Pushing aside the mound of papers that the black suit had left her, Jeannie co ordinated with James and slowly gathered all the evidence that she had. She had already summoned Nina under the pretext of discussing the new plan for expenses with the funds that they had just earned.
She felt rather than heard the door to her office opening and looked up with a sigh, hoping that it was James who had come with more evidence. But her eyes widened when a blank cheque slid in front of her.
She looked up and a big smile greeted her face as she saw the man in front of her. Jumping from her chair, she hugged the man in front of her, before moving back and teasing," Delaney! How was your date with the Princess?"
Grimacing, Delaney shook his head and making no move to step away from her placed his hands on her waist and said," The next time you ask me to participate in such an event, I am going to remind myself that it is less painful to shoot myself in the foot! You purposely neglected to tell me that you had invited that crazy fan girl over to the charity."
"Hey! All is fair in.."
"Yes. Yes, I know. All is fair when it comes to charity. But next time, I am never going to be selling myself like meat!"
Grinning, Jeannie shrugged out of his arms and commented," Never say never Del.."
"So what is this cheque for?" Picking up the cheque, Jeannie leaned perched against the table and asked.
"For the missing funds." Delaney Cooper answered casually.
Jeannie stilled as she looked at him in amazement. He knew about the missing funds.
"Are you interested in Nina?"
The sudden question made Delaney frown. "Who is Nina?"
"The woman who stole the money! If you don't know her why the hell are you helping her?"
"I am not helping some Nina or Tina! I am helping you! I was there when Prince Christopher spoke to you!"
The confession chilled Jeannie to the bones. If there was one thing that she had never let go of after she had been thrown into this country, it had bee her pride. But the prince had not tried to trample on that.
Without a word, Jeannie tore the pieces of the cheque and pushed the mountain of files in front of her towards Delaney.
" I don't need this Delaney. What I need is advise. You are the only one I can trust with my eyes closed. I don't want this money to come between that friendship! I won't take your money."
"Jeannie! How is this taking my money? Someone swindled you and as your friend, I just want you to not get hurt in the mess and lose everything that you have worked so hard for."
"Del."
When Jeannie just stared at him but made no move to take the cheque, he realized that he had no option but to let her be.
"Fine! But you have to promise me something! You won't do anything stupid."
"Hey! When have you ever heard me do something stupid? I am a very intellectual person who never does anything without thinking first."
"Uh huh. Like the time when you first met the Prince and ordered him to take off his pants?"
"Hey! That was an emergency! And let me tell you I did not know he was a prince!"
"So, if you had known you wouldn't have done what you did?"
"Uhh.. no! I would not have ordered him!"
Before Del could nod in satisfaction, Jeannie continued," I would have bowed down at ninety degrees and requested him to take off his pants!"
Rolling his eyes," And then you claim that you do not make stupi* decisions. So, let me tell you directly, Jeannie, don't marry Christopher and try to steer clear of him. I know you must be tempted. For he could be your ticket to revenge for your mother. But, he is a good man and a good friend and he has been hurt in the past. And he would make a dangerous enemy. If he comes to know that you have ulterior motives, he will ruin you."
Smiling subtly, Jeannie shook her head and agreed," I have no thoughts of marrying him. But you know me too well, Del! I have enough enemies and don't need to add more to the mix."
Sighing, Delaney Cooper walked out of the office without a single backward turn. All his plans to confess his love, to coax her, had all been swept away as they always were. He had known her since she was a baby following him around. And he knew the look in her eyes. She had already chosen her path..
For now, he could only hope that he would be able to stand by her side in the future when the turbulence has passed.