Highness (13 page)

“Of course, we paid her. It was the least that we could do after you broke up with one of the most sought after young royals in the western hemisphere.  These are people of consequence…that we have to see on a continual basis – a
real
family that you have shamed.” Richard said the words as though they were a part of his very being.

“I’m assuming other families aren’t real.”  Michael smirked facetiously. It was amazing to him that one man could be so pompous.

Richard ignored Michael’s continued attempt to be normal. “On top of that, you changed your mobile number. So there was no closure for Thalia.  You wouldn’t even honor her with a call after you went home with the Brixton sisters, who let me remind you, made the news.  They were paid to talk about the size of your private parts for goodness sake.”

“What did they say?” Michael asked, intrigued. 

“They were kind - generous even,” Richard seethed, flabbergasted that Michael would even care about rumors at this point.  “But you should be more worried about what Thalia and friends close to her said about your character in the news.  They were not as forgiving or generous.”

“Why should I care?”  Michael’s anger flared. “And the Brixton sisters had a lot more respect for themselves than you think.”

“I doubt that,” Richard snorted.

“They never pretended to be anything but who they were, and they never lied to me.  Thalia, on the other hand, manipulated me for years into believing that she loved me so that I’d marry her. And why?  So, she could have her chance at the crown and to elevate her family’s position. Now, who is really more treacherous?  The Brixton sisters or your precious Thalia?”

“Michael is a self-centered monster.”

“What?” Michael flinched.  

“That is what Thalia’s family told the press.”  Richard blew out a frustrated breath.

“How very royal of them.” His eyes narrowed.  He had a few other choice words to call her and family, but he would keep them all to himself. 

“And just what do you think that Hope will say to the press when you break her heart?  She’ll reiterate Thalia’s story further damning your already-tarnished image and this family.”

“Hope isn’t like that. And this isn’t about you or the family. It’s about me.”

“And what about you?” Richard asked, twisting in his leather seat.  He looked out of the window at the clouds floating beneath him and cringed. “You’re so incredibly short-sighted until I don’t know why I’m blaming you for this, but how is it about you?”

Michael didn’t want to fight, not here, not where
she
could hear him.  It would ruin everything if she heard him justifying his actions with other women, whether right or wrong.  And considering how open she had been with him about her life and her desire not to be hurt anymore, he could not risk her losing faith in him.

He pursed his lips together and held the phone tighter to his ear. “I won’t have another conversation about how incredibly stupid I am or how my physical appearance serves as such a handicap.  I’m quite aware of what I’m doing, and I’m quite aware of the implications.  I happen to lo… like her.”  He glanced down the hall to make sure that his voice was not carrying, especially with that last part.

Despite Michael’s attempt to cut off his statement, Richard knew what Michael meant to say, which elevated his already-heightened concern.  Michael had never mentioned love so early.  Normally, he was reserved with his feelings, almost to the point of cutting them off.

“Is Hope aware of what happens after being linked as a love interest of yours? Does she know that her life will become fodder for critics, everything from her dress size to her personal hygiene and diet?” Richard pulled off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.  A headache was on the horizon – one of gigantic proportion.

“I’ll protect her,” Michael promised.  “I won’t let them hurt her.” 

“Like you’ve protected yourself or this family?  No, I’m sorry. That’s been my job. I protect you. I’m protecting you now.  And while you were busy rolling around in the bed with a blind artist, RQL was busy releasing a large digital and print campaign offering $100,000 to the person who could pinpoint your location on the planet, but more specifically the United States.”

“How do they know I’m in the states?”

Richard laughed, though he wasn’t amused. “It’s not about the truth, Michael.
You know that
. It’s about what sells.  And right now, after your breakup with Thalia and sudden disappearance, you’re a commodity for those bloodsuckers.  There will be a media frenzy behind this.  Sightings everywhere from the Grand Canyon to South Beach.  The whole world is going to be looking for you and no doubt before long find you.”

“Maybe not,” Michael whispered.

“Don’t be naive.  The nurse who watched Hope will call and get that money, as will the neighbor who rented out his home to you and the lawyer you punched.  That’s at least three people who all have seen you in the same place.” 

It irritated Michael to no end that his brother knew his every move, but he didn’t speak on it.  “Then, we’ll go on holiday for a while.”

Richard inserted more doubt. “Will her doctor clear her?  Will she want to go?  The dossier I read on her says that she’s been commissioned to the tune of $200,000 to finish her current collection of work.  Does she plan to put her career down to run around the world, dodging cameras with you with no guarantee that you won’t just leave her at the next stop?”

“I would never just leave her,” Michael scowled.

“Just like you’d never leave Thalia?”  Richard felt he had gone far enough, but the point had been made.  He was a man known for leaving when things got tough.

Richard let go of a breath.  “The piece goes live tonight at midnight.  After that, you, my dear brother will be on house arrest.”

Michael looked around Hope’s house. “First, she’s not blind anymore. Second, I can handle RQL.  Third, I like the house that I’m confined to and the person that I’m confined to it with.”

Richard hissed again. “Have you ever been able to end one sentence in anything other than a prepositional phrase?”

Michael had to laugh.  “You’re being facetious, brother. It doesn’t suit you.”

“I want you to pack up and get back here quick smart.” Richard knew that he would deny his request, but he insisted anyway. 

“No,” Michael said, voice stern. “I will not.”

“You will,” Richard said, hating to give the ultimatums but forced.  “By decree of your Queen and more importantly your mother. You will end your fling and return back to London, where we will regroup.”

“I’m a grown man,” Michael snapped. “I have regrouped. I’ve found someone that actually makes me happy.  And what decree?  Are you kidding?  She can’t make me come home and neither can you. And if my mother wants to talk to me, she has my number,” he said, exasperated. 

