“What the hell?” I heard coming from one of the stalls.
A toilet flushed and a door creaked open to reveal Christy standing in the mirror.
“What the hell happened?”
“You were right!” I said. “I just saw that bitch waitress give him her number.”
“No way.”
“And her panties!”
“What!”
She grabbed me by the shoulders and looked deep into my burning eyes.
“You gotta get outta here. You gotta break it off right now.”
“I can't,” I raged. “Not now. Not in front of all these people who came here to celebrate with us and-”.”
“Stop thinking about other people for once! Put yourself first.”
I pulled away from her, splashed cold water on my cheeks and dabbed at my flaking mascara.
“How could he do this to me?”
“He's a scum bag.”
Christy lay a hand on my back looking close to tears herself.
“Lizzie, you know I love you, right?”
“Of course.”
“I can't bear to see you like this. You have to leave him. I hate to bring this up, but your dad wouldn't want you married to a guy like that.”
Just the thought of my dad sent me over the edge and now I couldn't fight back the tears. They stung my eyes and closed up my throat, not matter how much I tried to hold them back..
“But Dad loved Adam!” I cried. “He took him to all his chemo appointments. He was right there at the end. He. promised my Dad he'd take care of me.”
But he hadn’t lived up to his promise, had he? No, in fact, he’d done quite the opposite.
The pain was so deep and intense, it felt as though my heart was being pulled inside out. I sucked in a deep breath and stopped the tears rolling down my cheeks. Get a grip of yourself, I thought. You're stronger than this.
“Lizzie. You know what you have to do. You can't be married to a guy that plans to cheat at your own own engagement party. You just can't.”
I knew she was right. I knew Adam was no good for me. I knew he always had his eye on other women. But it wasn’t quite as easy as Christy was making it sound.
“It's just not that easy,” I tried to reason. “He's not just my fiancée. He's my boss too.”
“So what?” said Christy. “You think you won't be able to get another job like the one you have at Peak Media? I mean for Christ's sake, Lizzie with your brains you could walk into any job.”
She was right about that too, so why couldn't I agree with her?
“Lizzie, I just wish you could see yourself the way I see you.”
She pulled me up to stare at myself in the mirror.
“Look how beautiful you are. Just look at how incredible you are. Are you really going to let an arrogant asshole like Adam make you feel this bad?”
“I guess not,” I said. “I mean, no. I'm better than that.”
“Exactly.”
I thought about him out there, laughing and joking with his friends. His attention wasn't on me at all, it was on just about everyone else but me. He'd probably spoken more words to that waitress than he had to me all night, and we were supposed to be showing everyone how in love we were. What a joke, I thought. This can't go on.
“What do I do? Leaving him means leaving our home, my job, everything I have.”
“Your one tough cookie,” said Christy. “You can start again. Move in with me and Josh. Take a well-deserved break. Didn't you say your dad left you inheritance money?”
“Yeah but I was going to save that.”
She gave me one of her knowing looks and narrowed her eyes.
“You're right,” I said.” I could do with time off. A fresh start. A new life. I can really move in with you?”
She nodded.
“I don't know what I did to deserve you.”
“If only we were lesbians, we could be together and forget all about guys.”
I couldn't help but laugh. Even when I was in my darkest moments, she was always there to lift my spirits.
“I know what I'm going to do,” I said. “I'm gonna finish this. Right now. In front of everyone.”
Her eyes twinkled. She took my hands and gave them a tight squeeze.
“There's my girl. You can do it.”
My hands began to shake with the terror of knowing I was going to walk out in front of everyone and make the biggest announcement of my life. But I knew I had to do it. I deserved better.
“Let's do this,” I said. “Right now, before I lose my nerve.”
I stormed out the bathroom loaded for bear.. Adam saw my face and was already standing up, his hands raised in a gesture of innocence.
“Sit the fuck down,” I told him. “I wanna make a speech.”
“Lizzie. Calm down. Let's talk about this.”
“Shut up.”
All his friends stared at me, their expressions a mixture of drunken amusement and confusion. Tapping my fork against my wine glass, I stared out across the room. Everyone turned to see me, their faces etched with shock. Okay, Lizzie. You can do this. Just make sure you don't puke.
“I have an announcement to make,” I said.
Beside me, Adam tugged at my dress and whispered, “Dammit Lizzie, sit down you look like a crazy person.”
“Shut the fuck up, Adam. Everyone! Listen up. I have three words to say to my fiancée here. Three very important words I've been waiting a while now to say.”
I closed my eyes for a second and couldn't believe it was all going to come to an end like this. Opening my eyes, I saw a room full of perplexed faces.
“So here they are,” I continued. “The wedding's off!”
The room was filled with gasps and confused burbling.
“You're a bastard, Adam. A cheating asshole!”
I reached beneath the tablecloth and picked up the panties.
“And at our own engagement party!”
I threw them at him, and they landed smack in the middle of his face, hanging off his nose. The room descended into chaos. Louise began sobbing like a lunatic while all my aunts ran to comfort her.
