Royal

by Tina Martin

  “What if the hospital asks you to come up there?” he asked.

  “They probably won’t but if they do, I’ll get Carson to take me.”

  “Carson?”

  “Yeah. He already told me he’d be my chauffer if I needed to go anywhere.”

  “That’s nice of him, but tell the old man to lean back. If you need to go somewhere, I’ll take you.”

  “How, Royal? You do have a job.”

  “So does he.”

  “Okay, you have a point, but running errands is a part of Carson’s job.”

  “I suppose so.”

  “Anyway, I’m going to let you go to bed,” Gemma said, yawning.

  “You’re going to let me go to bed,” Royal said, then chuckled.

  “Yeah, and for future reference, don’t you ever in your life send me a sad face emoji.”

  He grinned. “What’s wrong with the sad face? That is how I was feeling when you didn’t answer your phone.”

  Gemma rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Royal.”

  “And I’ll send you all the emojis I want to send. As a matter of fact, I’m going to buy you one of those emoji pillows just for that. Every time you look at it, you’ll think of me.”

  Laughing, Gemma said, “You better not step up in here with an emoji pillow. I dare you.”

  “Oh, then it’s already done.”

  “Seriously, Royal?”

  “Yeah. You can’t dare me not to do something, especially when it relates to you.”

  “Oh, gosh. I’ll keep that in mind. Now, get off this phone and go to bed. You have to work in the morning.”

  “I got another meeting with my brothers first thing in the morning. I suppose I should get some sleep. I need to be well-rested to deal with them.”

  “Then, yes, get some sleep.”

  “Alright. Well, goodnight, diamond girl.”

  “There you go with that again. Why do you call me that? It sounds like a stripper name.”

  Royal laughed. “I can assure you, it’s not a stripper name, girl, at least in the context I’m using it in.”

  “And what context is that?”

  “A diamond is a gem. Gem is your nickname. That’s why I call you my diamond girl.”

  My diamond girl…

  “Aw…now it sounds sweet.”

  “Then that makes it the perfect nickname for you.”

  Gemma smiled so wide, her face could hardly contain it. “Goodnight, Royal.”

  “Sweet dreams,” he said, then hung up the phone.

  Gemma fell back on the bed, reeling in happiness while her heart pattered with excitement. What if Gianna was right all along? What if Royal really was into her?

  Chapter 11

  “You’ll be happy to know that we already got the approval from this great city of Charlotte, North Carolina to build the Paris structure at the designated site in Uptown,” Romulus said, in a good mood as he stepped into Ramsey’s office where his brothers had assembled.

  “Is that why you’re skipping around this morning?” Royal asked, taking a sip of coffee, still having trouble waking himself up after not getting much sleep last night. Every time he closed his eyes to rest, there was an image of her – Gemma – popping up in his head, forcing him to daydream about her rather than sleep. And last night, while he laid on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, he thought about how it would feel to kiss her – not those little innocent kisses he’d leave on her temple or cheek every once in a while. He wanted one that wasn’t so innocent. A wild, untamed one. How would she react to being kissed since he knew she’d never been kissed before? Never been touched. Never been served up a dose of love by any means. He desperately wanted to love her in every sense of the word. But how could he do that when, in her mind, he was only a friend?

  “You look like crap, Royal,” Regal commented.

  “That’s exactly how I feel.” Royal took a sip of black coffee.

  “Late night?” Romulus asked.

  “Yeah,” Royal said. “Something like that.”

  Ramsey frowned. Just a couple of days ago, Royal was professing his love for Gemma, and now he was having a ‘late night’ hangover? That was precisely the kind of behavior he didn’t like when it came to his brother. One minute, he was into a girl and the next, he was feeling someone else. Had he not warned Royal? Instead of broaching the subject in front of his brothers, he steered toward the business of Paris. “Regal will be in Paris next week, meeting with Basile. I’ll be video conferencing with them along with the rest of team. Royal, I think it would be a good idea for you to go along with Regal.”

