Married to a Prince

by Calista King

  Andreas could tell he was becoming increasingly unstable and volatile. His hands shook and he was pacing around the office like a caged animal. The slick and artful persona disappeared as soon as he knew he couldn't bluff his way out of the situation. Andreas had to end this meeting fast, before Henriks lost what little control he had left.

  "I want you to destroy all copies of the videos you have of Laila. Every. Single. One. If there is even one screen shot out there, I will hand these over to the police. Ulrich will go with you to make sure it is done," Andreas demanded.

  "Yes, yes of course," Henriks agreed.

  "As of right now, you are no longer a member of the board at Carstens Ecklund Group. You will sell all your remaining shares to me. My uncle here will accept your resignation."

  "Sell my--what? But I--" Henriks began.

  "It's either that or jail, you decide," Andreas said.

  "All right, all right," he finally agreed.

  "Good. You're dismissed," Andreas said.

  "But--what about the videos," Henriks asked. "You'll destroy them once I do everything you ask?"

  "I will get rid of them once you do everything I ask," Andreas said.

  Henriks breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you," he said.

  "Don't fucking thank me, you disgusting cretin. Get the hell out of here before I change my mind," Andreas spat.

  Henriks scurried out of the office like his ass had been lit on fire. It was such a different sight than when he had first come sauntering in. Andreas nodded his head at Ulrich to follow Henriks and confirm that he had done what he was supposed to. It had been a trial for him to keep his anger and disgust in check. Just the sight of Henriks made his body shake with rage, but now it was finally over.

  "Are you really going to destroy all this evidence?" his uncle asked once Henriks and Ulrich were safely out of the office.

  "Of course not," Andreas said.

  "But you just told Henriks--"

  "I told him I'd get rid of the videos and that's what I intend to do. I'll get rid of them by handing them over to the police," Andreas said as a slow smile spread across his face.

  CHAPTER 32

  "So how long will you be gone for?" Corinne asked.

  She sat on the futon in her apartment and folded a sweater. Laila smiled at her and placed the sweater in her suitcase.

  "Filming should only be two weeks for me."

  "In Connecticut, huh?"

  "Yeah, I know, but it's not too far. I can always take the train back when I have free time," Laila said.

  "Oh I know, I'm happy for you, really," Corinne said. "You'll do great. It's finally happening for you, girl!"

  "Thanks," Laila said sadly.

  She had a lot to be thankful for, but she wasn't completely happy, which just made her more depressed. The dreams she'd had as a little girl were finally coming true, and yet she still wasn't satisfied. There was an empty part of her that she couldn't fill with all the roles and accolades in the world.

  "You still thinking about him?" Corinne asked.

  Laila looked up at her from the floor where she was still packing her suitcase. She didn't want to lie, so she just shrugged her shoulders.

  "What good would it do me? It's over. I have to accept that and move on," Laila said.

  "Are you sure about that though? Have you even spoken to him?"

  "There's nothing to discuss. I'm not going to go begging him to take me back. Especially since I'm still sort of pissed about how things ended between us. I mean, who does he think he is calling me a whore? Like he was such a saint before we met."

  "Maybe he regrets what he said. Won't you always wonder if you don't try to find out?"

  "If he regretted it, then he should have come to me to talk about it, but he hasn't. He hasn't called, emailed, texted or anything, and it's not as if I've changed my number. He's probably trying to work things out with Caroline," she added, softly.

  Laila had known ever since finding out that Caroline wasn't as evil as everyone believed, that Andreas would feel drawn to her again. After all, she was his first true love and had been everything he'd been looking for in a woman. It was confirmed for her when Corinne told her about Andreas' call to Caroline. Now that he knew the truth--that it was all Henriks' doing--he couldn't stay away.

  The knowledge stung her as she thought of how impatient Andreas had been to rekindle the old flame with Caroline. He had probably called right after she left the office. She wondered if he even waited until she left the building. She didn't believe Caroline's words that Andreas was still in love with her. He didn't act like a man in love. He acted like a man who had dodged a bullet and had already moved on with his life.

  "You don't know that," Corinne said, interrupting her thoughts. "He could have been calling her for any number of reasons."

  "I doubt it. He told me himself that she was the perfect woman for him and how her betrayal messed him up so bad he had to go to rehab. I mean, he loved her and now that he knows she was innocent, sorta, there's nothing holding him back."

  "You know what your problem is? Pride," Corinne said, not waiting for an answer. "You've got too much pride to go to him and put everything on the table and let him know how hurt you are. You're afraid to be rejected so you don't even try."

  Corinne was right. Laila knew it, but she wasn't about to admit it to her friend.

  "My problem is I've got a nosy friend who reads too many damn romance novels. Not everything is a fairy tale with a happy ending. In fact, maybe the happy ending is for Caroline and Andreas. I was just a...side character...a temporary distraction."

  Corinne snorted and shook her head. "You have no idea what you're talking about. For someone who's usually so confident, you sure are acting sorry for yourself."

  If anyone else had said that to her, Laila wouldn't hesitate to lash out at them, but Corinne was a good friend, so she took the comment in stride. She noted, reluctantly, that Corinne was right again. It wasn't like her to throw pity parties for herself, and she didn't like the person she had become since her break up.

