A/N: Five chapters remaining! I forgot to put that on the last author's note.
Queen of Maldonia II
A Broken King
A month later...
"...one ninety-nine, two hundred!" Said the Yalia, the personal trainer.
Tiana simply fell back onto the mat, breathing heavily.
"You needed the extra hundred sit-ups, your majesty!" She smiled.
"But it was only two slices of cheesecake!" Tiana whined, she was in excellent shape, but recently she's been asking the trainer push her harder. Regretting it later.
"You will be thanking me later and Naveen will also thank me for getting those thighs of yours ready for him."
Tiana raised an eyebrow. "And what is that suppose to mean?"
"Hiking...he wants for you and the children to go on a hiking trip sometime in the future."
"Not happening." Tiana said, getting off the floor. "But thank you for pushing me extra harder. After giving birth to four kids that includes twins it's hard to get my figure back."
The person trainer shook her head. "You definitely had your figure back for a while, but it is always good to keep your insides in shape. Your body will thank you in forty years."
Tiana took a sip of water.
"And your genes are another thing. Your children are very blessed to have two parents with excellent physic." Said the trainer.
Tiana smiled. "Well I'll see you around the same time tomorrow. Abinaza!" She started leaving the gym.
"Abinaza!" Said Yalia.
As Tiana walked down the hall she saw an upset Gabriella walking into Nagina's room. She figured that Gilles finally broke it off with since he was to leave in a couple of days. Instead of calling for her she went straight to her bathroom to shower.
()()()()
Once Tiana was done showering she went straight to the Azelea Garden where an all women charity celebration was held. Tiana was hosting the event that included guests from around the world.
"...and in closing of this momentous day. Let us all raise our glasses and salute to all women! Whether we are rulers, teachers, mothers, wives, business owners and all of the above, we are strong, we are powerful, we are wise and we are women!" Tiana said with a raised fist.
All the female audience members applaud at the queen as she left the podium.
"Tiana that was such a beautiful and inspirational speech!" Said Jasmine, hugging the young queen.
"Thank you for being apart of this, Jasmine." Tiana said.
Nagina approached the two and also hugged her daughter-on law. "We wouldn't have miss it." She smiled at the young queen. "I am very very proud to a daughter-in-law of such grace, beaty and leadership."
"Thank you, Nagina." Tiana smiled back.
Tiana thanked all the guests before parting ways with them and went straight to her room to change out of the pants suit she wore. It was stiff and heavy and all she wanted was to get into a dress. Just then, her phone rang. She kicked off her pants before answering the phone. "Speaking?"
"Why must you answer the phone like ya high and mighty?" Asked Eudora.
Tiana rolled her eyes. "For my safety? And why are you calling me right when I'm in the middle of changing?"
"You just finished that charity dinner? I'm sure it was beautiful in that garden."
"It was. So why'd you call?" Asked Tiana.
"To check on my babycakes and my other babies. How are James and A'lia doing?"
"A'lia is is ballet practice while James is in his piano lessons. Later is his recital"
"Recital? I thought that was last week?" Eudora said.
"They had to cancel because of that bad storm last week." Tiana said, taking off her pants.
"Oh, that's right. At least Naveen won't be missing it."
"He better not be. He's suppose to be here right before it starts. He got lucky last week." Tiana began taking off he jacket and blouse.
"Naveen will make it on time. Now back to James, that boy has got some fingers on him. Wish him luck for me." Said Eudora.
"Will do." Said Tiana, looking in the closet for a dress.
"Tiana? Are you sitting down?" Eudora asked.
"No?" Tiana began to worry. "Mama is there something wrong?"
"No exactly." Eudora smiled.
"Then what is it?" Tiana began to grow antsy.
"Eli proposed to me."
Tiana's mouth dropped. "What did you say?" Hoping her mother would tell her 'no'.
"I let him down easily." Eudora answered. "He took it well after telling him no at least four or five times. I swear you can't hold a friendship without having someone wanting to jump the broom on you."
Tiana shook her head. She never understood the relationship between her mother and Big Daddy. "Are you inlove with Big Daddy, mama?"
"We are dear friends and will continue to being that way."
"Mm-hm." Tiana said. "I bet ya'll friends alright."
"Stay out of grown folk business." Eudora joked with a smile.
"Grown folks buiness." Tiana rolled her eyes. "I should get ready for James' recital. I'll call you tomorrow?"
"You do that, babycakes. I love you and please send all my love to the babies and Naveen. Bye!"
"Bye!" Tiana hang up the phone and slipped into a yellow floral dress.
