The Humbled Prince

A First...

"It's you!" Tiana exclaimed.

Naveen flashed her his charmingly pearly white grin. "Good evening, mi benita!"

Tiana blinked in confusion.

"It means my beauty from where I come from," he answered her silent question.

"Are you some kind of stalker?" Tiana asked. "How did you know I work here?"

"All I said was good evening and if you want to get into the stalker conversation..." he looked at his fingernails then back at her. "I find it quite odd that you are serving me!" he teased.

But Tiana took the comment to heart and grew offended. "How dare you?"

"Tiana, let's cut to the chase here. I find you extremely attractive and interesting and because of that I would like to get to know you more over dinner."

"Well I'm sorry sir—

"Naveen," he smiled.

She raised a brow. "Sorry Naveen, but I—

"How is the steak here?" he asked quickly.

"What?" she frowned.

"The steak!" he said while resting his back against the soft cushion on the chair.

Tiana rested a hand on her hip. "Well it depends on how it's made. In simple terms rare tends to be..."

"I prefer medium rare," he interjected.

Tiana hated being interrupted but kept her annoyance in check. "Medium rare and well done are the favourites here if that's what you want to know."

"What do you prefer?" He asked, being serious.

"Me?" She asked, never been asked that by a customer. "Whenever I could afford it...well, usually through my sister I would do either medium rare or well done. Depends on whatever mood I'm in. I tend to make mine in the oven. I use my daddy's secret spices..."

Naveen listened on and never remembered being this invested on a woman talking. It was usually the opposite and this woman wasn't even a princess or duchess.

"...and it's best to make it that way to keep it juicy and tender," she finished.

"I had no idea that there were varies ways of making a steak. What was the first again?" he asked.

"Bleu rare," Tiana said.

Naveen shuddered. "I can go as far as medium rare. My father eats rare, but hasn't been impressed with his chef's cooking lately."

"Well your father needs to try my rare steaks," Tiana said with confidence.

"Oh, you cook?"

"Do I cook?!" Tiana exclaimed. "I can cook and bake just about everything you ask for!"

"Hmm..." Naveen nodded his head, impressed.

"My daddy gave up on his dream of owning a restaurant but I'm still living our dream. Pretty soon I'm going to have my own restaurant...just as soon as I can afford the down payment!"

"Really?" Naveen became intrigued. "How much is the down payment?"

Tiana was about to tell him until she stopped. She was never this honest to a complete stranger so why should she start now?

"I should've had your order up and serving to you by now," Tiana changed the subject and pulled out her notepad.

"I'd like two steaks. One medium rare and the other well done," Naveen answered.

Tiana wrote down the order. "You must be hungry."

"I believe that I am," Naveen said, eying her.

"And sides?"she asked, not noticing his advances.

"You know? Just bring me the meals," he added.

Tiana shook her head, revising the order. "Want anything to drink with all that food?"

'You,' Naveen thought while gazing at her. "Do you serve wine here? I didn't see it anywhere in the menu."

She looked at him as if it was crazy. "It's against the law to serve alcohol anywhere in this country."

"Is it now?" Naveen found that unusual. "Then I'll have orange juice..."

"Your orders should be ready in about a half an hour."

"But don't I get an appetizer?" he teased.

"What would you like?" she got ready to jot down his order. "Though I'd find it physically impossible to eat anything before the—

"How about a conversation with you," he asked with a warm grin.

Tiana raised a brow at him. "You really are determined."

Naveen licked his lips. "Say yes and I will guarantee you the best time of your life."

Tiana playfully rolled her eyes. "And he's arrogant."

Naveen laughed. "Does it hurt my chances?"

Tiana didn't give him an answer.

"What's the matter? Do you not trust me?" Naveen asked with a cocky smirk.

Tiana's heart skipped a beat but didn't show. Instead, she returned her smirk, pulled out a penny from her pocket and handing it to him.

Confused, Naveen asked, "What's this for?"

"There's a message on the back of that penny from all the women of the world," she suppressed a chuckle. "I'll be back with your order..." and left the room.

Naveen looked at the penny for a second before reading the message engraved on the coin. "In God we trust...oh!" He laughed before saying with confidence. "Well I guess we're going to have to change that!"

()()()()

Tiana hurried down the stairs to give the cooks the order when her sister showed up.

