Josephine
I take a sip of my sugar free peach iced tea that I always get when I'm here at Hurlingham Club in Fulham. It is surrounded by luscious green manicured lawns, offering the perfect spot for an afternoon game of petanque, bowls or croquet.
Or to have secret meetings with my brother.
Hurlingham's huge grounds have outdoor and indoor pools, squash and tennis courts, a gym, bar, conservatory, in addition to countless rooms and terraces. It resembles more of a country estate than a members' club.
That's why I love it here so much. This also makes it the perfect spot for Nate and I to talk in privacy. Because whatever happens in Hurlingham, stays in Hurlingham.
Sort of like what happened in France.
With Edward Rothschild.
"Jo!"
I turn around and watch my brother walking over to me. I'm sitting at the last table on the terrace that's overlooking the luscious green manicured lawns. A few hundreds of meters away from me are tennis courts which are currently used by a few members. Rory and I used to play against Char and George quite a lot before Rory got pregnant. We've always enjoyed our time here.
I get up from my chair and embrace my older brother. "You look good."
"Really? Char's been telling me to get rid of these dark circles under my eyes. Bought way too many lotions and potions for me to try."
I giggle. "Lotions and potions?"
My blonde brother shrugs, "Apparently part of being a Royal means looking absolutely fabulous no matter where you go. Even if that's just through Regents Park."
"You're still living on Della's grounds?"
My brother nods before sitting down across me. "Yeah. While the world thinks we're living in Nottingham Cottage right around the corner from Catherine and William, we actually are living half way across the town, safe within the big bushes that surround Della and Wlad's house."
"You'll have to move out in June."
"It's still April. Let me enjoy my days before becoming a Royal a little bit."
"And no one caught you guys yet?"
He shakes his head, "It's surprising what baseball caps and sluggish clothes can do."
I do love a good baseball cap. "I know. So, I already ordered lunch for us."
"We'll be here that long?"
"Yeah. Or do you have to run off?"
To my disappointment he nods, "Unannounced royal engagement in three hours."
"And you'll go there like this?"
"No, I'll change of course."
"I see. Well, we can still be here for an hour before you have to go. Where's the engagement?"
"A kindergarten in London."
I chuckle, "You're going to send some subtle messages to the world that way."
He grins the way our Daddy sometimes grins at Mummy. It makes Nate and Daddy even look more alike. "Little do they know it's a very real message." He picks up my iced tea and takes a sip, "So, what did you want to talk about?"
I lean back, "Right. I think I need to tell you what it means to be a Royal."
He frowns, "That's Rory's job. Besides, we've already talked about that. Several times."
"Rory told you how Members of the Royal Family support The King in his many State and national duties, as well as carrying out important work in the areas of public and charitable service, and helping to strengthen national unity and stability. Those who undertake official duties are members of The King's close family: his children, grandchildren and their spouses. Every year the Royal Family as a whole carries out over 2,000 official engagements throughout the UK and worldwide. These engagements may include official State responsibilities. Members of the Royal Family often carry out official duties in the UK and abroad where The King cannot be present in person. The Prince of Wales and The Princess of Wales, for example, may present members of the public with their honours at an Investiture." I start saying exactly what it says on the Royal website. "When official events such as receptions, State banquets and garden parties are held, the Royal Family supports The King in making his guests welcome. Members of the Royal Family also often represent The King and the nation in Commonwealth or other countries, at events such as State funerals or national festivities, or through longer visits to strengthen Britain's diplomatic and economic relations. The Royal Family also plays an important role in supporting and encouraging the public and charity sectors. About 3,000 organisations list a member of the Royal Family as patron or president. The huge range of these organisations - covering every subject from education to the environment, hospitals to housing - allows members of the Royal Family to meet people from a wide spectrum of national and local life, and to understand their interests, problems and concerns. The Royal Family also plays an important role in recognising and supporting the work of the Armed Services. Members of the Royal Family have official relationships with many units of the Forces, paying regular visits to soldiers, sailors and airmen serving at home and abroad. Finally, the Royal Family as a whole plays a role in strengthening national unity. Members of the Royal Family are able to recognise and participate in community and local events in every part of the UK, from the opening of new buildings to celebrations or acts of commemoration. The king working by himself would be unable to attend every engagement to which he is invited. Members of the Royal Family can undertake local or specialist engagements which would otherwise have to be declined."
Nate frowns at me, "How did you know she'd say that to me?"
"That's what it says on the Royal Website and Rory wrote that part." I explain and roll my eyes.
"But you've got that all in your head? Maybe you've got an eidetic memory just like Ana and Della."
I chuckle, "No. I just remember certain things. Not everything. But enough about me, this is about you."
He leans back, "What are your wise words?"
"You're going to pay more attention to what you're wearing." I explain.
"What's wrong with my outfits? They were all approved by Char!"
I grin, the fact that Char checks on his outfits doesn't surprise me at all. "That's not what I mean. Your outfits are fine but it lacks... a charitable touch."
My brother raises his left eyebrow, "A charitable touch?"
"Yes. You represent the King, the nation and the commonwealth whenever you step out of your home. Your outfit should have at least of piece that has some sort of connection to a charity. Rory usually picks her handbags that way."
"I will not carry a handbag with me."
I chuckle again, "No but it could be your belt or watch... or socks!"
"No one freaking cares about my socks!"
"Nate, everyone cares about your socks. Remember how everyone started showing interest in Rory's clothes, makeup, hair, face and body products when she first started dating George?"
"Of course I do. They're still obsessed with her."
"And they are obsessed with you now. Just because you don't read about what happens online and in the tabloids, doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Men and boys want to dress like you now. You're like the male version of Rory."
My brother frowns, "No, you're just messing with me."
"I'm not and from now on you will choose an item - anything - that supports a charity every time you go out in public. A bracelet, a watch, a pair of socks, a T-shirt or trousers. You will show the goodwill that Mummy and Daddy taught us since we were little."
"Alright, I can do that. But not on my wedding date."
I nod, "Fair enough."
"And the other thing you wanted to tell me?"
"Don't talk to anyone about our family. No close friends, no-"
"You mean Ed." He grins at me.
"Hell yeah!" I wave my my hands. "He tested my own boundaries and beliefs - and I failed."
"You really thought I would do that to you?"
I shrug. At first I didn't but Ed was so convincing...
Nate leans forward, "I'm your bigger brother. I'd never do something that could hurt you or put you in danger."
"Don't act like we're years apart! You're just six weeks older than me."
My brother chuckles, "Yeah but that still means I'm your big brother and therefore look out for you."
I roll my eyes at his words. "I can look out for myself. You can focus on Char and the twins."
"But that doesn't mean I will stop carrying about you. I might be living right next to Rory as of June but you are still on my radar."
"Just like Eli, Cal and Gideon?"
"They're more on Mummy and Daddy's radar..." he says with a shrug. "So, are you and Ed now an item? He's sitting in the choir at the wedding, you know."
The choir is the part of the church which is reserved for the Royal Family, our family and very close friends. Considering Ed and other Rothschild family members will sit there is going to have news reporters all over the world talking. Well, at least they won't talk about Charlotte's baby bump if she is going to have one by that time. "He told me he'd be there and no we're not dating."
"Why not? He's a cool guy! Very fun to be with."
I can sign that. "I'm just not looking for a relationship right now. It wouldn't be fair towards him."
"But you like him, don't you?"
I nod, "That's why I had to set the record straight. But I did promise him a dance at your wedding reception."
"You'll give Mummy and Daddy a heart attack."
I grin, "They're used to seeing me dancing with different men."
"And they're not getting on your nerves?"
