Chapter 12

"I think you said everything..." remarked Clarisse bitterly and turned to leave.

"Clarisse..."

"What?...," she turned to face with him. "What do you want? You want to apologize for I've wasted my life on you? For I loved you so desperately and you didn't give a shit on me?... I gave up my career for you, my chance to have a normal family, my youth, my whole life you bastard." She was shaking from frustration. "Don't touch me," she hissed and pulled away instinctively.

"Sorry... I've thought you were happy with your life as my wife. Not recently of course, but..."

"Happy? Really?... Where the hell you get that from?"

"I gave you everything..."

"Everything?" she laughed up. "What do you mean? A private jet or a limousine? Because this is the only thing what matters in your world, power and prestige... And why are you here, hm?"

"How you mean it?... I want to save our marriage."

"And that's why you're checking your watch all the time?"

"It's just a bad habit."

"A bad habit, uh-huh... or you have something important in your schedule, right? Let me guess... Maybe that party tonight?"

"..."

"You've thought you will convince me and I will be the hostess? That's why you're here..."

"So you come back with me?"

"You don't even try to deny it?... You are unbelievable," she didn't know to laugh or cry. "You know what?... Okay."

"You mean you'll come back?"

"Yes. Now I want to be alone, but we can go within an hour."

"That's perfect... thank you."

She just murmured something and left him. About an hour later they were already on their way back to the Palace. In the limousine, Clarisse sat on the back seat with her husband, while Tom was at the steering wheel with Joseph on his side. During the journey everybody was deep in though just Clarisse tried to catch the eye contact with Joseph in the rare view mirror. When he finally looked up and met her eyes she sent him a confident smile, what he understood immediately. This little gesture healed all of his worries, so he finally knew that she still belonged to him and that was a fantastic feeling.

After arriving to the Palace, Clarisse quickly changed into something elegant for the party and as she went up to the podium a little later, all of the guests were amazed. Amazed, because she was so radiant and it was not just her beauty, but her confidence what literally shined from her.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. Thank you for coming to this special event, but before I open the party I would like to announce something." That was the moment when the King started to worry. She was too easy on coming back, too happy and too confident... and he was right. "After all these years I finally reached my turning point, so I officially announce that I'll divorce from my husband... thank you and enjoy the rest of the night." and with that she simply left the shocked crowd behind and hastened back to her suite with Joseph on her side.

"That was a memorable speech if I may say so," smiled Joseph on their way back.

"Oh, thank you."

"Something they will surely remember."

"I really hope so."

"And now I would like to take the opportunity to... you know, you can run away with me if you want."

"Really?... That was your dream job if I'm correct," she remarked playfully.

"Yeah, but just because of you. So here's the offer: a lovely house on the beach with a sailboat of course," she could not hide her smile. "Lots of space for your illustrations, but unfortunately no private jet and limousine."

"Oh what a shame," she said with false sadness.

"But it contains a loving husband, who will dedicate the rest of his life to make you happy."

"Well... I think this is what they call an offer you can't refuse," she smiled.

"So?"

"It's a deal... of course it's a deal." she smiled happily as she fell on his neck, while he just hugged her lovingly... and a few hours later with interlocked fingers, they were ready to take on the world.

The End