Page 14 of Just A Dash of Holiday Magic
Chapter 2
SEBASTIAN
It seems that despite the thousands of miles I’ve put between myself and the castle, my family will always find me.
“I can’t believe you just up and left like that,” my younger sister, Angelica, says through the screen of my laptop.
I'd just finished up my shower when I walked out into the suite and heard the sound of a video call ringing on my laptop. I should have known that of anyone in my family, it would be my sister who would track me down. It’s not like my parents would know how to do anything with electronics. They have a palace filled with servants to do it for them.
"You don't get it," I start to say, but she holds up her hand to stop me.
“Of all people, I’d be the one person to understand what you are going through.”
"In most cases, you would, Angelica," I say. "But until our parents tell you that you have to marry someone you’ve only met twice in your life, then you don’t know what I’m going through. I refuse to marry some stranger because our parents think she is a suitable match on paper. I want to marry someone who challenges me, who doesn’t treat me like a prince,” I sigh. “Someone who sets my soul on fire.”
Angelica frowns, but I know she knows I'm right. We both want this for ourselves. We are the children of two people who married because of their titles, not because they were in love. We know what kind of life that leads to.
“When are you coming home?” Angelica finally asks. “The palace will have to issue a statement if the press notices your absence—which they will.”
There’s a knock at the door.
“Look,” I say. “Tell mother and father I will be home after the holidays. I need this time to think about things.”
"Think quickly because they will want an answer when you return."
“Fine.” I nod. “I will talk to you when I get back.”
I close the laptop and walk over to the door and look out the peek hole. I recognize her as the pretty blonde woman from the front desk. I swing open the door.
“What is it?” I ask.
The woman stares at me wide-eyed. I remember too late that I don't have a shirt on. It takes a moment for her to recover from the glazed look in her eyes before she holds up a tray towards me.
“I thought you might be hungry.”
I glance down and see a tray befitting the American Santa Claus—a tall glass of milk and a plate of frosted cookies.
“I didn’t order this.”
Her smile falters a bit. “I know, but I thought that you might enjoy them. On the house.”
“I thought that I made it clear that I didn’t want to be disturbed,” I snap, the frustration of my call with Angelica reminding me of what I have waiting back at home, leaking into my tone.
“Listen, I don’t know where you are from, but here this is what we call a kind gesture. To think I actually felt sorry for you being up here all alone. My mistake for trying to be nice.” She turns, tray in hand, and starts walking down the hallway.
For a moment, I stare after her, completely dumbfounded. No one has ever spoken to me like that before—and I like it. I run back into my room and grab my zip-up hoodie and pull it on as I chase after her. Just as I turn the corner, I hear the bell of the elevator ding and the doors open. She steps on and jumps when she turns and sees me slide between the closing doors to get on with her.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“I don’t know,” I admit, realizing that I didn’t really have a plan once I reached her.
"Don't bother riding down with me to complain to my boss. He's not here. It's just Tobey and me."
Jealousy flares inside me like I've never felt before. "Who is Tobey?"
She gives me a side-eyed glance but doesn’t answer me.
We ride in silence, with only the hum of the elevator Christmas music playing from the speaker overhead. I’m about to apologize for my behavior when the elevator stops between floors three and two.