I shake my head, "Are you kidding me? Rory will gift them triplets and you twins - I'm as safe as I can get. They're in grandparents' seventh heaven. Trust me, they wouldn't even notice if I suddenly turn gay."
"I wouldn't say that. They care about us equally as much."
But not enough to give me a seat at the table in Bolton's Enterprises. "I know..." I brush through my hair. "So, how's the wedding planning going?"
"We chose the basics. But we didn't choose the menu yet. The King is sending us everywhere, so it's a bit hard but we're mastering it."
"And Charlotte is doing alright?"
He nods, "She loves all these engagements, especially the walkabouts. I swear she's so much like her grandma and I think people are slowly seeing it."
"There will always be comparisons to Princess Diana, won't there?"
"I think William and Harry make sure of it."
"And this year they're holding a remembrance concert for her." It's almost like they know some people are starting to forget about her, so they whip up a concert or open a museum in her name... Princess Diana will never be forgotten, thanks to her sons and grandchildren.
"William once said to me that she'd really like me. Biggest compliment I have ever gotten from him."
Getting the approval of Char's dead grandma does something with you. I get it.
"I've also been working on my Royal Coat Of Arms."
"Really? What's your supporter?"
He shrugs, "That's the only thing left. I got the rest figured but not the supporter. The shield will look similar to Rory's. And the grass beneath the shield will have the same flowers as Rory's, to show the connection between us and the respect for the Royal Family."
"Char's supporter is a unicorn, right?
He nods, "And Rory chose a hummingbird..."
"How about an eagle? You like eagles."
"No that would be considered too American."
"A dragon?"
"No, we're not from Wales."
"A white owl? Just like Hedwig from Harry Potter."
Nate laughs out loud at my suggestion, "No bird."
"Okay... maybe a cat then? A cheetah? Or panther? Or leopard?"
"That would be too close to William's supporter. He has a lion and a unicorn."
"But he didn't choose them. They were chosen for him because they're the national animals of England and Scotland." I lick my lips and think for a moment. "Well it won't be an elephant." I think out loud. "Or a monkey."
Nate laughs again. "No, definitely no monkey."
"How about a red fox? Or a deer? They're animals that can be found in Britain. Or a squirrel."
He shakes his head, "Perhaps I should stick to a lion like all male Royals. I mean, the sense of responsibility, coupled with strength and courage has made the lion to be a cherished national animal symbol of England. As a symbol of bravery, the lion was also used to depict the courageous warriors of medieval England."
"But you would choose it just because you want to fit it. It wouldn't represent you in any way."
"True. But it does represent our home country well. I should play it safe and use the lion."
"Are you sure?"
He nods, "Yeah, I'll pick a lion. It won't be crowned or anything."
"Okay." I say with a nod before taking another sip of my iced tea. "But if you're getting your own Coat of Arms then this means you will get a Royal title." I point out the obvious.
My brother leans back against the back of the chair. "Yes but knowing Char, she won't accept anything below a Duke. That's the crucial point. I'm not sure the King will grant me the title of a Duke."
Oliver
'Think about the amount of effort involved in this process of constantly sailing against the current. Maybe this is the fundamental mismatch between Gatsby and Daisy. She is a creature of passivity, and he is a swan - gliding gracefully above the water, while paddling furiously just below it to stay afloat.' I flip the page and close the book. I didn't understand why Josephine liked this novel so much but now I do. Jay Gatsby is a self-made man who is driven by his love for, and obsession with, Daisy Buchanan. Born a poor farmer, Gatsby becomes materially successful through crime and spends the novel trying to recreate the perfect love he and Daisy had five years before. When she cannot renounce her marriage, Gatsby's dream is crushed.
Daisy Buchanan is a very rich young woman who is trapped in a dysfunctional marriage and oppressed by her meaningless life. Daisy has an affair with Gatsby, but is ultimately unwilling to say that she has been as obsessed with him as he has with her, and goes back to her unsatisfying, but also less demanding, relationship with her husband, Tom.
I look to my right and stare at Josephine. As every evening, she has removed all of her makeup and put her long chestnut hair into a bun that makes her look like a ballerina. She's wearing light blue silk pyjamas that enchants her eyes. She looks stunning without all the makeup, the fancy designer clothes and the sparkling diamonds that she wore as jewellery today. I love the Josephine in her outfit for work but this... this is the core of the woman I fell in love with. I could stare at her all night. "Why do you like The Great Gatsby so much?"
She looks up from her book and her sky blue eyes meet mine. "It's about a man who is obsessed with recreating what he once had. He does everything for that one woman, whom he loves so much. He's the ultimate fraud. But he's also incredibly lonely despite all the wealth and people around him. All he wants is her love but he doesn't get it. Because he missed his chance. You can't recreate the past."
"Isn't this what love is? Trying to do anything to be with the one you love?"
She sighs, "I don't know much about love but the way I see it..." she licks her lips. "You need to love yourself first before you can love someone else. Accept yourself and the way you are. Gatsby is an illusionist and his obsession is his death. That's not love."
"He couldn't let go of the past."
She nods, "He never moved on from the past. Gatsby is my spectre and every time I read it, I am reminded of what a relationship can destroy."
"So, basically Gatsby is everything you never want to be."
She smiles at me, "I knew you would understand my point of view."
I do but I have no idea what to do with this insight. "What would you do for love?"
"Not what Gatsby did. I love myself too much to turn into someone I'm not. I wouldn't do anything to impress the person I love. Because if he loves me, I don't need to impress him with my wealth or expensive gifts or extravagant parties... he would love me for me."
The Great Gatsby is her nightmare. "Have you ever been in love?" The question has left my lips before my mind can catch up.
But to my surprise she doesn't seem shocked by my question. "No."
"Never?"
"Why does this surprise you? You know I only do one-night stands."
True but I thought she fell in love once, that asshole fucked her up and now she's doing that one-night-stand-thing only. But I guess I was wrong. "I just thought someone hurt you in the past and that's why you do what you do now..."
She chuckles as if I made a joke. Then she puts the book back on her nightstand and rolls on to her stomach, "Oliver, this is not some fairytale here. I am not a broken soul that is in need of some healing. I do what I do to protect my family and the Royals. I am very much aware of my status and what comes with it. I like my life as it is. I don't need the same man in my bed for the rest of my life, let alone have children running down these hallways. I hate dirty footprints and sticky handprints on the glass facades in my penthouse. I bought this penthouse being very much aware of its beauty and what it would mean: no children. I don't want children and I certainly don't want one man in my life for the rest of my life. I wouldn't be faithful to this man. Just like I wasn't faithful with you." She explains to me.
"Why?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Why are you so afraid of children and being monogamous?"
"I am not afraid of children. Or being monogamous." She hisses me.
"Josephine,"
She sighs, "I am not made for marriage and motherhood. I have the best mother in the world, but that doesn't mean I will be just as good - or even a quarter of how good my mother is. Because I don't have fidelity in my blood. Looking at Rory, pregnancy must be horrific. I don't think she will ever look like herself again. Plus, I don't have time to take care of a child. I don't even have time for a pet, so I sure as hell won't have time for a child. It's just not for me."
She'd be the perfect mother. I know it. I can see it in her eyes and the way she chooses her words. She'd be the perfect shoulder to cry on to and she's a lion that would fight for and protect her children. She'd be perfect. It's a shame she doesn't see that.
But one day she will.
And I hope I'll be by her side when she does. "Well, perhaps you should get a pet and see."
"I won't change my mind just because I can take care of a cat. A cat and a child are two different pairs of shoes. My parents will get enough grandchildren, they don't need some from me."
"Do you think you would be a horrible mother?"
"I think I would be a mother who works more than she is at home. I would be a mother who never sees her child, not even during holidays. I'd be a mother only on paper - and no child deserves such a mother."
