I can´t thank you enough for the lovely reviews! It helps me keep this going knowing that you´re liking this and it´s coming together alright
It a long one and i´m trying to keep this closer towards TPD timeline
Enjoy :D
XOXO

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Miranda had been expecting at least a text from Andrea but even after 2 hours no news had come. She decided on getting some work done when the doorbell surprised her though not as much as the person standing at her front door.

¨Clarisse! Please come in. Is Andrea alright? I haven´t heard from her since she left a couple of hours ago¨ Miranda hurried and got even more worried now that the Queen herself was there with no Andrea on sight

¨Miranda, I believe we need to talk¨ Clarisse said while stepping inside the town house and was lead by a nervous Miranda to her office where they sat on the couch

¨I want to know what happened last night at the restaurant¨ Clarisse told Miranda in a no nonsense voice surprising the woman

¨My ex-husband tried to embarrass me but Andrea asked him to leave after putting him in place with her speech. The surprising part was him trying to punch and stab her so she twisted his arm while her bodyguard took over. What is wrong Clarisse? ¨ Miranda said rapidly to the older woman

¨Do you trust your team at Runway Miranda?¨ At the white haired woman simply stared

¨What? Yes, I do. They are nothing but professional¨ she said finally. It was obvious she was not going to lead this conversation

¨Have you spoken to the press? Are you using my granddaughter to increase your sales? Be sure of your words Miranda¨ Clarisse finished. Her face not betraying her

¨Press? Sales? No, why would I talk to them. Clarisse I am in love with your granddaughter! I am aware of what the press is capable of but I have no intention of making Andrea a part their sick game. What has happened Clarisse? I do not care about my job right now, I care about what has happened to Andrea and to you to be asking this things! Please inform me!¨ Miranda said unbelievingly and desperately. She didn´t give a fucking shit about her CEO position right now which was a first for her and a surprise for Clarisse though she didn´t let it show

¨The press knows about my granddaughter and the news about last night leaked to the press along with a picture of you both and of my granddaughter taking actions into her own hands¨ the Queen said finally

¨Fuck¨ Miranda whispered while leaning back onto her couch. She was not the swearing type of person but this situation had no other answer but this. ¨Clarisse, I have not said a word. I will make it my mission to figure out whom and it will be taken care of. I simply hope you understand that Andrea was acting in self defense. Where is she? God I need to know if she´s alright your majesty. I have not heard from my love yet¨ she finished with tears on her eyes

¨I may have been a bit… harsh on her. She´s currently at the consulate but I will need your assistance to figure out the leak before we let Amelia know i´ve came here. She will be mad at me I'm sure¨ Clarisse said ashamed of herself before continuing

¨I trust my granddaughter but the parliament may not though the presence of a knife makes the situation even more worrisome¨ Clarisse finished while making her own way to the wine cabinet and signaling to Miranda who simply stared

¨Make it a double. I´ll get the fucker¨ Miranda said finally which made the Queen smirk at her when she saw the white haired woman get her phone out. ¨The Dragon is out to play¨ she thought to herself while looking at Miranda before sending Helen a text to meet them at the townhouse and another Joe to get her. She had a feeling the editor had had nothing to do with this mess but she needed to make sure.

It was an hour after that Joe made his way in with an unknown woman to Miranda and the twins and Elise in tow

¨Clari!¨ the twins screamed in surprise and hugged the woman tightly

¨Sweeties, it´s so good to see you! I hope you´ve already met Helen; she´s Andrea´s mother¨ Clarisse said while turning to said woman

¨We have, she promised to take us to the zoo this weekend if mom let us! ¨ Caroline said excitedly and looked at their mother who simply smiled and stood up to greet her mother in law

¨It´s a pleasure Helen. I´m Miranda. It´s lovely of you to suggest that and you have my permission if you accept my invitation for dinner¨ she told the slightly older woman

¨It´s a pleasure Miranda and we will plan more than one dinner for sure¨ Helen said softly while giving Miranda a bright smile that reminded her of Andrea.

¨Bobbsies, could you please let us all talk for a second? We have a pressing matter to attend¨ Miranda asked her twins while bending down and kissing their foreheads

¨Is something wrong mom?¨ Cassidy asked while they both frowned making them look like two mini-Miranda

¨We are trying to make sure it isn´t. Have either of you said something about Andrea being a Princess to your friends sweeties? ¨ Clarisse asked both girls softly but with a stern face. Somehow she couldn´t control it given the situation

¨No Clari, we have not why?¨ Cassidy said while titling her head to the side like a puppy. It was simply endearing to see

¨We don´t talk about Andy or you to anybody. We don´t really share things. Sometimes our friends are mean¨ Caroline said making Miranda frown

¨I am going to further this ¨mean friends¨ talk a bit later ok darlings? Thank you for your honesty. Now please go have a bit of fun ok?¨ Miranda told her beautiful twins and they all watched them kiss their mother´s cheeks before waving at them.

¨They are truly amazing kids Miranda, You have done amazing¨ Helen said staring fondly at the twins, and she now saw why Andy had simply lost the battle to those two

Miranda blushed at the comment before whispering ¨Thank you, that means a lot. I am truly blessed by them¨

¨Now¨ Clarisse said while sitting down ¨I believe you are Elise Cox Stockholm, I´m Clarisse¨ she added while staring at the woman who froze and watched her untrustingly.

