Chapter 7

Author's Note: Hi Girls! Thanks for all the lovely reviews.:-) I'm dedicating this chapter to all of you. And big hug to my Rach for beta this for me extremly fast.:-)

"Clarisse wants to have dinner with me tonight!" Joseph cried happily, as he reached the kitchen.

"Oh Joe!" Mia jumped into his arms. "That's fantastic! I knew it! I knew! I knew it! So who is the mastermind? Hm?"

"It's definitely you. Ha-ha."

"Thanks," Mia smiled. "But now, you have to tell us everything. And I mean EVERYTHING."

"Alright," Joseph agreed. "I'm still a bit confused, but that's alright. I asked her about what she said yesterday, and her reaction was the same as yours. She started laughing."

"Of course she did. See? We were right – as always." Mia added the last bit with a grin.

"Yes… So, she laughed and said it was nonsense. Then a moment later we reached the stairs and Clarisse suddenly started falling… That reminds me. I have a question."

"Really?" laughed Mia nervously as she stepped backwards.

"That was not an accident, was it?"

"What do you mean, exactly?" Mia asked, in a panic.

"You know what I mean, Princess. She stumbled and nearly fell down."

"Oh, ah – that! We saw it from the window, and I must say that you caught her beautifully. Well done, Joe!"

"Thanks." Joseph smiled coldly and continued, "normally there would have been nothing extraordinary about that, but after your dirty tricks; the mouse, the horror movie night and your almost idea with the scorpion; it made me think. And you also made a comment a few days ago…"

"And what was that?"

"'I won't hurt any part of her body… but only if you are smart enough to prevent it.'"

"Alright. Alright," said Mia. "But it was absolutely necessary. And it worked!"

"That's your luck, little girl."

"Ok. But now, can we move on finally?" Mia asked nervously.

"Yes, Joe," Charlotte agreed. "What happened then? We saw that you caught her…"

"Yes." Joseph continued in a composed tone. "She was in my arms within a second and the way as she looked at me…" Joseph sighed with a dreamy look on his face. That was Clarisse's effect on him. "I had to tell her that I love her."

"You didn't ask her if she was all right?" asked Charlotte immediately.

"The truth is everything happened too fast. One minute she started falling, then the next she was in my arms and looking at me with those gorgeous blue eyes. I couldn't think of anything else – only that I love her."

"How sweet," sighed Charlotte.

"Yes. Very sweet, but what was her reaction?" asked Mia impatiently.

"She invited me to dinner," Joe finished with a triumphant smile.

"What?!" Mia asked. She and Charlotte were at a loss for words. The girls just stood there in silence, deep in thought. They tried to understand what had happened.

"Don't you have anything to say?" asked Joseph. "It's fantastic, isn't it?"

"Well…" started Charlotte. "It's rather a bit strange."

"Strange?" Joseph asked, surprised.

"Yes," answered Mia. "That's not a normal reaction. But maybe she was simply uneasy. You know how hard is for Grandma to show her emotions."

"That's true," Joseph nodded. "But you made me unsure now… Do you think it's ok? I mean her dinner invitation. You know how women think. After all, you are women too."

"That's absolutely typical of her self-controlled personality. So don't worry Joe. Am I right, Mia?" asked Charlotte as she looked at her significantly.

"You're absolutely right Char. So Joe, don't waste time. Go and prepare for tonight."

"Alright, that's what I'm going to do. Thanks girls." Joseph smiled gratefully and rushed to his room.

"So Charlotte, what do you think?" asked Mia, as soon as they were alone. "Isn't it strange?"

"Yes, it is. And I don't know what to think…"

"Me neither, but hey, here comes Grandma. Watch this." Mia winked at Charlotte and greeted Clarisse. "Hi Grandma. What's up?"

"Hello, Darling. Charlotte." Clarisse smiled weakly and reached for her sedative tea blend, without success. "Not much. Why?"

"Not much?" asked Mia, surprised. "You and Joe are gonna have dinner together and you say 'not much'?"

