Mark landed back at home and he was quickly escorted to the first outing that his mother had planned. He was already missing the vacation style in which he could just do what he wanted to a point. He was already missing Risley and wanted her to be here. He took out his phone and texted her and then placed it back into his coat pocket.
"Joe, how long is this engagement? I am extremely tired from the plane ride" Mark said to him as he continued to drive.
"It should not be extremely long Sir, but your mother does want you to today" He responded.
"Oh yes, the 20 questions" Mark sighed and looked out the window of the landscape. He wanted to call Risley when he thought she would be home, but it looks like it might be later then what he was planning.
Risley sat in the living room and chatting with Evelyn about just normal life stuff, and then the question came up "Have you heard from Mark?"
"He texted me telling me he landed." She paused and then "I thought I would hear his voice tonight," She said sadly and touched her necklace and gently played with the charms.
"You know it is a crazy life he lives" Evelyn tried to play it off a bit, but it was something that already put a strained on the relationship that was just so new.
Once Risley and Evelyn finished chatting Risley laid her head back against the arm of the couch. She looked out the window and seen the stars in the sky. She made a small wish and finally got up and had a wonderful idea. She took an analog clock and changed it to the time where Mark was. She smiles and placed it on the wall. Now she could remember what time he was at. She cleaned up the small mess and finally decided to turn in for the night.
Mark sat with his mother the next morning as the two began to catch up over breakfast. They sat at the table as they had the servers start to bring breakfast. Mark wore basic trousers and a collared shirt while his mother was in a dress down to her mid-calf in a blue color. Mark started to talk to his mother about the vacation and the meetings he dealt with along with the outing from yesterday. The two ate and chatted about upcoming events and Mark had an idea.
"Mother, on Friday at the dinner." She swallowed her food in her mouth and looked up at her son "Would I be allowed to bring Risley?"
"Well, that is a subject we should speak about" She paused "What are your feelings about her?"
"She is a wonderful person. I can tell you that she is different than anyone else I ever dated. I do believe that she is my match" Mark said took a sip out of his glass.
"But can she deal with everything that comes with being part of this family?" She asked him and he smiled
"That is why I said about the dinner on Friday since it is a masquerade. So, the press will not know who she is coming in or going out. I am sure once she is here and inside these walls, things will be fine." He smiled "I am surprised that you did not think of this yourself"
"Your mouth," She said to him and looked down at her plate an took a bite of food. Mark knew what he said was wrong, but needed to have his mother approval before getting Risley here. "You do realize that you need to settle down soon... You are next in line to rule." She took the moment to scold her son "I want to meet her" She finally said and Mark smiled brightly.
"What does your schedule look like" He paused "let us plan it now, mother." Mark knew that Risley would get along with his mother. Mark was more than happy to get Risley back in his arms. Once Mark was finished with his mother he went back to his apartment. He could not even wait he started to text Risley right away seeing if she was awake.
"Hello?" Risley said half asleep as she placed her phone next to her ear.
"I have good news," Mark said and Risley started to sit up.
"Mark?" She paused and pulled the blankets up "I am sorry. I don't know what you are talking about and still half asleep."
"Half asleep?" What time is it there?"
"4 am" She started to laugh at him. "So, what is the exciting news?"
"Friday night there is a masquerade my mother is holding and I got the approval for you to come." Mark was excited and Risley could tell over the phone "I can fly out on Thursday and pick you up Thursday night and you will be back here Friday. You can stay here with me and then go back home maybe in a week?"
"That sounds like fun" She giggled "I will put in for the time off when I get to work. I have nothing to wear for a masquerade tho. I will have to get Evelyn to help me out."
"So, that is a yes?" Mark asked just to be sure
"Yes," She said and smiled "How have you been?"
"Busy, but wishing I was back with you"
"I wish that too," She said and smiled and the two began to talk about everything from day to day thing to work. The two continue to talk until Risley alarm went off to get up for work. She could not peel herself off the phone.
"I better let you go that was your alarm" Mark finally said to her. "I have to go do this event anyway" as he sighed a bit.
