Married to a Prince

by Calista King

  "What kinds of demands has Henriks made?" his uncle asked.

  "He has told me to cease all investigations into his dealings," Andreas began. "And I must resign my position here as COO."

  "Okay, that does not seem unreasonable. You were going to resign anyways," his uncle said.

  "Yes, and one more thing. He wants me to sell our family's shares to him," Andreas said.

  "Impossible," his uncle scoffed.

  "But I must! Or else he will release the video. He has been on my back about the shares, and I've held him off as long as I can, but he is becoming impatient."

  Andreas was desperate. He knew he could not allow that video to be made public. It would ruin Laila's life, and as much as he was still hurt and angry, he would never allow her to suffer like that. It was at his hands too. Henriks would have had no interest in that video if it weren't for him and his connection to Laila. He was using Laila as a pawn to get to him.

  "I don't know what to tell you, Andreas. You know it is not possible. Perhaps there is something else you can offer him in return?" his uncle said.

  "He will not want anything else."

  "You are sure he will release the video if he does not get the shares?" his uncle asked.

  "Positive. He assured me as much."

  "And would you have a problem with the video being made public? It may be a little embarrassing at first, but since you two are no longer together, there will be no lasting effects for you. Surely you can just wait for it to blow over."

  "Absolutely not. I will not allow Henriks to ruin Laila's life because of his feud with our family. She would never be able to live it down and I cannot live with that!" Andreas said. "I can't believe you would even suggest such a thing. Though I might be angry at Laila for keeping it from me, I'm not going to let her suffer for the rest of her life."

  "Calm down, my boy. I was just making a suggestion. There's no need to fly off the handle," his uncle said. "Surely we can think of something to thwart Henriks. He is a slimy fellow, but not invincible. Was there anything in your investigations that you could use at all?"

  "There was something Ulrich uncovered--," Andreas mused.

  "Yes?"

  "But we were never able to find concrete proof. And now with Henriks alert to our investigations, he would undoubtedly find out if we went snooping around again."

  His uncle shook his head sadly. "I wish there was some way I could help you with this, but you know our hands are tied. We cannot just sell the shares. The family will never agree to it. You know they would throw Laila out to the sharks if it suited their needs."

  "I know, Uncle. I know only too well, but I thank you for your help and your advice. I will try to think of something. Perhaps there has been something I've overlooked."

  "For your sake, and Laila's, I hope so. I think we should conclude this meeting. I can see you have a lot on your mind. We will have to talk about your resignation, though. It's happening sooner than I expected, and we'll have to find a replacement soon. It wouldn't surprise me if Henriks has a few candidates in mind."

  "Namely himself," Andreas muttered.

  "Yes, I expected as much. But that will be up to the board to vote on and hopefully he hasn't gotten to them yet."

  His uncle left his office looking older and more defeated than Andreas had ever seen before. He didn't realize how hard his uncle would take the news and it made him even angrier at Henriks and more determined to pay him back for what he had put him and his family through.

  Andreas didn't know why Henriks hated him and his family so much. It was one thing to be jealous and envious of his position, but his hatred and personal vendetta went far beyond professional jealousy. Andreas had never even heard of Henriks before he started his position at the company, so he was truly baffled by the animosity he felt from him. Henriks even went so far as to get in contact with Caroline. Andreas had no idea what they were up to, or if she had a hand in this scheme. Perhaps a call to Ulrich was needed.

  CHAPTER 29

  Caroline Hess was a lot of things. Stupid was not one of them. She had done some dumb things in her life, but she'd made it a habit not to repeat the same mistakes twice. It was a lesson she'd had to learn as a young girl.

  Her family had been wealthy and admired in Castonia. Her grandfather had been a grand duke, and her grandmother had been the heiress of a large banking fortune. Life had been full of privilege and wealth, and young Caroline didn't have a worry in the world.

  All of it came crashing down when she was 12 years old. Her father had frittered away their money and was sent to prison for embezzlement, and her mother had gone crazy from the stress and been sent "away." Caroline and her brother were at the mercy of their relatives.

  She had hated them--her pompous lecherous uncle and that cantankerous old aunt--who took great joy in rubbing in her and her brother's face what a disgrace their parents had been. It was a daily trial to hold her tongue and act the grateful and dutiful little girl, while, with every second in their presence, she wanted to strangle the life out of them. She couldn't be blamed then, when at 17 years old, she ran away from home and got mixed in with a bad crowd.

  It had been liberating and exhilarating to be free from the stifling influence of her aunt and uncle. She got into drugs, alcohol, and sex, and Caroline went overboard. Then at the age of 18, she made a mistake that she'd regret for the rest of her life. She was broke and alone, her family having effectively disowned her, and needed money for drugs.

  Against her better judgment, she'd been persuaded to make a video for cash. All she had to do was to take off her clothes on camera--at least that's what the director told her. Then she'd get the money she needed. But taking off her clothes soon led to touching herself, which escalated to having sex on camera.

