all possible, you and I should meet privately this afternoon for an hour or two The list of topics we should cover is extensive, and it would go more smoothly if I had a chance to prep"

"That's fine I called in sick today"

Her fingers paused He realized she hadn't thought of him as someone who had a job, the sa was back to her usual briskness "I'll need a basic bio as soon as possible Do you have one already?"

"There's one on the Global Media Services website," Ben said At her raised eyebrow, he said, "Yes, I'm a reporter But I cover economic issues, not royalty"

"Except once," Jaoodness"

She nodded "Of course The article just after the king's stroke I remember it now Very ritten, Mr Dahan"

"Thank you," Ben said, but his disco He wanted someone to act like a person about this, to be shocked or thrilled or say Oh my God or in any other way behave normally

"I take it you two met in Kenya," she said

James beah we didn't begin seeing each other properly until after Ben transferred to London a few o"

Ben wondered if he'd be able to shake Ms Tseng's aplo until later, but just to be clear, within four hours of hness, I had my cock in his mouth

Probably inappropriate

"I' said She looked up from the iPad, and Ben could tell she wasn't sure how this would go over "It ham Palace today"

"Buckingha if you wanted to visit the moon around lunchtime

"You think so?" Jaain "I would have thought that h" To Ben he said, "It's the whole faay before, and most of them only found out yesterday"

Ben breathed out "Sounds dire"

Ms Tseng was undeterred "If you'll forgiveso, sir, that situation can't be madeMr Dahan at another time would only create a second opportunity for discord"

"Get it all over with now, hht as well" Jam

es squeezed Ben's hand again "Are you in? I realize it's a lot to take on all at once"

"It's all right," Ben said Now that he could look forward to facing down real, tangible eneet to o"

Jaine anything as wonderful as Ben wanting to ht of that Yes, definitely But be careful to call her Aets to use her nicknaive it to you eventually" Yet James turned businesslike once more in an instant "We can send someone to your flat to pick up one of your suits"

Yes, if there were ever an occasion that called for changing out of your ru the royal faham Palace was probably it Unfortunately, Ben didn't have anything handy "My suit's at the cleaners"

"What? All of them?" James said

"I only have the one"

"Really?"

Ben shrugged "My office is happy if I shoearing leather shoes instead of sneakers Why would I bother having another suit?"

"Well, we can get the one you have from the cleaners, then"

"It won't be ready"

Once again, Ja fielded that one: "Dry cleaners nor is ready to be returned, sir Express service is often available but must be requested in advance"

"Which I didn't do, since I didn't exactly have this scheduled," Ben said Good God, it's going to be like dating someone from another planet

Jae e so up"

"Speaking of Mr Dahan's flat" Ms Tseng hesitated Ben had already learned that if soive her pause, it was pretty da, "Does he intend to keep it?"

Ben and Jaine so," it felt as though Ben ain

"I'estion you both may consider presumptuous," she said "While it would be preferable for Mr Dahan to al residence, for the weeks i the announcement, I believe he should stay at Clarence House"