Chapter 2


Dressing for the warm Egyptian weather, Queen Clarisse gathered herself together, eager to complete her duties in the city, to be free to be no more than a woman in Cairo later that evening. She sat, more than ready for a morning cup of tea, noticing the pile of papers that Charlotte had already accumulated for her so early in the morning. Ordinarily she would have felt overwhelmed by the enormous pressure presented on her so early; however, this morning Clarisse simply sipped her tea, and began whistling a cheery tune while scanning the documents.

The last time he had heard her whistle was for her young boys. According to her, Queens most certainly never whistle. It seemed that she was breaking that tradition this morning, and it bothered Joseph to no end. He didn't know whether to be amazed or just plain angry, or both. He had spent most of his night thinking about who this anonymous man might be, and why his Queen was so taken to just the thought of him. Remembering Charlotte's words, Joseph considered planning his evening out, as the Queen had excused him from hers.

Joseph stepped into her suite, walking over to pour himself a cup of hot coffee. When the cup was full, and he had sit, and still she had said nothing to him; he finally took it upon himself to speak first.

"Good morning, Your Majesty." Joseph held his breath, waiting for a response. Nothing. Still nothing. "I said, good morning..."

"Oh, Joseph, yes...good morning," she barely uttered out, not looking up from the paper in her hand. Clearly she was not in the mood for conversing, at least not with him.

Feeling even more bitter, Joseph put down his cup, and stood to leave. As he began to move, the bitterness in his heart overtook him, and wanting to give her a taste of it, he quickly made a move he would have never pictured himself doing. As she was clearly enveloped in herself, he quickly switched his coffee for her tea. Mumbling under his breath, "That will give her a taste of bitterness." Joseph walked off, not caring enough to know how it turned out.

As Charlotte walked in, the proper Queen of Genovia was standing and spitting, trying to utter a rather profound word all at the same time. Seeing the dark liquid running down, Charlotte quickly grabbed a napkin and began to pat it softly, like it would make it disappear instantly.

"Oh, Charlotte, never mind, it's ruined! Coffee! Coffee was in my cup!" She said the words, still not quite understanding them herself. "I'll have to change before the luncheon. Oh, I'll change right now. I can't believe this. Maybe I was so wrapped up in reading...I just didn't notice what I was doing."

"I'll have it cleaned, Your Majesty," trying to sound reassuring.

"No, need. I loved this outfit, but there's no way it'll ever come out." Clarisse was beside herself, not willing to believe that such a horrible stain would ever just disappear. It mattered not anyway. To her, it was just another outfit, and it was easily replacable. "Joseph would you mind..." She looked over to where he was, or where she thought he had been.

"Excuse me?" Charlotte questioned, hardly believing Her Majesty had mistaken her for Joe.

"Oh, I'm sorry Charlotte, it's just that I thought Joseph was in here...Maybe I'm not myself this morning," quickly covering for herself. "I did stay up late last night."

"You are still going to the luncheon?"

"Oh yes. I have to. These matters have to be settled today. I'll be fine." Clarisse left to change, leaving a bewildered Charlotte looking at the mess she had left.

"She's definitely not herself," Charlotte mumbled when Clarisse was out of earshot.


"Shades, Joe. Yeah, everything's fine. Listen, I need information on a Talmadge Mendoza; T-A-L-M-A-D-G-E M-E-N-D-O-Z-A, that's right. The usual, well anything and everything you can dig up. As soon as possible." Joseph hung up his cell, eagerly awaiting for the return call from the palace. If there was anything there, Shades would find it. Joseph had always said that if you needed someone to find a needle in a haystack, Shades was your man. He tried to relax, giving his watch a glance. Only an hour before she needed to leave. That would have to be enough for him to take care of anything that came up.


"How's this," Clarisse asked, as she spun in front of her trusted aide and friend.

"Wonderful," Charlotte reassured her, trying to ease her Queen's mind.

"It's not what I wanted to wear, but it'll have to do. Charlotte, my plans for tonight, is everything taken care of?" It was her way of asking if the dinner date had not been broken.

"Yes m'am. I accepted, and it has been confirmed only this morning." Clarisse smiled, hoping he had not been called away. She was so looking forward to this.

"Very well. Thank you. And Charlotte, if you wish, you can take the rest of the day off, I mean I have to leave shortly, there's no point in you working all the time." Clarisse was feeling so generous at that very moment, she would have given the world the day off had she had that much power.

Deciding to take it while she offered, Charlotte accepted. "Thank you, Your Majesty, I'll leave your schedule here on your desk."


"Joe." The voice at the other end of the line sounded like it was coming from the next room.

"What have you got?"

"Not much to tell, he's got security clearance, full level, he's been here at the palace before, five years ago."

"I don't remember him." Joseph was intrigued.

"Well, you know we can't remember them all."

"Anything else?"

"Nothing grand, Switzerland businessman, no prior criminal record, not even a parking ticket, seems to be clean as a whistle," Shades rambled off without taking a breath until he was finished.

"Family?" Joseph was curious.

"Parents, father's dead, mother's in a home...single, no kids reported, no siblings either."

"Very well. Thanks."

"Anytime..." Shades hung up, and left Joseph even more confused as to who this man was.


Taking a deep breath, Clarisse relaxed into the soft, plush seat of the limo. It had been a long, hot morning, and business matters had lasted longer into the afternoon than she had preferred. She let the cool air engulf her, soothing her warm skin and throbbing head. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, letting herself imagine the evening was already upon her.

Joseph watched her, couldn't take his eyes off her really. She was beautiful. She was always beautiful to him. He was so close, and yet so far away from her. Shifting in his seat, he tried to occupy his mind elsewhere, but to no avail.

"Joseph, what's the matter?" Clarisse opened her eyes, simply bothered by his uneasiness.

"Your Majesty?" Joseph turned toward her, shocked she even noticed him.

"You're fidgeting. You only do that when something is bothering you," she explained.

"It's nothing." Joseph was amazed she had noticed that about him. Maybe there was a chance after all, albeit a slight chance, but one nonetheless.

Clarisse gave him her stern look, waiting for an answer.

"It's just that I don't believe you should go out this evening without any security," Joseph stated bluntly.

"I see. I'll be fine, besides, there is security where I'm going. No, it's not my security, but I'll be in good hands."

"I'm sorry, but it is my duty to see to it that you are guarded at all times." Joseph quickly made the usual excuse.

"Joseph, you take your job very seriously, and for that I thank you. Sometimes I don't know what I'd do without you. If you really think you need to come with me, then so be it. I was looking forward to an evening of at least a little privacy though. Would you mind backing off a little later on?"

"Certainly." 'A little privacy'? Joseph was beside himself, and had already made up his mind to make sure she had very little privacy tonight. If there was a 'green-eyed monster', then Joseph had been completely transformed at those words.


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Laura