Knocking could be heard at the door.
"Come in." She said, walking into the closet to get her shoes.
Gabriella walked in with her head held down. "I really need to speak with you."
Tiana stepped back out of the closet and saw her friend with a tear stained face and red eyes. "Giles broke up with you, didn't he?"
Gabriella sighed. "You were right about him."
Tiana took the woman's hand as they sat on the bed bench. "I hoped he could prove me wrong because I care about you." She wiped the woman's tears.
"He was so cold." Said Gabriella. "I guess that old saying is true. Only fools rush in."
"You are not a fool he is." Tiana said.
Gabriella then covered her hand and started crying again. "I thought he loved me. The gifts, the sweet talks...how could I've been so dumb."
Tiana rubbed her back. "Would you like to tell me what exactly happened?"
"He asked for me to come into his room in the morning since he had a headache the night before. So I did just that. Early that morning I woke up, dressed and headed straight to his room...
…
Gabriella slowly opened the door to Gilles room. She smiled as he looked so peaceful in his slumber. She quietly tiptoed over to him before sitting on the bed. "Gilles, darling." She whispered.
He groaned.
"It's me. Gabriella." She whispered, giving him a kiss on the lips.
"Mmm..." moaned a female voice from the other end of the bed.
Gabriella widen her eyes after hearing the woman. "Who are you?"
The woman shot up and waved at her. "Goodmorning, Gabriella."
The serveant quickly got off the bed, covering her mouth. "Oh my goodness! Tiffany?"
Gilles opened his eyes and looked over Tifany. "What are you still doing here?"
She frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Gilles how could you?" Asked a distraught Gabriella.
Gilles then looked over at the woman and staretched his arms. "Goodmorning, Gabby. Come into the bed."
Tifany got out of the bed in disgust. "You nickenamed her?"
"Why not?" He asked with a smile.
"Because you said that you hate nicknaming women?" Tiffany said.
"It's only a nickname it isn't as if you're my wife." He responded.
"I will be as soon as we leave." Tiffany reminded him.
"Not going to happen." He said.
Tiffany frowned. "What? I thought that you were going to marry me."
"I never said that." Giles said. "Now get out of here before I call in the guards."
Tiffany quickly slipped on her dress. "Muya Juadonte!(Mother fucker)" She said before leaving the room.
Gabriella was still shocked at what she just saw. The man she loved was sleeping with another woman and didn't seem to care that he was caught. "How long have you been with her?"
"For as long as being with you." He answered.
"You promised to marry her?" She asked.
"No, she's full of nonsense. Now get over here and spend the morning with me before I leave tomorrow." He said with open arms.
"You're just leaving by yourself?" She asked, resting her hand on her chest.
"Yes. I have a kingdom I wasn't around for months. Genixia, remember?"
"But I thought that I would be joining you-
He began laughing. "Gabriella you are a very sweet woman, but you're not fit to being a queen."
"But I was fit to sleeping with a king?" She asked with watery eyes.
He smirked.
She knew it was too good to be true. "Did you ever love me?" She asked with tears running down her face.
"Why would I love a servant?" He asked coldly.
She began feeling lightheaded after hearing his confession. Why didn't she see past him?
He saw the tears and didn't pity her at all. "Gabriella we had fun but now it's time to move on and get back to reality."
She turned away, not wanting him to see her tears. "I gave you my virginity."
"And I will forever thank you for that." He said. "If you would like, I can bring you back wih me as a concubine-
"No. I will not be any man's whore." She cut him off.
"Isn't that what you were while my stay here?"
Gabriella turned to look at him. "How can you be so cruel. I loved you Gilles-
"You will be fine either way." Gilles got out of the bed and found his pants. "Good luck with life, Gabreilla. Who knows, perhaps we'll cross paths again someday."
…
"...I immediately left his room and never looked back." Said Gabriella.
"Oh Gabriella." Tiana felt bad for her friend, but wasn't surprise that it ended the way it did.
"I wish I listened to you, Tiana. How stupid could I be?" She cried.
Tiana rubbed her friend's back. "He will pay for his wrong doings someday, Gabriella."
Gabriella quickly got up. "I should be heading to Nagina per her request.
Tiana also got up. "Are you sure you'll be alright?" They opened the doors to leave the suite.
"If only I stayed with Lathan." Said the maid.
"He still loves you, Gabriella." Tiana said. "Now you keep your head up and remain strong."
She shook her head. "I don't think he'll want me now."
"Now why is that?"
"There was something that I didn't tell you."
