Frog Tale

by JT Schultz

  He glanced to her desk and his attention fell on the book she’d just finished. “Not exactly light reading before bed, did you ever think for a moment your choice of books may be interfering with your sleep?” His gaze focused back on her and she wondered where this conversation headed.

  “No.” She hoped the short and to the point answer would deter him from further questions.

  “I see.” By his tone, she knew he wasn’t convinced.

  Sniffling, she had a strong suspicion her father wanted answers to her behavior over the last two weeks. He knew better than to ask at the time she had said her good bye, but knowing her father the way she did, he undoubtedly figured the time had arrived to discuss things.

  “Chloe, you’re becoming that angry and locked up teenager again. What the hell is going on? Don’t tell me nothing because I know you better than I know Stella and Georgina put together.”

  What could she say? She couldn’t risk Luc or her family’s safety. “Dad, really, I’ll be fine.”

  He shook his head. “No, you’re not fine. Call Luc, work things out with him. I know you miss him.”

  Fear stabbed her. “I can’t. Talking to him isn’t an option. Not even for business. I told you I refuse to deal with him and talking to the king is just too painful right now.”

  “Why? Why does it have to be?” His hands lifted and rested gently on her shoulders. “Please, tell me what is going on.”

  She tried to deny the desperation coating her father’s words however she knew she would only be deceiving herself in the end. Ella’s words haunted her and the threat became completely vivid down to the syllable she had uttered.

  I can’t tell a soul. It would kill them all.

  She wasn’t sure how, but part of her knew if she spoke of what had happened the bitchy royal queen would find out. “Dad, it’s not simple.”

  He thinned his lips and titled his head as he studied her even more intently.

  Son of a bitch! He is not going to let this go.

  “King Mario asks how you are about three times a day and Luc isn’t doing much better than you are. He almost canceled his thirty-fifth birthday celebration.”

  “But he didn’t. He’s moving on with his life and maybe one day I will too.”

  “He isn’t moving on with his life Chloe. He still wants you to share his every day.”

  Fresh tears threatened to fall and she struggled to keep them at bay. “Don’t say things like that.” This time not only hurt, but the anger over the situation Ella had damned her to, rose to the surface and acted as punctuation.

  “No, Chloe, tell me what has you reading books on dark magic or buried in research on dreams. What is going on and does this have something to do with Luc’s curse?”

  Not once did she expect her father to ask the question he did. She stepped away from her father’s touch and walked around to one of the plush chairs in front of her desk. Of course he knew the frog had talked and the frog was Luc, but how much could she share now without causing anyone she loved harm or even worse, death. Then again, her dad was one of the smartest people she knew, if there were only a way…

  “I broke the spell.” The words fell off her tongue and into the stretched out silence.

  “I know. I was here the day you kissed a frog and a prince emerged from your room in nothing but a towel.” His voice became gentle and concern filtered over his face and dusted his expression with worry.

  “Is there more to his curse, Dad?”

  Her father sat in the matching plush chair and cast a leveled gaze. “My guess is Luc didn’t tell you everything, but yes there is more.” He paused and she could tell by the new look on his face he debated something. “He risks being changed back into a frog.”

  Heartbeats stopped and her blood froze in her veins. “Luc failed to mention that part.”

  “He only confided in me briefly about the whole ordeal. Now what has you so upset, I know you love him Chloe, tell me what happened, after living with a frog prince you might be surprised what I'll believe.”

  “If I do, something bad might happen.” Her voice carried no more strength than that of a terrified little girl’s.

  “Honey, please, I want to help and we'll figure this out.”

  She wanted to believe him, but the risk was too great, then again she wasn’t sure how long she would be able to endure the personal hell she currently lived. “It’s going to sound outlandish, but I promise you one thing. As crazy as this story gets, I’m not insane, but I ‘m very scared and very much in love with a prince.” Her heart started to race and her father nodded.

  “Fair enough, now what is this story?”

  Inhaling a deep breath, she figured she might as well start at the very beginning. “Do you have awhile?”

  “My plane leaves at ten in the morning, maybe with a little luck, you’ll be joining me.”

  Don’t count on it.

  “Now tell me this story and we will figure out away to make this all better.” A smile tugged lightly at the edge of his lips. “I know you and Luc are meant to be.”

