Authors: Michelle M. Pillow
She’d made her rich bed and now she was smothered in its silks. No one ever told what happened after the fairy tale ended. There was a reason for that. Happily ever afters didn’t last.
Jasmine took a deep breath, keeping her face blank. The jacket to her gown was hot, but she knew she couldn’t take it off. Chad paused for effect, as she’d marked in his speech to do, and then continued to speak, the words flowing eloquently out of his mouth.
The mountainous planet of Nozando hosted a giant medical conference every couple of years. The conference was funded by the MAPH, Medical Alliance for Planetary Health. The Alliance had their hand into everything in the medical field--drug supplies, health insurance, scientific medical study and advancements. Chad hated to miss a single one of these conferences, as it was his opportunity to get noticed by the big boys. Everybody who was anybody in the medical field attended or sent representatives to attend for them.
This was Chad’s first year speaking and he’d been particularly nervous about it. Jasmine had paid for that nervousness in more ways than one. But it wasn’t anything she wasn’t used to. Such were the consequences of being married to Chad.
The conferences were in their third day with only two more left. She’d sat through the numerous speeches, but had been excused from attending the parties afterward. Jasmine wasn’t fooled. She knew strippers entertained the men at the parties, both on stage and in the bedroom. Like always, she turned a blind eye to Chad’s indiscretions. She had her reasons for doing so.
Jasmine was seated at a round dining table, decorated with a giant centerpiece of flowers and littered with the wine glasses of the others at her table. She didn’t talk to any of them. She didn’t really talk to anyone, unless Chad introduced her to a prominent doctor. It was easier that way. As the crowd applauded her husband, she dutifully stood and clapped in support of him. He nodded his thanks several times before climbing down the side steps of the stage.
Chad was a handsome man, so refined and graceful. Just to look at him made you think him a gentleman. In her husband’s case, looks were not necessarily deceiving, for he was every inch the gentleman. He was dressed as the other doctors, in a dark, form fitting suit jacket that reached to his knees and buttoned all the way down the front. Underneath, the pants would be a full jumpsuit, acting as both trousers and undershirt.
Though a slender man, his very presence demanded attention. He embodied everything that those with money and affluence strove for. He was handsome, clean cut, and though not exactly chiseled with muscles, he was toned and considered very easy on the eyes. He had black hair, sprinkled only lightly with gray at the temples, and light blue eyes. He was a charming man, pleasant to be around. If he wanted you to like him, you most probably would. He used his charm and grace to his fullest advantage. That charm was what had made Jasmine love him, and when his charm went away so had her love.
Jasmine lifted her gloved hand to his cheek as he leaned over to kiss the side of her face. It was a very chaste kiss, one she was used to. The affection was all for show. The audience clapped louder. Obviously the show had worked. The picture of the happy couple was complete.
“Perfect,” she whispered into his ear.
Jasmine pulled back and Chad graciously helped her back into her seat. To say her husband didn’t love her wasn’t fair. Perhaps he loved her too much, put her too high upon a pedestal, expecting her to stay on the pedestal. Who was she to judge how Chad really felt? He said he loved her every single day. But, then again, she always repeated it back to him.
Chad reached across the table and grabbed her hand, squeezing. It was odd that he would do so and she glanced at him. His eyes bore steadily into hers and she leaned forward.
“Dr. Ellington is here,” Chad said. “Smile more.”
Jasmine widened her smile, though for the life of her she couldn’t remember who Dr. Ellington was. Chad let go of her hand and they both turned their attention to the podium. An elderly doctor in dark blue took the stage.
“At this time, we would like to pay our respects in honoring a great man and distinguished scientist, Dr. Simon Martens. Dr. Martens recently passed away while ridding a primitive planet of biological weaponry,” the speaker said. A holographic image of an elderly gentleman appeared next to him on the stage. It was a photograph of the late Dr. Martens. He had been a round, balding figure with kind eyes. “But it is his work documenting and classifying alien insect species that has paved the way for great leaps in modern medicine….”
Jasmine listened with half an ear, not really thinking about anything. She kept her eyes forward, not caring to look around. She took a cue from the crowd, slowly nodding her head at something the speaker said. It took all her concentration just to keep the look of lifelessness off her face.
