His eyes widened and, for a moment, I thought he was going to call the cops. Instead, he laughed. “And for what reason should I tell them you are here?”
Shit. I hadn't thought about that. I couldn't exactly tell this guy that I was in love with Nami. He'd either call someone to lock me up because I was crazy or think I was a threat. Besides, I had a feeling that wasn't something her family would want getting out, even if they did end up accepting me. I'd definitely have to be part of some big PR thing. I could, however, tell a partial truth.
“I met their daughter.” I almost called her Nami and then remembered that wouldn't be how she was known here. “Princess Namisa. While she was in Paris. Saja sounded wonderful, so I came to visit, and I'd like to pay my respects.”
He looked skeptical, but he didn't tell me to leave. He picked up his radio and said something in his native language. After a minute, someone answered back and the guard came over to the gate and punched in a code. The gate slid open and I stepped through. I stopped, letting the guard pat me down.
“The king and queen will see you in the receiving room.”
Chapter 14
Reed
My first thought as I walked into the receiving room was that I was glad they hadn't taken me to their throne room – if they had one. This room was intimidating enough. I was rich and I'd seen the best of Philadelphia's best, but I was impressed. Expensive furnishings, beautiful artwork. I didn't even see the people for several seconds.
A pair that I felt confident assuming were the king and queen sat directly across from the door. They weren't on thrones, but I was willing to bet the chairs were at least a couple hundred thousand dollars. Their clothes were even more expensive than mine.
“May I present Mr. Reed Stirling of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?” A man I couldn't see announced me and I stepped further into the room.
And that's when I saw her.
Nami was sitting at her father's other side, back straight, face carefully expressionless. A man sat next to her. He had black hair, ice blue eyes and an arrogant look that made me want to hit him. Then I saw his hand clasp Nami's possessively and my fingers curls into fists. If I hadn't suspected who he was before, I knew it now.
Tanek.
Nami's fucking fiancé.
I'd not really thought of him at all except in the vague idea of the engagement, but now I realized I hated him. Marrying Nami might not have been his choice any more than he was truly hers, but the way he was holding her hand said that he was staking his claim. He didn't know who I was, I was sure of it, but he was making sure I knew what his position here was.
“Mr. Stirling, I present King Amir, Queen Persephone, their daughter Princess Namisa and her betrothed, Tanek Nekane,” the same man spoke again.
I gave a bit of a bow, feeling awkward as I did it, but based on the expression on the king and queen's faces, it had been the right thing to do.
“We do not find many Americans willing to make the appropriate gestures to royalty,” King Amir spoke.
I gave a smile and a slight nod. I wasn't sure if they were the kind of monarchs who'd take offense with someone looking at them directly, but I figured I'd risk it. I wanted to see what I could of them, see what of Nami I could find. The physical part was easy. She looked like both of them. The personality was harder. I wondered from which she'd gotten her stubborn streak.
“You mentioned you met our daughter in Paris?” Queen Persephone spoke. Her tone was polite, but empty. She would've done well in business...and poker.
“I did.” I risked a glance at Nami now, expecting to see her worried that I would give her away. She didn't look concerned though, or at least from what I could see. She wouldn't meet my gaze.
“And may I inquire just how that occurred?” King Amir asked.
I was on dangerous ground here, and I knew it. Anything I said to her parents could possibly hurt her, but with Tanek sitting right there, it could do even more damage. I opened my mouth to give them some sort of lie about how I'd met Nami, but I didn't get a chance.
“Mr. Stirling was on the train with me,” Nami said. “From Paris to Venice. When the train was delayed, the two of us talked to pass the time.”
The smile on my face felt fake, but I knew it looked fine. I'd had a lot of practice at home. I nodded as if in agreement. I would've preferred to keep it as close to the truth as possible, but she knew her parents. If this was the best transition into my declaration, then I'd go along with it. I just wished Nami's fucking fiancé would stop staring at me. I was nervous enough about proclaiming my feelings without him giving me the evil eye. I'd hoped to talk to the king and queen only, to convince them and then surprise Nami. But, if this was my only choice, I would do what needed to be done.
“Mr. Stirling is the head of his family's business in America,” Nami continued. Her tone was pleasant, but there was no warmth in it. Nothing to let me know what she was thinking. “I believe he mentioned something about coming to Saja to determine if he might find business opportunities here.”
“So you have come to introduce yourself and present us with a business proposal?” King Amir asked.
I kept my eyes on Nami for a few seconds longer, willing her to look at me, to show me what she was feeling. Was she saying this because she knew my real reason for being here and didn't want me to do it? Who was she more worried about me speaking to, her parents or her fiancé? Or did she think I'd tell too much?
I looked back at the king and queen. “I don't have a business proposal ready, your Majesties. I simply wished to meet you and establish an acquaintance in the hopes that we may someday have a working relationship.”
I chose each work carefully. When Nami and I told them the truth, at least about what we meant to each other, my words could be interpreted different ways so they wouldn't think I'd been completely dishonest.
“That is quite enterprising of you.”
I couldn't tell if Nami's father was impressed or being sarcastic in that subtle, annoying way that only members of high society – and apparently, nobility – could manage.
“Thank you,” I said, giving a bland smile that he could either take as genuine or as me letting him know that I knew how he meant it.
“Now, Mr. Stirling, if you will please excuse us.” Queen Persephone stood. “As a visitor, I am sure you have not heard, but Princess Namisa will be married on Saturday, and we have much planning to do.”
“Of course.” I resisted the urge to look at Nami again. The way the queen was looking at me made me think it was possible she suspected there was more to the story than we were saying. I didn't think that was a good thing, particularly based on what she'd just said. Nami's expression hadn't changed, and she still wasn't looking at me.
