by Ali Parker
Justine was still at her desk outside of Maddox’s office. She grinned when she saw me. “How was your trip over here?”
“It was good, thank you,” I said.
She glanced at Maddox, and his eyes lingered on her a little too long.
I rolled my eyes but said nothing. Maddox loved to sleep around, but surely, he wouldn’t mess things up with his secretary.
It wasn’t my place to talk. I proposed to a professional reporter whose job was to write a story on me.
* * *
The interior of the office was exactly how I left it. I wasn’t sure what I expected. A pool table perhaps? Maybe a stripper pole?
But other than Maddox’s jacket hanging by the door, I could have sat down at the desk, and nothing would have changed.
In the short time I’d spent in the building after coming back, my mind wandered once again to the possibility of never accepting the position as king. Only then would I have Sophia and the job that I loved. I could live my life out as the company’s owner and be happy with that.
Why the hell did Father have to die? And why was Abir the way he was? I loved them both, but at that moment, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d lost everything for the both of them.
“You told me you were coming in, but you never told me why,” Maddox said, leaning next to his desk. “What’s going on? Everything okay in Qatar?”
Raking my hand through my hair, I nodded. “Everything is fine.”
“Come on, mate,” Maddox said, indicating the chairs in front of his desk. “Let’s have a little chat, shall we? I know you better than that.”
“Am I that obvious?” I asked, sitting down.
Maddox stretched his long legs out in front of him and crossed his arms. “First off, you could have called me. Showing up here means you want to escape something. Is it Sophia?”
“No,” I said quickly. “She’s fine. In fact, she’s the best part of my life right now. I proposed to her.”
Maddox lifted his thick eyebrows. “Did she say yes?”
“She did.”
Maddox clapped his hands together. “That’s brilliant. Congrats, mate. How come you didn’t bring her here today?”
“She’s sleeping in,” I said. “The flight gave her some serious jet lag.” I hated to lie to him, but it was necessary. I didn’t want Sophia there because Maddox was the only one I trusted with the question swirling around in my head. He was a good friend like that; he could spot things that I never could when it came to the hard decisions in my life. He was my sounding board, and I needed him now more than ever.
“The council doesn’t like my decision to marry Sophia,” I said.
Maddox scoffed. “Because they’re jealous?”
“I wish,” I said. “She’s not a traditional wife. I’m not a traditional king for them, either.”
“So, are they kicking you out?”
“They want to. Unless I get rid of Sophia.”
“That’s shit, mate. Can you fight back?”
“I’ve tried,” I said.
“And you want to be the king?”
I nodded. “I have to be the king.” I didn’t want to go into the family politics with Maddox. Abir confided in me about not wanting to be the king, and I had to keep his secret, even though it killed my chance of a happy life.
“That’s rough,” Maddox said. “You’re going to keep the girl, though?”
“Of course.”
“Then there must be another way,” he said. “You’ll figure it out. I know you will make the right choice.”
It was the same thing that Father told me when he’d come to this very office and instructed me to take over for him. It was before he told us all he was sick. My decision would have been quicker if I knew. I would have flown home and been with him for doctor’s appointments and the rest. But that was part of his reason for not wanting me involved.
“You know,” Maddox said. “Your spot is always here if you want to come back. As much as I love the view, I miss you, friend. I’d give it back in a heartbeat if it meant I could see you every day.”
“Is that because you want to see my secretary?” I asked, dropping the bomb.
Maddox clicked his tongue. “You are observant.”
I stood up and shook hands with him. “And you are an ass when it comes to women. You better treat her right.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Maddox said. “But in all seriousness. If it gets too much for you and you want to keep Sophia, come back here. The council can fuck off if they think that you aren’t the best person for this job.”
“Thank you,” I said. “Truly.”
We moved on to business, and that part took less time than the discussion about my ultimatum. Maddox had been doing everything right, and he had even improved the quarterly numbers in that short span of time.
When I left, I was confident in his abilities, even though I was less so when it came to mine and telling the council how I truly felt. Even though I loved getting a chance to meet up with my good friend, he hadn’t provided the sage advice I needed for when I returned to Qatar and faced my fate.
6
Sophia
Luke left the hotel room around seven-thirty, but I couldn’t force myself out of bed until nearly eleven. I felt like I was judging a competition for who could make the softest bed. Out of all the hotels we’d stayed at and the palace, this one was the best. It didn’t help that I was sore as hell, and the mere idea of moving made me groan in protest.
I wasn’t sure how long we would be staying in England, but I wanted to make the best of it. I called room service for breakfast and took a long shower. By the time I came out, my breakfast was already in the sitting area of the room.
My skin crawled thinking that someone was in the room while I was naked in the bathroom, but I quickly got over it when the amazing smell of bacon filled my nose.
Flipping on the television, I ended up on BBC News while I ate my breakfast. Sitting back on the plush couch, I kicked my feet up and enjoyed the momentary solace. While I wished Luke was with me, I hadn’t had much time alone since he scooped me up out of my life and into his. It was nice to take a breath and assess how far we’d come.