  Royal didn’t like the sound of that one bit. “Why?”

  To get you away from my sister-in-law. You can have all the late nights you want there. “You said we were having vendor trouble. While you’re with Regal in Paris, you can spend your time meeting with potential vendors.”

  “Are you telling me you want overseas vendors for this project?” Royal asked.

  “Yes. I would like to explore the—”

  “The last time I brought the idea of overseas vendors to you, you nearly popped a blood vessel. Now, all of a sudden, it’s a good idea, huh?”

  “Man…here we go,” Regal said, reclining back in his chair.

  “Yes, it’s a good idea,” Ramsey said, glaring at his brother.

  “Why? Because you thought of it?” Royal asked angrily. Having to go to Paris for a week meant he couldn’t see Gemma for a week and that pissed him off to no end.

  “No, not because I thought of it. It’s what needs to be done,” Ramsey snapped. “If you don’t like it, Royal, go do something else and I’ll hire somebody who can get the job done.”

  “Whoa, alright let’s take it down a notch,” Romulus said, attempting to establish peace between his quarreling brothers.

  Royal wasn’t interested. He stood up and not only left the office, but he had to get out of the building. He took the elevator down to the ground floor and paced the sidewalk in front of SCA’s headquarters. Lack of sleep and having to put up with Ramsey so early in the morning turned out to be the perfect storm for some nonsense. He could only hope Gemma’s day was turning out to be a lot better than his.

  * * *

  Gemma took Gianna’s laptop to the kitchen and looked up the number to the children’s cancer center. She dialed the number to the volunteer office and waited anxiously for someone to pick up. When she finally heard the voice of a woman, she said, “Hi. I’m looking for some information about your volunteer program.”

  “Have you volunteered with us or any of our affiliates before?”

  “No. This would be the first time.”

  “And is this for school credit or—”

  “No. It would be just for the sake of volunteering. I’m a cancer survivor and so I know what it’s like to face that. To feel hopeless. My goal is to use my story to inspire others.”

  “Ah, I see. Well, congratulations on winning your battle, dear.”

  “Thank you.”

  “And as for becoming a volunteer, you would first have to fill out our online application. Once we review it and determine you’re a good fit for a volunteer position, you would have to have a background check and drug test. When you pass those, we’ll call you to arrange a possible volunteer schedule.”

  “Perfect.”

  “Do you need the link to the online application?”

  “No, ma’am. I’m actually looking at it right now.”

  “Okay, good. I look forward to seeing your application. What was your name again?”

  “Gemma Jacobsen.”

  “It was nice talking to you, Gemma.”

  “It was nice talking to you as well.”

  “Bye, now.”

  “Bye.”

  Gemma hung up the phone, then jumped off of the barstool and shook her butt while waving her arms in the air.

  “Do you need medical attention, madam?” Carson asked with a smirk on his face.

  “Ha, ha, ha, v
ery funny, Carson.” She and Carson had grown close over the last couple of months, so much so that she’d go to him for advice on some things – stuff she couldn’t ask her father. How could she when she didn’t know who her father was or if he was still alive? She contemplated talking to Geraldine about it but talked herself out of it just as easily.

  “I take it you’re happy about something,” Carson said.

  “Yes. I just spoke with a representative at the children’s hospital. If all goes well, you are looking at the newest volunteer, my friend.”

  “Wonderful. I hope all goes well.”

  “Thank you, Carson.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Carson opened the refrigerator and seemed to be studying its contents.

  “What are you up to today?” she asked him.

  “Nothing but making sure the St. Claire Estate is operating efficiently.”

  “You’re really good at your job, by the way. I don’t know what Ramsey would do without you here running things.”

  “That’s sweet of you to say.”

  “And I mean it. I want to be as good as you at something.”

  Carson closed the refrigerator and looked at the big, light brown eyes beaming back at him. She wanted to talk. He wanted to be available to listen. “You will be. You’re young. What are you? Seven?”