"Ah, that!" Clarisse said abstractedly. "You two should come if you want."

"Oh NO!" Mia tried to restrain herself.

"Why darling? Are you busy tonight?" Clarisse asked innocently.

"Uh-huh… yes, awfully. I have tons of things to do. You cannot imagine how much."

"Oh, I see. And you Charlotte? You can join us, can't you?"

"Well, I will be also extremely busy tonight, Your Majesty."

"Oh, really? What is so important, if I may ask?"

"Oh, of course," smiled Charlotte nervously. "I'm going to… I'm going to…"

"She's gonna help me Grandma. With… Lilly's birthday party."

"But that won't be until next month."

"Yes, but I want it to be a big hit. You know how hard to come up with something new in every year."

"Yes I do," smiled Clarisse. "Well, then, see you at lunch time darling."

"Perfect," answered Mia as Clarisse stepped out, headed for her office. At least the girls thought that was where she went. Actually, she was not on her way to the office, she went to the garage, and asked Paul the chauffeur to take her into town.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Half an hour later at Dr. Monroe's office…

"So that's it," Clarisse sighed as she finished her story. "What do you think Doctor?"

"Well, I expected something like that. I mean that you would make a slip of the tongue. You have to concentrate a bit harder. Do you think he believes you?"

"I can only hope so," sighed Clarisse. "I did everything to resolve his doubts, and I think it worked. But who knows? To be frank, I would not believe me, if I were in his place."

"But love can make people blind."

"I hope so. Or that could be a very awkward conversation." Clarisse sighed.

"And now, let's look at the bigger problem. The dinner with Carla… Do you really think it's a wise idea?"

"Why? You would not do the same? Ok, I know you wouldn't. But look, I have no options. I'm trapped. I have to solve this problem, and that seems to be the wisest decision at the moment."

"And what will happen after that? I mean if Carla and Joseph… maybe… you know…"

"I know it will be hard for me, but I will survive… somehow. I just want to breathe again, a little. I have to get him out of my head."

"But that's self-destruction."

"Well, I think it's time to go," said Clarisse quickly and jumped up. "Thank you for your time, but now I have to leave and get everything prepared."

"Your Majesty. Clarisse… Please don't do this." cried the Doctor, but Clarisse was obstinate.

"I will call you next week. Good bye, Doctor," she said as she rushed out.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

It was nearly eight o'clock, and everyone was excited. Mia and Charlotte snuck down to the kitchen for a little information gathering.

"Hello Antoine," Mia with a big smile on her face as she stepped into the kitchen. "How are you getting on with the menu?"

"Good evening Princess. Charlotte," answered the chef as turned around to see the girls. "Perfectly. Dinner is going to be magnificent."

"I'm sure of it," Mia smiled. "This is nougat crème, am I right?"

"Yes, Princess. But not an ordinary nougat crème. No, it's more than that. I call it simply Crème de Antoine."

"You are very modest as always," Mia laughed. "But why are there three plates on the tray? And what's this weird colored salad?"

"Oh that's for Her Majesty's lady guest. She has a special taste… Princess? Are you all right?" asked Antoine because Mia gasped for air.

"Lady guest??"

"Calm down Princess," Charlotte tried with no success. "It's certainly some kind of misunderstanding."

"No," said Antoine and handed a glass of water to Mia. "I have to make dinner for three. For Her Majesty, Joseph and Her Majesty's lady guest."

"Oh my God!" cried Mia and rushed out. Charlotte was on her trail.

"Princess!" she cried. "What do you want to do?"

"I don't know yet, I need a little time to think, but first we have to be there for that dinner." Mia said with one breath and pulled opened Clarisse's door.

"Oh Mia darling," Clarisse smiled. "How lovely to see you. Did you forget something?"

"Oh no, Grandma. We just made a decision," Mia started and looked at Charlotte. "I think this birthday preparation thing can wait, so we would like to have dinner with you. But only if we're not intruding."

