Let's put it this way, if you hated Derek before, you're going to despise him after this chapter.
One In A Million You
King Dave stepped out of the limousine and reached for the Queen's hand. Pulling her to her feet, he looked her over. His eyes burned with desire and love.
"You look beautiful," he complimented.
"Thank you," Em replied as a light blush stained her cheeks.
"What do you say to doing a quick meet and greet and then going home so I can make slow, passionate love to you?" he whispered in her ear.
"I would say that you would disappoint your subjects." Em smoothed the silk fabric of her skirt. Then she adjusted his tie.
"Tell me again why we are here?" Dave asked as they walked toward the front doors.
"Because Erin Strauss invited us," Em replied.
"Doesn't she own Gideon Enterprises?"
"Amongst other things." Em handed her cloak to the young man standing in the foyer. "She makes large contributions to charities and we will need her for the project you are going to be proposing next year."
"There is something about her that I don't trust."
"I know how you feel, but we need her. You need her," Em stressed. Standing in the doorway of the large ballroom, she looked around at the beautifully decorated room. Although she didn't care much for Erin, she couldn't fault the woman when it came to interior design; the room was exquisite!
"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer," Dave growled.
"Exactly."
"Where is Jen?"
"She's on her way. The dress she chose had a rip in it, so I told her to choose something from my closet."
"Is Will escorting her?"
Em scanned the room with a sharp eye. "Yes."
"She agreed?" Dave asked in a surprised tone.
"Reluctantly. She still doesn't understand why she has to marry to ascend." Em grabbed a champagne flute from the tray. Slowly she sipped. "But, someday she will."
"Meanwhile, she hates me," Dave grumbled. "I wish there was something I could say to her to make her realize…"
Em cleared her throat to warn him that they were about to have company.
"Your Highness," Erin greeted sweetly and held out her hand to the couple. As each took it, Erin made a slight curtsy. "I am so glad you could make it."
"We were happy to be invited. You have a very lovely home," Em observed.
"Thank you."
"Did you design this yourself?" Em wondered.
"I did."
"Watch out, Erin," Dave broke in. "She might hire you to redesign her suite."
"Dave!" Em admonished.
"I would be honoured," Erin replied. "Where is the princess?" she asked, looking around.
"Running a little late." Em sniffed the air. "That smells delicious! Is it too early to eat?"
"Feel free, Your Highness."
"May I bring you anything?" Em asked her husband.
Dave smiled warmly at her. "Thank you."
Em headed toward the buffet table.
"The Queen looks exceptionally beautiful tonight," Erin observed.
"I would like to think she looks exceptionally beautiful every night," Dave corrected.
"Touché. I need to talk to you about a merger idea I have that might benefit the both of us."
Dave raised his eyebrow. "Oh really? Enlighten me."
"You run the kingdom, and you do it well, and after your State of The State speech last night, I realized that you and I have something the other wants."
"Continue," Dave prompted.
"You need me for jobs, and I have two sons who need a wife. I want to build another factory on the other side of town, but I need an incentive."
"Are you bribing me, Erin?" Dave questioned.
"Your Highness, I would never be impudent to insult your intelligence that way. All I'm suggesting is that I could boost your popularity by providing jobs, if you allow one of my sons to court your daughter."
Dave kept his face blank as he weighed her suggestion. His lips twitched in thought.
"I would love to consider your offer, Erin, but unfortunately, the princess is already betrothed. However, I will approve a tax break for you to build a new factory."
"Betrothed?" Erin sputtered.
"We haven't spoken of it yet, due to her age and going away to college in the fall."
"But, I…"
Jen came up and weaved her arm through her father's and kissed him on the cheek.
"Hi, Daddy!" she greeted.
"Hello, Jen. You made it."
"I did. Prince Will drove me here." Jen looked at the woman dressed in lavender. "Have we met?"
"Your Highness," Erin said and took the Princess's hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Thank you."
Erin turned to Dave. "Would you mind if I stole the Princess and showed her around?" Not waiting for an answer, she grabbed the young woman's hand and tugged her forward. "I'll protect her with my life."
Dragging Jen across the ceramic tiled floor, she hurried over to where Derek and Spencer stood.
"Derek and Spencer, I would like you to meet Princess Jennifer," Erin introduced. "Princess Jennifer, my handsome sons, Derek and Spencer."
"How do you do, Your Highness?" Derek asked smoothly, his eyes slowly traveled the length of Jen's body.
"Very well," she replied and looked at Spencer. "Hello."
Shy and nervous, the young man could only stammer something that vaguely sounded like a 'hello'.
"Spencer, that is no way to greet a princess."
Jen smiled warmly at him as she ignored Derek. "That's alright." She looked around the room and saw Will heading toward her. "I just remembered I need to tell the Queen something important; could you take me to her?" she asked Erin.
"Certainly." Erin propelled her toward the small group gathered around the Queen.
Derek shook his head. "What the hell was that?"
"I got nervous," Spencer replied.
