Married to a Prince

by Calista King

  "Now that you know about me, it's your turn," she said.

  "I wouldn't say I know everything about you," he said. "I feel like we've only just scratched the surface."

  "What are you some Dr. Phil wannabe? You've got to answer some of my questions before I answer any more of yours."

  Andreas lifted his hands up in defeat. "I'm an open book. Ask away," he said.

  "All right, hmm, let's see," Laila said tilting her head back and placing her index finger on her chin in thought.

  Andreas sat back and crossed his arms in front of him, admiring the profile view Laila was giving him. Paul, returning with Laila's potato skins, distracted them for a moment. They were piping hot, fresh from the oven and Laila leaned down and inhaled the mouthwatering scent.

  "Mmmm," she moaned, picking one up and taking a small bite.

  If they weren't so hot, she'd stuff the whole thing in her mouth, with or without Andreas sitting across from her. A small piece of bacon fell of the potato skin and left a smudge of sour cream on her fingers. She lifted her hand and licked it off, closing her eyes. When she opened them, she found Andreas staring at her again with that smoldering look. He looked like he wanted to eat her. Laila swallowed hard at the thought, and to distract herself, she offered him a potato skin.

  "Try it," she said, pushing the plate closer to him. "You look like you're hungry."

  "Oh I am," he said enigmatically.

  Andreas picked up a potato skin and blew on it before taking a large bite, his eyes on her the whole time. Laila felt the heat travel from her cheeks to that special place between her thighs. Damn, she thought. This man could make eating goddamn potato skins look sexy. Andreas finished off the rest of his piece and wiped his fingers on a napkin.

  "You're right," he said. "They are delicious."

  Wanting to steer the conversation to safer topics, Laila pushed away her unfinished plate and took a long slow sip of her wine. "So my question," she began. "Who are you?"

  Andreas threw his head back and laughed, and it caught Laila off guard. She didn't think the question was funny or silly, but the way he was going on made it sound like she'd told the greatest joke ever. She sat patiently, waiting for him to finish.

  "I'm so sorry," he finally said, wiping the corner of his eyes with his thumb. "It's just such an unexpected question. No one has ever asked me that. I don't know why I lost it there for a minute."

  "Now we're even then," Laila said. "But you still have to answer."

  "Who am I? I'm Andreas De Berg. I'm irresponsible, immature, spoiled, superficial and lazy."

  "Well damn, you sound like a real catch," Laila said dryly.

  Andreas laughed at Laila's casual reply. "You'd be surprised at the lengths some women would go to get my attention," he said.

  "You need to add cocky and conceited to your list too," Laila said.

  "Touche. I don't say it to sound cocky, but," and here Andreas shrugged his shoulders, "it gets to be a bit much sometimes."

  "You're serious then?" Laila asked. "You've got all those horrible qualities and women are still throwing themselves at you. You must be rich as sin then, cause looks alone won't carry you."

  "You are a breath of fresh air, you know that?" Andreas said, eyeing Laila appreciatively.

  "Hey, I'm just being honest with you. I've known women that have been with some real Grade A assholes only because they had money to spend. I'm never surprised by what people will put up with in pursuit of the all mighty dollar."

  "Yes, I know what you mean. They can be quite ruthless," Andreas said quietly.

  He took a sip of his sparkling water and stared out the window just to the left of Laila's head. He seemed to be lost in his thoughts and forgot about her presence for a moment.

  "Who was she?" Laila asked, recalling his attention.

  "Who?"

  "The female that's got you looking all mopey," Laila answered.

  "She's no one important," Andreas said.

  "If that were true, then just the mention of her wouldn't get you down in the dumps. But hey, you don't have to tell me about her. That's your business. I'm just offering an open ear if you want."

  "Thank you Laila, but I think I will pass on your very generous offer. I don't want that person to ruin what is turning out to be quite an enjoyable evening for me."

  "You know what your problem is? You use too many words to say things," Laila blurted out.

  "Pardon?"

  "It's nothing. Forget about it," Laila said, embarrassed by her sudden outburst.

  She didn't know why she said it. She actually found the way he spoke incredibly sexy. And it wasn't like Laila was ignorant or uneducated, but the way he spoke sounded like he came from another era. She couldn't imagine him referring to a woman as a ho or bitch or any other degrading term. He was polite. Nice. That was it. She almost burst out laughing trying to imagine him calling her baby doll or sweet cheeks.

  "What's so funny?" Andreas asked, noticing her smile.

  "Oh it's nothing. Just a random thought I had," she answered.

  "A penny for your thoughts?" he asked.

  "Where did you say you came from again?" Laila asked, ignoring his question.

  "I didn't say," he replied.

  "You sound like you're from England. You've got a British accent," Laila noted.

  "You're partially right. I went to boarding school in England, and I guess that I just picked up the accent. As for where I'm from...it's just a small country in Europe. It's not a very interesting place," Andreas said.

  Laila could tell he was being vague on purpose, and it only made her more curious. It seemed like Andreas had something to hide, but what was it? Judging from his behavior she figured he was running away from something, or someone. Laila wasn't a nosy person, but she was intrigued by Andreas. She did want to know more about him, but she wasn't going to go snooping around his past if he wasn't willing to tell her himself. She wasn't that desperate.

