Chapter 4 4

Prince Mathew.

The limousine ride was a vault of complete silence, the kind that feels heavy and full of unspoken words.

Viola sat beside me, not lounging but perched on the edge of the seat, her gaze absolutely locked on the towering structure we were rapidly approaching. Her eyes were wide, not just with curiosity, but with a pure, unadulterated wonder, as if she were gazing upon a castle from a fairy tale and not a five-star hotel.

It struck me as profoundly odd. Her father, Alex, was filthy rich-a titan of industry whose wealth possibly even eclipsed my own. A girl from that world shouldn't be stunned by a mere hotel, even a exceptionally luxurious one.

The puzzle pieces of their strained relationship just didn't fit together in my mind. But I bit my tongue. It wasn't my place to pry. Alex and I were as close as brothers, forged in the fires of business and mutual respect, and yet he had built a fortress of silence around his daughter.

He'd only ever offered the barest of details: "Viola is studying abroad." That was the entire biography. No age, no hobbies, no hint of the vibrant, confusing young woman now sitting inches from me.

As the car glided to a smooth halt under the grand portico, she didn't wait for the driver. She pushed her own door open and stepped out, craning her neck to take in the sheer verticality of the glass and steel giant. Her expression was a captivating mixture of astonishment and sheer disbelief.

"Whoa. Hold on a second," she breathed out, her voice filled with a curiosity so intense it was almost tangible. "Is that... is all of that... yours?" She gestured wildly with one hand, as if trying to encompass the entire building.

I joined her on the pavement, a familiar sense of pride swelling within me. "Yes, it is. But how did you know? I could just be a very frequent guest," I teased, intrigued by her perception.

She let out a light, airy laugh and shrugged, a playful, knowing smile dancing on her lips. "Oh, come on, Prince Mathew. It wasn't exactly a hard mystery to solve. You didn't say a single word to the driver the whole way. Not a 'turn here,' not an address, nothing. He just knew. That doesn't happen unless you're heading to your own castle. Or, you know, your own skyscraper."

I couldn't help but chuckle softly, genuinely impressed. "I see. So you're not just a pretty face. You're a really smart girl, too. Noted."

"I have my moments," she said with a wink, before turning back to gaze at the building with renewed awe.

As we swept through the rotating doors into the opulent, marble-lined lobby, I fell into step just behind her. The manager, a man named Robert who had been with me for years, spotted me instantly and practically teleported to our side, followed by a wave of respectful nods from every employee we passed.

"Your Highness," Robert said, giving a slight, formal bow. "A pleasure to have you back. How may we be of service?"

"Robert, thank you. I need you to prepare one of the very best suites for Miss Viola here," I commanded, the authority in my voice coming as naturally as breathing. "The one on the northeast corner, with the city views. Ensure it's perfect."

But before Robert could even nod, Viola spun around to face me, her eyes wide not with wonder anymore, but with pure alarm, as if I'd just suggested she sleep in a dungeon.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold on! A suite? A whole other room?" she exclaimed, her voice pitching higher. "What, are you trying to get rid of me already? Don't expect me to sleep in some strange room in this giant, echo-y hotel all by myself! I've lived my entire life in the same room, Mathew! The same four walls! This is... this is too much!"

In that moment, looking at her vulnerable, slightly frightened expression, I felt an overwhelming and completely unexpected urge to pull her into a tight, protective hug, to smooth her hair and tell her she was safe. But I clenched my fists at my sides. That was a line I could not, would not, cross.

I cleared my throat, trying to mask my reaction with practicality. "Well then, if not in a suite of your own, where exactly would you have me put you? The linen closet is unfortunately occupied."

She immediately made the most pathetic, heart-wrenching puppy-dog face I had ever seen. She took a small step closer, closing the distance between us, and looked up at me through her lashes, her voice dropping to a soft, pleading whisper.

"I'll sleep with you! I mean..." she stammered, blushing slightly but holding her ground. "...in your suite, I guess. You must have, like, a huge place, right? With multiple rooms? I can take the couch! I don't care! I just... I don't want to be alone in this big, unfamiliar place tonight. Please?"

