ROYAL SECRETS

CH 5

ROSE

I was so nervous about tonight, I was in my third dress trying to figure out what to wear. Demi had picked her dress out as soon as I told her where we were going. She watched me get all dressed up last year and wanted to go so badly. She loved dressing up and playing pretty pretty princess. Little did she know she was one.

Adrian had taken Demi out to get her hair and nails done earlier in the day. He wanted to make this night special for her. I decided just to leave my hair down and natural. Adrian had helped with my makeup and all I had left was to figure out a dress. I wanted to look good for Dimitri, but not so good that I drew unnecessary attention to myself. I knew I had a good body and was proud of how hard I worked to get it.

"Go with the little black one." Adrian came into my room.

"Isn't it a bit too short?'

"No, it fits you perfectly and will leave him wanting more."

"Adrian, I'm not trying to hook up tonight."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, I need to focus on Demi, not myself."

"I know you do, but that doesn't mean you have to forget about yourself and your feelings."

"For tonight it does. This is going to change her life, what if she hates me for not telling her yesterday who he was? What if she hates him for having a whole life that doesn't include her? I don't know if I can do this, he's going to go back to Russia to his wife, then what? I just tell her sorry sweetie daddy has another child on the way. Daddy can't be here with you because he's a king and rules a small province in Russia."

"Hey calm down. You don't want to ruin your makeup."

"Adrian."

You're not giving yourself or her enough credit. You have raised such an amazing little girl. I think she is going to be so excited that he is her father. She already senses something is different about him. Plus she is going to be over the moon to be a big sister, how many times has she asked us to give her a sibling." My heart sank, I hadn't told him everything that me and Dimitri talked about. He didn't know about the current state of his marriage or the paternity of "his" baby.

"That's not his baby."

"What do you mean, not his baby?"

"His wife is pregnant with another man's baby. I'm the last person he slept with."

"I think I need to sit down." He quickly sat on my bed shaking his head in disbelief.

"He had an arranged marriage, he claims they don't love each other and that she is horrible to him. She has been sleeping around and he doesn't know who the father is."

"Wow, so is he going to raise the baby as his own?"

"I'm assuming so, according to the tabloids once he is born he will be the heir to the throne."

"Is that how it works over there? The eldest son becomes the heir or the first born? Because if its the first born Demi is the heir."

"I honestly don't know and never really thought about it. It was enough to learn he had a fiancé and then that he was a King. I didn't really think about where Demi would fit into the whole mix. I just want to get through tonight then we can sit down and have the conversation of what we are going to do."

"Mommy is this really for us?"

"It is." Dimitri had sent over a limo to take us to the banquet. I thought it was a bit much, but Demi was so excited. She felt like the princess she was. I finally decided on wearing the little black dress that Adrian had suggested. He was right, it did look good on me.

"Your chariot awaits my lady." The passenger got out and opened up the door for Demi. I think this was Mickhail, his head of security. He said he would be sending him.

"Is he talking to me mommy?"

"He is sweetie, why don't you get on in." Mickhail put out his hand for her and helped her in. I could hear her excited squeal as soon as she got inside. He held out his hand for me and I slid in next to her and Adrian followed. I soon saw what she was all excited about. The limo was decked out with a candy bar of every child's dream.

"He really outdid himself didn't he?"

"He really did."

"Mommy may I please have a piece of candy?"

"Yes you may, but only a couple of pieces since we haven't had dinner yet."

"Thank you mommy."

"Your welcome sweetie."

Demi was in awe the whole ride there and didn't sit still. She was even more excited when we got to the hotel where the banquet was going to be held. Dimtiri had warned me there may be paparazzi here taking pictures of him, but not to worry. He had come up with a story that we were classmates and he wanted to treat me and my daughter to a night out. To everyone looking on the outside it looked like me, her, and Adrian were a family. Which we were, just not in the traditional sense. I was still nervous about how this was all going to go. Dimitri had booked a room in the hotel for the night so we could go back and have a talk with Demi. We were going to be staying the night in it, there was an indoor pool which I hadn't told Demi about. It was going to be a surprise as well as an ice breaker if we needed it.

I also had packed up the scrapbooks I had made of Demi since I was pregnant. I made them in hopes of giving them to Dimitri, I never wanted him to miss out on her growing up.

"Mommy look Mr.Dimitri is waiting for us." I wanted to throw up.

"You can do this." Adrian encouraged me while squeezing my hand.

DIMITRI

Me and Ivan had come up with a story to tell the press and had let it leak before we got here. He came up with the story of how Rose was an old classmate and we ran into each other and I invited her and her family to come tonight. It wasn't too far from the truth.

We were already staying in this hotel so we were dressed and ready to go before they got here. I had rented out the whole floor for us and my team to be safe. So we had extra rooms for them to stay in. I told Rose I booked her one just this morning, I know it was stupid, but I just wasn't comfortable with all the money I had.