"I- I just" Risley started to say and then just stopped herself. "I can not wait till Thursday" She beamed through the phone.
"I will be there in no time to come and get you" He laughed at her and the two said their goodbyes and got off the phone. Mark told Joe about his new plans for the next few weeks and told him any engagements that he needed to do would either have to be on hold or with Risley.
Risley sat down in Evelyn's office and watched her work. "So, I have to take some time off" Risley finally spoke to her.
"Oh, Okay... when do you want to take off"
"Well, I would be off from this Friday to next Friday and returning Monday" Risley smiled and Evelyn stopped and looked up at her. "I will need your help too because I need an outfit for the masquerade"
"Wait." She tilted her head "I am lost..." She stood up and closed the door and then sat back down.
"Mark asked me to go visit him. He is going to pick me up Thursday night and will fly me back on the following Friday. He has a masquerade that I need to have an outfit for." Risley could not keep her joy inside of her.
"Sounds very serious," She said
"I never had these feelings before. I have to see how this path goes" She beam and was glowing to Evelyn.
"Take the time off" Evelyn paused "I will keep things here under control" She giggled and shacked her head. She smile up at Risley "I will help you get an outfit together."
"Thank you …. thank you!" Risley hugged Evelyn and then left the office. She sat down at her desk and texted Mark.
It was the night before Risley would have to leave and the girls decided to go dress shopping. The girls tried on dress after dress... long ones, short ones, even the hi-low ones. There was some that were potentials, but they could not decide on which one to take with her.
" Ris, why not pick a mask that you want to wear and then go on from that?" Evelyn finally said which started to make sense as she was getting tired of the night. Risley looked at the masks and finally one called out to her. She picked up a beautiful vintage mask that had jewels all over the mask with a base color or a light peachy pink color along with beautiful glittery feathers coming up the side.
"This is it," Risley said as she wore it over to Evelyn and they both agreed that the color would bring out her red hair even more than normal. The girls then got back to the shopping getting a dress, jewelry, and shoes. The two also figured out the hairstyle along with makeup. The girls chatted a lot about the upcoming trip and also Mark.
Evelyn finally blurted out extremely loud "If he proposes marriage you better tell me before anyone else!"
"Evelyn, Shh," Risley said and her cheeks turned warm "That is just rushing it, don't you think?"
"Yes yes, but I want you to know" Evelyn laughed as the two finally grabbed all their bags and headed out to get some food for dinner.
Tom sat on the couch and finished his conversation as Evelyn walked through the front door. He looked up at the time and then look at her. "My goodness, you girls can shop" He joked with her.
" You would not believe the options that you have to deal with for a masquerade."
"Hm," He said and walked over to kissed her softly hello "Talking about the masquerade... Mark called," He said and walked back to the couch and sat down as Evelyn put her things down and waited for him to tell her what they talked about.
"Well," She began to get impatient and wanted to know what was said. Evelyn was starting to worry that maybe her matchmaking skills were not that great.
"What?" Tom said almost teasing as he got up and start turning off the lights in the living room. And headed into the bedroom to get ready for the night.
"Don't you give me that?" Evelyn said and walked into the bedroom and started to get her self-ready. Tom turned on both bedside lights and turned off the ceiling lights.
"Well, I will give you the short version I am sure that you are wanting to hear. Mark is really into Ris and she is going to meet the mother."He paused as Evelyn squealed.
"I knew it! I told Ris tonight that if he proposes that I better be one of the first people to know" She jumped up and down in her pj's onto the bed.
"Woah, I didn't say that," Tom said and shook his head
"You know that is coming. Mark is in his 30s now and needs to start thinking about the future..."
"God, you sound like his mother," Tom said as he pushed the blankets down on the bed
"Hey, I am being honest," Evelyn said as she slid into the bed. "Okay, but mark my words. It's going to happen" Tom just laughed at her.
"It is good news that she is meeting mother" He paused "Mark is serious about this one... better than the last few that we have met"
"Oh yes, Can you image?" Evelyn said and turned off her bedside light.