"What?!" I exclaimed, my eyebrows shooting up towards my hairline. My heart gave a hard, sudden thump against my ribs. "My suite? With me? Viola, be serious!"

My suite! With her alone! Could I really do that? The thought was equal parts terrifying and thrilling. Seriously! Of course, I could. She's just a kid. Alex's kid. My partner's daughter... that's all.

I forced a tight, patient smile, though internally I was deeply annoyed at this unpredictable and dangerous turn of events. "Okay then," I said, my voice a bit strained. "If that is your... condition for feeling comfortable. You will join me in my suite."

Her entire face transformed, lighting up with a brilliant, triumphant joy. She let out a cheerful chuckle and before I could react, she threw her body forward, wrapping her arms around my torso in a spontaneous, grateful hug, her head pressing against my chest. "Thank you! Thank you so, so much, Mathew! You're a lifesaver!"

I stiffened for a second before gently patting her back, feeling a strange and entirely inappropriate warmth spread through me at her touch. "It's... okay. It's fine. Don't mention it."

I quickly caught Robert's eye again, ignoring his carefully neutral expression. "Please have my private suite prepared. Fresh linens, everything."

I then ushered her away from the curious eyes of the lobby toward my private elevator. We stepped inside the polished brass interior alone, the doors sliding shut with a soft whoosh, separating us from my assistant and guards, who took the service elevators next to us.

The silence in the small, ascending box was thick and electric. I pushed the button for the penthouse, and as the car began to move, she shifted. She stepped closer, so close I could feel the heat from her body. Then, boldly, she wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling herself up to my level.

I instinctively pulled my face back, surprised by her audacity, my heart now pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs.

And then, out of the blue, her voice a seductive whisper that seemed to vibrate in the small space, she asked, "Can I call you Daddy?"

I gulped, the sound deafening in the quiet elevator. My mind screamed to push her away, but my hands felt like they were made of lead. I was paralyzed. I loved the feel of her touch against my skin, the incredible warmth radiating from her. I adored her scent, a intoxicating mix of something floral and sweet, like spring sunshine. And the way she was looking so deeply into my eyes... it felt like she was invading my very soul, seeing parts of me I kept hidden.

I finally snapped back to reality, a survival instinct kicking in. "What?!" I managed to choke out. "You can't! Do you even know... Viola, do you have any idea what that word means?" I forced a smirk, trying to cover the violent shivers that were coursing through my body. Her affection was a dangerous, irresistible magnet. I was horrified to realize I was the one leaning in now, erasing the gap between our faces.

She bit her plump lower lip and her whisper was even lower, more deliberate. "Oh, I know exactly what it means... and I want you to be my daddy."

I stared, my brain short-circuiting, trying and failing to process the sheer brazenness of her words. Why me? She's a virgin! This has to be some game. Maybe she just wants a man she thinks is better than her father, that's all this is. A rebellion.

I decided right then I had to come back to my senses. I couldn't let this young, reckless girl push me toward a cliff edge of a forbidden relationship. She was my partner's daughter. My friend's child. This was an absolute red line.

Yes, I thought, that's it. She's trying to do something reckless to tease her father or get a reaction out of me. She's not stupid, and I'm certainly not going to fall for it.

I scoffed, finding a reservoir of strength I didn't know I had, and firmly unwrapped her arms from my neck, pushing them back to her sides. "No! The answer is no. And don't even think of trying to seduce me. For me, you are just my partner's daughter. That's it. I will never, ever betray my partner or lay a single finger on his daughter." I said it firmly, my voice cold and final, wanting to kill this strange, dangerous conversation stone dead.

She narrowed her eyes at me, her intense expression holding for a long second... and then she burst into genuine, rolling laughter, the tension shattering around us.

"Okay! Okay, good. Phew!" she said, wiping a mock tear from her eye. "Then you have officially passed the test."

I gazed at her, completely bewildered, my curiosity utterly piqued. "What test?!" I demanded, the elevator dinging softly as it arrived at our floor. "What in the world are you talking about?"