  She cackled. “I’m twenty, silly.”

  “I know. I was just teasing. Compared to me, you’re incredibly young. You have your whole life ahead of you to be good at something. Don’t make the mistake of putting undue pressure on yourself, madam. Take life one day at a time.”

  Gemma smiled as Carson looked inside the refrigerator again and took down some notes.

  “I have to run out to get some groceries and supplies,” he said. “Do you need anything?”

  “No. I’m good.”

  “Will you be okay by yourself for a couple of hours?”

  “Yeah. I’ll be fine.”

  “Alright. If you need me, just ring my cell.”

  “Will do.”

  Gemma returned to the barstool where she’d been sitting and clicked on the volunteer application. She was getting ready to fill it out when she had a sudden desire to call Royal. She usually didn’t bother him during the day since he was at work, but today, she had a hankering to call. She dialed his number, waited for a moment and finally, on the fourth ring, she heard his voice when he asked, “Why are you calling me?”

  His questioned stunned her for a moment. He sounded upset. “I was just calling to say hi. If it’s a bad time—”

  “No, it’s not a bad time.”

  “Then why do you sound upset?”

  “Because I am upset.”

  “What happened?”

  “It’s nothing for you to concern yourself with.”

  “Okay. That’s going to be my response to you the next time you ask me how I’m feeling. Or if I took my medication. Or why my day was sucky.”

  “Don’t start with me, Gemma.”

  “Talk to me, then.” When he didn’t say anything she sang out, “I’m waiting…”

  “It...” he released a heavy sigh. “Me and Ramsey got into it again. That’s all.”

  “Should’ve known…hope you two can work it out.”

  “We always do. It’s just the process of working it out that irks me the most but forget all that. What have you been up to today?”

  “I’m trying to fill out this application for the hospital.”

  “For the volunteer gig?”

  “Yep…called and talked to the coordinator this morning.”

  “Good. Is Carson taking care of you?”

  “Of course. He ran out to do some shopping.”

  “Wait…so you’re there alone?”

  Gemma could hear the panic in his voice. “Yes, I’m here alone and there’s no reason for you to be alarmed because I’m fine.”

  Royal didn’t respond.

  Gemma took his silence as worry or strategizing. “I’m fine, Royal,” Gemma said again. “Don’t try to come up with some inventive way to troubleshoot this. I’m okay. Okay?”

  “Okay,” he said.

  “Let me hear you smile.”

  “What are you talking about, girl?” he asked.

  “I want to hear you smile,” she told him. “Release the frustration and show me those pearly whites.”

  Royal grinned. “You’re not even here to see them.”

  “I can see them in my mind. Now, make sure you talk to Ramsey before you leave. I don’t know why you two are always getting into it.”

  Because he’s trying to keep me away from you. That’s why. “I’ll talk to him. I don’t want you there worrying about me, Gemma.”

  “Sorry. Now that I know your big head, I can’t help but worry about you, your majesty.”

  He grinned again. “Speaking of knowing me, it’s about time for us to have one of those in-depth one-on-ones.”

  “Why do you have to make it sound like therapy?”

  “Ay, by the time I’m finished with you, there may be some psychological benefits. I know it will certainly help me figure out why I can’t stop thinking about you.”

  “What?” she asked. Had she heard him correctly? “What’d you say?”

  “I have to go, Gem. I’ll call you later.”

  “Okay. Bye.”

  “Bye,” Gemma said slowly, placing her phone on the countertop next to the laptop. Did he…? Did he really just say what she thought he’d said?

  Chapter 12

  Near the end of the workday, after he thought Royal may have cooled down (but it really didn’t faze him if he had or hadn’t), Ramsey walked to Royal’s office and took a seat. Royal, glanced up from his computer for a second to see Ramsey sitting, but then he looked at his computer screen again. He did an Internet search for emoji pillows and found the sad-faced one. He smirked. It was a joke between himself and Gemma and since she dared him not to, he just had to buy it. He leaned over to take his wallet from his back right pocket then pulled out a credit card. His plan was to have the pillow shipped overnight directly to her.