  When she and Marc had ended their six year relationship, Laila moved on with her life and threw herself into her work and her auditions. She hadn't wondered and second guessed her decision, and she certainly hadn't spent her time obsessing about what Marc was doing and who he was doing it with. She needed to get that Laila back. That was the person she liked. This new incarnation was a wimp.

  "Maybe I just need some time away from the city and everything," she said waving her arm in front of her. "I think this trip to Connecticut came just at the right time."

  Corinne nodded her head but didn't say anything. Laila knew she probably thought she was running away from her problems instead of confronting them head on. It's what the old Laila would have done. But the new Laila had to prepare herself and build up her armor. She knew that if Andreas and Caroline were back together, it would crush her and she didn't want anyone to see how hurt she was.

  Laila finished packing and set the suitcase in the hallway by the door. She would be leaving tomorrow on the Metro North train to New Haven. She'd spend the two weeks in Connecticut throwing herself into her work and trying to forget all about Andreas.

  ***

  The train pulled up to the platform and came to a stuttering stop, the last jolt causing Laila to lose her balance as she tried to grab her suitcase from the overhead rack. The doors opened and everyone scurried out. Laila was glad to be back in the city. Her two weeks away in Connecticut had been quite an experience for her. It was the first time she had shot on location, and her first major role in any film. For the most part she was able to blend in and go under the radar.

  The other cast members had been a little standoffish at first, but came to warm up to her once they realized she wasn't just a publicity stunt. She actually could act and wasn't just cast because she was in the tabloids. It had been a rewarding experience, but Laila was definitely ready to go home at the end of filming. The other cast and
crew still had several weeks left on location in Connecticut and Georgia, but Laila's parts were all done.

  She got off the train and pulled her suitcase behind her. It was just past the evening rush hour commute and Laila realized she hadn't eaten dinner yet. Her meal of Sour Patch Kids and a Snapple Iced Tea on the train didn't count. Laila headed over to a news stand and grabbed a bottle of water and a bag of potato chips. It still wasn't anything closely resembling a meal, but Laila wasn't picky.

  She got in line behind an annoying businessman who was on the phone and trying to take money out of his wallet at the same time. Laila rolled her eyes and scanned the newspapers displayed in front of the counter when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and almost dropped her bottle of water and bag of chips on the floor.

  "Andreas!" she squeaked.

  He was dressed in a dark blue business suit and carried his briefcase in his hand.

  "Hello, Laila," he said. He was looking at her intently, although what he was thinking was a mystery to Laila.

  "What are you doing here?" she asked.

  "I--uh was in the neighborhood," he said. The tips of his ears turned pink as he smiled at her sheepishly.

  "You were in the neighborhood--in Grand Central?" she asked skeptically. Before he could reply, the cashier interrupted them with an annoyed tap on the glass counter top.

  "Are you in line or not?" he asked, loudly.

  Laila turned around and placed her items on the counter, trying to calm her racing heart. The last person she expected to see today was Andreas and here he was right behind her. He looked so handsome, and yet unsure of himself. It reminded her of the first time she had laid eyes on him at the hotel. The memory brought an ache in her chest and she knew she had to get out of there before she lost it. She paid for her items and hurried out of the newsstand.

  "Laila wait," he called from behind her.

  She turned around clutching her items in front of her like a shield across her chest as if for protection. He ran his hands through his hair in frustration and a tiny bit of Laila's defenses melted at the achingly familiar move.

  "What do you want?" she asked.

  "Can I get you a cup of coffee or something to eat? I think we need to talk," he said.

  Laila was about to refuse, but then thought better of it. She kept hearing Corinne's words in her head over and over: "if you don't talk to him you'll always wonder what might have been."

  "Sure," she said, shrugging her shoulders.

  He began walking out of the terminal, taking long strides so that Laila found it difficult to keep up with him. She stuffed the bottle of water and bag of chips she bought into her purse and continued to follow him until they were outside. He seemed unsure of where to go and looked to Laila for some guidance.

  She blew out an exasperated breath and began walking east towards a little pizza restaurant she'd heard was good. The night was unseasonably chilly and Laila pulled her thin jacket around her tighter as she dragged her suitcase behind her.

  "Let me carry that for you," Andreas offered.

  "It's fine. I've got it," Laila said, over her shoulder. "We're almost there."

  They walked into a cozy little restaurant with a wood burning stove and exposed brick walls. They sat at little booth by the windows and Laila's stomach growled as she smelled the heavenly aroma of freshly baked pizza.

  "So what did you want to talk about?" Laila asked, after they had placed their order.

  "Us," he said.

  "Okay," Laila said. "So talk."

  Andreas laughed. The lines around his eyes crinkled as he looked at her and his dimples peeped out of his chin, and at that moment, Laila thought she had never seen a more beautiful sight.

  "I see you're still blunt as ever. No, don't be offended," he said seeing a frown form on Laila's face. "I like it. I've missed it and I've missed you."

  "You have?" she asked, shocked out of her bad mood.

