American Cinderella Chapter 3
"Mom?" Gabriella asked in shock. "What are you talking about?"
"We've been getting phone calls from international reporters wanting to know how your father and I feel about our daughter dating the future king of Ronaldi." Elaine Montez stated. "What exactly are you doing over there?"
"Well, I met a boy."
"I can see that."
"Well, I met him in the dining hall and he took me on a tour of the city." Gabriella explained. "I didn't know that he was a prince until I saw an article about us.
"He didn't tell you who he was?"
"No, I confronted him and he explained that he wanted me to know the real him before he told me that he was royalty." Gabriella stated.
"How do you know that he's not just stringing you along?"
"He's not, Mom. I saw the way he looked tonight. Plus, I can feel it. I think I'm falling in love."
"I'm still not sure about this but if you're happy, then that's all that matters."
"Thank you, Mom. I really am."
"But the next time you decide to date a prince, you'll tell us before reporters call us."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"I love you, Baby."
"Love you too, Mom." Gabriella said before hanging up.
"Well, do the parents approve?" Samantha asked.
"I think so."
"Yay!" Samantha squealed. "So how did your date go?"
Four months later, students at the university had their week off to prepare for their finals in the following week. Gabriella had planned to stay on campus and study but Troy had changed that plan. Gabriella was not going to meet his family at the palace. Not only that, she was also going to her first Royal State dinner. Right now, she was almost having a panic attack as Troy pulled up to the palace.
"Baby, calm down." Troy told her gently. "Everything will be fine, they are going to love."
"Ok."
"They already know all about you. I've been telling them about you since the moment we've met." Troy explained. "Plus, I'm going to meet your parents soon."
"But my parents are royal, that's a very big difference."
"When it comes to me, they're just my family, no royal titles."
"Ok." Gabriella agreed quietly.
Troy drove into the multi-car garage. He got out and helped Gabriella out. The couple got their bags and and Troy led them to the palace. Royal watchers and tourists called out to Troy. The young man gave them a smile and wave before they walked inside. Gabriella tightened her grip on Troy's hand once they got inside completely.
"Claudia?" Troy asked a passing housekeeper. "Where's everyone?"
"They are up in your grandfather's study." she answered.
"Thank you."
Troy smiled and pulled Gabriella towards the stairs. They made a stop-by at his suite to drop their bags off. Gabriella tried to remain calm as they approached the door that led to the king's study.
"They are going to love you." Troy whispered as he placed a kiss on Gabriella's cheek.
"I hope so." Gabriella replied back quietly as Troy opened the door.
"We're here!" Troy announced to his family.
His family greeted him happily. Gabriella smiled seeing Troy interacting with his family. He and his father looked alot alike and there were many features Troy and his sister shared. Troy kissed his stepmother on the cheek before approaching his grandparents. He kissed his grandmother on the cheek and then was embraced by his grandfather.
"Everyone, I'd like you to meet, Gabriella Montez." Troy introduced. "Gabriella, this is my father, John."
"Jack to family, friends and very beautiful young ladies." Jack greeted placing a gentle kiss on Gabriella's hand.
"Nice to meet you." Gabriella replied smiling.
"And this is my wife, Charlotte." Jack said of the woman next to him.
"Hello."
"Nice to meet you, my dear."
"Gabriella, this is my sister, Eugenia."
"Hello, Troy's told me wonderful things about you." Gabriella said smiling. "I hope I can get to know you as well."
"We'll see." Eugenia said icily.
"Gina." Troy hissed.
"I hope we'll get to know one another as well." Eugenia said.
"And, these are my grandparents, Louis and Annabelle."
"Thank you for kindly allowing me to stay here for the week." Gabriella said to the King and Queen.
"Any friend of Troy's is welcomed here." Annabelle said kindly.
"Especially the beautiful ones." Louis added making Gabriella blush.
"Alright, need I remind you two that this is my extremely beautiful lady." Troy said to his father and grandfather smiling as he pulled Gabriella into his arms. "You two already have your beautifuls."
"That is correct." Louis agreed smiling at his wife.
"Tomorrow I am going to take you to find the most fabulous dress for the dinner." Annabelle told the young woman. "We're going to make you the belle of the ball."
"She'll be the belle of the ball no matter what she wears." Troy said kissing Gabriella on the cheek.
"Charlotte, why don't we show Gabriella around the palace?" Annabelle suggested to her daughter-in-law.
"That's a splendid idea." Charlotte agreed.
