Page 47 of Royal Bosshole

“Yeah, I’m sure. Thanks, though. Good luck to you.” I patted him on the shoulder and adjusted the strap of my work bag on my shoulder.

Glancing back at the office one last time, I left, my heart beating fast. I still couldn’t believe I was returning home. My father was unhappy that I was giving up, but he said he was glad to see me soon. I’d called up Gerald, my assistant in Lenovia, and he’d given me the real news. My father’s condition was only worsening, so it was a good time that I returned.

Soon, Lily and I will both be orphans.

The thought made me sad like we were both lost puppies in need of love and refusing to give it to one another. I tensed. I had to stop thinking about Lily if I was going to have any semblance of a life. So, I thought about the meetings I’d have when I returned to Lenovia. It would be a mess of things, the handover of power, and the loss of the country I had known and loved from birth.

But oddly, it didn’t hurt me as much as I thought it would. I’d spent my whole life bowing to honor and duty, but this felt better. This felt like I was actually doing something noble, not forcing Lily into a life with a man she loathed, ruling over a country she did not even know. Saving her from that was far better than saving my country. Perhaps that was skewed, and yet I felt somewhat released. When I got downstairs, Peter was waiting for me.

It was strange how much we’d been seeing each other since Lily came around. For months, I’d kept him at arm’s length. I wasn’t used to having too many people in my life that I cared about, and I sure as hell didn’t want to share my feelings about anything with anyone. But whatever had happened with Lily had opened me up. Now I felt like I had a true friend in Peter in more ways than one.

“So, I owe you a goodbye dinner. Your flight’s what, tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow night, yeah.”

“Awesome. Let’s roll.” We were quiet as we left, and Peter drove us to a small Italian restaurant tucked away.

When we ordered our drinks, I spoke first. Peter had listened to all my bullshit over the past weeks, so it was time I did the same.

“You good with work?” I asked.

“Oh yeah. Very good. Busy but good. Got another security job for the museum down by your old office.”

“Oh, the niche art museum? That’s great.”

“Yeah, so we’ve even been able to hire on new guys.”

“That’s great, Peter. So, I know we’ve talked about my love life a lot, but what about you? You not thinking of anyone?” I smiled, trying to get my mind off leaving tomorrow and what it really meant.

“Nah, not at the moment. I didn’t find the love of my life like you. Not yet.”

“Ah.” I spun the beer glass on the table.

Why did he have to say that?

“You didn’t talk to her, did you?”

“No. But I think I’m going to write her a letter tonight. Apologizing for everything.”

“And telling her the truth, right?” Peter stiffened. “You know you need to tell her. It’s not fair that her grandmother never did.”

“I know. I’ll tell her. But I doubt she’ll believe me.”

“Doesn’t matter. You’re all about duty. I think this is your duty.”

Our food came, and we ate, but it was all catching up to me, and I didn’t feel right.

“Thanks for everything, Peter. You’ve been a good friend. I know I haven’t always been.”

“Hey,” Peter said with a shrug. “You’ve got a lot of shit going on in your life. Give my best to your dad. Maybe I’ll come over and visit you one day in Lenovia.” Grinning, he said, “Maybe you can find me a princess.”

“Ha! That’s a tough job, you know? But it won’t be Lenovia anymore. It’ll be Mandovia once everything goes through.”

“Jesus, you’re right. I’m sorry, man. You going to be okay?”

“Yeah, one day, I will.” I couldn’t see that day right then, but it was going to happen, and I had to believe in it.

It was something my mother would have said to me. After dinner, Peter drove me to my apartment, and we hugged goodbye. That shocked me again.

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