CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Iliana
I’d known going into this, to the best of my ability anyway, that Sebastianos tended to create a bit of a media circus just by being who he was. But I hadn’t planned on what happened once rumors started trickling out about a royal engagement. Three days after our little meeting with the king, there was a shift of sorts in the air.
Suddenly, the streets outside the gates were lined with reporters, and at one point, I heard Thierry mumble something about news crews arriving from overseas. My boss had taken the news with only a blink as I tearfully explained to him and Marta the chain of events that had led me to be a knocked-up future duchess.
“There are always leaks,” Thierry told me after that difficult admission. “Without a doubt, even the most closely monitored staffs are going to have at least one or two who will sell a tip or a rumor to some gossip site. So far, it’s about an impending engagement announcement, and since the duke is the only one in the royal family likely to be getting married anytime soon, there’s serious speculation.”
At least one thing was still secret. So far, at least.
I placed my hand over my belly, wishing I could protect the baby from this circus forever.
“It’ll happen eventually,” Seb said. “We’ll contain the news for as long as possible, have your obstetrician visit here instead of making the trek to the medical center. Just know that our news will get out sooner than we’re probably ready for it to.”
In reality, I really didn’t care. Well, I did, but that couldn’t be my focus.
I was pregnant. It was a reality that I was growing more and more happy with.
No, the timing wasn’t perfect, and yes, my life would never be fully mine again. But every time I looked at Seb, I couldn’t help but thank fate for forcing us into each other’s lives.
My biggest concern was the pressure being placed on Seb. I didn’t want him to one day resent me for trapping him into something he didn’t want. And with divorce rates so high, I wasn’t under any illusions that any relationship was easy.
Another concern was my parents. I still hadn’t heard from them, even after sending a “please call me as soon as possible” email. I didn’t want them to hear the news from anyone but me.
My internship was another concern, and it appeared I’d have to give up my plans to finish school, as heartbreaking as that reality was. I’d overheard Seb discussing the security issue the palace would face of me traveling to campus every day. Even though he tried to play it down, I knew the unrest between Cassia and Amur concerned him more than he thought I could see.
For now, I was continuing to work under Thierry’s tutelage and was hoping to continue to do so even if my internship disappeared. Photography might not end up being my career now, but it was still my passion and would serve as an outlet during stressful times.
I was going through all of my personal camera bags, getting ready to shoot the new roses that had been transplanted into the king’s garden. Sebastianos had gone to work and promised to meet me back for lunch, and I was happily cleaning lenses on his massive bed when the phone rang.
“News just hit America about a mystery woman engaged to the world’s most eligible bachelor,” Jenn said with a little squeak. I’d already caught her up on the king’s proposition to announce an engagement days ago. “How long do you think you have before your name is outed?”
I was surprised it had last this long.
“The press conference that had been scheduled for next week was moved up to tomorrow,” I told her. “I guess the speculation will end there.”
“How do you feel about it?” I heard the note of concern in Jenn’ voice.
“Nervous.” I looked down at my newly manicured fingers then touched my hair that had been professionally cut and conditioned to the point it felt like silk. “The palace staff have been working overtime to make sure I’m ready, so making sure I don’t let them down is stressful.” I smiled. “But do I enjoy my time with Sebastianos. In private, we’re doing very well.”
I heard Jenn, ever the romantic, sigh on the other end of the line.
“Who would have thought this fairy tale romance began in the hallowed walls of San Diego’s own Green Dragon?” The snort gave her away, and I laughed too.
“What a story to tell the grandkids, huh? I’ll be sure to throw in the part where I ogled their grandfather’s butt from afar.”
It was so good to hear my friend’s voice, and I listened as she told me about her life in San Diego.
As I listened, I stood from the bed and stretched, then caught sight of a dresser drawer left partially open. That morning, I’d woken him up in the most forward of ways, and I must have left his brain a little addled when he dressed quickly, almost running late for a meeting.
“I’ll call you in a few days, Squeaks,” Jenn was saying as I moved over to close the drawer. From seven thousand miles away, I heard her get into her car and start the engine. “Good luck with the press conference.”
“Thanks,” I said, running my fingers over a shirt that had become unfolded in his rush. “Love you.”
We hung up, and I set the phone down to straighten the shirt before closing the drawer. Pulling it out, I saw something familiar. Pulling the drawer open more fully, I smiled when my llama t-shirt appeared.
The one I’d left on the hotel floor after our night together.
A strange onslaught of emotions hit me.
The last time I touched this shirt, I was a different person, with different hopes and dreams.
I thought I’d never see my favorite shirt again. Similar to how I was sure I’d never see Seb again.