Tiana raised an eyebrow
Gabriella put her hands on her tummy. "I-I'm with child."
Tiana's eyes widen. "Are you sure?"
"My last menstrual cycle was suppose to come a month ago, and it hasn't-
Tiana closed her eyes. She hated having to learn this news. "I'll call in for the doctor."
"No don't." She rested her hands on her stomach. "I don't want to jinx anything."
"But you have to know if you and this baby are healthy." Tiana said. "Are you going to tell Gilles?"
Gabriella sighed. "I don't know…"
Tiana felt even more horrible for the woman as she opened her arms for a supportive hug.
Gilles stepped out of his room and saw the two women hugging.
"If you need anything and I mean anything. Just come to me." Tiana said.
"I will." Gabriella said. "Abinaza."
Tiana nodded her head, watching her friend walking away. She then headed to Naveen's office. Gilles following her.
Tiana felt someone behind her and quciken her pace to the office. Once she got in she heard the door closing behind her.
"You finally talked some sense into her?" Gilles said.
She frowned and turned around. "Why did you follow me?"
"Because I was concerned." He smiled.
"You didn't seem too concern while you were sleeping with my help." Tiana put her hands on her hips.
Gilles laughed. "We're on this again? They're only servants."
"Who also happen to be human beings with hearts." Tiana said. "How could you even think of treating women in such a manner?"
Gilles smirked. "Naveen's done one hell of a job on you..." He stepped up to her. "Marrying a commoner such as yourself and look at you. One of the most inspirational women in the world. heard your little speech on women." He tried caressing her face, but she stepped back. "I won't hurt you."
"Oh, I already know that." Tiana said. "You just need to back up away from me."
"And if I don't?" He asked, stepping up closer.
"Pack your junk and get the hell out of my palace!" Tiana ordered.
"Isn't that your husband's job? I'm afraid you don't have that kind of power to do such a thing." He caressed her face, but Tiana slapped him across his.
"Don't touch me!" She warned.
"Quick reflexes and a heavy hand." He laughed while rubbing his jaw. "But if you were my wife I would've already shown you where you stood in the company of a man."
"Oh would you now?" Naveen asked from behind.
Gilles eyes widen as he turned to see Naveen. "Ah Naveen. I didn't know you would be returning-
"No, continue to tell my wife how you would put her in her place if she struck you in the company of men. Which she just did...but I would like to see what you would do to her so that I can break every bone in your body starting with your skull." Naveen warned with no emotion on his face.
"I would never hit Tiana. I was simply tell her what I would do to my wife. If or when I have one..." Gilles nervously laughed.
"Why are you in my office?" Naveen asked.
"I asked him to exact same question?" Tiana asked with her hands on her hips.
Gilles remained quiet.
"You'll be escorted from the palace as soon as you leave my office." Naveen said to the man and the guards who were outside the office. "And as of now whatever business we have will only be on professional terms."
Gilles knew he couldn't win any fight with Naveen and couldn't afford to lose Maldonia as an ally. "As you wish." He walked out of the office as two guards followed him down the halls.
Naveen then went over to his wife "Are you okay?"
"I've had worse days." Tiana answered. "But why were you so soft with his departure? He should be getting thrown out of the palace along with his junk."
"We have an exchange that is very important for both our kingdoms, Tiana." Naveen said to hsi wife.
"He hurt Gabriella."
"Whatever he's done with Gabriella is between the two of them."
"He broke up with her and got her pregnant."
Naveen sighed. "Does he know about her pregnancy?"
"No."
"I think it's best that it remains that way." Naveen said. "And as for now we have to get to James' recital."
Tiana then noticed her husband's facial hair, it wasn't too much but enough for her to notice. "You are going to take care of that, right?"
Naveen touched his face and shrugged. "I'll take care of it later."
She raised an eyebrow. "Before the recital?"
"After. Now come on..." He put his hand on her lower back.
"Why do you always grow out your stuff like this." She grabbed a hold of his handsome face. "You look like your great father."
"Faldi faldonza! I will get it shaved, later." Naveen said.
"Right, just like the last time you-
He pressed his lips onto hers before slowly pulling away.
Tiana playfully slapped his arm. "A simple shut up would've been fine." She joked.
"Now where is the roamnce behind that?" He asked before scooping her in his arms.
Leni walked in. "You two lovebirds ready?"
"Yep. We're ready." Naveen said, walking out of the office.
Tiana waved at the guard as her husband walked down the halls.
Leni shook his head at the two before following them.
()()()()