I notice she didn't mention that she wouldn't love this child... So, not all hope is lost.
"Is that enough talk about children or do you have any more questions?"
She just wants to tick this topic off as if it were a point on her to-do list. I shake my head.
"Good." With that she turns around again and picks up her book from the nightstand.
"What are you reading?"
"Relentless by Tim Grover."
I chuckle. Of course she's reading a book that describes her persona perfectly.
"What? My Mum read it years ago and recommended it the other day when we had lunch together."
"Do you have lunch with your parents every day?"
"Not every day but when time allows us to."
She's such a family person. "Can I ask you something?"
She frowns, "I don't think I will like this question but I never back down from a challenge so go ahead."
"Do you have any friends outside of your family?"
"A few but I'm not a very friendly person. Women tend to feel intimidated by my looks and men don't seem to have enough balls to be around me and survive. It's why I stick to one-night stands when I'm in the mood for sex. Otherwise, I tend to hang out with my family or Char. But she's family as well and as soon as June has arrived it will be official. I hang out with former classmates whenever we meet at parties or when I'm on holidays."
"They don't live here in London?"
"No. They live in castles and palaces in Norway, Monaco, Spain and Sweden."
"You are friends with even more royalty?!" I ask shocked.
She nods, "Once you're in these kind of circles, you kind of start making friends within the circles. That's why wealthy people like to stay within their range. It wouldn't be wise to bring a strange into this. He or she wouldn't know what to wear, say or even how to eat."
"You make being wealthy sound like it's a burden."
"It's not a burden. It's opening doors. But it comes with a very tight circle of friends that are available. People who understand what it's like."
"And I am not one of these people." I think out loud.
She licks her lips, "No, you're not but that doesn't mean you're a bad person. You're just not as rich as me."
The truth hurts me in a way I didn't think was possible. We are from different worlds. Totally different worlds. And she knows it. I was a fool to think she could look over this and see me as I am.
"But I really enjoy what we have. I like you in my bed. And surprisingly, I like having these conversations just as much as having sex in here." She says before grabbing my hands. It's like she feels my discomfort out of the sudden.
"Has someone from your world ever married someone from mine?"
She licks her lips, "I don't know... We're not royalty but we do have a responsibility."
"Can we get hypothetical for a moment?"
She furrows her perfectly groomed brows for a moment. "Why is this so important to you?"
Because I love you and I don't want to loose you. "Can we or can't we?"
"Okay. Let's be hypothetical for a moment." She gives in after staring into my eyes for a moment.
"In parallel universe... Do you think we had a chance?"
She lets go of my hands, "I don't like this."
"Josephine,"
"I'm giving you a chance right now, aren't I?"
"You're counting down the weeks."
"That's not true! I am cherishing the weeks we have ahead of us. I can't... you're asking for a relationship and I am not relationship material. I never will be. I can't be bound to another person. It's too restrictive for me."
I gulp and lick my lips. "So, your answer is no then. We wouldn't even have a chance in a parallel universe in which we would have equal bank accounts."
She sighs, "Oliver, this is not about money. I don't care where you're from or how much money you have. You should know that by now. I am attracted to your lips not because they're bloody soft but because of the kind of words that come out of your mouth. I am attracted to your persona that somehow is even more amazing than this shredded body. That's why I agreed to 16 weeks. Not because of the number on your bank account. I really couldn't care less about that. I don't need your money."
But I need hers. "I'm going to start looking for another job tomorrow morning."
"Oliver, that's not what I meant."
"I know but I don't like to depend on someone."
"You don't depend on me."
"But my family in Rio is and I don't like that. I've provided for them ever since I came to London and suddenly I meet you... you've turned my world upside down, Josephine." I admit.
"Well, you've turned my world upside down as well, Oliver."
"What is wrong is suddenly right and vice versa. Everything is mixed up and everything changes..."
"I know how you feel. But I like this feeling."
I do, too.
"If you want to I can ask around at the Foundation if they need some helping hands. I'm sure my uncle could pay you cash if you explain your unique situation."
I shake my head. "I don't need your help to find another job. I'll can be a bartender in some pub again or wipe some floors somewhere... stuff like that."
She sighs, "I believe you have a lot more potential than wiping floors or filling up glasses with beer."
She has no idea how much potential. She doesn't know that I wanted to become a doctor when I graduated from school... but life had other plans. "It doesn't matter how much potential I have. What matters is that I get a job that's going to pay my Mum and my brothers their rent and tuition."
She stares at me for a moment, probably feeling the thin ice she's walking on right now. And then she nods. "Okay. But if you need help, just ask. I've got a lot of connections in the whole world. Hotels, palaces, elite clubs, banks... I could hook you up with something very easily."
"I'll be fine on my own."
"I know. I just don't want you to hesitate to ask for help from me."
Josephine
I stare at my sleeping bed neighbour as the sun starts rising over the Thames behind him. The pastel purple and pink colours coat him in brilliant lightning. He looks so peaceful. Oliver's beach blonde hair is shimmering in golden tones from the lightning.
He doesn't deserve to worry so much about his family. I could help them out. He called me selfless and altruistic, yet Oliver seems to be the one who is unable to accept help. He's too proud.
Suddenly, he opens his eyes and I stare at the sea foam coloured orbs that I have missed to badly. I haven't seen this colour since I came back from France. I missed this colour.
It's a shame I'm still on my period.
"Good Morning." I whisper to him after a moment.
His lips stretch into a smile that makes my heart stop beating for a second. "Good Morning."
Suddenly, the shrill sound of my alarm fills the room.
"You should change that to something more soothing. No one wants to wake up with bad mood every morning."
I sigh and turn around to pick up my iPhone. I stop the alarm and unlock the screen. I open the app for my alarm before handing it to Oliver. "Pick a different sound."
"You're letting me decide? Am I still dreaming?"
I chuckle, "No, but you will spend the next 15 weeks in this bed. You deserve to have a say to which sound you will wake up to. I don't care about my alarm sound."
He scrolls through my sounds. "Really? You wouldn't prefer tweeting birds over this shrill siren sound?"
I shrug, "I tend to wake up before my alarm anyway."
"Okay, done." He hands me my iPhone back.
I place it back on the nightstand.
"You don't want to know what I picked out?"
I shake my head. "We'll find out tomorrow morning."
"Okay."
"Okay..." I echo him with a smile on my lips.
He reaches out his left hand and carefully fondles my right cheek. My whole body starts covering with goosebumps from that single touch. Tiny sparks from in my right cheek and move through my whole body. Every single nerve and cell of my body awakes. This is just as good as a wake up call with sex.
For minutes, we just stare at one another.
"We should get out of the bed."
"I don't want to leave you." He whispers.
I don't want him to leave me either. "Lets get ready for work." I say before pulling the blanket back.
Suddenly, Oliver's tight grip around my arm pulls me back. A moment later I can feel his lips on mine as he climbs on top of me. My whole body awakes from the way his tongue dances with mine and his smell starts filling my nostrils.
"I'm still on my period." I mumble between his kisses.
"I don't care." He breathes into my face. It took him two days to say these words.
"But I do care very much. Because I can get pregnant while being on my period." I explain to him. I just got my hormonal injection with a progestogen hormone yesterday morning. It lasts me 12 to 13 weeks but I usually get my injection at the 11 week mark, just to make sure. Getting pregnant is not an option, yet I don't use condoms with Oliver. He is the only man I've allowed to come inside of me and I like it. It fits to our arrangement.
"Really?" He asks me surprised.
"Really. Your sperm can survive up to 5 days, which means that ideally in two days when my period is over, your little swimmers will still be alive and might find one of my eggs."
"I thought you were on the pill anyway."
