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Maria

After lunch, Clarisse returned to her office and sat down at her desk. Twice she picked up the phone and put it down again. "Make up your mind! Is it worth delaying any longer?" she thought.

C/J

Catherine opened her eyes and looked at the clock… Nine in the morning. She closed her eyes again and smiled. After all, the retirement wasn't going as bad as she'd predicted. Waking up late, reading the books she never had time to read, traveling, meeting new people and above all, sharing life with a wonderful man. As if he sensed her thoughts, Robert turned to her and put his arm around her waist, pulling her to him and kissing her shoulder and neck.

"I love you, you know?"

Catherine smiled, enjoying the pleasure of his lips on her skin.

"I'm not sure…" The sound of the phone ringing interrupted her and she tried to turn around to answer it but he pulled her closer.

"Don't answer, this is not the time to wake anyone up. And I feel very selfish today... I want you all to myself." Catherine let out a laugh.

"You are incorrigible, Robert. I have to answer. Hello ?"

"Good afternoon. This is Clarisse Renaldi ."

Catherine immediately sat up in bed, startling Robert.

"Clarisse? Your Majesty ?" Catherine was absolutely astonished and confused. On the other end of the line, Clarisse smiled. Even their voices were similar.

"Please Catherine, call me Clarisse."

"Oh my God . I didn't expect a call from you. In fact, I thought you didn't even remember me." Robert also sat on the bed, gaping. The Queen of Genovia was on the phone with Catherine. HIS Catherine. Wow ! This was truly insane.

"How could I forget you? "

Catherine let out a laugh.

"Me neither. I just have to look in the mirror. How are you? This is totally unexpected…"

"I am fine. And you?"

"As do I! I retired, now I just enjoy life. Despite continuing to be available whenever the hospital needs extra help. I still haven't gotten used to the idea of not having responsibilities."

"I know what you mean. I sometimes think about what I'm going to do when I retire… And it's a strange feeling. All my life I've done the same. I don't know how to do anything else."

"I'm still speechless… You were the last person I expected to get a phone call from. I've been thinking about you so much. In our physical resemblance, in how comfortable I felt when I saw you for the first time…"

"It's so weird, isn't it? We live on different continents, we had never seen each other, I didn't even imagine that there could be someone who was so similar to me. And indeed, we had an immediate connection. I can say that I felt so comfortable with you, as if I had known you all my life."

"But how did you find my phone number?"

"That was easy… I asked Charlotte to look up your name and phone number."

"Charlotte?"

"Yes, my secretary. A remarkable young woman who makes my life so much easier!" Clarisse smiled.

"Ah… The perks of being Queen. I confess that since we met, I have followed your life. I read all the news about you, I see all the reports in which you appear. If one day you come to Canada, I guarantee you that I will be among the crowd that will wait for you. I really, really want to be able to see you in person again. Even in the distance."

"When I get back to Canada, I will contact you first and set up a time for us to meet, Catherine."

"Seriously? Am I really going to be able to be with you? Talk to you?"

"Of course. I couldn't go back there and back home without being with you. Also, I'm so grateful to you that you never said a word about our unusual encounter. To you, to Robert, to the hospital director. Sadly, I can't remember his name. By the way, how is Robert?"

Catherine let out a laugh.

"He's great. He is beside me, trying to hear our conversation."

Robert looked at her and tried to look offended.

"No I'm not. I am simply leaning against my beautiful bride." Clarisse and Catherine burst out laughing. Clarisse was delighted. She felt so comfortable with Catherine. The idea that they could in fact be sisters gained more and more strength. If only she had the nerve to take a DNA test… They continued to chat about trivial things, about their work, when Clarisse heard a soft knock on the office door. Joseph entered slowly and Clarisse silently indicated the chair for him to sit on. He nodded and sat across from her, listening to the rest of the conversation.

"Well, I'm going to have to end our conversation here. My head of Security is here and I think he must have something to discuss with me."

