“But you do know this is all make-believe.”

“It doesn’t have to be,” Cassie said, surprising herself. “What if you came to Sereno and stayed? Would you ever consider working in my country instead of Meridia?”

“I don’t know,” Levi said at length. “It’s a lot to think about.”

“Will you though?”

Several seconds passed. “Yeah, I will.”

CHAPTER 28

Levi didn’t recognize his new routine until he was four days into it. Breakfast with Cassie in the morning, work with Rachelle until noon, lunch with Cassie, design security plans with Cassie in the afternoon, dinner with Cassie, followed by a walk in the gardens. Occasionally, he and Cassie would spend time with Garrett and Janessa in the evenings, but his favorite moments were those they spent alone.

Levi couldn’t miss the recurring theme in his activities: Cassie. Even his time working with Rachelle was largely devoted to clearing Keith Maloney, the CEO of Axion, to ensure Cassie’s safety. Maloney would arrive tomorrow, along with his lead attorney and his accountant.

The paparazzi’s discovery of Cassie’s location had complicated the routine for the chateau’s security staff, but Rachelle seemed to be taking it all in stride. Seeing her efficiency firsthand took away some of the guilt he had been harboring about leaving the chateau. Logically, he knew he wasn’t the only person capable of protecting the royal family in Meridia, but that hadn’t kept him from feeling like he was abandoning Garrett and Janessa somehow.

With his growing confidence in Rachelle, he couldn’t help but think about Cassie’s suggestion that he come to work in Sereno. He left the security office and headed for his own. His office. Within days, he would need to clean out his personal belongings and turn the space over to Rachelle.

His phone rang. When he saw Director Palmer’s name, he hurried his steps, waiting until he closed his office door before he answered. “Hello, Director.”

“I haven’t heard from you in a few days. How is the situation with the princess?”

“Good. She actually offered me a job a few days ago.”

“A job?”

“Working with the security force in Sereno.”

“That’s interesting.”

“I thought so,” Levi said. “As for my real job, the security plans for Sereno are moving along. Jeremy Rogers has already started implementing several enhancements.”

“Glad to hear he has been there to help. He’s a good man.”

Jeremy had worked for the CIA before switching to Interpol.

“I hope you don’t mind me pulling him in,” Levi said.

“It was a smart move. In fact, he might make a good intermediary to push information back to me once you go to Sereno.”

“Why? With my secure cell phone, our calls won’t be intercepted.”

“No reason to chance it. We may never get another opportunity to insert an agent so close to the royal family in Sereno again.”

“Yes, but since the assignment will only last until the threat is neutralized, is it really necessary to take such precautions?”

“It is because I hope you will be there much longer than two weeks.”