( Beverly Hills, California. )
Arian lazily stretched out to switch off his alarm with closed eyes. His head was hurting like it’ld explode the next minute! It was the migraine headache that had been haunting him for the past few days.
Butler Lee came into the room at that moment and rung his little bell… That little devil!
“Good morning, young master Argent. The painkillers are ready and your family are waiting for you downstairs to have breakfast.” He placed something on his bedside table and left.
Arian twitched his eyes and saw the cup brimming with hot coffee and reached for it. But something… Or rather, someone restricted him.
Selena!
Mom Rose had seized all the keys to Arian’s bedroom because of his suicidal tendencies. She was afraid he’ld try something stupid with his life again.
Therefore, he couldn’t even have his own privacy!
The hot French furrowed his brows in a frown and roughly pulled away from her. The effect woke Selena up.
“I’ve told you to stop sneaking into my bed at night. Do I need to get dogs to keep you away?!” He snarled and stood up.
Selena beautifully smiled up at him.
“And good morning to you too, my…”
“Get out!” He yelled and she flinched.
“Arian, you can’t keep treating me this way.” She voiced. Arian picked up his shirt and wore it over his sweatpants.
“And do I look like your dumb father who takes orders from you?” He spitefully spat.
“You know that’s not true. I’m your fiancée and deserve some respect!” She showed him the glowing ring on her finger.
Arian angrily walked over and pulled her arm.
“Whatever you see on this damned finger is nothing but a pathetic stone on a scrap of metal! There can NEVER be anything real between us. And believe me when I say I don’t wanna see you in here by the time I get back or else…” He controlled his temper and walked away into the washroom.
Arian filled a glass with water and sat on the bathtub. His migraine was getting worse each day. The fleeting broken look in Natalia’s eyes the day he proposed to Selena haunted his memory day and night.
Arian was more than ready to create a scene of the century at the party but his father had threatened him. There was nothing he could do. He felt so useless, helpless and broken.
Unable to take in the frustration anymore, he yelled and smashed the glass on a wall…
***
It’s official.
It was totally official.
Arian De’ Argent had gone crazy!
Ricky concluded with a scoff as he drove into his mansion. He couldn’t believe the romantic French had called them over to find a way to break into a heavily guarded estate filled with specially trained military guards armed to the teeth, just because he wanted to see his runaway girlfriend???
He had really gone mad!
Ricky ran up the stairs and ignored his sister who wanted to tell him something. What did his best friend take him for?…. Batman??
He scoffed viciously and pushed his room door open to meet the surprise of his life.
Elva.
She was lying on his bed, wearing his favourite shirt and headphones. Elva didn’t notice Ricky until the door ‘magically’ banged shut.
Nicky!
Ricky turned towards the door and pursed his lips at his meddling twin through the door.
“Hey, you’re back.” Elva smiled up at him but he was still frozen on the spot.
“How did you?…. No, when did you?…”
“Were you expecting someone else?” She frowned and stood up but Ricky rushed over in a heartbeat.
“I swear I wasn’t!” He swore and her smile returned.
“But how?…. Aren’t you supposed to be busy or something?” She traced the curves of his chin and slowly pulled his jacket off.
“I got my leave today so I came to spend it with you.”
“Cupcake, you don’t know what a life…. Or rather, THREE lives saver you are.”
“What do you mean?” She raised a brow and tentatively pulled him closer. Ricky seductively wrapped his arms around her waist.
“You just saved me from a suicide mission.” Elva looked at him curiously but he captured her lips without wasting any more time…
***
Esmond took Natalia’s hand and gently laid it under May’s mouth. Natalia shrinked and shut her eyes, clutching him tighter with her other hand. But almost immediately, a soft skin began nuzzling her hand.
“See? She likes you!” He beamed and she slowly opened her eyes. The beautiful brown horse was majestically eating the sugar on her palm.
Natalia chuckled.
Esmond took her other hand and gently placed it on May’s head, stroking her long mane. She felt warm, thick and soft.
