Confrontation

White roses, orchids, and chrysanthemums in a bouquet was the answer he was looking for. He had them delivered to her office as soon as he finished discussing his needs with the owner of the flower shop. Instead of hoping that she would figure out the meaning of his affectionate token he decided to explain it in a card.

White roses for friendship

Orchids for friendship, new beginnings, and joy

Chrysanthemums for optimism, care, and love

I hope you enjoyed our date as much as I did.

(even if it didn't end like I wanted it to…)

Looking forward to many more to come!

He smiled happily after placing the note in the provided envelope. "You're sure she'll get these today?"

Ruby smiled at his nervousness. "You must really like this girl," she commented with a sweet smile. Just as quickly, that smile turned stern. "Young man, I've been in business since before you were a gleam in your father's eye. The flowers will be delivered to the Myers & Myers law firm by three o'clock today. Your lady friend will receive them from one of my best delivery specialists. Stop worrying."

"Thank you," he said, paying for the bouquet and giving her a tip that made her head spin. He exited the shop, bodyguards in tow, and walked into a nearby jewelry store. When he came out, he was holding a silver charm bracelet with two charms on it - a tiny cupid and a miniature replica of the Scales of Justice. He went back to the flower shop, insisting that his purchase be bundled with this. Ruby had a soft smile on her face that he wasn't entirely comfortable with.

"Is something wrong?" he asked forcefully as he handed over the bracelet.

"No, nothing at all," she shrugged, that soft smile turning impish. "It's just not often that I have a bone fide gentleman walk into my establishment. Thank you for your patronage." Then, to his complete chagrin, she executed a perfect court bow. Tyr exited the store quickly, her full-throated laughter following him to the crowded street.

After that, the prince lounged in a coffee shop. He planned to visit his lady at five to negotiate for another date. He liked the idea of meeting at the office, but meeting at either of their places would afford him the opportunity to learn more about her. He was stunned at how little he knew about her! Even scouring her social media had yielded precious little information about her likes and dislikes. And this was after hours of looking, using every trick he'd been taught by some of the best hackers on the planet.

"Tyr! I haven't heard from you in a while," Shantelle said in a falsetto that was giving him a headache already. She sat down across from him without an invitation and smiled at him after licking her teeth to make sure that she didn't have any lipstick on them. Alandra doesn't have that problem, he thought maliciously.

"I heard that you went to the club without me last night," she said loudly in a conspiratorial whisper. "I bet you're wishing that you'd taken me instead of that frigid shrew. Did you need a little loving to tide you over? I know for a fact that Alandra doesn't put out." She slid her hand under the table and up his thigh. Tyr backed away from the woman like he would a poisonous snake and stood. "Uh-uh, lover. Sit down," she said, all business suddenly. Knowing where this was going, but deciding to play along anyway, he gingerly sat in his seat.

"We were an item for two weeks and we were exclusive," she began, admiring her fake nails. Seriously, what had he ever seen in this woman? "Last week I missed my period. I took one of those early detection pregnancy tests and I'm having your baby. This was all before you embarrassed me by taking out that gold-digging harlot after dumping me, so I'm not really looking to share the throne with you. You can have your fake little happily ever after with that frigid harpy. And all it'll cost you is a couple of million in child support." She sat back from the table with a self-satisfied grin on her face.

"I will not pay a cent of child support without a paternity test, performed by my own doctor with the results verified by a board of no less than five doctors. I also demand a polygraph, a private investigator check to confirm your other lovers during our time together, and a full medical examination to verify that you are indeed with child." His grin was decidedly shark-like as her smile faltered.

"Wh-why would I lie about being pregnant?" she asked.

"Gold-digging skanks like yourself are capable of many things," he said. "For example…" Omar threw down a few pictures with something akin to boredom. Shantelle picked up the pictures in horror. They were all of her in different sexual positions with at least five different men, all time-stamped during the two weeks they'd been together. "Care to revise your story, Ms. Melvins?"

"This… This is a violation of my privacy!" she said, trying for righteous indignation. Tyr rolled his eyes and stood up. "I suggest you gather your lovers together for a group paternity test. That way you know who owes you that child support."

"You could be the father," she tried one more time.

"I couldn't," he said, scraping her hand off his arm.

"What makes you think that? You fucked me five ways from sundown during our time together," she protested loudly, smiling malevolently when he froze. "That's right lover," she continued vindictively. "You may have given up your playa ways and be going after that timid virgin now, but-"

"Enough, woman! There are children present," he said, completely disgusted with this viper. He was reminded of that uncomfortable vignette with the gangster from last night. He reached the door when she decided to make things worse and necessitate his course of action.

"One of which is your unborn child," she declared triumphantly, knowing that people were recording this. Tyr suddenly turned around and approached her with that sleek gait that had always taken her breath away.