¨Yes you majesty, a pleasure. I don´t recall having met you¨ Elise said. She was used to being the one knowing too much about everyone else and not the other way around

¨We have not met yet we will be working together more often if you wish. Do not worry dear; I am of no threat.¨ Clarisse said shocking everyone, Joe included. They all simply stared at both women since no one had ever seen Clarisse like this. She was stern, cold, a bit calculating and sharp. It was clear why she was so successful even when she was such a caring and warm woman.

¨How?¨ Elise asked simply. No one but them understood apparently

¨I also do my homework dear one. Now sit, we have work. Oh… and you should move, your landlord is simply disgusting and annoying¨ Clarisse finished shocking everyone mostly because Elise let out a hearty laugh at that which eased the tension.

¨We will get along your majesty¨ Elise said lowering her head a bit in reverence

¨Ok, whatever is happening?¨ Helen said not understanding a thing and looking at Miranda and Joe who shrugged with shocked faces.

¨I am making friends my dear Helen, do not worry. Now, back to the matter¨ the Queen said while getting everyone back on track and retelling everything that had been going on

¨SHE WHAT!? HE DID WHAT?! I´m going to kill that fucker¨ Helen said surprising everyone mostly since she had started making her way out the door but was stopped by Miranda. She could see so much of Andrea in her mother and Clarisse. It was amazing how, on daring situations, a switch was pushed and they transformed into another person.

¨Helen please, he´s in police custody¨ Miranda said softly trying to stop the woman. She could see the resemblance to her loving Andrea now and where her fierce attitude came from.

After she calmed down they kept their investigation up until almost midnight only taking a break to have dinner with the girls and for Joe to take Helen back home.

Miranda tried her best to reach out to Andrea but she was sad when no answer came from her. She really wished to have her girlfriend to hug and comfort but she knew not to push her.

-.-

¨Your Majesty¨ Elise said after about two hours on her laptop ¨Were the parliament supposed to make their way to the Country this week?¨

It was well after midnight and this got everyone´s attention

¨They are all invited to Genovia´s Independence day Ball next Friday. I should´ve thought of this. Charlotte, please get me the list for those who had accepted the invitation.¨ Clarisse said since she had called her the moment dinner had been over.

¨My Queen they have all confirmed but Vizconde Mabrey and his nephew Nicholas Deveruox¨ Charlotte said dutifully but understood what she´d said meant.

¨Charlotte, this means one thing only, you are to get the head of the parliament and make this situation known with every detail and arrange a meeting tomorrow evening before our annual dinner. Elise you are to gather information on Mabrey and Nicholas Deveruox right this moment and their whereabouts since it seems they are playing with fire¨ Clarisse said with an angry face

¨My Queen this could get them in their favor¨ Charlotte said but had already gotten to work

¨They can get in favor of whom they see fit but my family is not to be touched nor ridiculized! Arrange everything for next week´s dinner. Andrea will be presented as my granddaughter and future Queen and be respected as such¨ Clarisse said angrily while standing up making everyone do the same

¨Miranda, if you wish to accompany us along with your lovely and amazing daughters you are welcome to; Elise, you will be getting a phone call in two days if you deliver. Charlotte, the car¨ The Queen said before standing up and saying goodnight on her way out the door.

Since Clarisse had already left and Charlotte had stood there she took the time to breath and lean back. Miranda, as well as Elise, was so shocked about the whole evening that they had barely nodded at the woman. It was obvious the Queen was a force to be reckoned

¨Wow¨ Miranda said before turning to Charlotte ¨Is she always like this? ¨but was not expecting an answer. She was amazed by the sheer power the older woman had but even more amazed of the lengths she would go to protect her family. It was a risky move to go against a parliament member

¨Her love for her family surpasses her love for the throne even if she doesn´t let it show and, besides, this man has always had it in him to get the Sachs Renaldy family away from the throne. His nephew could be eligible in case Andrea doesn´t accept and could also be consider as a bachelor to marry in case she does¨ Charlotte explained earning a scowl and frown from Miranda

¨Like hell! I do not care if that fucker wants the Country but he will not get the love of my life in line with it!¨ Miranda surprising the women in the room but paid no attention and made to call Nigel, Emily and Serena. She had a plan to ruin some lives.

¨Madam Priestly…¨ Charlotte started but was stopped by Miranda

¨First of all I believe we have already gotten past the last names stage and second of all I understand your best interest is on your country but mine, as well as Clarisse´s, is on my family and Andrea is my family¨ Miranda finished while standing up and pacing to finish staring at the woman

Charlotte, for her part chuckled and said ¨I was going to ask for you to wait before engaging other people and to let me set the party and dinner¨ while smirking making her intentions known and warning a chuckle from Miranda

¨I like you¨ Elise said yet blushed and looked back into her computer. She´d not meant to say that out loud and she didn´t want to see the woman´s reaction. Sadly she missed a huge blush and a knowing look from Miranda.

Miranda knew her friend was a one night stand kind of woman so seeing her so smitten was endearing

Thankfully for them the tension was broken by Miranda´s phone