“What good is it to call, if your phone is dead?” Richard snapped back. 

“Don’t push this, Richard,” Michael warned, as he scrubbed a hand across his face. “I’m not just fooling around, and she’s not just a girl.  I care about her, and I won’t have you ruining that for me with your bloody tantrums. Now, I appreciate the heads up about RQL and your never-ending vote of confidence in me as a man, but I have to go.”  Ringing off, he swung open the front door and shoved the phone back into Geoff’s chest in anger. 

Catching himself, Michael apologized.  “I’m sorry. That wasn’t meant for you.” 

Geoff’s face was stoic but not his words.  “What have you done, Michael?” he asked, afraid for his friend.  Pissing Richard off in the past had not turned out well for Michael.  He doubted very seriously that it would yield different results now.

Michael clenched his jaw tight. “I’ve made a decision.  If she won’t go, then neither will I. But I’m not leaving her and running back to London with my tail tucked conveniently between my legs.”

Nodding, Geoff slipped his phone back into his pocket.  Turning toward the entourage of bodyguards who stood stone-faced, he dismissed them with a waved hand.  “Wait at the car,” he ordered the men. 

As soon as they headed toward the car, he let down his guard and turned back toward Michael.  “Dick is pissing bricks right now.  God only knows what he’ll do once he arrives. 
And he is on the way.
  Between you and me, he should be in U.S. airspace now.  We’ve gotten orders.  We’re to stay on this house, around the perimeter from now on – no matter what kind of attention it causes.  And the state department has sent men as well.  We’re not to let you out of our sight.  We are not to let anyone on the property and we are no longer allowed to pretend that we are not here.  Your cover is blown.”

Michael slumped his shoulders and shook his head. The utopia he was building was suddenly crumbling around him.  “Let me know when he arrives. I’ll deal with him then.  I just don’t want him to come into contact with Hope before I have time to talk to her.  He’ll ruin everything with his arrogant ass.  At least give me one more night without your full presence.  I’ll take her out tonight and break the news to her about RQL and what she can expect, but it should come from me, not him.”

Geoff smirked. In only four days, he sounded much stronger.  

“And if you can, bring my charger. I should call my mother.” Michael hated the idea.  He knew that Richard was a cakewalk in comparison to that woman.

“Fine. One more night.  When you take her out, we’ll follow behind as quietly as possible.  But with all of this, you know I have to ask.”

“Ask what?”

“Is she really this important?  You know what’s coming.  Thalia was prepared for this type of media circus – hell, she loved it, but I doubt a woman as quiet and reserved as your friend is will be.  Think of her before you throw her to the wolves.” Geoff had done the background on Hope. She was a great woman, but no social butterfly.  The media could be brutal – something that took training and unfortunately a lot of bumps and bruises. 

“I am thinking of her,” Michael answered, eyes pleading for understanding. “I’m thinking of both of us.”

“Are you sure it’s not just a rebound from Thalia?” Geoff asked. He knew how much Michael had cared for her until her confession.  He also knew that Michael had never taken rejection well.  The combination could have been the reason for his sudden emotion for this new woman and understandably so. 

Michael twisted up his lips. This would be a question that he would be asked for a while, so he might as well get used to answering it.  He smiled at the thought of her.  “Hope Daniels is no rebound,” he said, placing his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I need you, Geoff.  Be my ears and my eyes.  Let me know what’s coming so that I can protect her.  But trust me when I say that I’m not blinded by lust or confused by my breakup.  This is different, and she is different.”

Geoff touched his friend’s hand.  Honestly, he believed him, but he knew that Richard wouldn’t.   “I’ll do everything in my power,” he promised.

***

In the four days since she had had her sight back, Hope had moved from the temporary bedroom downstairs back into the comforts of her second-floor master bedroom with all of its perfect amenities. And while it was a simple thing to do – to simply move from one room to another - it was a large step for her to be moving back into her own life. 

Every day, she felt her independence coming back to her, and she was bursting at the seams to get back to painting and moving her life in the direction that she wanted. 

From the moment she got her sight back, all she could think of was putting the brush back in her hands, being able to see colors and shapes, to be able to take in the world with her own eyes. 

Only now, she would have an appreciation for it that she’d never had before.  Now, she was more empowered than ever.  There would be no one
carpe
’ing their
diem
the way that she planned to do.  

And she had started immediately when she reached out at first sight and kissed Michael. 

However, life seemed completely different after that kiss. Sure the first one in the park had been mind blowing!  And honestly, she was on a high after that.  If there had not been another one that day, she would have still be floating on cloud nine.  But then Michael put Sean in his place, all of sudden, she got her sight back and the elation that she felt inside caused all sorts of raw emotions.

The next thing she knew, she was in bed with him.  And even after four days, there were no regrets. 

Looking into his eyes and holding him close, feeling him grow inside of her to silken steel, smelling his cologne all over her body – on her tongue and on her lips-, hearing him say her name and whisper sweet nothings in her ear; it changed everything.

She knew fools rushed in.  Everyone knew that, but why couldn’t she help herself?

In just the few days of being with Michael, she had experienced happiness at a level she had never had before him.  And it wasn’t that he was a prince.  While that had been a complete shock, it had in no way affected how they were with each other. 

In fact, she was surprised at how many similar life experiences they shared.  In her mind, she always thought royalty lived such dramatically different lives, full of pomp and circumstance, and while that might apply to most – it most certainly did not apply to her Michael.  He was a simple man who loved jam on his bagels, eggs benedict with Tabasco sauce, reading the USA Today and listening to Coltrane while lying in bed naked and playing in her hair when she laid across his massive chest.