"Come, Gabriella." Annabelle said taking the young girl by the arm.
"I'll be alright." Gabriella told Troy as he hesitated about letting her go.
"I want her back safely." Troy told the two women.
"She's in good hands." Annabelle told her grandson before they walked out of the room and the door closed behind them.
"So, what do you think?" Troy asked Jack and Louis anxiously.
"Shes absolutely wonderful." Louis stated brightly. "She's keeping you out of trouble."
"Gabriella is the first woman to ever make me have these sort of feelings. I'm in love with her."
"But does she really love you?" Eugenia asked.
"Now that's uncalled for." Jack told his daughter.
"I'm only speaking at what might be the truth. Gabriella might only be interested in Troy because he's a prince. She might just want to be another Grace or Diana."
"That's enough." Louis told her firmly.
"I'm only speaking at what Mother would say."
"Ella did not know that I was a prince when we first met." Troy explained. "I could be a janitor's son and she wouldn't care. Gabriella is interested in me, just me, not the title that comes before my name. I think Mother would approve of Gabriella very much."
"I approve of Gabriella and I think your mother would too." Jack announced. "Judging from what Troy has told us and what security has told us as well, she's a wonderful young woman. Perfect for Troy."
"And she's really seemed to ground you, tamed you. There haven't been any reports of you clubbing in all hours of the morning, a different lady on your army every night." Louis added. "And I don't think I've seen you this happy since your mother passed away."
"I really am happy. She's this wonderful ray of light that just makes me so alive and in love." Troy stated happily. "And I know it's probably crazy, but I think Mother led her to me because she knew that I needed her."
"And this is our portrait gallery." Annabelle told Gabriella as they entered the gallery. "Each member of the family, generations back, has a portrait here."
"This might be a silly question, but is this all your family?"
"Yes, the family dates back for about six hundred years."
"Is this you?" Gabriella asked as she saw a portrait of a younger Annabelle.
"Yes, this was done when I became Princess of Kellia when I married Louis."
"How long have you two been married?"
"Almost fifty-five years."
"Congratulations."
"Here you all are." Troy announced as he joined the three women. "Have you been taking care of my girl?"
"Of course and she's an absolute joy." Charlotte said to her stepson.
"They've been giving me a wonderful tour of the palace." Gabriella said smiling.
"Gabriella was a fantastic tourist." Annabelle added smiling. "She was very knowledgeable about our history and customs."
"Well, Troy's been teaching me about Ronaldi." Gabriella said smiling up at Troy. "He's a great teacher."
"Well, you're a great student." Troy stated kissing Gabriella on the side of her head.
"Well, she knows so much people will think she's lived here her whole life." Annabelle stated smiling proudly.
"I'm going to steal Gabriella and show her the gardens." Troy stated as he began to pull her away. "We'll be back in time for dinner."
"Take care of her, Troy." Charlotte called after him.
"With my life." Troy promised.
"She's a remarkable girl." Charlotte whispered to the queen.
"Yes she is." Annabelle agreed. "Even though we've only met her once, if Troy were to come up to Louis, he'd give permission in a minute."
"I think we can all benefit from her."
"My family loves you." Troy said smiling as he and Gabriella walked in the gardens. "I told you that you'd win them over. You were so worried for nothing."
"Your family is very welcoming." Gabriella said. "I now know who you got your charm from."
"Guilty."
"You and your dad look like your grandfather." Gabriella stated. "And your sister shares many of the same features as your grandmother."
"But she does have our mother's eyes."
"So do you."
"My mom called them Swan's Eyes, from her side of the family."
"What was she like?"
"She was a remarkable woman. She was deeply involved in children's charities and third world countries." Troy explained. "But she always put me and Gina first, just like any mother would."
"Why did your parents marriage end?"
"They both had affairs. It got to the point that they couldn't pretend anymore and divorced. Mom never got the chance to remarry before she died. Dad married Charlotte ten years after their divorce."
"When is your sister getting married?"
"In six months."
"She's going to be a beautiful bride." Gabriella stated. "I bet the country's looking forward to the wedding."
"They are, but they are anticipating my wedding more than anything."
"Because you are going to be king?"
"Yes." Troy agreed. "Gabriella, I want to tell you something."
"What is it?"
"I've never been with a girl long enough to know what it truly means to say these words but I do know now, with you. I love you, Gabriella." Troy declared. "And I know you've given up much of your privacy due to me and you have to sit through lots of crash courses for protocol..."