"No. I'm taking a hormonal injection but I've been considering switching to a non hormonal contraception method because I've been having very bad headaches in the last three months."
"I won't use a condom. Now that I know what it feels like to be skin on skin with you, I don't ever want to change that."
I smile at him. Weirdly, I feel the same way. "I know. So the other only non hormonal option available would be tracking my cycle to find out the days I'm fertile at and when not. That would mean green light on all non-fertile days and red on the fertile days."
"How many days a month are you fertile?"
"Well an egg is able to survive 24 hours. It is usually released 10-16 days before my next period. Occasionally, a second egg is released, within 24 hours of the first egg."
"So, two days?"
I nod, "Yes."
"I could do two days without sex."
"Plus my period."
"That would make eight days?"
"Six. My period lasts for four days."
He nods and lays next to me again. "Then we might have to use condoms on these days."
"I'm not going to start with this method right away. My hormonal shot is still good for 13 weeks."
"But we have 15 weeks together."
"I know. So only the last two weeks will be a challenge."
"So, if your period lasts for four days usually, that means we're good to go tomorrow?"
I swear he is as addicted to me as I am to him. I nod with a grin on my lips. "Yes."
"Thank God! I was starting to think this would go on forever."
I laugh out loud before I kiss him softly. "What did you do with your ex girlfriends? I'm sure they-"
"My relationships didn't last very long."
"What was your record?"
"Two months."
"That's not long."
"No."
So, 16 weeks with me will be the longest he has ever been with a woman. "Why did you guys break up?"
"We just knew it wasn't for real. It was great fun. We had a lot of fun together but we both knew it wasn't going to last forever."
Forever... my parents are for forever. Oliver and I on the other hand have a limit. We have a deadline. In 15 weeks this will be over. "What was her name?"
"Why does it matter?"
I shrug, "You don't have to tell me her name if you don't want to."
He licks his lips, "Fernanda."
"Did you love her?" The question has left my mouth before my mind could think it through.
"No. My first love was a woman named Antônia."
"What happened?"
"She slept with one of my friends. Apparently, I wasn't her first love."
"That's a shame. It must've hurt a lot. I'm sorry."
He looks at me, "No, I'm glad she did that. Because it led me to you."
Only, I am not in love with him. But somehow I cannot say that into his face.
Oliver
Looking for a new job is much more difficult than I thought. After five newspapers and two hours scrolling through the internet, I still haven't found anything.
Because apparently qualification nowadays is not enough, it's about experience. Year long experience.
I don't have to go to work until noon so I thought I could use the time to find another job. But I guess I was wrong. Finding an employer that pays cash seems utopian.
But I will not ask Josephine for help. Working at her parents' firm would put her in a hot seat. That's the last thing I want. I can't work for her family. It's not an option.
I sigh and close the window of the safari browser. I'm sitting in Josephine's stunning study. She let me use her iMac to look for a job. Just as I want to shut down the computer, I suddenly notice a folder called Peonies with a matching icon.
Why didn't I notice that folder the last time I was at her iMac?
She must've left it there on purpose.
I move the mouse over to the folder but then hesitate. Is this a test? Is she testing my trust, faith and loyalty to her?
Probably. Josephine thinks like that. She hides mines everywhere because she always has to be careful and very cautious. She has never trusted anyone other than her family.
She has never opened her heart towards anyone.
I shut the iMac down.
I don't care what's inside the folder. If it's important to her she wouldn't have chosen to leave it on the screen. And if she trusts me, she will decide to show me the content of the folder all in her own.
But if I open the folder, which is probably secured with a password, I destroy whatever drop of trust that has formed inside of her.
Either way, I would loose her.
And that's the last thing I want.
I get up from her white office chair and turn around to look out of the window front that makes the fourth wall in the room. The view over the Thames is breathtaking. It's a clear blue sky. The colour of the sky reminds me of Josephine's eyes.
Josephine
I publish the latest article on Liam's social project called Small Hearts, Big Dreams: a kindergarten project by the Bolton Foundation. The work on it has finally started, though there are a lot of ups and downs with this project. But it's Liam's shit to worry about now. Somehow he doesn't seem to care about how to rewire the entire place or build in new windows that don't go over budget. All he cares about are the photos I shoot and the words I write, but he doesn't really care about the kindergarten he is building there.
My parents would have been better off by giving me the social project. But instead, they kicked me out of my office and moved me down a floor to work at the social media department.
I will never understand their logic.
I think Liam might be sleeping with the interior architect he hired for the kindergarten. She's been going in and out of the house in Greenwich all the time and whenever I see her she asks me where Liam is.
Plus, she's been running down these hallways as well.
Suddenly, my iPhone starts ringing in my drawer under the my desk. The special ringtone fills my ears as I open the drawer. It's Charlotte.
I pick up without hesitating. "Hi!"
"You need to come to Kensington. I need your advice."
"On what?"
"On my wedding dress."
"You're in it right now?" I ask her shocked. "I thought your first fitting wouldn't be until late April."
"That's the second wedding dress. The one for the reception. But the one for the ceremony, the one that will be seen by millions of people, is what I'm in right now."
"I have my lunch break in ten minutes. I'll be at there in twenty minutes." I tell her after looking at my Cartier watch.
"Great! I'm in the ballroom."
The ballroom is right across the building where Charlotte's parents, William and Catherine, live. I frown, "You're not at your parents' place?" I expected her there, not in the official part of Kensington Palace. The ballroom is usually being used to hold audiences, parties and meetings.
"No. I don't want anyone but my designer to see the dress. Well, the designer and you."
"Who's designing it?"
"Get your hot ass here and you'll find out." My best friend says before hanging up.
"Wow, Char you look incredible!" I breathe out, totally amazed by her. We're all alone in one of the ballrooms at Kensington Palace. Charlotte's former bedroom is just across the inner patio behind the golden gates that keep away the prying eyes of the world. Kensington Palace has become my home as much as my childhood home has become Char's home after we met at Le Rosey almost a decade ago. I used to get lost in here, playing hide and seek with the former Cambridge trio, but now... now I know every single corner of these roughly 500 rooms.
My best friend turns around and looks at me. "This is the first fitting so there's still a lot to be done."
Princess Charlotte of Wales is wearing a stunning wedding gown! The ivory dress has long sheer sleeves with lace applications and sparkly diamonds. It's loose around the belly because Char will get bigger in the next couple of weeks and they need the extra fabric in order to adjust the dress properly a few days before the wedding. The dress has an empire waist silhouette in ivory silk with a tulle and lace overlay to hide the possible baby bump on the wedding day. Not only will the empire waist highlight the smallest part of her torso, but the nature of the fabric will create a light illusion of the lace as a beautiful design, taking the focus off the lower portion of a bride's figure. There's lace growing up and down at her waist, forming a belt that's also sparkling from the sewed in diamonds. The edges of the dress and the two metre train also have floral ivory coloured lace. The only daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales will not be wearing a traditional veil, instead she will wear a transparent cape. Her shoulders and arms are covered with the sheer organza that make up the cape. The space between her dress and her shoulders is covered in floral lace that grows along the edges of the cape. Just like with the sparkly belt around her waist, diamonds were sewed into the sheer cape.
"What do you want to change? This looks perfect!" I tell her as my eyes scan her again. She's glowing. She will look like an angel when she swans down the aisle at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
"Well, for one I think the lacy belt should be a bit more noticeable. I'd like it to be a bit more voluminous." Charlotte explains. She looks like an angel in this lightning. The sun is shining through the many transom windows in this ballroom and she's sparkling more than the crystal chandelier that's hanging above us.
"So more layers of lace?"