Jasmine stared at the smile on Dr. Martens face--non threatening, happy, kind. There was a man who’d known contentment in his life. She wished she could trade places with him, give her life for his.
* * * *
Reid glanced over at Jarek and shook his head. Nozando was a beautiful planet, full of lush foliage over mountainous terrain. It was one of the prettier places he’d been to on ambassador trips, not counting the Galaxy Playmate mansion, of course. Not, that he’d been too many places on ambassador trips.
Reid nearly groaned remembering the mansion. If he didn’t have a duty to his people, he’d consider living there on the floating island paradise, surrounded by half naked women--the most beautiful humanoid women the universe had to offer. Surely the owner would give him a job. He could be a bed trainer.
Reid and Jarek stood in the back of the conference hall, their arms crossed as they waited to speak. Already he could tell the gathered crowd was uptight. These really were not his type of people. All the men wore suit jackets and the ladies donned formal gowns varying in style, all of subtle coloring. He scanned the large room for something pretty to look at. There were some nice looking women. Most of them were older, which wasn’t a necessary turn off, but they all had sour looks on their faces.
Having just arrived an hour before, they’d been lucky enough to miss the long day of speeches. As he thought of it, Reid knew the decision to go to the Galaxy Playmate mansion had been a good one. Now all he had to do was go on stage, say his little diplomatic speech, and they could leave. Maybe if they all put their money together, they could go rent the mansion again. The idea did have merit. Reid wondered how much they’d need. He’d have to talk to Rick about it.
Rick, and the rest of the crew, waited in a separate area while they negotiated the refueling of Jarek’s ship,
The Conqueror
. They also loaded the usual supplies. Reid was impressed. When the Medical Alliance threw a party, they really threw a party. They even gave out free medical supplies to all the ships and had something called a ‘door prize’. Reid wasn’t sure what the tradition of it was, but the winner would receive a top of the line medical booth.
Dr. Garrett, the conference coordinator, went to the podium. Reid didn’t care for the man. It wasn’t anything in particular about him. He was just too full of himself.
Shifting uncomfortably in the jacket Jarek had given him, Reid tugged at the constrictive sleeves. Apparently, his usual attire wasn’t appropriate, though he did wear his cross laced pants and tank underneath the jacket.
“At this time,” Dr. Garrett began, “we would like to pay our respects in honoring a great man and distinguished scientist, Dr. Simon Martens….”
Reid felt a pang of regret, as he saw the likeness of Dr. Martens flash on stage. The scientist had been a great man. Simon had come to Reid’s home planet of Qurilixen with Quinn’s wife, Tori. He had been attacked and killed by one of the Var house nobles while trying to help rid the planet of biological weapons--the same weapons their father had brought to the planet.
“…Dr. Martens recently passed away while ridding a primitive planet of biological weaponry,” Dr. Garrett continued.
Reid frowned and leaned to Jarek. Through the side of his mouth, he asked, “Who is he calling primitive? Sacred Cats, let’s get out of here already. These people are strange.”
Jarek grinned, but said nothing. Reid knew his brother agreed with him.
Dr. Garrett briefly listed the highlights of Dr. Martens’ long, impressive career, before stating, “Please join me in welcoming, Dr. Marten’s daughter, Stella Martens. Miss Martens will be accepting a gift from the Var of Qurilixen on her father’s behalf.”
Again there was applause, as a short, overweight woman walked up to the stage. She wore a silvery blue dress that fell in one piece to the floor. Except for the fact that she had hair, she looked just like her father.
“And here to pay their respects to this great man are Ambassadors Reid and Jarek of the planet Qurilixen,” Dr. Garrett finished.
“Ambassadors?” Reid asked, wondering why Dr. Garrett didn’t use their royal title.
“It’ll get us off the planet faster. This is a room of doctors and scientists. If they hear the word prince, they’ll try to get us to donate money for their projects. Trust me, it’s not pretty.”
Reid grinned. “Good point, Ambassador Jarek.”