"Dude, you need to calm down, they will be here soon and your pacing."

"What if this all blows up in my face? What if it gets back to Russia, who she really is before I have a chance to tell my family? What if she doesn't like me, what if she's mad at me for being away for her whole life?"

"D, it's going to be ok. Out of all the people in the park she came up to you. I think deep down she knew something was different about you."

"I don't know if I can do this."

"You can and you don't have a choice, they are here." I think I'm going to be sick.

I stepped out of the lobby to go greet them. I had sent Mickhail, who was head of my security, to pick them up. I wasn't taking their safety lightly.

Mickhail opened up the door and the first person out was Demi. She was bouncing off her feet and was so excited. I noticed she was wearing a tiara and looked so much like the princess she was.

"Mr. Dimitri, Mr.Dimitri. The limo was filled with candy just for me." I took her little hand into mine.

"I know I had it put there especially for you."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you."

"You're welcome." I stood there holding her hand and my breath when Rose stepped out of the limo. She was absolutely breathtaking, she was wearing a simple little black dress, heels, and her hair was down and natural. She looked like a goddess.

"You look stunning, Roza."

"Roza, my mommy's name is rose." I had to giggle.

"That's her name in Russian."

"What's my name? "

"Demi."

"Boo that's no fun." She was just too cute for words.

Adrian had stepped out of the limo and I thought Ivan was going to faint. He quickly ran up to Adrian.

"Ivan Zecklos, pleasure to meet you." He stuck out his hand to Adrian.

"Adrian Ivoshkov, the pleasure is all mine." He grabbed his hand back and shook it.

"Hi again miss Demi. This must be your mommy, you're right she is very pretty." Ivan said to Demi.

"I told you so." She said with so much sass. She looked up to me as she started to wiggle.

"Mr. Dimitri, I have to go potty."

"How about me and your uncle take you inside to the potty?" Ivan said, putting his hand out for her. Demi looked back to Rose making sure it was ok. She nodded her head and I put Demi's little hand into Ivan's.

Ivan walked Demi in with Adrian on their tail. I was left outside with Rose and a couple members of my security. Thankfully there was no one here taking pictures. That didn't mean there wouldn't be later.

"You ready for tonight, comrade?"

"Which part?"

"Your speech?"

"Yeah, I've had it written for quite awhile now. One thing you learn growing up Royal is how to write and give a speech."

"Lissa was so nervous for hers last year, she didn't know what to say. I actually wrote it for her."

"You did?"

"I did, and I don't want to brag, but it was the best one of the night." She laughed, oh that laugh, that smile. I wanted to just stay here at this moment and forget about everything else, but I couldn't.

"We probably should head inside ourselves. I don't know if I trust Ivan with Adrian." I offered my arm for her.

"True. I don't trust Adrian with him. Let's go save Demi." She grabbed a hold of my arm and I escorted her inside.

Once we got inside we were flooded with lights and flashes from cameras. They must have snuck in after me and Ivan had walked outside. Mickhail and my security team were quickly on it.

"King Belikov will only be available to answer a couple questions and take a few photos." Mickhail told them.

"King Belikov we notice that it isn't your wife you have on your arms tonight."

"My wife is currently back in Russia as she is too far in her pregnancy to fly. This is Rose Mazer, an old classmate of mine. I invited her and her family as my guest tonight."

"So is this the young woman who you are working on a secret project with?"

"It's not really a secret. She is a social worker here in the city. My children's foundation is going to be working with her and the Port In A Storm girls shelter."

"King Belikov was generous enough to offer his services with Girls Going Places, we're still working on a name." That got a laugh.

" This program gives an opportunity for our girls to study abroad, like your typical exchange program, without the exchange. The girls that live in the shelter don't have the opportunities as other teens their age. I was in and out of foster care growing up, I want to give these girls everything I never had." I had just sprung this on her and she came up with a brilliant idea on the fly.

"What a marvelous idea. We can't wait to see more."

"One more picture and I need to take the King inside." We posed for one more picture. I placed my arm gently around her back and she unintentionally leaned into me.

"Thank you for your time, your highness." We were escorted by Mickhail further into the hotel.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to drag you into anything."

"Don't be. I find the idea really brilliant and would love to be a part of it."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Thank you and the truth?"

"Always."

"I've actually had the idea of doing something like this for a long time. I just didn't know how to start."

"Truth?"

"Always."

"Ivan did some digging and found out about the shelter you and your dad started. It's not a coincidence that they asked about it. Ivan let it slip that we might be working on something. I hope you mind that I sprung this on you, but I truly do want to help and be a part of this."

"I don't mind. Now let's get in there so I can eat, I'm starving!"

"Of course you are Roza."

I wrote and re wrote this ending so many times that it ended up changing the next chapter. Hopefully you like this one.