Troy was cut off when Gabriella placed her lips on his gently. She pulled away and looked up at him. They smiled at one another before Troy pulled her in for another kiss. Gabriella wrapped her arms around his neck to deepen the kiss.
"I love you, too." Gabriella whispered into Troy's ear once they broke apart.
"Really?" Troy asked excitedly as she nodded happily. "Yes!"
He then picked her up and spun her around in a circle. Gabriella giggled quietly before they kissed once again. Troy kept repeating the three magical words over to his girlfriend in a quiet whisper.
"I don't want this moment to end, but don't we have to meet your family for dinner?" Gabriella asked quietly.
"Dammit, we do." Troy groaned. "Come on."
Gabriella was given a place of honor at the table, the right hand side of Louis. Troy smiled and kissed her hand as he pulled her chair for her to sit down. He knew that his family had been won over by Gabriella.
"Gabriella, Annabelle and I have a trip planned to Texas in January." Louis stated. "We've discovered that we'll have a day to spend in San Antonio and meet your family. If that's alright."
"No, that'd be wonderful." Gabriella said smiling.
"And we'd love it if you'd fly back with us."
"Are you sure? I already have a ticket and I don't mind."
"It would be no trouble at all."
"Thank you."
"Are you excited about seeing your family?" Annabelle asked.
"Yes, this is the longest I've been away from them." Gabriella said. "I do miss them, but Troy's really helped me with the homesickness."
"I do what I can." Troy said smiling.
A few hours later, Gabriella was forced to excuse herself and go to bed. She had tried to tell Troy that his family would find it inappropriate for her to stay in his room, even if they knew she'd spent nights in his dorm room after she'd fallen asleep studying or watching a movie. But to her surprise, Troy told his grandparents that she was staying with him, promising that nothing more than sleeping was going to happen. To shock her even more, his grandparents gave their consent willingly. Troy then led Gabriella back to his suite.
"I'm going to be in a little bit later." he told her as he opened the door. "I need to talk to my grandfather about a couple of things."
"Ok." Gabriella agreed.
"I'll try not to wake you."
"It's ok if you do, that way I can kiss you goodnight again."
"Alright then." Troy said kissing Gabriella goodnight gently. "I love you."
"I love you, too. Good night."
"Good night."
An hour later, after he had finished talking to his grandfather, Troy quietly walked into his suite. He was surprised to see Gabriella sound asleep with the lamp on and a text book in her lap. Troy smiled and quietly changed his clothes. Once in his pajamas, he gently took the book from Gabriella and turned the light off. He then crawled in bed and pulled her against him.
"Good night." Troy whispered.
"Good night." Gabriella mumbled back. "Love you."
"Love you, too."
The next morning, Gabriella was taken to an upscale boutique to get a dress for that evening's dinner to welcome a visiting leader. This was to be her first official debut as Troy's girlfriend. She had been photographed thousands of time since they started dating but that had been when they were out and about in the city. Now she was being observed by royal watcher and experts to see if she had what it took to be a candidate to become a future princess.
"You're Highness." the boutique owner greeted Annabelle as they entered.
"Thank you for meeting with us, Mr. Saville." Annabelle replied as he bowed to her.
"It is my pleasure and honor to serve you in any way."
"This young lady needs a gown for this evening's dinner."
"To dress Ms. Montez in her first formal attendance is an honor indeed." Saville stated smiling.
For the next hour, Gabriella tried on gowns and then stood as Annabelle and Charlotte tried to decide if it was a yes or a no. The problem was that almost every single gown looked fantastic on her. Finally, Gabriella was down to the final dress. It was a strapless pale pink gown that had a small mermaid train. As soon as she stepped into it. Gabriella knew it was the one. Everyone else seemed to agree as well since they all kept commenting about she how she was glowing.
"This is the one." Annabelle announced smiling. "Gabriella, you look fantastic, everyone is going to be taken aback."
"You will be the belle of the ball." Saville agreed proud that she was wearing one of his designs. "I'll have the gown placed in a garment bag while you look at shoes.
"Thank you." Gabriella said as he took her hand and helped her step down off the pedestal. "I'll just be a moment."
"No rush, my dear."
Late that afternoon, Gabriella was getting her hair and make-up done. She was settled in a guest room for the evening to get ready. She and her two stylists easily fell into chatful conversations. It was just simple girl talk to the three of them.
"Are you nervous about tonight?"
"A little bit." Gabriella replied. "I'm worried about if the media will tear me apart and I'm not worthy of being with Troy."