“Tomas and Kai will show you out,” King Amir said.
Fuck.
The pair came towards me, their faces blank, but their eyes clearly said that if they had their way, they'd be throwing me rather than showing me, and making sure I had a few 'accidents' along the way. I smiled towards the king and queen one last time before turning around to allow myself to be escorted from the room. It took everything I had not to look at Nami again, but I could feel the tension radiating off of the two bodyguards and knew they were looking for any excuse to teach me a lesson.
We walked down the hallway towards the front doors, the guards half a step behind me so they could react if I tried to move. I wasn't dumb enough to run. Nami's parents would never accept me if I disrespected them in such a manner. I did need to see her though, talk to her alone. I needed her to know that I was willing to fight for her if she'd let me.
As we reached the front of the palace, another man opened the door, his face professionally blank. I stepped through the door, stopping as Kai grabbed my arm. His voice was low in my ear, but the volume didn't detract from the sincerity or the menace in his words.
“Stay away from the princess. If I see you again, I will present your balls to the king.”
I didn't make any indication of acknowledgement, but he didn't seem to need one. He released my arm with a bit of a shove and I walked down the stairs. The front gates opened and I walked through them, turning the corner so that I was hidden from sight. I needed to figure out what I was going to do. I hadn't been able to complete my plan, so I didn't know where to go next.
I wasn't sure if it was smart to try for the other entrance again, so I began to walk in the opposite direction, hoping I'd be able to spot some way in. The security I'd seen had been good, but not fool-proof. It was clear that, while the royal family warranted protection, they weren't expecting some sort of attack. From what I'd read about Saja, it made sense. They were a peaceful country. Barely any crime at all, and only a small portion of it violent. Most of those were mild, like fist fights over stupid things, often while drunk. Saja had only one prison, and it had never been filled to capacity. In a country like this, excessive security would've been perceived as either a barrier between the people and their sovereign, or as a show of mistrust.
I fully planned to take advantage of that.
As I rounded the corner and headed along a quiet side street, I spotted something several yards ahead. A gate, barely big enough for one person to fit through, was opening. Covered with plants, I never would've known it was there, and based on how loudly it squeaked, it wasn't a commonly used entrance.
I wasn't sure if I should hide or hurry towards it and I stopped, caught in indecision. Then I saw a familiar figure step out onto the sidewalk.
“Nami.” I breathed a sigh of relief and jogged towards her.
As I grew closer, I saw more than I had in the throne room. Her expression wasn't just impassive, but rather guarded, like there was something she didn't want me to see. Something else seemed off too, but I couldn't figure out what it was. She looked different, as if in the short time since I'd last seen her, something had changed.
“Why did you come, Reed?” Her voice was soft and she fixed her gaze at a point over my shoulder.
I reached for her hands, but she didn't respond, her fingers staying limp and cold in my hands. “I came for you. I want us to be together. I know you don't think it's possible, but I think I could convince your parents to give me a chance.”
Now she did look at me, a moment of surprise flitting across her eyes before they went blank again. “Give you a chance?”
I nodded, sliding my hands up her arms until I was grasping her shoulders. “I'm not nobility, or from Saja, but I'm not from some poor, backward family. We're well-respected in Philadelphia.” I didn't bother to add that our position in society was in a bit of peril at the moment. It wouldn't help things and I had no idea how long that trouble would even last. Rich people were easily distracted even if they never truly forgot.
She started to shake her head, but I kept going before she could protest.
“I have money so it's clear I'm not after that. I know how to behave around high society so I wouldn't embarrass you. I'd sign any sort of paperwork they asked. Renounce my citizenship and become a naturalized citizen of Saja. Whatever it would take to show your parents that I'm serious.”
Her voice was soft. “It's too late.”
My smile faltered. “No,” I said. “I refuse to accept that.”
“Contracts have been signed.” She lifted her chin, but didn't meet my gaze. “The wedding on Saturday is a mere formality. For all intents and purposes, Tanek is my husband.”
“No,” I repeated, my tone harder in disbelief and denial.
I closed the distance between us, reaching out to cup the back of her head as I lowered my mouth to hers. Her lips parted with a gasp of surprise and I slid my tongue between them. For a brief, wonderful moment, her body relaxed into mine, her mouth pliant as my tongue explored. She was mine.
Then her hands were on my chest, pushing rather than pulling. The kiss broke, leaving me gasping, my body aching. I stepped back, hands clenched at my sides. I wanted her so badly, but her actions had said to stop, and I did.
“What's done is done, Reed.” She folded her arms across her middle as if hugging herself. “Go home. There's nothing for you here.”
She stepped back through the hidden gate and I heard it latch behind her. I stayed there for a long time, but she didn't return. It was over.
Chapter 15
Nami
The white silk whispered against my legs as I followed him into the bedroom. It had been a beautiful wedding, the kind most girls would dream of. Flowers had been everywhere, each one chosen specifically for the occasion. Their scents had been perfectly blended so that the effect wasn't overwhelming. The palace ballroom had been decorated in sprays of white and gold, every inch of the place cleaned so that it had shone. The gold bridesmaid's dresses had been simple, elegantly cut for each bridesmaid to flatter the different figures. After all, a royal wedding wasn't about the bride.
Through it all, however, I hadn't been able to stop thinking about the wedding night. Ancient traditions would have stated that at least one of my parents, or a selected member of nobility be in the room as the marriage was consummated, but, fortunately, that practice had been discontinued generations ago. My father's great-grandfather had been the last to follow that particularly embarrassing scenario.