  "What about you?" Andreas asked.

  "What about me?"

  "Where are you from? You mentioned you went to college, what did you study?"

  "I was born and raised in New York. I went to City College and studied Theater," she began.

  Andreas leaned forward listening intently as she talked about her life--her childhood, family, hopes and dreams. Laila didn't even realize she was talking about herself so much. If she did, she would've been horrified. Not even her closest friends knew some of her deepest dreams and fears, but here she was spilling it all to Andreas.

  There was just something about him that made her open up. He seemed genuinely interested in her life, and that was a new experience for Laila. Usually guys would pretend to be interested in what she had to say, but she could tell that they really couldn't care less.

  By the time she realized it, the dinner rush had already come and left at McMillan's, and they were just about to close up. She checked her watch and was surprised to see that it was already almost 11pm.

  "Oh shit! I didn't know it was so late," she gasped.

  "I'm sorry for keeping you out so late," he apologized.

  "Don't worry about it. It's not your fault. I guess I just lost track of the time."

  "We both did. I was enjoying myself so much, I didn't even realize what time it was," he said. "Let me take you home."

  "Nah that's all right. I'll take the subway."

  "I insist. It's not safe for a young woman to be walking around the city at night alone."

  Laila cocked her head at him like he was crazy. "What century are you from again?" she joked. "Listen, Andreas, I've been taking care of myself for a long time. I know how to get home safely."

  "I didn't mean to offend you. It would just make me feel better if you let me escort you home, just so I know you made it home safe. We can get a cab and I'll just wait inside until you make it into your building."

  "You really care that much?" she asked.

  "I do."

  "Fine suit yourself,
" Laila shrugged. She tried to come off as nonchalant, but deep down she was gratified. No one had ever gone to so much trouble to make sure she was safe. It was such an old fashioned thing to do, and she was realizing that behind the polished and suave exterior, Andreas was deep down a real gentleman.

  Andreas paid for their drinks (he wouldn't hear of Laila splitting the bill with him) and got up from the table to leave. Outside, he hailed a cab and it pulled up to the curb immediately. He opened the door for Laila to go in first and followed her.

  "Where to?" the cab driver asked.

  "230 Ludlow Street," Laila answered.

  The cab driver pulled into traffic and headed downtown. Laila sat back against the seat cushion but she couldn't relax. Andreas' body was pressed up against her side and she could feel his leg brushed up against hers. It was the closest she'd ever been to him. She could smell his scent up close and everything was working it's magic on her.

  She had to tell herself to breath and to stop being an idiot. It was like she'd never been with a man before. Sitting next to Andreas made everything feel like her first time. She'd never been as nervous and scared before. Deep down, she knew nothing was going to happen, but all her senses were working and it overwhelmed her.

  The cab ride felt like it took an eternity to get to her apartment, and at the same time, she was disappointed it ended so soon. Just like he promised, Andreas remained in the cab while she hopped out and walked up to her building. The plain brown brick building didn't have a doorman, so she slid in her key for the lobby and waved at the cab before stepping inside. Andreas waited in the cab until she made it inside the building and he waved back to her before directing the driver to leave.

  Laila let out a deep breath once she got into her apartment. What a night! she thought. It turned out completely different than what she had planned. She told Corinne she was going to curl up at home and relax alone after working so many hours. Instead, she went out with a charming man and stayed out way past her bedtime.

  Laila hadn't been out for a long time. Tonight was the first time in a while that she'd gone out for drinks. It was a nice change of pace and she was pleasantly surprised that she had a good time and actually enjoyed Andreas' company. She thought she wouldn't mind getting to know him better, but then realized how stupid she was being.

  Guys like Andreas and girls like her had no future together. Not as friends, not as lovers, not as anything. The sooner she realized that and quit day dreaming, the better off she'd be. Sure, he was a nice guy and they had a good time together just talking, but he was only in town for a few weeks and he'd be heading home soon to wherever it was he came from.

  And even if by some miracle we started seeing each other, how long would that last? she wondered. She was sure there was just too much difference between them for it to work out. It would all be a giant waste of time, so there was no point for her to even start with him. But if that was the right thing to do, then why did it feel so wrong? And why did her heart hurt at the thought of never seeing him again?

  ***

  Andreas stared back at Laila's building until the cab pulled far enough away that it wasn't visible anymore. He turned his head straight and looked out the windshield at all the lights of the city before him. He couldn't help the smile that stayed plastered on his face.

  All the arguments about keeping his distance and focusing on work were slowly being chipped away. Faced with her beauty and charm, he knew he'd be hopeless to stay away. She intrigued him. Everything about her was fascinating.

  Not once had she looked at him like she was calculating his net worth. There were no ulterior motives or schemes she was hatching, trying to use him for his name and money. No, she had been completely forthright, correctly guessing that he had come from money, but that was it. There was no digging, no fishing for more information. She just accepted what he told her and moved on.

