Page 44 of A True King

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“ Ms. Mia Edgewater will be accompanying me to the gala this week. Can you please have dresses brought up for her to try on? I’ll text you her measurements.”

“Of course, I will arrange it for the morning.”

“Thank you,” I say as I disconnect. My eyes never leaving Mia who now looks a bit queasy.

“I…but…I’m your secretary,” she says quietly.

“I know that. And people will think I’m introducing you as my secretary. It’s fine. It’s just a fundraiser.”

“But I am your secretary,” she states again in confusion.

“And on Wednesday night, you’ll be my date,” I announce.

Her face goes white, and she manages to nod.

“That’s all. Have a good night, Mia,” I say, again dragging out her name.

My phone rings and I answer, hoping Cain knows more about Mia.

“Sir, Pete wanted me to inform you that your father’s flight is delayed this evening. He’s fit in one more meeting tomorrow morning, and then he’ll return.”

“Thank you, Cain. Any word on Mia?”

“No, sir.”

“Did she not come back from shopping?”

“I think she is back in her room.”

I hang up and stare toward my room. If she doesn’t come out soon, I’m going to huff and puff and blow her door down. I’m done playing games, especially with her.

I angrily get up and walk to her room. I’m surprised to find Pete there. I go to knock on the door. He stops me with a raise of his hand.

“Leave her. She needs time.”

I feel myself lose it as I grab his collar and shove him against the wall. “You do not get to tell me what to do! I’m sick of this game! She can come out now or suffer the consequences!”

Pete stares up at me, seemingly unaffected by my outburst. “Do you trust me?”

I’m surprised by his words. I release his collar and step back, running a hand through my hair. “Yes,” I mutter.

“Then, give her some more time. Go calm down. You don’t want to talk to her like this. Let’s grab a drink. Come on,” he urges as he motions to the stairwell.

I look back at her door. He’s right. I’m not in the right mindset to have a rational discussion. Begrudgingly, I follow my friend. I look back once more, deciding to give her exactly one more night before I have the door unlocked.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Mia

I wake early with the sun as it comes up over the mountains; the rays penetrating the translucent curtains of the guest suite. I sit up in bed and look around the room. It’s a simple room, but the furnishings are elegant, if not slightly modern for such an antiquated home. I turn and put my bare feet on the wooden floor, feeling the coldness of the room as I stand and stretch. The mirror across from the bed shows how disheveled I appear. With a sigh, I open a window, gauging the temperature before I take my shower. The cold ocean wind whips through the curtains, blowing them about before I promptly close the window. Shivering, I make my way to the en suite and turn on the shower. I hope that the trousers and sweater that I brought are sufficient for breakfast with the king. I have gotten accustomed to the informalities of the Norddale royal family who have all but accepted me as one of their own. Not once has the king publicly commented on my constant attachment to Christian. He brings me to everything as though I’m an accessory. And Prince August and Princess Susanna have been kind and gracious. It took months before I could refer to them as Auggie and Anna at their request, but now it seems normal to me.

It makes the guilt that much worse. I feel tears threaten as I run my face under the warm water. I know I didn’t betray them, not as I could have, but I did keep the truth to myself, and for that, I will always feel guilt. I wash my face, rinsing away my tears. The soap is a masculine scent, it reminds me of Christian which brings more tears.

The only time he didn’t use his sandalwood-and-pine-scented soap was when we traveled for a week on Logan’s yacht in the Bahamas. I smile at the memory of the yacht. It was the first time that Christian and I were truly alone. I miss the way he made love to me as the waves rocked the sailboat each night. One night when we were anchored, we snuck up to the cushioned seating area and made love under the stars. It was liberating, to be able to openly love each other without anyone inquiring or giving us looks of dissatisfaction. I miss that. I wonder if we’ll ever be that way again.

Turning off the water, I dry off and dress. I check the mirror one last time, feeling nervous about seeing my grandfather again. I wish I had my phone. I want to call my dad. I have so many questions for him, but they’ll have to wait.

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