She nods, "See? You get me. And with the cape," she moves it around and rays of rainbow coloured light fills the hardwood floored ballroom. "I think I want our wedding date sewed into the very end of the cape in a cornflower blue. I also want the flowers of all the Commonwealth countries just like Rory. I'd like them to grow up the train, along with Nate and mine cypher between my shoulder blades."
"You already have a cypher?"
She nods, "For our official letters and as a profile photo for our Instagram page."
"You'll get an Instagram page?"
"Of course. It will be just like Rory and George's."
"Theirs is OxfordRoyal. What's yours going to be?"
She shrugs. "CambridgeRoyal maybe?"
"I don't think you'll get your old title back." Charlotte used to be the Princess of Cambridge before the Queen died and her father and mother became the Prince and Princess of Wales. Ever since then, their children had to change their titles from of Cambridge to of Wales.
"Whatever the name will be, I just want a freaking Dukedom. Albany, Clarence, Windsor, Richmond, Bedford, Westminster, Wellington, Sutherland, Leinster, Somerset - Whatever!" She sighs, "Granpa is still an ass about it."
I chuckle, "Char, he's the King. He can be an ass whenever he wants." It's amazing how many dukedoms she knows by heart. She really wants that.
She points a finger at me, "No! That's not true."
"He hasn't mention anything about a title?"
She shakes her dark blonde hair, "He's still pissed. That's why he's sending us away almost daily. Nate and I chose our cake in the back of our Range Rover!"
"You're kidding."
"No! It's ridiculous. He is being ridiculous!"
"He will cave and give you a title."
"I want to be a Duchess and nothing less. It's my birthright to become a Duchess after marrying. Nate will be a Duke or I will give up my Royal title."
"You said that?"
She nods, "It's why Grandpa is so pissed."
I sigh, that was a very stupid move. "Char, you can't blackmail the King with a possible Royal scandal..."
She shrugs, "I'm pregnant. I get a free pass."
"If you're not careful you will get nothing."
"I don't mind giving up my title to be with Nate. I'd do that for him and our twins."
"Then why do you want to be a Duchess so badly?"
"Because it would hurt Mummy and Daddy. It would put shame on them - not on me. Having a daughter that chose love over Royalty is so 1920s. It's not what my parents stand for. They stand for the future."
"Yeah well a pregnant Princess on her wedding day is as futuristic as it can get."
"See? That's why it would hurt them so much if I had to turn down my title."
"That's why you want to wear the Cartier tiara with this dress."
She nods. "The world will love me for it but my Mum... she will be touched like no one else in this world."
"Does she know?"
Char shakes her head. "No. And she won't find out until I walk down the aisle. I want to surprise her."
"That's really sweet of you."
"I know. Oh and you'll be wearing ivory as well."
My eyes widen at her words. "I thought I'd be wearing cornflower blue."
"Not anymore. I decided you have to wear ivory as well. You know, to subtly keep the media away from the bump."
"There's no bump yet."
"It's early April. In early June there most probably will be one."
"But I already wore ivory on Rory's wedding day." I complain. The media kept writing stories about a future wedding of Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, Prince Louis of Wales or Arthur Chatto, the third cousin of George, Char and Louis, and me. Little did they know, all three men are great fun but not to my taste at all. Now, the media obsession with me will start again.
"Then you will ivory again on my wedding day." She demands. "You have to do this."
I sigh, "Okay. Can I at least wear some flowers in my hair?"
She nods, "Yes. Will you bring Oliver?"
"Are you nuts?!" I hiss at her.
"Why? He's your boyfriend."
"He is not my boyfriend! I am just sleeping with him."
"And living with him." She narrows her navy eyes at me. "He can accompany you only to the evening reception."
"He won't be there." I set the record straight.
"Alright!" She holds up her hands. "But if you change your mind-"
"I won't."
"But just in case you do, I will make sure to save him a seat."
Somehow I don't dare to tell her about Edward Rothschild.
"So, who designed this dress? Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen?"
Char shakes her head, "No. I will move Mummy to tears with the tiara anyway, I don't need to have a dress designed by the same designers as hers. This," she lifts her hands and moves to cape before looking down herself, "This is actually Jenny Packham."
"Jenny Packham designed this? I thought you would go for Elie Saab or Phillipa Lepley or Carolina Herrera."
"Elie Saab is designing my wedding reception dress. He has been working on drafts for weeks now." He chuckles, "He said he has never designed a wedding dress for a pregnant bride, so this will be a premier for him as well."
"Have you been to his atelier in Paris yet?"
She nods, "To look at the drafts. I want something flowy, something almost bohemian. We're going to go with organza and no silk. Organza would be lighter and I could move more freely."
"And it would hide the bump, if there is going to be one, quite well."
"Yes, that too. We will have a meeting in mid May where I will have the first fitting and then another one two days before the wedding and on the night before the wedding. To make sure there's enough space for the bundles of joy."
Bundles of joy... I smile at her words. "It's still kind of weird that you're pregnant."
"Trust me, the ultrasound says something totally different."
"Who will design my maid of honour dress?"
"Philippa Lepley. Originally, I asked the creative director of Alexander McQueen to send me some drafts but I didn't like it."
"I like Pippa. I own a lot of her dresses."
Char nods, "She's thrilled."
"When will I see it?"
"I could ring her up right now if you've got time. They started working on it already."
"I have to get back to work." I tell her with a shrug, "How about-"
"How about we get the dress delivered to your place and have a movie night with Oliver?"
I narrow my eyes at her, "Char,"
"What? I like Oliver! I'd like to know more about the man that's living at your place. We would hit two birds with one stone."
"I don't think this is a good idea."
"You can't hide him forever!"
"Charlotte, Oliver and me are temporary. I don't want him to get all tangled up in my family."
"Too late for that. He's already tangled up with us."
I sigh,"No one knows except for Ana and you."
"It can stay this way. I can keep my mouth shut, but I really would like to know more about him. He seems pretty cool."
I brush through my hair, "Charlotte,"
Suddenly, she starts crying. Shit, no bride should cry in her wedding gown.
"Are you pulling out the pregnancy card?!" I ask her shocked.
She shakes her head. "It's just a bit much right now. My fight against grandpa for a title, planning the wedding of the year, being present on royal engagements daily with a plastered smile on my lips... I just, I could need a little time with my best friend. Watching a movie, eating popcorn, chocolate, Mexican food and black caviar, gossiping about the men in our lives... I miss you, Jo."
Fuck! I had no idea she felt that way. Why didn't I see that?
I embrace her tightly, "Fine. You can come over. But only you. No Nate."
"Good. I'll bring the Mexican food. Does Oliver like Mexican?"
I shrug. I have honestly no idea. I barely know him. "I don't know."
"We'll find out then. If he doesn't, we'll just order something from the restaurant downstairs at Landmark Place."
Plan B is always the restaurant in the building where my penthouse is. The chefs there are always on call and make me whatever I want, whenever I want it. It's a luxury I've used very rarely but it's nice to have the option. "Be there at 8."
She nods, "I'll bring your dress."
Oliver
I get into my black leather jacket as the last step of my workday. It's seven thirty and although I was scheduled to work until eight, Luigi has decided to send me home thirty minutes earlier. I don't mind that at all.
I open the door of the kitchen and stare at Luigi, who is dancing between cooking pots and baking pizzas.
"Until tomorrow morning. Have a great evening!" I cry out before turning on my heel.
"Oliver, wait!"
I stop in my tracks and walk back. "Yes?"
He picks up four white square shaped boxes. Oh no... "Some left overs. One margarita, one salami and one tuna pizza as well as the rest of the tiramisu that we didn't sell today."
"Luigi," that man's heart is made of gold.
He hands me the boxes before I can say another word. "Enjoy your evening."
I smile at him. "I will. Thank you very much."
"Any time."