"Everyone in the country loves you."
"I don't think Troy's sister likes me very much."
"She's just jealous of you."
"What do you mean?" Gabriella asked.
"With you being here, she's no longer the center of attention and you'll have the life she's always wanted if you marry the prince, you will be the queen."
"If that happens, that's a long way away."
An hour later, Gabriella finally stepped into her gown once again. She carefully pulled her matching pink elbow length gloves on. Once she was fully dressed, Gabriella looked at herself in the full length mirror. Her hair was up in a classic bun and her make-up was minimal since she was told she was really in no need of it. There was a knock at the door and Gabriella took a deep breath and opened the door. Troy was there dressed in a tuxedo and a medal was pinned on his jacket showing that he was the future Prince of Kellia.
"Wow." Troy said as his eyes and smile grew wide as he took in his girlfriend. "You look stunning. I'm not going to let you out of my sight all evening."
"Thank you, you look very handsome yourself." Gabriella said smiling.
"Are you ready to go knock them dead?"
"I think so."
"We're one of the last few to go through the press line." Troy explained. "By the time we are done, everyone will be in the ballroom at their tables after they go through the receiving line."
"Are we not going through the receiving line?"
"No, we aren't required to, but we will enter with the official party."
"Ok."
"You ready?" Troy asked as they approached the doors to the grand hallway, where the press line was."
"I think so." Gabriella agreed before Troy gave her a quick kiss.
"Here we go."
The doors opened and flashes from the camera nearly blinded Gabriella as Troy led her through the doors. Reporters and photographers began to shout their names to get them to come over and speak to them. Everyone was desperate to be the first one to get Gabriella's first interview. They all would be disappointed due to the fact she would not be speaking to them. The young couple smiled at one another as they made their way down the line.
"You're highness, the official party is ready for you and Ms. Montez to join them." an aide told Troy.
"Ok." Troy agreed. "We're on our way."
Troy led Gabriella to the ballroom. The room was done with a silver and red color scheme. Gabriella was able to take everything in quickly as she and Troy walked back to a formal parlor. Louis and Annabelle, Jack and Charlotte, Eugenia and her fiancé, Richard, and Italy's Ambassador and his wife were waiting in there,
"Gabriella, you look absolutely beautiful." Louis said as he took in his grandson's girlfriend.
"Thank you, You're Highness." Gabriella replied smiling. "It's all due to the help of your wonderful wife and daughter-in-law."
"All the dresses Gabriella tried on looked so beautiful on her, but this one she looked breath taking." Charlotte explained.
"Yes, she does." Troy agreed kissing Gabriella's hand softly.
"Gabriella, these are our guests of honor, the Italian Ambassador Lorenzo Vincenzo and his wife Stevana." Louis introduced.
"Ambassador, Mrs. Vincenzo." Gabriella greeted to the guests.
"You're Highness, we're ready."
"Right." Louis agreed.
The party began to from into an order that protocol called for. Louis and the ambassador were first and then followed by their wives. Behind them were Jack and Charlotte. Much to Eugenia's anger, Troy was next in line, making Gabriella in front of her, the actual princess. Troy gave Gabriella's hand a gentle squeeze knowing that Ronaldians weren't the only ones to be charmed by his girlfriend.
The banquet had been a smashing success. Gabriella won everyone over at her debut event. She and Troy opened the dance floor and soon couple surrounded them. Both Jack and Louis took their turns to dance with Gabriella. The ball had gone well on into the night and Troy carried his girlfriend into heir suite at around two in the morning. Gabriella's feet were sore die to dancing so many times with so many male guests.
"My love, you were Princess of the Ball." Troy stated as he placed Gabriella on the bed.
"My feet feel like it." Gabriella replied as she slipped her shoes off. "My feet are killing me."
"I know I told you many times already, but you looked so beautiful tonight."
"Thank you."
"Do you want me to unzzip you so you can get your pajamas on?"
"That would be wonderful."
Troy smiled as she stood up and turned around to allow him to unzip her. Gabriella held her dress up as she went to go change in the bathroom. While she was in there, she removed her jewelry and the pins that her hair up and washed her make-up off. Troy had changed out of his tuxedo while she had been in the bathroom. Gabriella draped her gown over the desk chair and crawled into bed. Troy chuckled watching her hug a pillow happy to be in bed.
"May I cut in?" Troy asked as he got in next to her.
"Aways." Gabriella answered as she threw the pillow away and crawled into her boyfriend's arms for a peaceful night's sleep.
