Chapter 2

"Well..." she just smiled challengingly, "Then good luck with that..."

He still felt her perfume in the air when Shades finally found him.

"Please don't say you screwed it up... Joseph... you didn't, right?"

"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh my God... I cannot believe it." Shades was so frustrated, he just paced up and down, "It was such a fine job with premium salary and..."

"Shades..."

"Just going to tea parties with her, nothing hard..."

"Shades. Stop it. Where did you get that I screwed it up?"

"I just know it. So tell me... and don't spare me... what did you tell her exactly?"

"Nothing wrong... just asked her out."

Shades rolled his eyes, "And?..."

"... And I told her that I'm sure she will be my wife one day."

"You really are an idiot, you know that?" he hissed.

"Why? I think she liked the idea..."

"Really? And which reaction of her told you that? Her odious style or the way as she looked at you?"

"You don't understand women, Shades. I know she likes me."

"Great... It was my fault anyway, I was the one who offered you to this position. I think I'll go home and make a few calls, maybe I will find a job on the local police station."

"Shades, you are always so pessimistic... Relax and start saving for the wedding present."

"Just tell me one thing... why her? Why the hell did you chose her? You could pick up a new woman every day. Younger, more friendly and... free. Not a woman with a husband who is non other than the King of Genovia."

"Frankly?" Shades just nodded, "I don't know... When I first saw her, I caught a smile of her... she was chatting with someone and she just turned around with that lovely smile and looked at me. I know it was not intentional and she was not too kind with me in person, but that first moment was enough. I just know that she is the one for me."

"I think I need a scotch now..." murmured Shades and left him.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

Next day, at the Palace...

"So welcome to the team," said the supervisor to Joseph, shaking hands.

"Thank you Sir."

"As a little warm-up, would you escort Her Majesty upstairs? She's just arrived back."

"Of course Sir." Nodded Joseph, then went for Clarisse, who was standing in front of her husband's office, chatting with a few staff members.

"I've thought you ran away during the night," she remarked as they headed upstairs.

"Why would I run away if I could be with you all the time? It's the best job I've ever had."

"Really?"

"Yes, and you still haven't answered to my invitation..."

"To the dinner date?" He really entertained her.

"Yeah, tonight."

"And where did you want to go... I mean before you realized who am I."

"I thought Chez Doucette would be fine."

"Hm, really good choice. I love that place. But now... you would still take me there? Maybe I should wear a wig or you would rent the whole restaurant?"

"All I can say, if I said I will take you to a dinner date then I will."

"And where?"

"Just leave it to me, I'll manage it."

"In normal circumstances I would say 'no' without hesitation, but I'm too curious what you come up with, so okay."

"Great, then be ready at eight." He smiled and lowered his voice, because they nearly arrived to her suite.

"And what should I wear?"

"Smart trick, but I won't tell you where we're going. Anyway I'm sure you are beautiful in anything." He remarked lovingly and he finally saw some hope in her eyes.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

At exactly eight o' clock he knocked on her door...

"Come in."

"Good Evening. You're... you're just breathtaking," he flattered honestly as he saw her in that little black dress, what perfectly highlighted her figure. "And you choose ballerina shoes?"

"Yes, if we have to run from the paparazzis, you know."

"Very clever," he just laughed on her comment, "The plan is you are just going for a walk, so put on a coat or something."

"Okay."

"Perfect... Then come on." he winked and opened the door for her.

"Tom, Her Majesty is going for a walk in the garden,"

"Got it."

Outside...

"So what's the plan? How do we get out from here?" she asked, keeping the speed with him.

"Actually... noways."

"What?" She asked and looked at him,

"You wanted to eat in Chez Doucette, so I ordered everything from there..." He stopped and she could finally see the loveliest picnic she has ever seen, arranged by him in a hidden spot of the garden. At a big old tree, there was a huge blanket with cushions and candles, with the finest food and champagne for them.

"I don't know your taste, but I hope it will be okay as a dinner date." he smiled and saw it in her eyes that she loved it.

As they settled down he opened a bottle of champagne...

"So I know nothing about you," said Joseph as he handed her a glass, "You should tell me a bit about yourself."

"No..." Her answer was quick and hard, but this time she didn't want it that way. "I mean... I wanted to ask the same thing."

"Right. Then what do you want to know?"

"Everything."

"Okay..." said Joseph and started his story. "So I grew up in Chicago, in a quiet suburb area, where we always hung with the kids from the neighborhood and there was a lot of problem with us... My father was a lawyer and my mother a housewife. They really tried to deal with me, but I ended up in military school, what was too strict for me as a later profession, so after university I started to work for the police as a computer specialist."

"You protected President Reagan, right?"

"Yes, that's where I got shot. I still dreaming with it after twenty-five years."

"I'm sorry." She said and really meant it. "Nightmares could be so frustrating."

"You also have ones?" He asked softly, but she did not answer, so he understood that she did not want to talk about it. There was silence for a few moments.

"So... why don't you tell me now about your wife and kids, you know."

"Oh, right. I... I have no kids and I divorced eight years ago, but I must say I understand Judy."

"You cheated on her?"

"No, never... I was just too busy with my work. I was never at home in time, it's... it's not an easy profession, and she had become fed up with that."

"I see." She nodded and he could see the sadness in her yes. "I know this well..."

"I think the main problem was that we never really loved each other. I mean we were fine together, but something was always missing. When you are in love, you cannot wait to go home and see your wife, to finally feel her close again and just to be with her, doing anything. Not just making love, but cuddling on the sofa with a glass of wine or reading, while she is leaning against you and making her nails or something. You know what I mean... Clarisse? No, please don't cry." He reached out to touch her face, but she didn't let him to do it, she rather jumped up and started to go back, he barely could catch up with her. "Did I say something wrong?" he asked as they hastened back.

"No, I just want to go back to my suite."

"Clarisse," he grabbed her arm softly and she finally stopped.

"Just let me go..." She whispered and little teardrops were running down on her cheek. "Please." As he was watching her, his heart was breaking. Now he could see that behind her sharp tongue and odious style, she was suffering so hard...

To be continued...