"And how can you be carrying my child when I'm completely sterile?" asked smoothly, aware of the cameras. He normally would have held back this information, but it was likely that Alandra would see this video. And he'd be damned if he'd let her think that he was responsible for a life and skipping out on his responsibilities. Jaws dropped all over the cafe and more people started recording this confrontation. "I had a vasectomy nineteen years ago. I've been firing blanks since long before I knew your scheming self. Why do you think I am always so confident when demanding paternity tests? I know that I am not the father. I am never the father. Do you truly believe that I would come to this country to sample its delights without some protection from conniving scum like you? Get your money from one of those other five poor bastards you were screwing while you were with me. I thought you were a little lackluster during our time together." Knowing that his mother would be furious with this information, he exited the cafe.

"You took yourself out of the gene pool just to spite me?" Shantelle asked, completely humiliated.

"You and those like you," he answered, back to his ex-lover. "Besides, it's reversible. You're just not worth it." He took his leave after that, done with the drama. It was all over the news before the end of the day. As he'd suspected, his mother had plenty to say about this news.

"Kayf tajru ealaa aitikhadh qarar kahadha dun astisharat walidik 'aw 'una? Hal ladayk 'ayu fikrat eamaa qad tafealuh linafsika?" Victoria Anasazi asked furiously, voice precise even in her towering anger. (How dare you make a decision like this without consulting your father or I? Have you any clue what you may have done to yourself?)

"Mama , 'ant taelam 'anani lan 'afeal 'aya shay' li'iidha'ik 'aw 'iidha' waldi. Lakina al'ahama min dhalik , 'anani lan 'afeal 'aya shay' lijalb alear ealaa eayilatina, mithl 'iidkhal al'awghad fi khati eayilatna," he answered with more patience than he felt. This is why he'd never told his mother about this. He knew that she would overreact. (Mama, you know that I would never do anything to hurt you or my father. But more importantly, I would never do anything to bring disgrace on our family, like introducing bastards into our family line.)

He could hear murmuring on the line and then he was speaking to his father. No, he was addressing the king of Alibhai. "Rabiy," he said respectfully. (My Lord)

"Hal 'ahtaj 'ann ati 'iilaa hunakin?" Tyr couldn't help a smile at this. Straight to the point, that was his father's way. (Do I need to come over there?)

"La rabi. ladaya kulu shay' taht alsaytarati," he answered. There was still the small matter of confronting the object of his affection with this news, but other than that… (No, my Lord. I have everything under control.)

"Hal anat bihajat lileawdat ala huna?" the king continued in his deep, even voice. The prince almost made the mistake of groaning. This was getting ridiculous. If he left for Alibhai so abruptly, and without explaining things to Alandra, he might lose her forever. Somehow that thought was more terrifying than parental wrath. And the fact that she would chastise him for his priorities if she knew about this made him love her all the more. (Do you need to come back here?)

Wait. Love?

Putting that alarming thought to the side so that he could deal with his parents, he took a deep breath. "La rabi. 'ana fi almakan aladhi 'ahtaj 'iilayh bishida," he answered. (No, my Lord. I'm where I'm needed)

"'ANA LA 'AHTAJIK FI 'AMRIKA 'IIDHA KUNT SATUASIL MUMARASAT ALJINSA!" Barbarossa shouted angrily. Tyr was surprised; he'd never heard his father raise his voice. He didn't need to. (I DON'T NEED YOU IN AMERICA IF YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FUCK UP!)

"'Abi, yumkinuni fiel hadha. laywjad matqalaq ealayh aw minhu. 'ana qadir miayat bialmiayat ealaa altaeamul mae tilk alhifarat w tufrikhuha. Vaelam aljamie ealaa al'aqali 'anani la 'astatie haml 'ayi shakhsin," he soothed the man. (Daddy, I can do this. There's nothing to worry about. I am one hundred percent able to handle that gold-digger and her spawn. At least everyone knows that I can't get anyone pregnant.)

"Bima fi dhalik tilk almuhamiat alati tarkud mieaha?" Tyr sighed heavily. Of course, his father knew about Alandra. (Including that lawyer woman you're running around with?)

"Bima fi dhalik tilk almuhamiat alati 'arkud mieaha. Thiq bi, Mawlaa. Ladia kilta alhalatayn taht alsaytarati," he answered honestly. A few more platitudes to his mother and father and he was allowed to hang up. By Allah, what a mess! And he still needed to talk to his girlfriend. At least his gifts had been delivered, hopefully before those videos had gone viral. (Including that lawyer woman I'm running around with. Trust in me, sire. I have both situations under control.)

"Shall we go face the music?" he asked tiredly. The bodyguards exchanged looks before pulling into traffic.