by Calista King
"Of course."
Once his uncle had left his office, Andreas didn't waste a moment before picking up the phone.
"Hey baby, I was just going to call you," Laila said, answering on the first ring.
"Oh yeah? What about?"
"Nothing, just calling to say I love you," she replied.
Andreas smiled to himself before replying. "I love you too."
"So what did you call me for? Or was it just to say that?" she asked.
"Well actually there is something I'd like to discuss with you," Andreas began. "My father will be celebrating his Silver Jubilee and I was wondering if you would like to come with me to Castonia to attend the festivities."
"Excuse me? Did you just ask me to go to Castonia with you, and what is a Silver Jubilee?"
"Yes, and it's the 25th anniversary of my father's rule. There's going to be celebrations throughout the country for two weeks. It'll be a national holiday, and I just thought it'd be a great opportunity to introduce you to my family."
"Oh dear," Laila gasped. "That sounds intimidating."
"I don't want to lie to you because it probably will be a bit much to handle, especially for someone not accustomed to all the pomp and circumstance. But I'll be by your side the whole time and I know you'll be wonderful. You've always handled every situation with grace and elegance and I know this will be no different."
"Now I know you're lying," Laila laughed. "I hardly handle anything with grace and elegance. I'm lucky if I don't end up spilling something on myself or cursing someone out. But thank you for trying to make me feel better, I appreciate it."
"Hmm, well you can't say I didn't try. So will you come?" he asked.
"I'd love to, really, but I'll need to see if I can get the time off work first."
Andreas had to stifle the frustrated groan. He didn't know why she still wanted to work at the hotel when he could easily support the both of them. And since they were now engaged, that's what he intended to do.
"You know I need the money and I have no intention of leeching off you before we're even married," she said as if reading his mind. "I've got bills to pay."
"I understand, but surely they'll let you take a couple weeks off. It really is a once in a lifetime event, and it would mean a lot to me if you would come," Andreas said.
He knew he was laying it on thick, but he needed her to go with him. It would be the perfect opportunity for him to not only introduce Laila to his family, but to the world and people of Castonia as well. She'd be photographed with him at all the official events which would stir up speculation as to who she was.
"I'll try my best," she said.
Andreas left it at that. He didn't want to push too hard. He knew once they were officially engaged, her employment at the hotel would effectively be ended. The media storm created by their engagement would make it very difficult and uncomfortable for her to continue working at the hotel. There'd be journalists and paparazzi hounding her and he was sure the hotel wouldn't appreciate them crowded outside the doors trying to capture glimpses of her. She'd have a tough go of it, but eventually she'd see it was for the best.
"Thank you," Andreas finally said. "By the way, I'm taking you out for dinner tonight."
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"That's a surprise," he replied. "But be ready by 7 pm."
"Yes sir," she laughed. "I'll see you then."
Andreas hung up the phone and spun in his chair to face the floor to ceiling windows at his back. He stared out at the buildings and cars before him, not really seeing anything. His mind was full of plans and worries. Everything in his life was going great, but there was still the nagging worry in the back of his mind that it would all be taken away from him.
And it was all thanks to Henriks. He was definitely planning something, and Andreas wanted to nip it in the bud. He wished Ulrich would hurry up and get the proof they needed of Henriks' duplicity so he could finally be rid of him.
Once he got Henriks out of the way, Andreas believed there'd be nothing left to threaten their happiness. He thought that when he settled down with Laila, interest in his life and affairs would die down. The press would quit hounding him, his past would be a distant memory, and Caroline would be rendered obsolete. No one would run to her to get her opinion on his latest exploits because there would be no other exploits. After all, there was nothing more boring than a happily married couple, even if they did happen to be royalty.
He smiled to himself at the thought of growing old with Laila by his side. She would be his rock, the one person he could trust above all others and who would keep him in line. It was part of the reason he loved her so much. She'd made him work for her love, and didn't just fall at his feet because of who he was or what he could give her. She had already done so much for him--transformed his life and made him want to be a better man.
CHAPTER 21
The black town car pulled up to the curb and the driver got out and opened the doors. Andreas led Laila towards the car, holding her hand and guiding her steps. Her eyes were covered by the blindfold Andreas insisted she wear. He wanted to surprise her that night.
Laila stumbled as she stepped off the curb and into the car, but Andreas was there to steady her. She made it safely into the back seat and Andreas followed right behind her. He closed the door and the driver sped away soon after. There was no sound except the quiet hum of the engine and the deep steady breaths of Andreas.
Laila was dying of curiosity. She wanted to rip the blindfold off and badger Andreas with questions until he gave in and told her where they were going and what they were doing. Earlier, he had told her they were going to dinner, but that was all she knew. As the car stopped for a red light, Laila turned to face Andreas. She looked to where she thought his head was and spoke.
"Are you going to tell me where we're going? I have to say I'm not a big fan of surprises."
Laila could just imagine the smile tugging on Andreas' lips. "You'll have to get used to it then. I love surprises," he said. "It'll be worth it."