  Caroline knew what she did was wrong, but at the time, it never crossed her mind to think about the consequences of her actions on her future. It caught up with her eventually. When she had finally started getting her life in order, the mistake she made reared its ugly head into her now perfectly ordered life. Bradley Henriks had paid her a special visit holding in his hands evidence that could ruin her bright future.

  "What do you want?" she had asked, eyeing him nervously.

  "I need you to do something for me. Nothing you can't handle I'm sure," he said.

  Caroline waited with dread for his demands. She had never met Henriks before, but he had made the hair on her arms and the back of her neck stand up. She could feel that this was a dangerous and unscrupulous man. She swallowed hard.

  "Wh-what is it?" she asked.

  "I've heard that Prince Andreas has taken an interest in you," he began.

  "You've what? How did you hear that?" she asked. Caroline hadn't even told her closest friends about her budding relationship with Andreas, so she had no idea how Henriks found out.

  "Let's just say a little birdie told me," he answered.

  When he detailed his plans for her and Andreas, Caroline felt sick to her stomach. She liked Andreas and didn't want to see him hurt, or be the one to do it.

  "I-I don't know about that. It doesn't seem right," she said.

  "I don't give a damn what you think about it. You will do it or else I will ruin your life," he said.

  His eyes were cold and dead as he looked at her, and Caroline knew he was absolutely serious. It frightened her to think what this man could do to her if she got on his bad side. She briefly wondered what Andreas had ever done to him to make him so vengeful.

  "What if he doesn't buy it? What if things don't work out? We're not even dating," she said. "What makes you think he'll confide in me?"

  "Oh, don't be so hard on yourself. I'm sure you can be very convincing if you need to be," he said holding up the video in his hands. "I've seen the evidence myself."

  Caroline felt the bile rise in her throat threatening to choke her. That damned video!

  "If I do it then you'll destroy that video?" she asked.

  "Of course. I
'm a man of my word," he said cheerily.

  She reluctantly agreed to his plan. Though she felt guilty betraying Andreas, her own self preservation won out and she knew she would have done just about anything short of murder to keep that video from surfacing.

  A year later, she had done all that was asked of her. She had humiliated Andreas and his family and the fall out was even more than she anticipated. She felt guilty, but the relief of knowing the video would be destroyed made her feel freer than she'd felt in a long time.

  "You've done a splendid job," Henriks told her afterward.

  "You said you'd destroy the video," she said.

  "Eventually," he said.

  "What do you mean?"

  "I mean to say that you are by far much more useful than I first thought. I think I'll keep this little video in case I need your services again," he said.

  "You bastard! You gave me your word."

  "And I mean to keep it, but I never told you when I would destroy the video," he laughed. "I might need you in the future."

  Caroline felt the hatred rise up in her and she wanted to punch him in his face. He would keep using the threat of that video against her, and she felt such desperation and despair, she almost begged him to destroy it. But her pride kept her from dropping to her knees.

  Instead, she had made a vow to herself. From that day on, Bradley Henriks would get what was coming to him. She would bide her time and play his little game until she could pay him back. Maybe it wouldn't be in a month or a year, or even several years, but one day, she would get her revenge.

  Caroline had kept her eyes and ears open for any little thing she could use against Henriks. To his face, she had played the obedient little co-conspirator. She had followed all of his commands and played her part to perfection.

  When he asked her to write a tell-all book about her experience with Andreas, she didn't bat an eye. He had secured a book deal for her, and it was all set to go until she got word from her publisher that they were no longer interested. It seemed someone from the royal family had made their displeasure known and she was sure it included threats. Caroline wasn't saddened by the news at all. She felt great relief knowing that she didn't have to go dredging up old scandals.

  When he contacted her again several months ago, Henriks had told her he wanted her to seduce Andreas again. Apparently Andreas had begun dating a girl and he wanted to ruin it for him.

  "You're delusional if you think Andreas would want to have anything to do with me after what I did to him," she had said.

  "Don't you dare talk to me like that!" he screamed. "You will do what I tell you or you will pay! Don't forget who has video of you fucking a guy on camera for money, whore."

  Caroline cringed at his words and his tone. He sounded wild and angry, almost like he was coming unhinged. She wondered again what Andreas had ever done to set this madman against him.

  "Do you hear me!" he shouted into the phone to get her attention. Caroline flinched and quickly answered.

  "Y-yes. Of course, I will try," she conceded.

  She knew she would have to keep him oblivious to her underlying plans for him. If he thought she was following his orders, he would be less likely to suspect she had something else brewing.

  Caroline had gotten wind from a disgruntled ex-employee about Henriks' predilections. Apparently he didn't only just own an adult film company, but he liked to film himself having sex as well. And his partners tended to be young--underage and entirely illegal.

  It disgusted her that this man was free and able to indulge in his depravity without any consequences. He had been a sly and sneaky bastard, covering his tracks, but Caroline knew she'd eventually hit on something useful. After all, one couldn't be so evil without leaving a trail of it somewhere.