“I never wanna see you again!” I yelled, then I simply picked up my purse, slipped on my coat and walked away.
Philip
I shook the pilot's hand as I reached the top steps of my jet. It had recently been repainted in my favorite color, gold, and was sparkling on the tarmac like a beacon of wealth.
“Welcome aboard, Your Highness. I trust the flight will be smooth today and we'll be reaching the Octavius Islands around dinner time. Reports say the sun is shining, but of course it always is.”
“Thanks, Eugene. Always a pleasure to have you flying me.”
He slipped his cap back over his slicked back hair and disappeared inside the cockpit.
“May I get you a drink, Your Highness?”
I turned to see a new face on a ripe body stuffed into a blue air hostess outfit.
“I’ve not seen you before.”
“It's my first day, Your Highness. I'll be. seeing to your every need on your journey.”
Something told me my eight-hour flight wasn't going to be as boring as I had originally thought .
“Very good,” I replied, looking her up and down. “How about we get things started off with a little Remy Martin?”
She gave a polite nod, but her icy blue eyes remained focused on my body.
“Of course, Your Highness. I'll bring the bottle.”
“Bring it to my bed,” I said with a smirk.
“Yes, right away.”
She blushed and walked away to the drink cabinet. As I walked by her toward the bedroom, I took the chance to look over her body. Her shapely calves led to strong thighs and slim hips. Yet her slenderness stopped at her waist before giving way to voluptuous breasts that threatened to spill out her blouse. Her slender neck peeked out from her collar with a faint trace of blonde hair trailing down the back. I had the overwhelming urge to run
a fingertip down it and kiss her milky skin.
I resisted the urge and walked on by. Reaching my bedroom, I looked forward to relaxing on the long journey to the Octavius Islands, the place that would be my new home for the next few months until all the chaos blew over. But I wasn't going to be so lucky. As I flung myself on the bed, my phone rang. Looking at the screen, I saw it was yet another call from my brother Henry.
“Bro?”
“Philip where the hell are you? I've been calling for hours.”
“On the jet,” I explained with a sigh. “It's all good, I'm away to the islands.”
“Yeah, lucky for you our family owns them. I wonder what you'd do if you had to flee to a less glamorous country.”
“Thankfully that's not a problem I have to contend with. Anyway, what's up?”
“Have you seen the newspapers this morning?”
“Yes, dear brother, that's why I'm on this jet.”
He let out a chuckle. There was the sound of him lighting a cigarette before taking in a deep inhale and blowing smoke over the receiver.
“Can't believe the trouble you're in, man. Dad's going nuts. Says it's the biggest scandal the family has had in over a hundred years.”
“I'm actually kinda proud of that.”
“You would be.”
He went quiet as he read through the papers. I could hear the pages rustle as he turned them.
“Holy shit, there are pictures in this one!” he gasped.
Shit, I thought. I'd seen them and knew that everyone else had too, but I hadn't hoped my own brother would stumble across the image of me having a threesome in an exclusive sex club while he was on the phone to me.
“Woah! Jesus fucking Christ,” he said. “That blonde girl looks familiar. Holy shit is that the model, Bibi Gensen?”
I leaned back in bed to re-imagine the night. Of course I was blazing drunk at the time and having the time of my life. Club X was always my favorite place to go on a Saturday night. The exclusive, private members' sex club was the most difficult one to get access to, and only the most beautiful and rich people could apply for membership. Of course, as a crown prince, that put me top of the list.
Last Saturday had been like no other. Ah, Bibi, I thought. Wasn't that an unforgettable night. Except someone else had thought so too. Someone with a camera.
Somehow, a little sneaky bastard of a journalist had weaseled his way inside the club and snapped pictures of me with Bibi and a stunning brunette.
“Can't believe you partied with Bibi,” said Henry, obviously jealous. “And who's the other girl? She's fucking gorgeous.”
“That would be her girlfriend.”
“What!”
A gentle knock sounded on the door a moment later, the new air hostess tottered inside holding a tray. I spread myself back on the bed and let my shirt ride up my stomach. If she was gonna be keeping me company for the next few hours she may as well get familiar with the precious cargo.
Placing the Remy beside me, she filled up a glass and smiled.
“Will there be anything else, Your Highness?”
Her eyes met mine. I knew what she was thinking because I was thinking the exact same thing.
“Come join me in an hour,” I said.
She blushed and wiggled her way out the door.
“Who was that?” asked Henry.
“New hostess.”
“You even get her name?”
“Not yet.”
“You're fucking unbelievable,” he laughed. “Anyway, back to business. Dad's throwing a fucking fit. He's totally freaking out. He's actually considering exiling you from Molgrovia for the rest of your life.”
“He can't do that,” I protested. “I can't exactly be the Prince of Molgrovia and not be allowed in the country.”
“I'm just telling you what he said. Listen, I reckon he'll calm down and all this will just blow over. Just stay out of the way for a while and let him cool off. He's trying his hardest to manage the whole media situation today. There'll be hell to pay for that piece of shit paparazzi.”