May’s long black hair fell over one side of her neck. With the way she acted, it was easy to know she belonged to royalty!
“How many years have you had her?” Natalia smiled as he saddled her.
Esmond paused thoughtfully. The strong evening wind blew across his hair, ruffling them. He had an Australian look with the light flannel shirt he wore over jeans and boots.
His sleeves were folded expertly in a way that it wasn’t hard for Natalia to imagine him taking care of horses.
“That’s a tricky one. Mother didn’t allow me on a horse till I was 12. But i’d been in and out of a stable with father long enough before then, especially on vacations.”
They were at his family’s vacation house at the suburb of the Empire. It was a mansion which also had a ranch. It had a rustic, magical feel with the friendly workers.
“Shall we go on a ride?” He stood beside her.
“W… Bu… b… I… we… I don’t think I’m properly dressed.” Natalia stuttered and bit her lip. Esmond raised a brow and gave her a funny look.
Wearing a yellow shorts-jumpsuit and brown knee-length boots, Arian was right to call her a bad liar!
“Trust me, you’ll be fine!” He smiled and stretched out his hand…
~~~
“How do you always make me change my mind?” Natalia squeaked and Esmond chuckled behind her.
“I don’t know. I guess I got it from mother. She’s too persuasive to a point of being manipulative.” Natalia chuckled as May strutted slowly on the fields.
“For some reason, I feel sorry for your betrothed.”
“I’m not betrothed.” He casually admitted.
“What?” She sharply turned to face him. Esmond was inches apart so she quickly took her face away, trying not to flush.
“I’m being real. I wasn’t betrothed because father worried a lot about me after my sister died. So getting me engaged wasn’t really at the top of his priority.”
Natalia nodded and sighed out an oh. “My parents death stopped mine.”
“But the Queen could’ve gotten you a match but she didn’t. Lucky you.”
“No, lucky us.” She shrugged and they chuckled.
“Woah! Let’s head over there on foot.” She pointed to a field of bright, yellow sunflowers.
Two minutes later, Natalia was waltzing between the flowers. The sunset, sunflowers and her yellow dress made the scenery breathtaking.
She turned and merrily waved Esmond over. He slowly walked behind, his beautiful gaze on her after tethering May safely.
“Now I understand why you’re drawn to this place.” She smiled into the air with her eyes closed.
Suddenly, Natalia felt his soft touch her chin and her eyes instinctively flew open to catch him placing a flower behind her ear.
“This view makes it more magical.” He whispered, glowing at her. Natalia looked away again but this time, she kept the heat crawling up her cheeks under control.
“Hey, it’s a white butterfly.” She smiled and hastily moved towards it.
“Alexis, be careful! There’s a stump over…” He called after her but she wasn’t listening. It must’ve been a stump or log because she tripped and fell over!
Esmond caught her in time and crash landed in her place. They tumbled over each other down a little slope and stopped when they came to a level ground.
Natalia hastily raised herself to breeze an apologise but stopped midway when they accidentally brushed lips…
***
Elva walked out of the closet and sluggishly dropped Natalia’s clothes on her bed before going over to the wet bar.
The Empress was blow drying her wet hair and could see Elva’s questioning gaze through her dressing mirror.
“Okay spill.” She impatiently scowled at her.
“It’s nothing.” The official Royal assistant shrugged casually.
“Suit yourself.” She scoffed and picked up her hairbrush. Elva walked over and dropped the cup of coffee next to her.
But she didn’t leave either.
“If you have nothing to say, quit staring!” Natalia stood up and walked away.
“You still haven’t told me where you spent the night. I was worried sick.” She admitted. Natalia shot her a weird look.
“I called you!”
“Yeah!… But you didn’t say with who exactly.” She scoffed and rolled her eyes.
“I had to.” She ignored Elva’s last statement. “We were messy and I couldn’t come home looking terrible.”
“Messy??” Elva’s naughty eyes bulged. “What kind of messy??”
“….”