Regrettably, I couldn’t join Sophia for lunch again on Wednesday. After being away from the office so much recently, things had been piling up that needed my attention. And since I was going back to the palace at the end of the week, I wanted to square everything away for Maddox so he wouldn’t get overwhelmed. I had full confidence in him, but I also wasn’t going to leave him with work that I could do myself.

Apologizing to Sophia over text, she said it was no problem. She wanted to go sightseeing today, and I informed her of my stash of cash in my home office. She refused to take it without repaying me, and I agreed, not wanting to get into that unnecessary argument. She could think she was going to repay me, but I would make it known that her presence was payment enough.

While it didn’t please me to have her traipsing around the city by herself, I felt better that she had enough money for cabs or anything else she might need. She refused to allow me to call the car service, but it was freezing out. I hoped she would put her pride aside and take a car when she needed to.

Worrying about her wouldn’t get my work finished for me, so I tried to push her out of my mind while I focused.

Over the last two days, I asked Justine to send all of my calls to Maddox so he could start taking over my responsibilities while I was in the office. If he had any questions, I told him to come to me right away, but I wanted our clients and other partners to start to trust him in the event that I didn’t come back from Qatar for some time.

I had nothing scheduled for lunch that day because I planned on working through it, but when my office door opened around noon, I looked up to see Maddox carrying a cardboard box filled with food.

The scent of grease made my stomach growl.

“I wanted to talk with you,” he said. “Lunch, okay?”

I hoped he wasn’t about to quit after a short time as the big boss, but I had more faith in him than that. He was an honest man, and if he couldn’t do the job, he would let me know.

He didn’t tell me right away what he wanted to talk about, though, which kept me on the edge of my seat.

Maddox spread the fish and chips meal on the table closer to the windows, which was usually reserved for meetings with clients. They always appreciated the view of the city, which tended to distract them enough for me to persuade them to think in my favor when it came to business.

We ate for a few minutes in silence. I wasn’t going to pressure him into telling me what was on his mind.

Just as I crumbled up the crumb-filled oil-stained paper, he got to the point.

“I’ve considered your proposal,” he said.

“And?” I said, leaning back in the chair.

Maddox wiped his mouth with a napkin and then rolled the paper around between his hands. “When the time comes, I would like to be your top man for the job.”

“That’s great to hear,” I said. “I wouldn’t want it to be anyone else.”

He sniffed and leaned back in his chair. “I do have one condition.”

I would give Maddox anything to keep the company in my best friend’s hands. “What’s that?”

“At least for a little while, until I get my bearings, can you make yourself accessible to me? In case I have any questions, I don’t want to look like an ass in front of our clients.”

“That’s all?” I asked.

Maddox narrowed his eyes. “Yes, why?”

I chuckled and stood up, bringing my trash over to the garbage can. “I thought you were going to ask for more money or a car or something.”

“I just assumed I was getting more money,” Maddox said, raising his eyebrows. “I am, right?”

I laughed. “Of course.”

“Then I can buy a new car on my own,” he said, linking his fingers together behind his head. He put his feet up on one of the other chairs and leaned back. “How do people eat this much on a regular basis? I’m exhausted.”

---

It was nearly five by the time I felt comfortable enough to leave the office. I sent a text to Sophia, apologizing profusely. Apparently, she was still in the city. Checking the darkening sky outside, I asked for her to make her way home sooner rather than later.

“I’m picking up dinner,” I texted her. “We can stay in tonight.”

“I feel like my legs are going to fall off,” she responded.

“I'll start a fire too,” I texted, imagining Sophia curled up next to me while we sat on the couch. I wondered how long I could keep up with these normal activities. I never once saw my parents snuggled on a sofa.

“Want me to do it?” she texted.

“No,” I replied before getting into my car.

My phone went off seconds later. “Afraid I might burn down your place?”

“You said it, not me,” I wrote back. Hooking up my phone to my car, I texted her the rest of the ride to the takeout place. Getting out of the car, I noticed a flower shop next door. Since we had done things backward, I never had a chance to get her the typical flowers and chocolates that other couples did for each other.

I picked up the biggest and most expensive arrangement and tucked it between the front and back seats of my car so it wouldn’t fall over while driving.

I drove home quicker than I normally would. I usually didn’t have anyone waiting for me. But it wasn’t just that; I wanted to see Sophia much more than I’d ever wanted to see anyone before.

I started to understand those employees who checked their watches during our later meetings. Was this the feeling they had when they wanted to rush home to their families?

That was never the case with me since I lived so far away from mine. But now that I understood, I would make sure Maddox didn’t schedule as many late meetings as we did in the past. Between the both of us, we didn’t care, but I could make Maddox the “nice boss” to start him off on the right foot.