  “I warned you not to hurt her,” Ramsey said.

  Royal glanced up at Ramsey again, frowned, but continued keying in his credit card number. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Man, Royal, you came up in here this morning, bragging about having a late night.”

  “I wasn’t bragging,” Royal said, selecting the ‘next day’ delivery option.

  “That’s what it sounded like to me. You don’t know what you want, do you?” Ramsey asked. “That’s always been your problem.”

  Royal closed his laptop and reached for the laptop bag next to his desk. He unzipped it. “You’ve managed to irritate me this morning, Ram. I’m not going to let you do it again.”

  “Here’s what I don’t understand,” Ramsey continued. “If you haven’t gotten all those player ways out of your system, what are you doing confessing—more like claiming—that you love Gemma.”

  Royal zipped up his bag. “I do love Gemma.”

  “So, let me get this straight. You love Gemma, but you’re still messing around with other women?”

  Royal looked up and saw the frown on his brother’s face. How could he be mad when it was obvious Ramsey had Gemma’s back? Had the utmost concern for her. That meant he and his brother were on the same team, right? The only problem was, Ramsey made some assumptions about what he thought Royal’s ‘late night’ comment had meant. Royal decided it was time to clarify, but calmly. “Ram, calm down.” Royal smiled. “When I said I had a late night, did it ever occur to you that I could’ve had a late night with Gemma?”

  “Gemma was home last night.”

  “She was, and I was on the phone with her,” Royal explained. “When I got off the phone with her last night, I couldn’t sleep because I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I’m not messing around with other women. I told you, Ramsey, I love Gemma and I would never do
anything to hurt her. That’s why I was pissed that you’re sending me to Paris. How am I supposed to see her from Paris? How do I make sure she’s okay and keep in touch with the time zone difference and all?”

  Ramsey’s expression softened. Now, he understood Royal’s frustration. His little brother was in love. In love with Gemma. He smiled. “Wow. You really love her, don’t you?”

  “I do, and it’s nothing forced. Nothing that I’m making myself do. I care about her and being with her, helping her recover, checking on her, buying food for her, taking care of her is like second nature to me. The only thing I fear is something happening to her.”

  “Gemma will be fine, and I hate to tell you this, but you do still need to go to Paris. We need to get a handle on this vendor issue before it becomes an even bigger problem.”

  Royal pulled in a breath, then replied, “That’s fine. All I ask is that Gemma is taken care of while I’m gone. The first inkling I get that she’s sick or something’s wrong, I’m on the first flight back. That, I can promise you.”

  Ramsey smiled. “Don’t worry. She’ll be in good hands while you’re working.”

  “She better be,” he said, then took his bag and walked out of the office.

  Chapter 13

  Later that evening, after stuffing herself with some of Carson’s homemade alfredo, Gemma put on a sweater and went outside. She reclined in a chair by the pool and let her eyes drift with the water on the chilly evening that quickly became night. The outside lights were already illuminating and there was a dampness in the air like it was due to rain. But it was nice and being out here gave her time to think. She didn’t do a lot of reflecting in the past since she didn’t think she needed to, but now that the future looked bright, she was finding herself wanting answers.

  Like Gianna, she wanted to know why their mother, Geraldine, abandoned them. Why didn’t she bother with trying to ensure she got the proper care she needed when she was younger? Who knows? Had Geraldine actually been a mother and taken care of her children, maybe the doctors would’ve found the cancer sooner in which case, she could’ve possibly been spared all the subsequent pain of chemo and the uphill battle of recovery. And she still had no idea who her father was. Was he still alive? Did he want to have a relationship with her? Or did he not know she existed? She’d learned from Gianna that Geraldine didn’t even tell Gianna’s father, Jerome, that he had a daughter. What if her father didn’t know about her?