"Of course you are not, darling." Clarisse smiled. "Do sit down. Ah, Joseph is just coming."

"Good evening… ladies." Joseph finished the sentence in surprise. "I thought…" He started, but Mia cut in.

"Hello Joey. Come and sit next to me. The dinner will be ready in a minute."

"Yes, Joseph. Just sit down until I inform the kitchen," Clarisse said with an angelic smile on her face before going to the phone.

Meanwhile at the table….

Joseph turned to Mia and whispered, "What's going on here?"

"Grandma also invited a woman for dinner, not just you…"

"A WOMAN?!" cried Joseph then softened his voice. "A woman?! But why? I mean why would she invite a woman to our date?"

"We don't know. But there is something brewing."

"You are telling me?!" Joseph asked when Clarisse stepped in with the mysterious dinner guest.

"May I have everybody's attention please?" asked Clarisse. "This is Carla, a very dear friend of mine. And Carla, this is my granddaughter Mia, my personal assistant Charlotte, and my Head of Security, Joseph."

"Good evening ladies," smiled the beautiful long dark hared woman to the girls then turned to Joseph who stood up to greet her. "Oh, so you are that famous palace bodyguard, hm? Mr. Man in Black… It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Good evening Ma'am." Joseph bowed.

"You should sit next to -" Charlotte started quickly, but Carla cut it.

"Oh I know exactly where my place is. Come on. Move along darling," she ordered playfully and whisked Mia away, but Mia refused to give in.

"I won't."

"Darling… Please. We have a guest," Clarisse admonished her.

"Oh… alright." Mia hissed and stood up, so Carla could sit next to Joseph.

Carla turned to the man next to her, as if no one else was in the room. "So, Joseph… They say you are extremely good at protection. Could you save me if I needed you? Hm?"

Mia grasped her fork…

"Well…" started Joseph. "Actually I'm exclusively Her Majesty's personal bodyguard, so maybe the rest of the security team would help you."

"I'm sure of it, but… I could only feel completely safe only in YOUR arms."

"That's very flattering," answered Joseph politely but also repulsed. "Clarisse, can I have a word with you? In private?"

"Oh… well, of course," stuttered Clarisse and stood up uncertainly.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

In her private kitchen…

"What's going on here?" Joseph asked as he closed the door behind them.

"I do not understand what you are talking about." She answered firmly and turned to face with him.

"Oh ho ho - you do," laughed Joseph sarcastically. "So tell me what's going on here. I said I loved you then you procure a woman for me?!"

"You really deserve a good woman, Joseph. That's all. I was just trying to help you."

"So you don't love me, if I am right."

"I do not. Sorry," Clarisse answered calmly. But Joseph started laughing… "What?!"

"Do you really think that you can get by with such a lame excuse?"

"That's not an excuse, that's the truth."

"Uhm, then why didn't you say simply, 'I'm sorry Joseph but I do not feel the same about you,' hm? Instead you invited me to dinner." said Joseph and leant closer. "So why didn't you say that? Hm? I'll tell you why. You do love me, but you don't dare to admit it. You are running away from yourself too."

"That's nonsense."

"Really? Then what do you say to this?" He asked and before she could come to her senses, Joseph captured her lips with his. The kiss was very sudden but also gentle and caring.

And despite her efforts, she could not push him away, because she wanted this more than anything in the world. And that gave him courage. A few moments later, he was kissing her like there were no tomorrow.

Nearly a minute had passed when Joseph slowly broke the kiss, his heart full of hope. But he was disappointed. As the kiss ended, she woke up from this dream world and regretted everything immediately.

"And now?" asked Joseph softly and looked at her lovingly. "What we're going to do now?"

"I'll tell you." She answered firmly and headed back to the living room. Joseph was on her trail. "Carla!"

"Yes darling?"

"Joseph really likes you. So he would like to ask you for a date."

"Really?"

"…Yes." answered Joseph with a captivating smile.

To be continued…