Chapter Six.
I'm not sure whether I'll have access to the internet tomorrow, so I'm posting this chapter early. Enjoy!
"Let's stop for a moment."
I glanced up from the notes I'd been studying intently, meeting Rose's large, hazel eyes. They had little flecks of gold, and chocolate brown, I noted, and then chastised myself for noticing.
"And do what?"
She studied me for a moment, pondering my question before she answered.
"Let's get to know each other better. We haven't really talked that much about anything other than this campaign. You've helped me to build a really strong case, one that they can't ignore. I'm sure we can take a few moments out of our day to actually get to know each other."
My brow wrinkled as I set the papers down and settled back in my chair. "What do you want to know? I'm pretty boring."
"This is an unofficial first question. What do you actually do for a living? You've mentioned a couple of times that you're not a high up royal, so I assume you don't live off of your family's wealth?"
"No, I don't. And even if I could, I wouldn't. I'm the CEO of this advertising firm. I also help my co-worker with one of his projects, and manage five charities, three of which are linked in to the human world. So they take up even more time and effort."
"Oh." She looked impressed, and I nodded, waiting to see what she'd come up with next. She grinned. "Okay, official, proper questions now. First off, is that blond hottie who sometimes pops his head in single?"
That's her idea of a proper question?
I bristled at the mention of Ivan, but shook it off, wondering why I was even bothered. "Yes, he is single."
"Is he gay?"
A smirk twisted at my lips. "No."
"Are you?"
My eyes bulged out of my head and my jaw dropped at her question. "No, I most definitely am not."
This time she smirked. "Sure. I'll take your word for it. What's the blond hottie's name?"
I raised an eyebrow. "If you want to know, go ask him." She glared at me for a moment and I chuckled. "His name is Ivan. If you could flirt with him and then cut him down at the last minute you'd be doing me a huge favour, his ego needs to be readjusted."
She laughed this time, and surprisingly, the sound made me smile too. It was so light and carefree, octaves above the deep, rumbling laughs of my friends. It was innocent, like those of my niece and nephew.
Snap out of it, Dimitri!
I coughed, and the relaxed atmosphere disappeared a little. "My turn."
"Wait, I have one more question! How old are you?"
"How old are you?"
"I asked first!"
"But it's my turn." She pouted a little and I sighed. "I'm thirty two. I turn thirty three on the first of December."
"Ah," She smiled. "I'll have to remember and get you a birthday card. "My birthday was on the fifteenth of March. I just turned twenty six."
The shock was clear to see across my face. "You don't look that old."
She grinned widely. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." I smiled back tentatively. "Is it my turn now?"
She nodded in agreement. "Shoot."
"Okay," I asked the one question that had been bugging me ever since I met her. "How on Earth did you even get into this campaign?"
She shrugged. "I love biology. I'm a biology teacher and an avid wildlife protector. I set up this charity five years ago, on my twenty first birthday, and asked people to donate rather than to get me presents. When I heard that they were proposing to cut down the tree, I knew I couldn't stand by and let it happen."
"You- you're a teacher?"
She tried to raise one eyebrow and failed, making me chuckle despite my shock. "I usually get that reaction. Yes, I am a teacher and a guardian, and no, I'm not 'rude' to my students." She grinned. "I'm the cool teacher all the students like. Anyway, I teach here at court."
Awww, they're growing a little closer, hopefully they'll keep it up!
Please leave a review with your thoughts on the chapter. It lets me know that I'm on the right track with the storyline and how you guys feel about the way things are progressing.