If anyone had the power to make that guy’s life a living hell, it would be Dad, King of Molgrovia, ruler over thirty-seven countries and direct descendant of Charlemagne.
“Dad will sort it out,” I said. “It's his job.”
“No, his job is running the country. Not bailing you out of trouble.”
He was right. As my younger brother, he was the yin to my yang. He was the levelheaded one out the two of us; the one who always saw reason and never got in any trouble.
Part of me envied the way he could live a drama-free life. Part of me felt sorry for him. He'd never know what it was like to party like me, to have fun like I did, to reach the peak of hedonistic experience week after week after week. There was nothing I hadn't done. Well, maybe a few things...
I hadn't fallen in love before. That was something Henry had done that I hadn't, but I didn't see that I was missing out on anything. I mean, who would want to go home every night to the same girl? The thought made me shiver. Besides, I was a prince. I didn't have to live the same boring life that everybody else did. A house, two kids, a wife, and a normal job in an office? Nah. I didn't need to suffer that kind of existence. I could do whatever I wanted, when I wanted.
“Phil?”
“What is it, bro?”
“I'm worried about you.”
I almost spat out my drink.
“Since when did you get so soft? Worried about me? Do you know how much fun I'm having now? I'm having the time of my life! If there's anyone you should be worried about it's you. You're the one with a baby on the way.”
I didn't need to see Henry's face to know he was smiling on the other end of the phone. When the news hit the public about his wife Stephania falling pregnant, he'd walked around like the Cheshire Cat for weeks. Even now, all you had to do was say the word baby and he'd have sun beams shining out his freaking face.
“Stop it,” I said.
“What?”
“Gloating.”
“I'm not.”
“I can literally hear you smile, Henry.”
“Aw, shut up. You're just jealous.”
“Me? Jealous of you spawning some magical, royal crotch fruit? I think the fuck not.”
Henry chuckled. The topic of children was always going to be a bone of contention between us. He had always wanted kids. He thought of them with the same fondness our father did and got all gooey eyed over the idea of producing an heir to inherit his fortune someday. I always said screw the idea of an heir. I was keeping my fortune.
I knocked back the last of my drink and felt its warmth start to relax me. Sliding off the bed, I made my way over to the window and looked out across the horizon. The fluffy clouds were growing sparse so I could see below into the turquoise waters of the Molgrovian Sea.
On the other side of the door, I could hear the stewardess tinkle ice cubes into a glass, no doubt ready and waiting to bring me another drink as an excuse to wiggle in here.
“So, what are you gonna do when you get to the islands anyway?”
“I dunno. The usual. Drink. Party. Check out the local pussy.”
“You're a dog, Philip. Ever think of not calling women ‘pussy?’”
“Ever thought of lightening up for once? I mean, Jesus. You've always got a pole up your ass.”
He sighed. I had visions of him on the other end of the phone groaning and pinching the bridge of his nose like he always did when he was fed up with me.
“I'm just saying,” he continued. “Have you ever thought of taking it easy for a while? You know, having a quiet night in with a book?”
I must have misheard him, because he couldn't have said what I just thought he said. He couldn't be so dumb.
“I'm sorry, I thought you just asked if I wanted a quiet night in with a book.”
“Yeah, you know, a book? That thing people read to learn stuff?”
“I dunno, books freak me out. I mean, staring
at slivers of trees for hours on end hallucinating stories in your head. Bananas. Nah, I'd much rather relax with a nice cocktail and a girl in my lap.”
“Ever think of settling down with one of those girls?”
“About as much as I've considered reading a book.”
A knock sounded, and a second later, the stewardess entered.
“I thought you'd like a top up,” she purred.
Sauntering over, she handed me another drink and lingered for a moment as though she was waiting for me to give her another order. Her eyes were on my body as though she was trying to see through my clothes. I wouldn't have minded seeing through hers too.
“Thanks,” I said, leaning back on the bed to give her a better view. “You never did tell me your name.”
“It's Catalina,” she said, her eyes darting up to mine. “But you can call me Cat.”
“What about Kitty?”
“I like that too.”
She kneeled on the edge of the bed, ready to crawl on me as soon as I said the magic word.
“Hello?” came Henry's voice. “Are you still there?”
“Yeah, bro. I'm still here.”
“You have a girl on that plane, don't you?”
“I might.”
“For the love of God. I don't know if I should be jealous or give you a slap round the back of the head. It's like you can't stop yourself. Like you have an addiction or something.”
“There are worse things to be addicted to I suppose. Dad should be happy I'm addicted to women and not crack cocaine or something.”
He sighed in exasperation. “Still, it wouldn't hurt you to behave yourself for a little while. I mean, how long can you keep up all this debauchery anyway?”
“As long as I want.”
“That's the problem. You always just do what you want.”
It was impossible to ignore the bitterness in his voice.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“What I'm talking about is you being a public leader and not acting like it. It's all well and good being a playboy, and you're obviously having the time of your life, but you're a prince, Philip. Our nation needs a prince who can lead with his head, not his cock. You know, as the oldest, you’re the next ruler. You’re not exactly inspiring confidence in our people.”
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