I walk out of the restaurant in Covent Garden and decide to walk along the promenade to the City of London where Josephine's home is. It's roughly a thirty minute walk for the average person but I'm quite quick on my feet so it takes me about twenty minutes. Besides, walking by the Thames as the sun is setting on a cloudless sky is kind of epic. It's a vibrant red lightning with an orange sun.
I stop for a moment and inhale deeply. God, I love London.
Suddenly, my iPhone rings in the pocket of my jacket. I frown before getting it out. It's Josephine.
"Where are you?" She asks me right after I pick up.
"You start a conversation with a hello or good evening." I say instead.
She sighs, "Hi. Mind telling me where you are?"
"I just left Luigi's. I'm on my way... home."
"Obviously." I can hear how she rolls her sky blue eyes and it makes me smile. "But I meant where you are exactly."
"I'm at the Temple Gardens." I say as I look to my left. "Right at the corner of Middle Temple Lane."
"Okay. Stay where you are." She says before hanging up.
I frown. That's weird. Is she close by somewhere?
Suddenly the sound of a roaring motor fills my ears.
I turn around and spot a navy Range Rover with tinted windows driving towards me. I notice Josephine's chestnut curls underneath a black baseball cap right away. The black cap on her head emphasises her sky blue eyes even more.
She stops next to me and rolls down her window. "Get in."
"Will this become a habit now?" I ask her before opening the door of the passenger seat.
"Back seat." She demands.
Probably because of the tinted windows. Better safe than sorry.
I close the door of the passenger seat and get into the back of the car.
She drives off without a word.
Why is she so quiet? "Everything alright?" I ask her as we drive past the Thames.
"Charlotte will come by in half an hour." She answer's my question while looking into the review mirror.
Her best friend? I can't hide my widen eyes.
"Don't look at me like that. She demanded to come over. She misses me and stuff."
Yet, Josephine hasn't asked me to go to my place. "Do you want me to go to my old place?"
She frowns for a moment. "Why would I want that?"
Yeah, Josephine has definitely developed feelings for me.
"Char has already met you. She knows you exist and that you live with me. There's absolutely no reason for you to hide at your old space."
I know that. "But it sounds like she wants a girls night with you. I could continue with my search for a job in your study while you guys enjoy yourselves..." I offer her a way out.
"No, she said she wanted to get to know you better." She stops at a red light. "You haven't found anything?"
I shake my head. "Not yet. But I'm optimistic. There's something out there for me."
"Don't mention it towards Char."
"Why?"
"She's going to hire you faster than you can open your mouth to say no."
"I won't work for the Royals." They don't need an illegal immigrant within their walls. That would be the scandal of the century and God knows they have enough hatred that's getting slammed into their faces.
She nods, "Wouldn't have expected anything different."
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"You know exactly what it means, Oliver."
"I am perfectly capable of finding another job myself. I don't need your help-"
"No, you don't want my help, Oliver. But you need it." She interrupts me as we reach Landmark Place, the skyscraper she lives in. "But you don't see that yet. It's the same story as it was with me giving you money to send home. I have the resources. You should use them."
"I am not with you because of your resources!" I explode suddenly. "I am not it's you because of the penthouse you live in, the clothes you wear, the cars you drive or the bloody bank account that you have! I am here with you because of you! Because of that baseball hat you're wearing and the ripped jeans. I am with you because of the good soul that you have, not all the layers that hide it from the world."
She stops the car at the entrance of Landmark Place. Without a word she gets out of the navy Range Rover. She left the door open.
I sigh, that was too much. I don't know what has gotten into me. I shouldn't have raised my voice like that.
I pick up the boxes from Luigi and run after her. "Josephine,"
She's already standing in front of her lift. To my surprise she holds the doors open for me.
I get inside. "Josephine, I-"
She shuts me up by raising her left forefinger. The lift starts moving up.
My body betrays me because I actually listen to her command. I feel like a puppet.
"What's in there?" She asks as she notices the boxes in hands.
"Pizzas and tiramisu. Enough for three."
"But not for five." She mumbles as the doors of the lift open with a ping. She storms out before I can another word. Josephine kicks off her black sneakers before rushing down the hallway.
Shit, she's pissed. I quickly kick off my shoes and follow her into the open living area. She's already in the kitchen. I inhale deeply before walking over to her. "Josephine,"
"I will not discuss this with you right now." She hisses at me.
"I just-"
"This will be a bigger discussion and I don't want Char to hear me yell at you." She explains in a neutral tone. How can she be so calm?
I watch how she opens the fridge and gets out glass jars filled with tiny black, red and golden pearls. "What's this?"
"Caviar." She says casually before looking at you. "I assume you've never had caviar."
"You assume correct."
"They're fish eggs. The golden ones are Almas from the Iranian Beluga fish. Almas is produced from the eggs of a rare albino sturgeon between 60-100 years old, which swims in the southern Caspian Sea where there is apparently less pollution."
"And how do you eat that?"
"On slices of bread or directly with a spoon. Char and I used to eat them with vodka shots just like Sergej and Wlad showed us when we stayed at their house in Siberia over New Year's once. But now it's not really possible..." she bites on her lower lip as if she just told me something secretive. "Anyways, you will like it. We can have it with the pizzas."
She sounds confident. But I am not so sure about eating fish eggs. "I'm sorry." I apologise.
"No, you're not and I don't want to talk about it. It's okay that you're not sorry but don't expect me to apologise to you because I am not sorry. What I said was the truth and I don't know about you and what you said-"
"It's the truth as well. I should have used a calmer tone."
She nods before getting out the plates, "Well, I am glad that you don't care about my wealth or my home but I care about my home very much. Not so much about my bank account but this," She waves with her hands, "is my sanctuary and I have opened it up to you. You are the first person that gets to live here with me so you should be fucking grateful!" She hisses at me. "Especially considering your background."
My backgrounds?! What the fuck is she saying?! "Josephine-"
Suddenly the doors of the lift open with a ping. "Hello! I am here and carrying a very heavy dress!" Charlotte's royal voice rings through the penthouse.
Josephine points at me, "This is why I didn't want to discuss this with you right now. Because I knew I would say things I didn't mean but you kept pushing me so there you go!" She waves with her hands before rushing by me.
I turn around and watch how she swings her hips from left to right as she walks down the hallway to greet her best friend, Princess Charlotte of Wales.
Josephine
I walk down the hallway until I reach Char. She is carrying a heavy white dust bag in which my maid of honour dress is inside. My best friend is wearing ripped jeans and a black shirt. She has already taken off her heels. "You came just in the right moment." I tell her before embracing her.
"Why? I didn't interrupt a make-out session, did I?"
I wish. I shake my head, "No." I take the dress out of her hands, "Should I try on the dress before we start our night?"
She nods, "I told Pippa I would bring it back tomorrow morning."
"I'll do that." I offer.
"Really?"
I nod, "You have enough on your mind. Besides, that way Pippa can do the alterations right there when I wear it."
"You're the best!"
I'm not so sure about it. "I'm going to put it on in my room. I'll come out to show it to you." I turn on my heel and start walking down the hallway that leads to my master bedroom.
Charlotte nods, "That gives me time to talk to Oliver."
Usually, I'd pray for Oliver to survive the royal inquisition, but right now, he fucking deserves it. I walk into my bedroom and place the dress on my bed.
Oliver
I exhale, close my eyes and brush through my hair as I can hear footsteps approaching. It's not Josephine's. Her footsteps are quicker and a little heavier.
"Hi."
I open my eyes and stare at Princess Charlotte, who once again doesn't look like the Princess that's waving from every tabloid cover in England. She's dressed in ripped jeans and a black shirt. Her long blonde hair is open and wavy. She's only wearing mascara. "Hi." I greet her.