  The cab came to a stop just outside the entrance to The Standard. Andreas paid his fare and went into the hotel. Heading to the elevator, he whistled a tune to himself. He thought about the next time he'd be able to see Laila again. Would she be working tomorrow? he wondered.

  Andreas slipped his key into door and flipped on the lights. The curtains were open and a view of the lit up city greeted him. He unloosened his tie and sat on the bed slipping off his shoes. Laila was nothing like anyone he'd ever met before. Honest, brash, bold, smart, funny, kind, sexy, beautiful. He could go on and on detailing her virtues. It almost scared him how quickly he took to her. He tried to remember the last time he'd felt so giddy about a woman.

  His hands stilled on his laces as the memory hit him like brick wall. Caroline. She was the last woman he'd felt that way about, and that didn't turn out well at all. Could it be the same with Laila?

  Caroline had seemed to be the perfect woman for him. She took his breath away and captivated him with her intelligence and beauty. Their relationship had been a big mistake--the biggest mistake of his life. He trusted her too easily, and she used him and threw him away when she was done with him. Andreas didn't think he could go through that again.

  If Laila turned out to be another viper.... He didn't even want to finish that thought. Not only would he be utterly humiliated again, but his family would lose all faith in him. Would it be a chance I'd be willing to take? Andreas knew there was only one opinion that really mattered to him. His brother Frederick would give him good and honest advice. He was the closest person to Andreas, and wouldn't judge him too harshly. His parents were out of the question and his friends had abandoned him in his time of need.

  He checked his watch and saw that it was too early or late (depending on who you spoke to) to call his brother up. He'd have to sleep on it and wait. In the meantime, he thought, there was no harm in getting to know Laila a little better. Besides, it'd be jumping the gun to call his brother about this woman, only to find out later that it was all for nothing. He really didn't know her too well, he realized. That was the mistake he made with Caroline.

  He just assumed that she was kind and good based on superficial things, but deep down, she was bad to the core. He wouldn't rush too quickly with Laila. He'd find out more about her, spend time with her and get to know her. He wouldn't make any promises, but seeing her again would be a top priority. Then he could start really getting to know her.

  She'd be a welcome distraction from all the stress and pressure from his new position. Hell, she'd already worked her magic today. After he left the office, he'd been feeling pretty down and overwhelmed by all his new responsibilities and the obstacles he faced, but after one evening in Laila's company, he'd felt happier and lighter than he could remember. Andreas made up his mind to ask Laila on a proper date the next time he saw her. With that resolution in mind, he finished undressing and got ready for bed.

  The next morning, Andreas woke up bright and early again. He hopped out of bed and into the shower to get ready for the day. It was going to be his first full day at the office in his new role. He had to meet his uncle when he got in, but first, Andreas wanted to find Laila. He hoped she'd be at the front desk when he went down.

  Andreas quickly finished getting dressed and headed down to the lobby. He stopped in his tracks when he saw two people working the front desk, and neither was Laila. Swallowing his disappointment, he headed over and stood in front of a tall woman who looked to be in her mid thirties. She wore her hair in a tight bun and had a sturdy efficiency about her. She looked up as he approached and gave him a wide smile.

  "How may I help you?" she asked, discreetly eyeing him up and down.

  Andreas gave a polite smile before answering, "Yes, I was wondering if you could tell me when Laila would be in again?"

  The woman's eyebrows shot up her face registering her surprise. Andreas immediately cursed himself for being so stupid. Laila had specifically told him that it was against the rules for the staff of the hotel to socialize with the guests and he'd just asked for her specifically. What was this woman supposed to
think?

  "She was uh...supposed to recommend the services of a tailor to me, and I had urgent need of one," Andreas lied, inwardly cringing at the lameness of his excuse.

  "Oh well, she's not here this morning, but I believe she's scheduled for Friday evening," the woman answered. Her features were schooled in an unreadable expression, and Andreas didn't know if she'd believed his story, but he hoped he didn't just get Laila in trouble.

  "No worries, I just remembered Corinne actually recommended a shop not far from here," Andreas said. He hoped bringing Corinne's name up would take the heat off Laila. Then again, he might just get them both fired. He stared down at the woman's face and saw it clear of suspicion and he breathed a sigh of relief.

  "Very well sir. Was there anything else you needed help with?" she asked.

  "No, that will be all. Thank you." Andreas walked away and headed out the hotel. Laila wouldn't be back until Friday. He swallowed his disappointment at not being able to see her again today. All night, he'd been thinking about asking her out and what he'd say to her, but it was all for nothing now. He'd just have to wait until Friday.

  It was too bad he didn't think to ask for her number, he thought to himself. He just hoped he didn't blunder too badly, and get her in trouble. He hailed a cab and hopped in, already thinking about the end of the week and seeing Laila again. He wasn't even that nervous about his first day at his new job. It seemed Laila was already good for him.

  CHAPTER 6

  "Laila Greer?" the young woman with the clipboard asked, scanning the large waiting room.

  Laila rose from her seat and headed towards her. "I'm Laila Greer," she said.

  "Follow me." The woman was abrupt and business like. There was no friendly smile or encouraging word. She didn't even look back at Laila to make sure she was following her. I guess it doesn't really matter to her one way or the other, Laila thought.