She gasped.
With lightening speed, Elva grabbed a throw pillow and smacked his head three times with it!
“Ouch!” He yelled back to reality. “That hurts!”
She raised it again threateningly and he flinched. Just then, Nicky barged into the room like a wounded buffalo.
“Ricky!!” She screamed.
“What?!” He yelled back. She indignantly folded her arms and seethed.
“Why did you beat Jeffrey up after promising me?! You broke his bloody, no, beautiful nose and till now he’s still freaking bleeding!” She raged. Elva gasped and stared at his knuckle where she’d earlier noticed a bruise. But Ricky remained unbothered.
“And did he say I did?” Would you imagine that?! Nicky scoffed.
“Like he had to! Even Damon didn’t buy his ‘tripping and crashing into the fridge’ bullshit!” She fumed.
Ricky didn’t budge or show the slightest bit of remorse.
“So?”
And they gasped.
“I swear you’ll… Argh!” She screamed her frustration when she figured she wouldn’t actually do much to his intimidating six foot frame.
After swearing and cussing out every dirty word the world could ever conceive, the strawberry blonde stomped her feet and turned to storm off.
But Ricky called her back.
”What?!” It was her turn to bark.
“I hope you haven’t started sleeping with him.” He dangerously narrowed his enticing fox-like eyes. Nicky shot him a disbelieving look.
“And what’s it to you?” She snapped.
“I’m certain it’s a no…. and it stays that way till you’re darn well 25!” He ordered and Elva’s eyes fell off!
“You’re impossible!” Nicky finally yelled and slammed the door.
“Dramatic teenagers?…. Gosh!” He self righteously breathed. “Sometimes it feels like five years and not five seconds separates us.”
Elva fondly patted his hair.
“Soo…. where were we?” He sultrily grinned and predatorily moved closer. But she pushed him off and hastily wore her slippers.
“Wait till the next six years.” Ricky was mortified!
“But…” She placed a finger on his pouty lips.
“No buts.” Then winked and disappeared. Ricky slowly did the math.
”Twenty five?!” He yelled and she chuckled halfway down the hallway…
***
(A few days later.)
“Hey, it’s just dinner. Not an interview.” Arian encouraged for the 50th time that evening as he drove through the exquisite gates of the Dé Argent’s manor.
Similar elegant trees outlined both sides of the seemingly endless driveway, filling the evening air with an enticing homely scent. Everything screamed wealth, wealth that’ld have intimidated anyone…
But a Royal.
But surprisingly, Natalia glued her butts to the passenger’s seat of his car and refused to come out when he pulled over at the main grounds.
She was freaked out!
Mom Rose had invited her to a family dinner and her nerves were all over the place. She’d tried to make up an excuse, but a migraine headache wasn’t enough to fool Arian De’ Argent.
Noticing her frazzled nerves, the young French chuckled and got out of the car. He went over and opened her door for her. Natalia forced a smile and stepped out. He held her hand soothingly and she relaxed.
A bit.
She stared at the six hundred million dollar worth of real estate and rubbed her available sweaty palm down her hip, concluding the classy gown was definitely too fitted!
What was Elva thinking picking out a dress, which according to her, ‘reminded the filthy rich, aristocratic French family that she was nothing less than their status?!’
And what was she thinking agreeing to put on the dress?? Was she here to flirt with the butler or what?!
Natalia tried to control her panic as they waltzed into the mansion, but failed when she spotted his father at the head of the table!
***
Ten minutes into dinner, Natalia casually reached for her phone to check the time again. She silently groaned because each minute felt like a century!
“Do you have somewhere else to be, honey?” Mom Rose asked with concern, looking at her.
The noise at the table dramatically paused. Natalia looked up to see everyone staring at her…. including the maids.
“Huh?” She played ignorant. Mom Rose patiently smiled.
“You seem distracted. So I was wondering if you had somewhere else to be?”
Natalia plastered a smile which felt like dried mud and guiltily dropped her phone….. or more precisely, tossed it back on the table and nervously chuckled.
“No, I’m sorry. It’s just…. Nothing.” She muttered and they went back to their meals.
“So, Natalia.” Sir Argent started. She looked up instantly. Not only did he have striking features as Arian, their accent was so similar as well.
“Your parents…. Who are they?” Like the business mogul he was, he was straight to the point. Natalia’s heartbeat stopped.