I knew Luke was still hiding something from me, but I didn’t think it was too bad since he hadn’t discussed it with me. I had never been a part of a royal family before, and I still had a lot to learn. While I wanted Luke to be transparent with me, the process was going to take some time for the both of us.
Eventually, I wanted him to come to me with any big problems so that we could figure them out together. At the very least, it would help keep my brain functioning. If my only role in life was worrying about servants all day, I would go crazy.
After eating and filling my mind with current events from around the world. I headed out onto the streets, wanting to explore the city that Luke loved so much.
While most people in Texas were friendly and greeted strangers on the street, the sidewalks of London were filled with bustling groups of people off to their next destinations. It must have rained the night before because the roads were still slick, and gray clouds hung in the sky, making it damper and cooler than I would have liked.
I went into shops that I normally wouldn’t have so I could warm up.
Eventually, I found a cafe and ordered the biggest coffee I could find to keep my hands warm.
Somehow, I ended up on a street with a lot of cute boutiques. The mannequins in the windows displayed some really nice clothes. My fingers itched to touch the soft fabrics. I didn’t have much money to my name after losing my job and spending most of my savings to travel to Qatar on my own, so I didn’t dare go inside any of the shops for fear of temptation.
Luke and I hadn’t discussed finances between us. I knew he liked to pay for everything since he seemed to have an infinite amount of money to his name, but it was wrong to assume anything. Gia thought I was a gold digger, and I refused to give her evidence she was right.
�
��Gorgeous ring!” someone said.
I turned to see a woman standing in the doorway of one of the shops. Her brown hair was tied back into a ponytail, and the long wavy locks fell over her shoulder perfectly as if she were one of the mannequins herself.
Glancing in the window of her shop, billowy white dresses filled the display space.
A wedding dress shop. No wonder she mentioned my ring.
“Thank you,” I said, curling up my hand to give her a better look.
The woman shivered, but the smile on her face didn’t move. “Have you found a dress yet?”
“We just got engaged. I haven’t even though about it.”
“Sure, you’ve thought about it,” she said.
I smirked. “You got me there.”
“How about you step inside and get warm for a minute. There’s no pressure, but I think a girl should start looking as soon as possible.”
She disappeared into the shop, and I hesitated. I could easily keep walking along, but the sparkling gowns in the window called to me. There was no harm in looking around. She said it herself, no pressure.
The inside of the shop was much warmer, which was more appealing than the stark white dresses around me.
The woman clasped her hands in front of her. “I’m glad you decided to come in.”
“Thanks for inviting me,” I said, glancing around. So much white surrounded me, it was almost blinding, yet mesmerizing at the same time. None of the dresses had price tags, which probably meant they were ridiculously expensive.
I glanced at my coffee and placed it down on the small table next to several white couches. I wasn’t going to risk this woman forcing me into buying a dress because I spilled coffee all over it.
“I’m Marie,” she said, extending her hand to me.
I took it. She had a flimsy handshake, coupled with freezing cold hands. “Sophia.”
“My sister’s name is Sophia,” she said with a smile, showcasing two rows of perfectly straight and white teeth.
“Do you get along with her?” I asked.
She laughed as if I’d told her the funniest joke in the world. “We do. That’s how I know you and I will have a good time together.”
Several other women were in the shop. A mother and daughter with another one of the saleswomen were at the far end of the room, sifting through a rack of dresses.
Excited voices from the back of the shop made me wonder if one bride-to-be had brought her entire bridal party with her.
Thinking of a bridal party made me freeze in my spot. Would I have one? Having no clue how weddings were handled in Qatar, never mind a royal wedding, I wasn’t sure if they were needed or not. I didn’t have many girlfriends. I supposed I could pull a fast one and have Matt as someone who would stand next to me, but I wasn’t sure how that would go down with the very traditional members of Luke’s family.
I grabbed my phone and was about to text Matt when Marie said, “Do you know what type of dress you’re looking for?”
“Um, no,” I said, gripping my phone. I wasn’t the dress type, but being with Luke started to change that. What sort of dress would he like on me? “My fiancé is from a traditional family.”
Marie winked at me. “Is his mother pressuring you to look a certain way?”
“Something like that,” I said. I could have gone into the whole “my fiancé is a king” situation, but I knew the atmosphere would change if I said that. I imagined seeing dollar signs in her eyes, and I doubted she would let me out of here unless I had a deposit on my credit card.
She pressed her fingers against her mouth, considering me. The way her eyes dragged over my body made me a little uncomfortable, but this was her job. Even though I didn’t plan on getting a dress, I supposed there was no harm in getting more information.
“When you two go out, when do his eyes light up? When you wear a more fitted or looser dress?”
“Fitted,” I said.