"It better be worth it," Laila mumbled to herself as she turned to face the front of the car again.
She had spent hours getting ready for the evening. Andreas had told her the dress code was black tie formal which sent her into a full blown panic mode. But Andreas had come to the rescue and already had a dress ready for her. Laila felt a little uneasy that he paid for her dress, but he told her he'd already had it ordered for just this occasion, and since he was the one who asked her out, she shouldn't worry about having to get a new dress. Laila had accepted his logic, not the least because she was desperate.
She realized that she'd probably have to get used to it very soon. If she was going to be marrying him, she'd be marrying into royalty and that meant she had to step up her wardrobe. She couldn't be seen in just t-shirts and jeans and sweaters any longer. There were probably a million other things she needed to get used to, most of all was having money.
All her life, she and her mother had always just managed to get by. They weren't rich by any means, but Laila never considered that they were poor. They always had a roof over their heads and food on the table. So what if they couldn't buy the latest gadgets or brand name clothes, or go on vacations and to restaurants very often? Laila had never felt like she lacked anything growing up.
But the past few months of living with Andreas opened up her eyes to a whole other way of life. While Laila grew up having to scrimp and save and be conscious of the price of everything, Andreas never thought about money at all. If he wanted something, he simply bought it, regardless of the cost. In fact, he never even looked at price tags. To him, money really was no object--just a minor detail to be made aware of but by no means a deciding factor.
Laila wondered what it must have been like to grow up like that. She thought about all the opportunities that were open to him and people with money. They didn't have to take shitty jobs to pay the bills, while putting their dreams on hold. They didn't have to d
ecide between going to study acting in London or going to school close to home to save money.
Now here she was, about to be pulled into that life. It wasn't just about the money either, but the whole attitude that came with it. She'd met enough rich people at her job to know that they were entitled and pompous. Sure not all of them were like that, but a good many were. Laila was sure she'd encounter even more people like that in Andreas' inner circle. Can I handle it all? she wondered.
"What are you thinking about? You're awfully quiet," Andreas said, cutting into her thoughts.
"I'm just wondering where you're taking me," Laila lied, as she smiled in his direction.
"We're almost there," he said. "In fact, I think we're just pulling up now."
Andreas reached over and untied the blindfold. Laila blinked her eyes, trying to adjust to the harsh lighting shining in the car. She craned her neck to look out the window and gasped in surprise.
"What the..."
"Are you surprised?" Andreas asked.
"Where are we? Who are all these people?"
"We're at the Guggenheim for the annual Winter Gala," he answered nonchalantly.
"Oh of course. What was I thinking?" she said sarcastically. "I thought we were just going to dinner not some freaking gala with all these bright lights and cameras, and press and...and...a bunch of famous people!"
Laila was becoming hysterical. She was not expecting this at all. A nice romantic dinner with maybe a helicopter ride, she could handle. That's what she had been assuming, but a freaking Winter Gala? It was too much and she was not prepared. Andreas looked at her with concern written clearly across his face, but Laila held no sympathy for him. She was too busy trying not to hyperventilate.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know it would upset you so much," he said.
"I really wish you would have told me before you brought me here. You can't just blindfold someone and then drop them off at some major gala. How did you expect me to react?"
"I thought you would be pleased."
"You thought I would be...pleased?" she asked, looking at him dumbfounded. "Do you even know me at all?"
"Yes, I do. I wanted to bring you here to show you off to the world as my fiance. And what better place to do it than here. There will be press from all across the globe. We'll be photographed together in all the major newspapers."
"Listen Andreas, I appreciate the thought," Laila said, trying to modulate her tone, "but next time, tell me what you're planning. You almost gave me a heart attack just now. You might be used to all this," she said gesturing out to the cameras and bright lights in front of her, "but I'm not. I need time to prepare myself."
"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. I was just so excited myself that I forgot to consider your feelings. I promise you it won't happen again," he said, taking her hands and bringing it to his lips. "Forgive me?"
Laila rolled her eyes at his puppy dog expression. She knew she couldn't stay mad at him, especially when he gave her that look. She was touched that he wanted to show her off to the world as his. It brought a flutter to her stomach and a warm feeling in her chest.
"Is that a yes?" Andreas asked, noticing the smile on her lips.
"This is why I don't like surprises," she muttered to herself.
Andreas laughed and leaned over to kiss her before grabbing the door handle.
"Ready?" he asked one last time.
Laila took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She nodded her head at him before opening them again. Andreas stepped out of the car and turned back to hand her out. Laila's eyes widened as all the cameras pointed at them and people were shouting Andreas' name.
It seemed as if time stood still as she walked the red carpet and press line with Andreas by her side. She felt like she was walking in a long tunnel and all the sounds around her became muffled. All she was aware of was the sound of her heart thumping in her chest.
Andreas stopped every few feet to pose for the cameras, smiling brightly and looking drop dead gorgeous. She tried to follow his lead, but the tight smile she gave looked forced and felt uncomfortable. Once they made it into the venue, Laila let out a relieved breath.