"You must've had some good talk with Naveen."

"He had some questions about the steak preparation," Tiana tried to sound professional. "His food should be done in forty five minutes. Excuse me while I go check on that couple..."

But Telese shook her head, blocking her sister from walking. "You are Naveen's girl for the rest of the night. Guilano rescheduled your duties."

"What?" Tiana asked, surprised. "So that means..."

"You serve only one man tonight and it ain't God! Now go on and serve him!"

Tiana frowned. "But his meal won't be ready for another forty minutes!"

"Exactly!" Telese smiled. "Go serve him some wine or somethin'!"

"It's illegal to serve alcohol" Tiana reminded her.

"Not for Guilano's wealthy customers..." Telese took her hand, "Come on...," They stepped into Guilano's office where she opened a small door and unlocked a code from a lock, opening the wall.

Tiana was shocked to see that the man held a private wine cellar. "If the police saw this—

"Girl ain't nobody worried about he police! Now grab a few bottles! You know how men are about their alcohol!"

()()()()

"I thought that alcohol was illegal in this country?" Naveen said as Tiana poured some in his glass.

"Only if you want to follow the law!" Telese added, looking over at her younger sister.

Tiana rolled her eyes. "Really Telese?"

"What? Everybody's still drinkin'! Even daddy!"

"No he isn't...hm," Tiana stopped when she realized that they were discussing their family in the presence of an 'outsider'. "Shouldn't you be downstairs with your boyfriend?"

"Oh so now you want to be alone?" Telese teased. "I can take a hint," She winked at Naveen while opening the door. "Ya food should be wrappin' up—

Tiana began walking. "Telese, hold that door—

"Oh no you don't!" she stopped her younger sister. "Ya stayin' here remember?"

Tiana grew annoyed. "But Naveen's dinner!"

"There are other waiters here girl. Have a seat and wait it out!" Telese smiled before leaving the two alone again.

"She's up to something," Tiana said.

"This is some damn good wine!" Naveen had another taste. "Yes, this is some mighty damn good wine!"

She rolled her eyes. "Okay, I get it. The wine is good."

"No, it's DAMN good! Almost better than the wine in Maldonia!" he added and pushed another glass over to her. "Have a seat and drink with me!"

"I don't drink," she said.

"It's never too late to try," he smirked.

"No thank you," Tiana said as the door opened to three waitresses.

"Here's your steaks! Well cooked and medium rare!" one of the waitresses announced.

Tiana frowned. "I was suppose to only serve this customer."

"Here is everything!" The waitresses set all the food on the table including a lit candle before rushing out of the room.

"You two enjoy your dinner!" the last waiter then closed the door.

Tiana sighed annoyingly. "This was set-up by my sister!" she rushed over to open the door but found it locked. "Locked?"

"Would you like to join me?" Naveen offered. "I just realized that this is all too much for me!"

Tiana closed her eyes and exhaled. "Lord please help me!"

"Relax! It's only steak and dinner!" Naveen said.

"But you don't understand!" Tiana exclaimed, walking across the room. "The stress of all of this..."

"Then perhaps you should take it easy and sit with me," he suggested. "You only serve me tonight and as your only customer I want you to sit and have dinner with me!"

Tiana wanted to debate but gave up. After a long day of working two other jobs she was far too tired to fight. "Fine! I'll have a little..." she sat on the chair across from the prince and took the medium rare steak.

Naveen watched as she folded her hands to pray and couldn't help but to laugh.

"Amen," Tiana finished. "Making fun of me praying?"

"Yes," Naveen answered honestly. "I just never seen it done in a less formal way."

"My daddy is a pastor so I guess its natural for me," Tiana began picking at the salad that came with the meal."

"I see..." he began cutting at his steak.

The two grew silent to eat their meals. Naveen finished his meal with another glass of wine while Tiana debated whether or not to drink herself.

Naveen stretched his arms. "Would you like some wine? It's still chilled."

"I would rather drink some water!" she was about to pick up the pitcher but Naveen stopped her.

"I'll do it!" he poured the water in a glass cup. "And when you're ready to have a real drink, the wine is here for you to try."

Tiana sipped on the water before sitting the glass cup down and thought about her sister telling her to let loose and the prince telling her to relax. "Why not?" she picked up the wine glass.