  "Yes, terribly," he said. He leaned forward on the table and looked like he wanted to grab her hands but hesitated.

  "What about Caroline?" Laila asked.

  Andreas snapped his head up and looked at her confused. "What about Caroline?" he asked.

  "I thought you two would...you know...try to work things out once you found out she uh...wasn't so bad after all," Laila finished lamely.

  Once she said it out loud, she realized how silly it sounded. It didn't help that Andreas began to laugh hysterically at her. His laughter began to draw the attention of everyone else in the restaurant.

  "Shh, everyone's looking at us," she whispered. "I don't think it was that funny!"

  "Oh, I'm so sorry," Andreas said, wiping the corners of his eyes with a napkin. "It's just--and no offense or anything--but that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Never in a million years would I ever get back together with Caroline.

  Laila didn't know whether to feel more joy or annoyance at his remark.

  "Whatever gave you the idea that I would even be interested in Caroline again?" he asked.

  "Well, why wouldn't you? You told me yourself that she was the perfect woman for you, before she sold you out, that is," Laila said. "And now that you know the truth about why she did it, then I thought--"

  "Hold on a minute here," Andres interrupted. "Even if she had her reasons, she still betrayed me. I can sympathize with her now, but I could never get back together with her after all the damage that had been done.

  "Oh, I see," Laila said.

  "There's also another reason why I would never get with Caroline," he said.

  Laila held her breath as she felt caught in his stare. She swallowed hard, "Yes?" she asked.

  "It's because I'm still in love with you," he said.

  "Really?" she whispered.

  "Yes, really," Andreas chuckled quietly. "I've never stopped loving you, even after everything."

  "Then why has it taken you so long to tell me? It's been three months since we broke up and in all that time, I didn't hear one word from you."

  "I'm so sorry Laila. I never meant to hurt you, but you have to understand, I never wanted to stay away. Well, at first I did. I was so angry and hurt that you had kept that video a secret from me after everything I told you about myself, I felt betrayed and lied to. But after a while, when I really thought about it, I realized what an ass I had been.

  I'll never forget that look on your face right before you left. You told me that you had always been there for me and not judged me after all the things I'd done in my past, and yet I couldn't do the same for you. It killed me to think that I had lashed out at you and called you those horrible names at the time when you needed my support the most. I will never forgive myself for that," Andreas said. He took several ragged breaths and closed his eyes, looking like he was struggling for control of his emotions.

  Laila's defenses, already weakened, began to crumble at his confession. She could understand the anger and disappointment he must have felt when Henriks showed him the video. She knew keeping that from him had been wrong, especially considering his position. Any whiff of a scandal wouldn't only affect him, but his whole family.

  "Please, Andreas. Don't blame yourself for that. We were both wrong," she said.

  She reached out and grabbed his hand and squeezed it comfortingly. Andreas smiled at her, looking like a giant burden had been lifted off his shoulders.

  "Thank you, Laila. I don't deserve it, but I'll take it."

  They sat in a comfortable silence, each contemplating what they had just heard and wondering what lay in their future. The pizza arrived to take their minds off heavier thoughts and they dug in, enjoying the new found understanding between them.

  Laila was so hungry she almost finished the whole thing by herself, but she managed to save a piece or two for Andreas. Once they had finished eating, Laila sat back contemplated the man sitting before her.

  He had told her he missed her and still loved her. She couldn't deny that she felt the same. Still though,
it almost felt too easy, this reunion. Laila was afraid there was another evil scheme being plotted that would tear them apart again. Good things usually never happened to her, and with her career finally taking off, it felt like too many good things happening in her life. Something had to give.

  "What are you thinking?" Andreas asked, noticing the worry lines etched across her brow.

  "Where do we go from here?" she asked.

  "Well, I'd hoped we could go back to where we left off," he said.

  "You mean, back to our engagement?" Laila asked.

  "Yes, don't you want to get married anymore? Andreas asked. His face fell as he watched the hesitation on Laila's face.

  "I do, but--"

  "But what?"

  "I'd like to slow things down a little," she said. "I think I need time to get used to the idea of us back together. You know, our relationship happened so fast, and we got engaged after only a few months. Then we broke up and I thought I'd lost you forever, and now here we are and my life is so different now, and my career is finally taking off, and I...just feel overwhelmed by it all."

  Laila was babbling but she didn't know how else to explain to Andreas what she was feeling. She knew that she loved him and wanted to marry him, but she also knew she wasn't ready to be thrust into the royal life back in Castonia either.

  "So, you're saying you want a long engagement?" he asked.

  "Yes, I'd like that very much."

  She held her breath, not sure of what he'd say or how he'd react. He'd been stone faced while she babbled away, not giving her a hint of what he felt. She was sure he was disappointed, maybe even a little hurt. After all, if things had worked out before, they might have already been planning their wedding.

  Now she was starting to realize that perhaps the split had been a blessing in disguise. It was a time for her to get her bearings. She had the chance to put the brakes on their relationship and take the time to really enjoy each other's company without the pressure of duty and family obligations.

  "I think I can do that," he said giving her a teasing smile.

  "Really?"