She walked around me, and I felt like a show horse might before a competition. “For your height and body type, I think the bulky dresses are out. We really want to accentuate your assets. I’d like to see you in an A-line dress with a modest neckline for your family’s more traditional values. The bodice will be tight enough to please your man, while starting off your marriage right with his family.”
If only a dress would make Gia accept me.
“I have a few if you want to take a look,” she said. “And if you’re up for it, we can try a few on.”
“I’d love to take a look,” I said. “But I want my sister to be with me for the fittings.”
“Of course,” Marie said, totally unaware of my lie. I knew if I tried something on, I would love it, and I would hate to be disappointed if I was to wear something different.
Marie led me across the room where the bride and her mother had been before. Now they were sitting on the couches, sipping from champagne. I shivered, unable to imagine having anything but a hot drink on a day like this. They were probably used to the weather in England. I wasn’t so fortunate.
The phone rang behind the front desk, and Marie put up a finger. “I’ll be over here if you have any questions.”
“Thanks,” I said as she ran off to get the phone.
I sifted through the elegant gowns that were taller than me. The fabrics were so silky, and the embellishments were probably more expensive than everything I owned.
I couldn’t believe I was looking at wedding dresses. I wished Luke or Matt were with me. Either would offer better advice than I could hope for.
Not wanting to disturb Luke at work—or pressure him into us getting married right away—I called Matt. I wasn’t sure what he was up to, but I missed his voice. We hadn’t talked in a while, even though he knew I was engaged. He was probably dying for more information.
“Soph!” Matt’s voice filled my ear.
“You won’t guess where I am right now,” I said.
He sighed. “I’m not going to bother. You’re in a new country every day. I can’t keep up.”
“Well, I’m in England,” I said.
“Did you go back to Qatar yet?”
“For a bit. But Luke needed to check on the business here. But that’s not why I’m calling. I’m in a wedding dress shop.”
“No way,” Matt said.
“Just browsing.”
“You have to try on at least a dozen before you leave,” he said.
“I wish, but I think if I stay here too much longer, it won’t be a good thing.”
“Well, if you do, you have to send pictures. I’m bored out of my mind today and could use some cheering up.”
“What’s wrong?”
“My best friend flew across the damn world without so much as a goodbye visit.”
“Don’t be like that,” I said.
“I’m not,” he said, and I heard the smile in his voice. “But I do want to hear from you more often than a week at a time. I’m living vicariously through you.”
“You want to marry a king?”
“I’m happy married to the princess I have.” He cleared his throat and lifted an eyebrow. “I mean queen!”
“Good answer,” I muttered. “I just wish his mom would lay off.”
“She still giving you shit?”
“Big time,” I said. “Even more so than before.”
The mention of Gia spoiled my mood. I walked away from the rack, wondering if and when I would be able to marry Luke at all. She would probably threaten to disown him, and we would be back to square one again. Breaking up a family wasn’t in my nature. But Luke promised he would figure it out. I hoped he would keep that promise.
“I wish I could be there and tell her how amazing you are and that Luke is the luckiest guy.”
“If she’d believe you, then I’d say give it a shot. But Luke can’t even convince her.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of movement. I turned to see Marie holding a dress out to me. A breath whooshed out of me as I took
in the spectacular dress.
“Matt, I gotta call you back.”
“Sooner rather than later!” he said before I hung up.
“You love it,” Marie said.
“Was that on the rack?”
“No, this was in our back room. Someone had a custom order and then gave it up just like that, deposit and all! What I wouldn’t do for that kind of money.”
I took the dress into my hands. Tiny crystals covered the bodice, and the skirt was thick enough to give a little bit of poof but not too much.
“If you’re going to try on one dress, this has to be the one,” Marie said.
I glanced at my phone. No texts or calls from Luke. Surely I had enough time to try on one dress.
* * *
Coming out of the dressing room, where Marie had to help me into the dress and tie up the corset back, I felt lighter than air as I stepped in front of the massive mirror in the center of the room. The overhead lights filtered through all the crystals, lighting up the dress in a blinding white light. I twisted my body, making them sparkle even more.
Marie spread the train out around me, and I felt more like a queen than I ever thought I could. The neckline was modest, nearly reaching my collarbone.
“It looks like it was made for you,” she said.
“But it was made for someone else,” I said.
“Don’t allow that to hinder your decision. This dress is perfect.”
It was perfect. I imagined Luke’s face if he ever saw it on me. I also thought of how much fun he would have taking it off me.
I snapped a quick picture and sent it to Matt. He sent several heart-eyes emojis in return.
“Your sister?” Marie asked.
I blinked a few times and then remembered my lie to her earlier. “Oh, yes. She loves it.”
“Do you want me to put this on hold for you?” she asked.
I knew Marie was hoping for a big commission, but today wasn’t the day to commit to anything. “Not today.”
Without missing a step, Marie zipped out of the room and then back inside. She held a small clipboard. “How about I hold onto it for a little while? No money down. I’d hate to see this dress get away from you. I’ll call you in a few days to follow up.”