"Good girl!" he poured the wine in her glass and watched in shock as she gulped the entire drink down. "Faldi faldonza!"

Tiana instantly felt a light burning sensation go down her throat which caused her eyes to widen making the prince laugh.

"First timer I see," he teased.

"How could you drink this?" Tiana asked before clearing her throat. "Oh my g...oh my...oh!"

"The more you drink the better it gets. Its like sex for the first few times..." he said.

"Well I wouldn't know," Tiana said as Naveen poured another glass of wine for them both.

She tried drinking again and felt the same way until the third glass.

"So what do you really want from me?" she asked, smiling.

Naveen could see that she was loosening up and closed the bottle before she got too crazy. "Your trust."

Tiana rose from her seat and walked toward the window. "We barely know each other."

Naveen got up and followed her. "I could take you out for lunch and we can talk some more?"

"I work everyday of the week except Sunday," she looked up at him.

"Then Sunday," he said, inching closer to her.

She shook her head. "I go to church on Sundays."

"Then I'll join you in church! I would really like to see you," Naveen stared in her eyes.

Tiana stared back, feeling her heart beat increase by his deep gaze. "Service begins at ten o clock." She regretfully broke the gaze to pull out her notepad and wrote down the address and directions. Her eyes were back on his when handing him the information. "Here you go."

"Thank you," Naveen took the paper without missing a beat. His honey coloured eyes then went down to her lips. "I'll be there" he leaned over to kiss her.

Tiana grew nervous but before she could turn away his lips were already on hers. His lips felt so good that she then accepted the kiss, but hoped that Naveen wouldn't notice her lack of experience.

He did and humbly guided her, enjoying every inch of her mouth.

Tiana felt his tongue in her mouth and tasted the sweet wine they shared together this evening. All her nerves were relaxed as she gotten used to the prince's contact as their osculation continued.

When his arms pulled her body onto his the kiss grew deeper and passionate. Tiana's entire body was on fire with heat just as Naveen's.

"Ooh! I'm gonna tell daddy!"

Tiana quickly pulled away form the kiss feeling embarrassed while Naveen smiled.

"I was checkin' in and should've been checkin' out," Telese teased with a hand on her hip.

"Tonight was an amazing night," Naveen said, ignoring Telese and focusing only on Tiana. "But I should be leaving!"

Tiana raised her brows, not wanting him to leave.

"I have to get in some sleep if I'm going to make it to church in the morning." he then took her hands and placed a gentle kiss on them. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

She nodded. "Tomorrow."

He took her in once more before leaving the two women.

"Tia, Tia, Tia..." Telese teased.

Tiana closed her eyes and exhaled with her hands on her chest.

"I had no idea you had that in ya girl. Kissin' that rich man like that would guarantee an engagement ring!"

"Telese, please..."

"I know men like the back of my hand and the way he was looking at you showed he ain't about games. He wants the real stuff!" Telese exclaimed.

"Stuff?" Tiana frowned. "What stuff do you mean?"

"He wants a wife!" she corrected. "You just wait and see girl!"

Tiana shook her head. "We just met. You can't decide on something like that without knowing the person."

"You gave him your first kiss!" Telese pointed out.

"He wasn't my first kiss..." Tiana said while looking away.

"Yes he was. I know you!" Telese said knowingly.

Tiana rolled her eyes again with a sigh making Telese laugh and hugging her.

"My baby sis had her first kiss! Now all you need to do is keep that sweet girl act on and ya gonna get ya man. Tease him some, flirt but don't go jumpin' on him yet. You know how daddy is!" she warned.

Tiana began walking out the door.

"Where are ya goin'? We were in the middle of an important conversation!" Telese said.

"Back to work! Unlike you I need to work in order to live in this real world."

"Tia I didn't mean...," she stopped when Tiana swiftly left the room. She plopped on the chair and groaned. "Damn stickinthemud!" and opened the closed bottle of wine before taking a swig. "Mm! This is some damn good wine!"

()()()()

A/N: I have to give credit to the 40s movie 'Lullaby To Broadway' for Tiana's penny idea to Naveen. I watched the movie with an older friend of the family and loved it! Well, Doris Day at least. I will try to update sooner. The busy bug attacked me again and the chapters may not be popping out everyday or every other day, but they will be posted!