Funny how that worked out.
I stared down at my little llama shirt for a good minute before the smile crept on my face and a feeling of warmth bloomed in my chest, spreading outward.
I’d been so certain that he would have thrown this thing away. But he kept it.
Touched, I rubbed my cheek along the side of it and grinned. In all fairness, I had kept that white t-shirt of his and worn it quite a few times since. But there was something amazing, to me anyway, in the fact that Sebastianos held on to my llama shirt, despite probably thinking he would never see me again.
The realization gave me a buzz that kept me floating for a few good hours. Just long enough for a creature with venomous fangs to give me a sharp dose of reality that sent my mood crashing to the ground.
***
I knew a few hard facts about Reina Frangos from the rundown Sebastianos gave me the night after King Demetrius laid out his engagement plan.
And while Sebastianos didn’t go too deeply into how he’d broken the arranged marriage contract or how many times he’d met the lovely Reina prior to breaking it off, I knew enough.
I knew that Reina was beautiful. Like runway model in Milan gorgeous, and that wasn’t from Sebastianos, which was good. With how fragile my nerves were lately, I’d probably have to stab him with a fork if he’d gone on and on about how gorgeous his intended bride was. No, I’d obviously looked her up on the internet and instantly regretted it.
She was leggy and tall, willowy and ballerina-like. Long, blonde waves cascaded down her back or twisted into a perfect updo in every single picture.
“Only on the surface,” Sebastianos had muttered when I showed him what I found.
“How so?”
He just shook his head. “She’s got nothing on you, baby girl,” he said as he looked over the papers on his coffee table. To which I snorted. Right.
For what it was worth, that got his attention fully, and Sebastianos looked at me with a serious expression.
“I’m serious, Iliana,” he said, letting me know he meant it. “You roll out of our bed and throw that gorgeous hair of yours on the top of your head and strut out of here with your little sandals and your camera bag, and you’ve got my attention twenty-four straight hours. I’m always watching you, wondering what adorable expression is coming next or if you’re going to look over at me in a crowded room and cross your eyes to get me to break character.”
Yeah. I remembered that exact moment when we’d all found ourselves in the same room for a quick photo shoot for Penelope’s school pictures.
I laughed.
“I refuse to compare you to Reina because there is no comparison,” he continued. “Just know that my eyes are locked on you constantly and all the makeup in that woman’s expansive bathroom couldn’t achieve the same results those adorable freckles on your nose do.”
My face warmed a bit, and I just grinned stupidly as I stared down at my laptop.
Damn, but that man had a way with words.
Then it hit me. “You’ve seen her bathroom?”
From the stories I’d heard, there hadn’t been much time for a physical relationship to develop. Of course, one night with Seb, and I’d been humping him like a dog in heat.
I also knew that she was a communications professional who’d glided from beautiful country to beautiful country in order to rub elbows with the elite. Now, for some crazy reason, she was working in this palace.
“I don’t think you need to worry about her,” he said as he gave me the rundown so I wouldn’t be shocked when people who knew their background might be looking from me to her to me to her. People knew the gossip, and he wanted me to at least be on a level playing field, which I appreciated.
“So I won’t,” I said, trying to put on my brave face. But the truth was, I was a little worried about meeting the infamous Reina. I was just going to do my best not to show it.
About an hour before the press conference, I was being dolled up, three different people working on my hair and makeup when Thierry walked in. He had a pair of Italian sunglasses on his thinning hair and was sprouting the beginnings of a goatee. Only Thierry could pull off such a careless look and make it seem polished.
“How are you?”
The question hung between us for a moment. “Good?”
“You answered my question with a question, Iliana. How are you?”
I took a breath. “Yes, I’m sorry. I’m well, thank you.”
Thierry perched himself on the edge of a chair, his eyes scrutinizing my face and hair with a photographer’s eye. “You look lovely, Iliana. A credit to the duke and the royal family.”
It was the absolute perfect thing for him to say, and tears sprang to my eyes.
“Oh no,” the makeup artist breathed and pressed cotton rounds against my eyes. “No crying, Miss Iliana. This is perfect smiling day.”
I sniffed and took a deep breath, forcing the emotion back. “Thank you for your support, Thierry. I can’t tell you how much it means to me.”
Instead of smiling, he frowned, making the hair on the back of my neck stir.
“I’m guessing you’re aware of Reina Frangos, right?” He leveled a gaze at me, searching for a reaction.
“I’m aware,” I said.
“And you’re aware that she’s a bit of a snake?”
A smiled played at my lips at that one. “I have no solid proof, but I’ve heard rumors.”