No one had asked her the direct question before. Everyone at the academy had simply concluded she was from a wealthy background and since she wasn’t from around Cali, they didn’t bother to probe more.
“Um…” She cleared her throat. “They’re….”
“They’re late.” Arian answered with a cold look, hating his father’s clear interrogation.
“Oh? Honey, I’m so sorry.” Mom Rose held her breath. Despite the grief starting to creep in, Natalia felt grateful to Arian and passed him a small smile.
“I share in your sorrow, child. But I still want to know who they were.” He continued. She took in a deep breath.
“They’re… were… really nothing… big.” She stuttered and slowly clenched her fists. Even if they’d loved the humble lifestyle and low key personality, her parents were still the biggest importance in her life.
“You school at B. H. A right?” He asked and she nodded.
“And you’re not a scholarship student. Correct?” She nodded again, dreading where he was headed.
“Excuse me, I find it quite difficult to believe your parents weren’t ‘big’.” He noted and she froze.
Gosh! Why didn’t he ask; ‘You said you’re a nobody right? How is it you’re so perfect with a cutlery?’
Duh.
‘Cause anyone can learn that, stupid! Her mind bashed.
“Inheritance.” She simply said and poked her colcannon which is an Irish or Scottish dish made from potatoes and cabbage.
Surprisingly, there was no further question… or any other sound from dinner. Natalia cautiously looked up. The dramatic insect chirping started as she met their eyes on her, not totally buying her story.
She flushed hotly. Why would a nobody own an inheritance??
“My parents were simple business owners. So I own a little inheritance.” She uncomfortably cleared her throat as guilt washed through her.
“But you aren’t a full grown adult yet. Try something else for a cover up.” Selena snickered from across the table.
“Well if you were a punctual type, you’ld have learnt what a partial inheritance is.” She sassily returned a dose of an attitude. Selena scoffed and silently faced her food back.
Better! Natalia rolled her eyes and passed an apologetic smile to the stunned faces at the table before obediently lowering her eyes to her plate.
The princess might’ve been tasked to keep her identity a secret but she’ld be dammed if she let the witch walk over her!
“Okay?” The little fox awkwardly muttered, positioned by her right. Natalia giggled and touched his hair making him giggle back.
The twelve course meal was changed again.
“You’re not from around here, right?” Thankfully, Mom Rose asked to lessen the awkward atmosphere.
“Yes. I’m Australian.” She smiled, which was the truth. Since Empire Astheria was located somewhere in Australia, she felt a bit peaceful being sincere.
“Mhn. A continent hosting successful entrepreneurs, gifted minds and Royalties. Lucky you.” Sir Argent looked pleased. Natalia hid a blush.
“So far away from home. If you don’t mind me asking, why are you here in Beverly Hills?”
“Vacation.” She simply replied.
“An adventuress?” He smiled for the first time that evening. Natalia laughed out.
“Not really, sir.” She shrugged. For some reason, she felt the hot French by her left tense up. Natalia spared him a side glance but Arian’s expression remained unreadable… almost cold.
She wondered what was up with him and looked away. Sir Argent was at the head of the table while Mom Rose sat at his right. Arian sat at his left, opposite his mother with Natalia next to him. Selena sat next to Mom Rose, so she was directly across her.
The old butler and table maids stood subserviently around the large, spacious room which overlooked the orchid gardens just outside the floor to ceiling windows.
At the start of dinner, Tommy fussed and threw a tantrum before he was permitted to sit next to Natalia. The little fox kept grinning up at her. That is, when his mouth wasn’t occupied with sweet stuffings. And the helpless princess couldn’t stop chuckling at his cuteness!
“Child, loving a bit of adventure isn’t a thing to be secretive about. Believe me, I was much worse at your age. It’s a shame though my son’s the exact opposite. He doesn’t understand that success in anything, comes with both knowledge and experience. He prefers being locked up like a prune!” He breathed and stifled chuckles went round the table.
Natalia mischievously smirked and kicked Arian’s leg under the table! The unsuspecting heir didn’t expect it and jerked his knee in a reflex action, which in turn banged the table underneath!
She choked on a chuckle when he looked around apologetically before scowling at her.
“And oh. Before it skips my mind, thank you for the favour which you did for Tommy. I….”
Natalia smiled but she barely heard a thing of what he said. Because under the table cloth, the vengeful French had placed a seducing hand on her leg as a payback for making him look stupid!…
Chapter 76