  Now she had finally gotten her hands on the one piece of evidence she needed to make him pay. It was a video of Henriks with a young girl and there was no mistaking what they were doing. He would be going to jail for a very long time for this.

  Even though she wanted nothing more than to turn it into police herself, a part of her, the cowardly self preserving part, was still scared Henriks would find a way to weasel out of it. She knew if he found out it was her that turned him in, he would not rest until he had destroyed her life. After all, she had the evidence of his obsession with Andreas and the royal family to attest to that.

  Caroline finally decided to bring the video to the one person she knew who deserved to get Henriks back as much as she did--Andreas. It also helped that he wouldn't be afraid to confront Henriks either. It would be poetic justice, she thought.

  The only problem was, there was no way for her to contact Andreas. He had cut her out of his life after her betrayal, and rightfully so. She was a persona non grata in his eyes and the eyes of all the royals, and was blacklisted from any event that they were invited to.

  There was one person who might help her. She would have to convince the woman Andreas was engaged to to hear her out and help her deliver the video to Andreas. Caroline knew she lived in New York City and had worked at the Standard Hotel as a clerk. It had been in all the papers in Castonia about how Andreas was marrying a commoner. Caroline decided to hop a flight to New York and pay a special visit to the Standard Hotel.

  ***

  Laila stood at the counter gritting her teeth at the curious looks people were giving her. It had been several months since she and Andreas had broken up, but that didn't deter the curious onlookers from gawking at her and making her day a trial. News of her engagement and subsequent break up had been all the rage in the New York tabloids. After all, it wasn't every day that a normal working class girl got engaged to European royalty.

  When the barista finally handed her the coffee, she breathed a sigh of relief and took a grateful sip. She'd stopped in the little coffee shop after her audition for a new role. Her acting career was finally taking off after years of stagnation. She reluctantly had to thank Andreas for that. She was now a hot commodity. People were curious about her and wanted to know more, and casting directors were quick to snatch her up while they could.

  The new opportunities came at a good time. After her break up, Laila had no money and no job and it was impossible for her to go back to The Standard. She could just imagine the headlines and the media frenzy she'd face every day heading into work. She couldn't bear it and had to think of something fast.

  Laila was nothing if not proud. She couldn't leach off of Corinne's kindness forever. Sooner or later she'd have to pull her own weight. While she was sorting through her things, she discovered the business card Peter Travis had given to her. Before she could second guess herself and give in to her doubts, she dialed the private number listed on the card.

  "Peter," he had greeted.

  "Hi...uh...Mr. Travis. This is Laila Greer. I don't know if you remember me, but we met at the Winter Gala."

  "Oh yes, Laila, of course I remember you. How are you doing?"

  "I'm fine. The reason I'm calling is cause...well, I'd like to take you up on your offer. You said to give you a call if I'm ever in Los Angeles," Laila said.

  She cringed at her own words and wanted to smack herself for sounding so awkward and unsure. She held her breath waiting for him to deny that he'd ever made such an offer.

  "What a coincidence!" he said instead. "The actress playing Anita for my new film just had to drop out due to some scheduling conflicts. I'd love for you to come and audition again. Are you in LA now?"

  "No I'm not, but I can be," Laila said.

  Her heart leapt in her throat at the news. This was her chance, her big break, and she'd fly to Timbuktu if she needed to in order to get the part.

  "Don't bother then. I'm actually flying to New York on Tuesday and I'd love to meet you then. We can go over the audition once I'm there, although between the two of us, I don't really think that's necessary. I've already seen your taped audition and I know you'd be perfect for the part," he said.

  "Wow I--thanks. I appre
ciate it, I really do. And I won't let you down," Laila gushed.

  "I know you won't. I'll give you a call once I arrive and we can go from there. Is this the best number to reach you at?"

  "Yes it is. It's my cell."

  "Great, see you then."

  Laila hung up the phone and smiled. She felt like she was on cloud nine and realized she hadn't felt this happy for a long time--ever since she and Andreas broke up.

  Peter Travis kept his word and gave her a call to meet with him at his NYC offices once he arrived in the city. She had gone completely prepared to impress again, but it was entirely unnecessary as he had told her. In his mind, she already had the part; the interview was a mere formality.

  Instead, they used the time to talk. Laila was fascinated and inspired by how he was able to escape his terrible upbringing and make a success of himself. For his part, Peter Travis was interested in her personal story and life. He asked about her relationship with Andreas which she reluctantly told him was over. For a moment, she was afraid that he would no longer be interested in casting her once he found out, but he seemed to take the news in stride.

  By the end of their meeting, Laila had been assured of the part. The filming was scheduled to start in less than a month and in the mean time, Laila kept herself busy preparing for her role and auditioning for her next part. She wanted to ride the momentum while she still could, and it seemed that doors that were previously closed to her had started opening up.

  She was sitting at a private little booth in the far corner of the coffee shop contemplating the changes in her life over the past several months when her phone rang. Looking at the caller I.D. she noticed that it was from The Standard.

  "What in the world are they calling me for?" she muttered to herself.

  She answered the call but before she could speak, Corinne cut her off.