A polite clapping ensued and the two Var brothers stepped up to the stage, keeping in stride with each other. As the front light fell over them, the clapping faltered before lifting once more. Reid was used to the reaction of shock from women and didn’t care. Both he and Jarek together often made the ladies more than excited. But, when he saw some of the men look at them in snobbish disgust, it was all he could do not to start a fight. It would be fun to crash up the party and he could use the exercise. However, it was out of respect for Dr. Martens that he held back.
Climbing up the podium, Reid smiled at the crowd, feeling suddenly mischievous. If they him wanted to act as if he were a barbarian, he’d be a barbarian. Reid glanced at Jarek. Jarek saw his look and suppressed a grin.
* * * *
Jasmine clapped without bothering to turn around, until she heard the applause falter. Glancing over her shoulder, she froze. Two identical, very large men stepped forward into the spot light. Her mouth went dry. They didn’t look like the typical Ambassadors she saw at these events. The both had long, dark hair, black as midnight. It touched all the way to their waists. The one on the right kept his pulled back neatly, showing peeks of a black tattoo marking on his neck, whereas the one on the left allowed his to fall freely about his shoulders.
Their height was only all the more intimidating because of their massive girth. Even clothed, she could see their strong arms were joined to broad shoulders and thick chests. Both men looked exactly the same from the build to the color of their dark brown-black eyes, but for some reason Jasmine found she was staring at the one with his hair down. There was something about him, an arrogant confidence, a wildness, a nonchalant devil-may-care attitude.
Her breath came hard and she couldn’t move. Time seemed to slow. She willed him to look at her so she could see him fully. A smile curled his lips and his eyes stayed forward. He didn’t see her in the crowd.
Feeling a hand on her elbow, she gasped and turned. Chad stared at her, his eyes narrowed
with what she could easily interpret as anger. Jasmine’s heart skipped a beat and she shivered, just then realizing she’d stopped clapping, her gloved hands pressed tightly together as she stared too long at the Var Ambassadors.
“I don’t feel well,” Jasmine said, leaning forward so only he could hear her. She glanced away from his face, before lying, “I think I might have forgotten to take my pill today.”
Chad didn’t move. The grip on her arm tightened, but looking at his face, it was impossible to see if
anything was wrong.
“May I be excused?” she asked, already knowing the answer.
“You may go after the presentation. I don’t imagine these two savages will speak long,” Chad said, whispering it into her ear.
Jasmine nodded.
“I am Ambassador Reid.”
Jasmine turned her attention to the stage, trying to tell herself that the savage man didn’t give her chills with his low voice. Reid was the one with his hair down. Ambassador Jarek who had the tattoo stood silently at his side.
It was a strange reaction in her chest, one she’d never had. Maybe she really had forgotten to take her heart pill. It would be the first time in nearly four years of marriage. Jasmine didn’t feel right at all. She was beginning to sweat and her heart raced violently in her chest. A tremor worked up her body.
“We would like to thank Dr. Martens for his service to our planet by presenting this knife,” Reid paused, pulling his jacket back to unsheathe a decorative knife from his waist. Jasmine was stunned to see a peek of his taut flesh along his side, hidden by cross laces.
Several of the onlookers gasped as Reid wielded the weapon in his hand. With a light throw, he tossed the hilt up and caught the blade. The Var man’s back turned to her as he offered the knife to Stella Martens. Stella paled and drew back slightly at his motion. Jasmine couldn’t see what the Var man did or said to her, but Stella blushed and nodded, instantly relaxing. Reid lifted the knife up, offering it. The woman hesitated before taking it from him, her blush deepening.
Reid turned back to the podium. Jasmine expected a speech, but instead, the man simply said, “Thank you.”
Reid nodded at Jarek and both men walked back down the way they’d come. There was a long silence before someone slowly clapped. Soon others followed suit until the hesitant sound followed the two men from the room.
“Short and sweet,” a doctor at their table said, laughing.
“What do you expect of primitives?” a woman answered.
Jasmine watched a second longer as Reid disappeared through the back door. She glanced at Chad. He was studying her carefully. She managed a weak smile for him. He didn’t return it as he again looked at the podium.
Chapter Two
“Nice speech,” Jarek said, chuckling, as they left the conference, the sound of hesitant applause behind them.