"Nervous? You couldn't even say hello. And here I thought Aaron was the idiot of the bunch." Derek gave a resounding smack to the back of his brother's head.
"Hey! What was that for?" Spencer cried out.
"For blowing your chance with a princess."
"What about your chance?"
Derek's eyes darkened as he watched Haley walk into the room. "It just arrived. If Mother asks where I am, tell her I went to look at the gardens."
"Hey! What do you mean? You can't leave!" Spencer called out as his brother hurried over to the blonde woman. Shaking his head, he took the glass of champagne off the tray that passed by. "Eat, drink, and be merry, for later on everything is going to hit the fan," he muttered and downed the bubbly in one swallow.
****
"Mother!" Jen called out and hugged her mother tightly.
"Jennifer! I knew you'd make it. You have met Erin?"
"Yes. She introduced me to her sons."
"Oh?" Em raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"They are rather nice. Unfortunately, I will never know," Jen muttered under her breath, a smile pasted on her face.
"Jennifer, not now."
"I know, Mother; it's all about appearances."
Em shook the hands of the people who greeted her. "We'll talk about this later."
"I'm heading to college in the morning."
"But the semester doesn't start until a month from now! Where will you stay?"
"With my friend Ashley. She has an apartment and invited me a room."
"I don't even know her."
"You know her parents. George and Marissa Seaver."
"George Seaver? The man who murdered his partner?" Em was horrified.
Jen's false smile widened. "As you said, Mother, we'll talk about this later." Looking across the room, she spied the large fountain spraying red liquid. "I'm thirsty, may I get you something?" Before the Queen could reply, Jen moved away.
Grabbing a silver cup, she dipped it into the red liquid and drank greedily. She was thirsty for something, but it wasn't red punch she craved. Her life was upside down and she needed to make sense of it. But how?
Moving to the long table, she glanced at the mountain of food. Her stomach rumbled loudly.
"Looks like someone has made up their mind?" a voice commented.
Jen looked up and caught her breath. Swallowing hard, she could only nod. "I…"
"May I suggest something for you?"
Jen recovered…slightly, but she couldn't tear her eyes from the dark brown ones that seemed to be holding her in place.
"Sure," she breathed.
Aaron cut off a slice of the quiche and placed it on a china plate. "Try this." He handed it to her and watched as she took a small bite.
Jen closed her eyes as the flavour overwhelmed her. "That is…amazing!" She dug in and quickly consumed the remaining bites.
"You like it?" he asked. Jen nodded. "It's my own recipe."
"You made this?"
"Guilty."
"You should give the recipe to our chef. Mother would love this."
"Well, it would cost you."
"Anything."
"Tell me your name."
Jen blushed and lowered her eyes. "It's…"
"There you are!" Will exclaimed as he enveloped Jen in his arms and kissed her possessively. "Your father said you were making your rounds."
"Will, what are you doing here?" Jen sputtered.
"Looking for my fiancée." He turned to look at Aaron. "If you don't mind, I need to speak to her alone."
Taking the hint, Aaron moved away from the couple. Taking off his tie, he sought out Anderson.
"Are you busy?" he asked.
"No. Do you need anything?"
"Could you watch the table? I think I saw Haley walk in a little while ago."
"Go ahead; I have it taken care of," Anderson replied.
"Thanks."
Aaron hurried out of the room and down the narrow passageway to the gardens. Patting his pocket, he made sure the ring was still there. But where was Haley?
Quickly his eyes darted around. He could have sworn she had come this way. But so had Derek, Could he have scared her off?
"It would be like you to run Haley off," Aaron muttered. "Like mother, like son."
Turning to leave, he stopped as the sound of giggling reached his ears. It was coming from the pool house. Quietly he tiptoed to the door. Something didn't feel right.
"Stop it," a female voice said. "That tickles."
"You really want me to stop?" a male voice asked.
"No. It's just that when you touch me there, I want to scream."
"I want you to scream. I want to hear you scream my name as I bury myself deep in your…" his voice was cut off by a groan. "Unfair."
"What if we get caught?"
"Who's going to catch us?"
"You never know. Oh God! I love you!"
"I love you too. Right there, Mama. Just like that. Ride me."
"I can't…." Her breath came out in heavy pants.
"Yes you can. Let go. Scream my name! Let me hear it!"
"Derek! Oh God, yes! Faster! Faster!"
Suddenly the lights came on to blind the couple in the throes of ecstasy. Halting her current activity, she looked at the stoic faced man in the doorway.
"Aaron!"
"Hello, Haley," Aaron greeted tonelessly, but inside his heart was breaking. He fought the urge to kill his brother.
Shielding her nudity, Haley tried to maintain her dignity. "It's not what you think."
"Oh really? Tell me what I am thinking." Aaron turned to leave.
"Wait!"
"Don't get up. I didn't mean to interrupt." Storming out of the room, he slammed the door behind him as Haley called out for him to stop.
Unable to breathe or think, Aaron ran down the brick path to the heavy foliage by the pond. Sitting down on the concrete bench, Aaron buried his face in his hands and wept.