Her navy blue eyes stare at the white boxes on the kitchen island next to me. Luigi is written on them in a curly font. "I see we're not having Mexican food as I hoped for."
"No. Pizzas and tiramisu. Margarita, tuna and salami."
She nods, "Margarita is mine. Jo takes tuna. She always takes tuna when we're eating pizza."
Those casual words remind me of how little I know Josephine. I don't know if she likes onions or garlic... or what she hates. We're almost two weeks into this arrangement and I hardly know her. I know her body inside and out, but her soul... the core of her being, that's not something she likes to show me very much. "Okay. We're also having caviar."
"Oh, I can't have any I'm afraid."
I frown but decide to not ask any further. "Where's Josephine?"
Charlotte walks over to the kitchen island and opens one of the boxes. "She's trying on her maid of honour dress. Do you know which movie we will watch tonight?"
I shrug, "No. I thought you guys cleared that."
She shakes her head, "We'll watch a romantic comedy then. The Break-Up. Jennifer Animation is brilliant in this movie. Have you seen it?"
I shake my head. I didn't have the time to watch TV after my Dad died. I was busy carrying for my family.
"You'll like it. It's one of Jo's favourite movies."
"She's into comedy?"
Char nods, "Don't you guys talk at all?"
We certainly don't talk about our favourite movies.
Suddenly, Josephine's light thuds fill my ears. I'd recognise her footsteps everywhere. I turn around and feel how the breath in my lungs get stuck.
Wow... just wow.
"Oh, it's good. I knew going to Pippa was a good choice." Charlotte says before walking over to her.
Josephine is wearing a stunning ivory coloured dress! It has a traditional cowl neckline that highlights her décolletage, while the subtle fishtail skirting adds a sweeping sway when she walks. There's a line of silk covered buttons on her back. Her ass looks breathtaking in that dress. She looks sophisticated and elegant, but also sexy as hell.
Her long chestnut hair is almost reaching her navel. The glossy waves look stunning against the ivory coloured silk. How can this classic cut look so fucking breathtaking?
"It needs a bit adjusting." Josephine says to Charlotte before grabbing a bit of fabric at her hips. "It's too loose around the hips and the neckline should be a bit higher."
But Charlotte waves with her hands, "It's perfect. Just as I imagined it to be."
"I thought you would choose something less sexy. We'll be in a church, Char."
"Have you looked at yourself in the mirror?" The Princess asks back.
"No and I don't need to." Josephine says before looking over Charlotte's shoulder, right into my eyes.
Bloody hell, this woman is mind blowing! "You..." I inhale deeply, "This dress really suits you."
Charlotte turns around and looks at me. She places her hands on her hips. "That's all you've got to say?! Your girlfriend looks hot as hell!"
Girlfriend. Is Josephine my girlfriend? Am I her boyfriend? Are we girlfriend and boyfriend?
"We are not in a relationship." Josephine hisses through her clenched teeth.
That's my answer.
Charlotte rolls her navy eyes. "Whatever, Josephine. You can't have the men in your life sign these NDAs forever."
"Char, come on... don't be like that." Josephine says to her best friend. "I've tried the dress on and you approve. Do you want to change the design in any way? Add some lace maybe? Or diamonds?"
Did she just say diamonds?!
"No. It's perfect the way it is... Turn around again." Charlotte says and I watch how the fishtail skirt sweeps over the hardwood floor as Josephine turns around. Bloody hell, she looks so beautiful! She looks gorgeous in ivory!
She looks like a bride instead of the maid of honour. The thought makes my heart stop beating for a second. Josephine as a bride... the thought gives me goosebumps.
She'll steal the show at the Royal wedding. But somehow, I think that's the plan.
"Yep, this dress is perfect for the occasion."
"But I can still choose my dress for the evening reception, right?"
Charlotte nods, "Yes whatever designer and cut you wish for."
"Oh, I don't know if I can top this." Josephine says and smiles at her. "But you know I'd do anything for you."
"Does he know?"
Josephine shakes her head. "I wouldn't do that to you. You know that."
"You're sleeping with him. That could cloud your judgement."
"I am not Ana. My heart doesn't live in my pussy."
I chuckle at Josephine's words. That's so typical of her.
Josephine gives me a sinister look.
"Yeah, well but I also know you're not immune to Oliver's looks." Charlotte says before leaning forward and whispering something to her that I don't understand.
Josephine nods before turning on her heel and walking down the hallway again. I can't seem to take my eyes off of this woman. She has every bit of me.
The second she's out of my sight, I'm already missing her. I wish I could have embraced her and just hold her for a moment. I wish I could have been the only one in the room with her. I wish I could have kissed her. I wish I could have danced with her.
I wish for something that can never happen.
I won't be attending this Royal Wedding. The only time I will see this dress on her was a minute ago and the next time I'll see it, it will be on a television that's showing live footage from Windsor.
"You're in love with her."
I tense up at these words before looking at Charlotte, who is standing next to me. "I'm sorry?"
"Don't worry, I won't tell. But even a blind could tell what you feel for her."
There's no way I can deny it now. "That obvious?"
Charlotte nods, "But not to Jo."
No, Jo still sees this as a 15 week long arrangement. She refuses to call me her boyfriend or her being called my girlfriend. To her, this is like 15 weeks of one-nightstands. "I can't tell her."
"But you better tell her before these 15 weeks are over."
I'm not surprised Princess Charlotte knows about everything that's going on between Josephine and me. She's her best friend after all. "I'll scare her off."
Charlotte sighs, "Josephine is the toughest nut to crack, but once you've opened it... Man, you're blown away with what you'll find."
I don't even know half of what I would like to know about her and I'm already blown away.
"Bolton women are very special - and I'm not saying that because she's my best friend and Rory is married to my brother." Charlotte walks into the kitchen. "Do we have popcorn? I'm really craving salty popcorn right now."
Josephine
I put another spoon filled with black caviar into my mouth. Char is eating salty popcorn from a bowl as the end credits are shown on the TV. Oliver hasn't tried the caviar or the salty popcorn. He said he was already full after eating half of his salami pizza. He didn't even touch the tiramisu.
But Char has had a bit of everything - and with a bit, I mean almost everything. Pregnancy is making her really hungry.
"Well, that was fun. Wasn't it?" Char asks me before looking at Oliver. "Did you like?"
Oliver only shrugs. "It was okay."
"I think he expected a love story. You didn't expect it to be so real."
Oliver looks at me. He sat next to me on the couch during the whole movie but he didn't touch me. He didn't even put his arm around me. "No, you wouldn't like some fairytale bullshit. That's not your cup of tea."
Char laughs, "He's got that right."
"Yes." I admit. I never liked fairytales. Not even when I was still an innocent child. I was always the realistic one out of the three of us. Rory loves fairytales, especially Cinderella which - spoiler - turned into her real-life fairytale, and Nate was obsessed with wizards and witches... but I always preferred the brother Grimm's Hansel and Gretel - in their original form where they die, not the kid friendly version. People deserve to get punched for their mistakes.
It's why I can't understand how Oliver could forgive me for what I did so easily. Not that I needed his forgiveness... but I did make a mistake, I think.
"Charlotte said this is one of your favourite movies. Why?"
"You can call me Char." Charlotte says with a mouth full of salty popcorn.
"I think the ending is very much about reconciliation. They broke up, they went out into the world and changed and became new people. Then, when they saw each other again, they realised that the feelings were still there. But this time, there was potential for something more. Something better, because they had both changed enough to make way for an entirely new relationship with each other. That's why they seem so excited to make plans with each other and why they look back, because they can feel something good is going to happen and that they're both ready for it now." I say and shrug. "It's not fairytale stuff but real life."