"The Head of Security ? That hot, sexy, dashing bodyguard that was with you?" Clarisse felt herself blush and prayed that Joseph couldn't hear Catherine.

"That one."

" lucky girl !"

"And I am. He is extremely competent. Now I really have to say goodbye. I hope to speak with you again, soon."

"Can I call you?" Catherine asked shyly.

"Of course. Unfortunately I don't know my phone number but I will ask Charlotte to contact you and give you my private number. Thank you so much, darling."

"Oh my, Clarisse. Thank you so much! I miss you, believe me or not. I truly do!"

"I miss you too!" Said Clarisse and hung up the phone. Joseph was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. But who was Clarisse talking to? Who did she want to give the private phone number to? And darling ? DARLING? He was about to explode with jealousy.

"What can I do for you, Joseph?"

"Nothing special, Your Majesty . I just came to tell you that everything is ready for tomorrow's journey." He said visibly irritated.

"Good. What time do we leave?"

"At 4pm." He got up and was about to leave but not before showing her how furious he was.

"I just want to give you a little advice, Your Majesty … Be careful to whom you give your private phone number. It's not very sensible."

"I believe I'm old enough to know what I'm doing, Joseph."

"Of course you are… Yet I can't help but find it strange. This number is only used by family members…"

"It is time to change that." Clarisse could see that Joseph was jealous. He had only heard the last part of the conversation and Clarisse was careful never to mention Catherine's name. He was probably thinking she was talking to a man.

"And is that a wise decision? In my opinion, NO ONE else should have that number."

"I have every confidence in the person concerned."

Joseph sat back down and tried to calm down. He had to know which man Clarisse was talking to. She could only speak to him on the phone, since when she left the Palace, she was permanently accompanied by him. And even when she was at the Palace, he was always around. Surely he would have overheard some other conversation… But yet, in the last few months, he had spent a lot of time with Frederica. Clarisse could have used those moments to have these conversations. And that made him even more furious. She could have taken advantage of his absence… When he went out with her sister… Definitely, Frederica had been a colossal mistake! He then decided on a different approach.

"And have you decided where you are going to go these three days that you have reserved for yourself?"

Clarisse realized that he was fishing for information that she hadn't wanted to give him before...

"I'm still not quite sure about everything but one person I want to see, Michael!"

"Michael? Michael Nouri ?" Oh boy . Joseph detested the man. Michael had been friends with Clarisse for many years and they rarely saw each other, but when they were together, Michael and Clarisse were very effusive. They always greeted each other with a hug and two kisses on the cheek, they spent hours talking and Michael was very clear in saying that he thought Clarisse was the sexiest woman in the world. Joseph just wanted to rip his head off.

"Yes, Michael Nouri . I miss him." Clarisse knew she was pushing Joseph over the edge but she didn't care. Had he not chosen Frederica? So now he was going to bear the consequences. But Joseph's jealousy spoke louder...

"And don't you think he's a little too enthusiastic about you? After all, you've been a widow for less than a year..."

That's it ! Now he had gone too far.

"Apart from letting myself be carried away by a situation that I thought was real, six months ago, I have never in my entire life done anything that could put me in an embarrassing situation or tarnish my reputation. So I ask you to contain yourself in the comments. And now, if you have nothing else to say, you can leave. I have work to finish."

These words hit Joseph hard. He was still a real jerk.

"But I have something else to say, yes. You know perfectly well that he has a crush on you. Why are you going to be with him?"

"Because a woman needs to, even occasionally, feel that she can still be considered… interesting! Good afternoon, Joseph."

Clarisse put her glasses back on and picked up her pen, clearly indicating that the conversation was over.

Joseph rose and bowed his head.

" Your Majesty ."

Joseph got out and slammed the door a little too hard, making Clarisse look over and smile. Joseph was filled with jealousy. Good!

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xoxo

Maria