"You're a natural," Andreas whispered in her ear as he led her into the room.
They were stopped several times by people wanting to talk to Andreas. She never realized how in demand he was until now. For the past few months, he'd only been Andreas to her, but to these people he was a prince. She thought about all the times they'd stayed at her cramped little apartment and gotten take out, or went shopping at the little convenience store down the block.
Yet here, all these famous and powerful people were vying for Andreas' attention. She shook her head in wonder at the situation, and not for the first time that evening was she grateful that Andreas had took it on himself to get her this dress. Even though she didn't feel it, at least she looked like she belonged there.
"Your Highness, it's so good of you to come."
They were stopped by a tall middle aged woman in a long silver dress with cutouts at the hips that showed a shocking amount of skin. She dipped into a slight curtsy in front of Andreas, making sure to display her modest cleavage to full view. She only had eyes for Andreas and didn't even glance over Laila's direction or acknowledge her in any way.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world, Lonnie" Andreas replied. "Please let me introduce you to my fiance, Laila Greer."
The woman sucked in a sharp breath as she jerked her head in Laila's direction. She made a quick recovery before giving a full appraisal of Laila's appearance and dress. The sneer on her face told Laila that this woman was not pleased by what she saw. Far from feeling bad, it bolstered Laila's confidence. If this woman was upset, it meant she was doing something right.
"So pleased to meet you," Lonnie said. Her voice had taken on a nasally tone and her face was screwed up like she had smelled something bad.
"Likewise," Laila replied, not bothering to hide the disdain from her voice. Two can play at this game, she thought.
After some idle chit chat, the woman went on her way. Laila knew she was just itching to go tell somebody--anybody--the news that Andreas was engaged. It was just too juicy to keep to herself.
"I have a feeling by the end of the night the whole city is going to know of our engagement," she said.
"I think you're right."
"I hope you told your parents already, because if not, they may be in for a surprise," Laila said.
Andreas grimaced at her. "I don't even want to think about that right now," he said.
They spent the rest of the evening mingling and dancing. Andreas stayed by her side the whole night, introducing her as his fiance with such pride and joy, Laila felt like she couldn't love this man any more than she did right then. News of their engagement quickly swept through the ballroom. Several people Laila didn't know had come to wish them well and give their congratulations. The highlight of her night was when Peter Travis himself came over to give his heartfelt congratulations.
"Thank you. I'm a huge fan of your work," Laila had gushed.
"Oh, well I'm flattered," he said.
"Yes, in fact, Laila even auditioned for a part in your latest movie," Andreas cut in.
Peter Travis looked at her in surprise. "I didn't know you were an actress. What part did you audition for?"
"I tried out for the part of Anita," Laila answered.
"Laila Greer...hmm that name sounds familiar. Wait a minute! I saw your audition tape. My casting director showed it to me after your audition. I thought you were wonderful. You certainly made casting for that part difficult. It was between you and the actress we cast. I can tell you there were some heated arguments in your favor," he said.
"Wow, thank you! I had no idea," Laila said.
"I'll tell you what. I'm always looking for new talent. Here's my card. If you're ever in Los Angeles give me a call. I think you've certainly got what it takes to be a movie star if this whole princess thing doesn't work out for you," he joked.
He handed her a black embossed card before walking away.
"Holy shit!" she said turning to Andreas. "You heard that right? That was Peter Travis and he said to give him a call?"
Andreas smiled at her in amusement. "If you're ever in LA. You seem quite taken with him. Should I be jealous?" he teased.
"Yes, you should. That man is a legend, I tell you. A legend," Laila quipped.
Andreas wrapped his arms around Laila and was just about to kiss her when his movements were arrested by a silky voice at his back.
"I hope I'm not interrupting."
Laila felt the muscles in Andreas back tense and his jaw clench before he released her and turned around.
"Henriks," Andreas said in a clipped greeting.
Laila could tell there was no love lost between these two. She wondered what it was about this man that set up Andreas' hackles. At first glance he seemed harmless enough, almost innocent. He was shorter than Andreas, but bulkier, especially in the mid section. He had short blond hair and large round eyes, that were a crystal blue.
He gave her a slimy smile before licking his lips. The gesture transformed his whole presence to creepy in an instant. Laila felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up and she had no trouble figuring out why Andreas did not like this man.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your lovely lady friend?" he asked, stretching out his hand.
Laila had no intention of playing polite, and kept her arm firmly at her side.
"Cut the bullshit Henriks," Andreas spat out. "What do you what?"
"My my, your manners are deplorable. Is that what they call class in Castonia? The standards seem to be dropping everywhere," he said looking pointedly at Andreas. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said turning to Laila. "Bradley Henriks."
He gave a slight bow with a flourish and looked at her expectantly. When Laila gave no sign of acknowledging his greeting, he smiled at her in a menacing way, baring all his teeth.
"I can see your manners have rubbed off on your fiancé," he said, turning back to Andreas. "By the way, let me offer you my congratulations on that score. I can see she is quite a specimen, although a little rough around the edges. I hear she has other ample assets."