"You have such a dark soul, Jo. But that's why I love you. You make my fairytale stuff with a crown, white horses pulling a coach and zillion engagements seem less fairytale like. But instead you see it as work."
"Because it is work. It's your job to represent the King, your country, whenever you are in public."
"But not here with you." Charlotte says before placing the empty popcorn bowl on the coffee table in front of us. "When I am with you - or your family - I'm Char. No Princess. No future Queen. Just Char."
"Well, to be honest the future Queen is very unlikely to happen now."
Char points her perfectly manicured finger at me. "Unlikely but not impossible. In this family everything is possible, you know that as well as I do."
I chuckle, "I do."
She gets up from the couch, "Anyways, I have to get home. Thanks for... for feeding us."
"Anytime. Give me a call whenever you need another movie night or spa day." I rise from the couch as well and embrace her tightly. There's no sign of a baby bump yet.
"Yeah, well the next time I've got free time on my schedule is my bachelorette party." My best friend says before looking at Oliver. "But the next time we'll have a movie night, you get to pick the movie."
Oliver nods with a smile on his lips. "And we'll have Mexican food."
Char grins, "That's a deal I gladly make."
I walk with her down the hallway.
"I like Oliver. I like him a lot. You shouldn't let him go. He's-"
"I slept with Edward Rothschild." I interrupt her.
Charlotte's mouth falls open, "No!"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Last weekend. I was in Paris with Ana. We met at a Cartier party. Had a date later on and the next day we're suddenly flying to the Provence and staying over at their vineyards... and I drove a Jaguar from 1956! A bloody Cabriolet in tip top shape! Her name is Eloise."
"Edward names his cars?"
"I call my Aston, Martin."
"Martin is part of the brand's name so that doesn't count." Charlotte brushes through her long blonde hair. "Does he know?"
"Yes. I told him as soon as I landed in London."
"Because you felt guilty?"
I shrug, "Because we promised each other honesty."
She nods, "How did he react?"
"He was mad."
"No surprise there."
"But he didn't leave the penthouse. He slept in one of the guest rooms upstairs."
"Understandable, yet surprising."
"I followed him in the middle of the night and held on to him like a clamp."
Her gaze softens at my words. "Jo..." she grabs my hands, "Oliver's not your Daddy. He won't leave you without a warning and to be fair, that man in there doesn't look like someone who would leave you at all."
I gulp and lick my lips, "He forgave me for a mistake I didn't think I made. He gave me forgiveness when I didn't ask for it."
"Do you regret it?"
"No. When I was with Edward, I was... it felt like I was high on his pheromones. I can't explain it. My actions didn't make sense. My tongue formed words I didn't want to say. I was... it was like I was under his spell or something."
Char giggles as she gets back into her black stilettos, "Nate would have loved seeing that."
I giggle as well. "He might see that on his wedding day. Ed told me he's sitting in the choir in the church."
Char nods, "I can sit him as far away from you as possible."
"Please do."
"Are you sure you don't want to bring Oliver?"
I shake my head, "Oliver's not made for this."
"Okay. Don't hesitate to call me if you need me."
I nod and call the lift by pushing a button. "The same goes for you."
She walks into the lift, "Don't fuck it up with Oliver a second time. He might not forgive you again."
Oliver
I watch how Josephine walks back into the living area. She changed from that stunning ivory silk dress into white joggers and a light grey T-shirt. But she's not wearing a bra and the sight of her swinging tits makes my dick steel hard in my pants again. It's been going on for the whole evening ever since I saw her in this outfit. Somehow, my body finds her more appealing in this casual outfit than in that ivory dress. The constant change of blood flow has made me dizzy, so I tried to stay away from Josephine as much as possible.
But even her smell made me dizzy as she sat next to me on the couch.
Josephine stops across me.
This woman is just mind blowing.
"I don't want to fight with you." She says before sitting on the edge of the coffee table across me.
"I don't want to fight with you either." I admit and brush through her soft chestnut waves.
"I just wish you would finally accept the help that I'm offering you. I could get you a job with the snap of my fingers."
I sigh, "Josephine, I was raised to take care of my issues myself. I've never asked for help because it's not something I learned. I learned to not depend on anyone."
"Well, you can very much depend on me and take the help I am offering you."
I don't want her family to know I am her illegally. "Josephine, I wish I could but I can't."
"No, you just don't want to." She hisses at me.
I place my hands on her cheeks and stare deeply into her eyes. I know she's frustrated and I would be as well but I can't tell her. It would make her break the law as well. Right now, she has no knowledge, meaning no intention. She's safe. "Drop it. I won't take your help. Not now and not in the future."
She sighs, "Let me at least continue to give you money while you haven't found a job."
That's a fair compromise. "Okay."
Her beautiful sky blue eyes widen, "Really?"
I nod, "Yes."
She shows me a kind of smile that makes my heart explode. It's easy to make her happy. It's also easy to upset her.
But it's why I love her so goddamn much.
"You looked very hot in that dress."
"I know. I can't believe Char picked it for me to wear in St. George's Chapel. I mean, her wedding will be viewed by millions of people live on the tv and she chose this?! The whole world will be watching me and not her."
"But that's the point, isn't it? The focus has to be on you just like it was when Catherine Middleton married into the Royal Family and everyone was obsessed with her sister's ass. The only difference is that this was unintentional while this is very intentional. You are willing to stand in the harsh light of the spotlight just to protect her secret. She's pregnant."
Her sky blue eyes widen, "I can't comment on it."
"She didn't had fish but ate everything else. She thanked you for feeding us but she didn't mean me. She's pregnant." I connect the dots.
Josephine licks her lips, "As I said, I can't comment on that."
"There has never been a pregnant Princess walking down the aisle..." I bite on my lower lip and let go of her face. "Is this why they're getting married?"
"No. They are very in love. My brother has been in love with Charlotte as long as George has been in love with my sister Rory. Only Nate didn't have the balls to admit it. Well, no that's wrong because he did try to kiss her on New Year's but she punched him."
I laugh, "Char hit Nate?"
She shrugs, "They were fifteen and Char didn't see Nate like that. In fact, it took her a few years to stop seeing Nate as only her best friend... but as the years went on, Char started dating other men and Nate other women. But then on Rory's wedding day... I don't know what happened but the next day, I found them both in Nate's hotel room in one bed. I promised to keep my mouth shut until they were ready to tell our parents."
That's one of the most private stories she ever told me. "So this pregnancy wasn't planned." I read between the lines.
"Nate wanted to propose to her a few weeks before Christmas. But then Rory and George dropped the pregnancy bomb and he felt like it wasn't the right timing. So time went on... and then came Easter and he finally got the courage to propose."
I think back of that stunning dress Josephine wore just two hours ago. "Is this something you want?"
She frowns, "I don't understand."
"A wedding. A marriage. Being married to someone."
She shakes her head, "I don't understand where this is coming from."
It's too soon. She's not allowing herself to think that way. At least, not yet. "Do you believe in soulmates?"
"Yes." She answers without hesitating.
That's surprising. "And would you want to marry your soulmate?"
"I don't think there's a soulmate for me."
The sentence hurts me more than I want to admit. I gulp and lick my lips.
"Oliver, I've told you. I am not made for the two Ms. No marriage and no motherhood. Ever."
She won't think like that forever. When the time comes and she opens her heart to me...
That's when she'll see what I'm seeing right now.
My soulmate.
Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it!
The next chapter will be about their weekend together which will be quite different than what Oliver had imagined. Can you guess what might happen?
What do you think will be Charlotte and Nate's title? All the dukedoms that Charlotte listed are a hint - if they're going to get a dukedom.
I'll upload it as soon as I've finished writing it.
Please review!
In gratitude,
Nicole