Thierry sighed. “I’ve been hearing rumors too. After the duke’s father’s passing, she applied for the communication position in the palace, and it is believed she did so with the hopes of seducing Sebastianos back to the alter. There are also rumblings that her father is demanding that the initial marriage contract be fulfilled.” Those around me stilled their movements, and I was surprised he was sharing this information so openly.
“And now here comes this American, taking away any chance she might have of becoming a duchess,” I finished for him.
He shook his head. “No. Rumor has it that her plans were to insist he take his rightful title as prince, making her Princess of Cassia.”
“Why are you telling me this, Thierry?”
“I’ve grown fond of you these past weeks, Iliana. You are a hard worker who is both willing and eager to learn. You’re feisty too. And interesting and fun. A breath of fresh air.”
The compliments warmed me although I could feel a “but” coming on.
“But…”
And there it was.
“You are unfamiliar with the ways in which palace life works. The way people of a certain breeding, like Reina, work. People like her will use their own status and birth to make you feel inferior. She’ll drop passive aggressive comments in public that people might not pick up on but will be directed to get a reaction from you. Don’t react. Smile and play the ice queen game with her.”
I wasn’t sure exactly what that meant, but I could hold back emotions just fine. All he had to do was ask Sebastianos.
“I’ll do my best,” I said, trying to give Thierry a reassuring smile. He looked so worried about me. Was I crazy to not be nearly as worried about meeting Reina as he seemed to be for me?
I was going to find out soon enough.
Once I was prepped and dressed in a sumptuous royal blue silk dress that I couldn’t stop touching, a small retinue of guards walked me to one of the larger reception rooms which had been set up for the press conference. There were rows of chairs set up for the attending media. Thierry and his assistants would take an official engagement photo here, too, so the equipment was already in place.
Everything was ready, I noted, as I watched the television monitors of the room, noting the number of people beginning to arrive and find a seat.
Two hands grasped me around the waist, and I jumped but managed not to make a sound as I whirled to find Seb laughing down at me.
“Oh my god,” I hissed at him as I tried not to laugh. “What are you doing here? You were supposed to meet me in there.”
“We can’t forget this,” he said, and I watched as he pulled a little black box from his pocket and opened it. “It was finished just in time.”
A giant, square-cut diamond sat in a white gold setting, and I nearly swayed on my feet. It was magnificent and probably worth more than everything I’d ever owned in my life, combined.
I couldn’t speak for a moment and just sucked in a breath through my teeth at the sight of it.
“It’s too big,” was all I finally managed and Sebastianos chuckled.
“That’s what she said,” he replied under his breath, and I swatted him.
Seb pulled the ring from the box and returned it to his pocket before picking up my left hand. Holding my breath, I could hardly believe what was about to happen. This was the moment a girl dreamed of all her life.
“Iliana…”
My heart started pounding as he slowly began to sink to one knee.
“Your Grace!” Seb shot back to his feet just as two members of the communication team rushed inside. Thank god, one of them wasn’t Reina. “It’s time.”
He nodded to them and then pressed his lips into my hair, slipping the ring on my finger. Then he offered me his arm, and I slipped my newly blinged out hand through the crook of his arm.
As ungrateful and silly as it was, I couldn’t help the stab of disappointment.
Pushing it away, I smiled up at him as the doors were opened and cameras began to flash and our names were called.
I inhaled through my nose and tried to remember everything I’d been taught about royal protocol over the past few weeks, despite the fact that my head was swimming in emotions and anxiety. Sebastianos assured me that all I had to do was smile and answer a few mild questions from reporters for less than ten minutes and then we’d be on our way.
I could do that.
Walking across the carpeted floor, Sebastianos led me to a plush leather chair seated on a dais in front of the rows of chairs. We didn’t sit yet. I had been told to wait until the king and crown princess had entered and taken their seats first.
So much to remember.
Reporters filled the rows, and the flashes from cameras were like a strobe light, the murmurs and chatter growing louder as the event began to kick off with the arrival of the king and princess.
The little girl smiled and waved at me, looking so pleased all I could do was smile in return.
And then she was there.
Wearing a body-hugging, gorgeous white dress that was off-the-shoulder and hovered just above her knee, I couldn’t help thinking that Reina looked like a bride herself.
Approaching the podium like some sort of monarch, she held her chin high in the air and leveled one somewhat harsh, assessing gaze at me, likely taking me in for the first time just as I was doing the same to her.
In the back of my mind somewhere, it was like a cartoon I’d seen once. A duck and a rabbit, squaring off across the floor of an Old West saloon, guns on their hips, sizing each other up, hands hovering above their pistols.
Who would draw first?
Apparently, it was Reina.