---

Arriving at my flat, I saw that the lights were on inside. A small thrill moved through me at the prospect of seeing Sophia again. I hoped she enjoyed the food from one of my favorite takeout places. I wanted to relax with her tonight, and I couldn’t think of a more relaxing stay-at-home date than takeout and a movie.

When was the last time I saw a movie? Probably not for years. I hoped Sophia liked movies. I was up for watching anything as long as she was sitting right next to me.

Once I got inside, I didn’t see or hear Sophia anywhere.

I wanted to call out to her, but I also wanted to surprise her.

Walking down the short hallway toward the middle of my home, I was about to say something when I saw movement from the kitchen.

Sophia wore a pair of tight jeans and one of the cashmere sweaters I’d bought her. She held a bottle of wine in one hand and two glasses in the other. I wasn’t opposed to drinking at home, but I didn’t recall the last time I bought alcohol for myself outside of a restaurant or pub.

“I hope it’s good,” Sophia said, holding up the wine. “The cashier said it was good. I bought a few different ones if it’s not.”

Her nervousness made me smile. “I’m sure it’s fine.”

I kissed her thoroughly on the lips and lingered there for a moment before she pulled away.

She swatted at the flowers that nearly took over her face.

I laughed. “Sorry, these are for you.”

“Thank you,” she said, burying her nose in the petals and inhaling. “They’re beautiful.”

She poured two rather heavy glasses of wine, but I didn’t complain. We both took sips, and Sophia regarded her glass.

“Not bad,” she said.

“No,” I said, checking the label of the wine. I’d never had it before, but if it had been bought in a store, then I doubted I would have. I preferred top shelf liquor which was usually only found in restaurants. I took another sip.

“How was your day, honey?” she asked with a smirk.

I kissed that smirk. “Tiring. I’m looking forward to loosening my tie tonight.”

She placed her glass down on the countertop and reached for my tie. Smoothing her hands over the fabric, she untied it and pulled it out from around my neck. “Better?”

“Much,” I said.

“Did you speak with Maddox?” she asked, getting down to business. I supposed it was something that couples discussed at the end of the workday. Admittedly, I wanted to tell someone about Maddox agreeing to accept my job.

“I did,” I said, grabbing another sip of wine. It was good. “He’s ready and willing when the time comes.”

“And you’re happy with that?” she asked.

“As happy as I can be with getting forced to take the throne.”

“No one is forcing you,” she said.

I wished she were right, but I wasn’t about to spoil our evening together with arguing about my lack of choice surrounding the situation.

“You’d make a great king,” she added as if she sensed the tension in the air.

I did not doubt that. “How would you feel if I became king, though?”

She shrugged. “As long as you were happy, I would feel fine about it.”

I wanted to have a broader discussion about the expectations that came with the throne, for myself and for her, but I couldn’t force the words out of me. I hated being so torn between being honest with her and keeping our relationship as normal as possible. It all happened so quickly. If I were to discuss the nature of our relationship going forward, would she run? Was I selfish for keeping her in my grips this long when she might not want anything to do with the throne?

“It’s a big responsibility,” I said, focusing on me for a minute. Maybe I could work out her feelings about being my queen a different way.

“You run a billion-dollar company,” she said. “I think you can handle a kingdom.”

“It’s not the same.”

“I’m sure it isn’t, but you’re naturally great at everything. You’re strong yet gentle enough to be the king. I’ve seen the changes in you since I arrived. Whether you want to admit it or not, you’re ready.”

“The problem is, I don’t feel ready. When it comes to working at the company, I can separate my professional and personal life. Being the king, both of those things collide. What I say directly affects my work and my family.”

“Can you find a way to separate them? If that’s what will make it easier for you?”

“I don’t know,” I said, finishing my glass. I placed it on the counter and took a step closer to Sophia. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I’ve missed you.”

She snaked her arms around my shoulders and brought her lips to mine. She tasted sweet like the wine, and I indulged for a moment. All of my worries disappeared while I kissed Sophia. Her lithe body was perfectly shaped to mine. I grabbed her waist and lifted her onto the counter. Her legs pulled me closer to her and squeezed around my waist.

My erection pressed into her, and just as I was about to lift her off the counter and bring her to my bedroom, my phone rang.

Pulling away from her with a groan, I reached for my phone to turn it off. Nothing was going to stop me from fucking Sophia right now.

I glanced at the screen, and my heart stopped.

“What is it?” Sophia asked.

“It’s my mother,” I said, mentally calculating the time difference between London and Qatar. It wasn’t a regular time for her to call, even if she was trying to interrupt something between Sophia and me.

“This can’t be good,” I said, picking up the phone.