  Chloe smiled, a small spark of hope entered her soul. Maybe, if her father believed her, there was a way to be with Luc. “Once upon a time in Beverly Hills, a young, handsome man was supposed to attend a grand, yet boring affair with his father, a king, and mother, a queen…”

  Luciano stared around the crowded ballroom of the palace and sighed. His soul completely shattered without a chance in sight of ever healing. He ached to the bottom of his heart, missing Chloe, yet again. This time though, she had rejected him without a second thought―well according to what she had said, that is exactly what she had experienced.

  How though? Nothing in her actions up to that moment had indicated otherwise. Only now he hadn’t heard from her in the two weeks since he’d left. Albert had said she wasn’t herself and had been acting distant and sad, throwing herself into work all the time consumed her life and her father barely saw her. When he did he described her as pale and lethargic, even doubted she slept. Even now he so desperately wanted to share his life with her, but first he had to figure out what had induced her change of heart or her sudden fear.

  “You should dance,” his father whispered.

  His gaze lifted and he blinked at his father before glancing to Albert. Part of him was thrilled that his long time friend had made his birthday celebration, however, his presence without Chloe, just brought more pain. Tomorrow he turned thirty-five, and tonight this grand affair was for him yet, he wanted no part of it. He stood at the edge of the room as the world carried on without him. No one noticed him really. Sure, people were polite, women smiled and some even flirted. They saw the prince with the ugly scar. Not the man he was, only the title of royalty and all the luxuries being royal offered.

  “It’s your birthday. You should try and have a good time.” Albert’s words carried a sincerity that warmed his cold spirit, but not enough to bring any comfort. He longed for Chloe and for the umpteenth time wondered what had brought such a sudden change in her to go from the look of love in her eyes to fear then coldness. His eyes scanned the room and stopped on Ella.

  The Wicked Stepmother, I wonder.

  He couldn’t help but believe, somehow, in someway, Ella was behind this. His mind flashed to the memory of Chloe and him standing in her office in Beverly Hills the day he interrupted her talking to Ella in the kitchen. Something was off with the situation and even more so the night Chloe crushed his heart and ran away from him, again, after a chat with Ella. His stepmother’s gaze turned to the door and a strange look crossed her face, then she shook it off and pretended to listen to the baron and his skinny wife. Her eyes again darted to the stairs at the ballroom entrance and narrowed. Something obviously displeased her since she became more focused on the threshold than her company to the point of blatantly rude.

  “The blonde that just arrived would love to dance I’m sure.” Albert’s voice barely registered above the buzz of noise in the room and the mu
sic, filling the air.

  He lifted his attention to the spot that had held his stepmother’s attention and he blinked. The woman was stunning and he stood transfixed in the spot. The hair was blonde and the dress, low cut. The skirts were full and the bodice curved to her breasts and narrow waist as tight as a glove wrapped around fingers. Her hands slid down the lush full red fabric of the dress. Her eyes met his and her shoulders lifted then fell slightly.

  She’s nervous.

  Her style of dress and hair color were nothing like Chloe but that is exactly who she reminded him of by her mannerisms alone. She stepped down the stairs with a fluid grace and slowly walked toward him as he continued to stand in awe. Her gaze filtered over the room and fell on Ella who didn’t notice and, by some grace, had tuned back to the baron and baroness. The blonde’s expression dusted in fear as she blinked in the direction of his stepmother then quickly turned her head away.

  No, it couldn’t be.

  “Well if you aren’t going to ask her to dance. I think I will make our guest feel welcome.” His father smiled then turned to Albert. “Please talk some sense into my son.” He stepped away and drew closer to the blonde.

  Albert cleared his throat. “I think you would have found the blonde most intriguing.”

  Luc shifted his attention off his father, leading the blonde toward the dance floor, and stared at Albert. “I find that statement odd coming from the father of the woman who I thought loved me and I almost proposed to.”

  “Do you still have the ring?”

  Foolishly he did. “I do, I guess I keep thinking one day…”

  “Things are not always as we think Luc.” his friend’s voice carried gentleness. “I would keep that ring a while longer.”

  I think that I lost my heart to a woman who doesn’t love me. I’m doomed.

  His chest tightened at the thought of his time running out. If Ramona’s curses were true then he would turn back to a frog sometime tomorrow. “Albert, excuse me please but I really need air.” He walked away and thought of the vibrant brunette he had shared so many wonderful memories with and the one memory that broke his soul. Her refusing to be around him after whispering words of love had almost killed him. He still believed that ripping his heart out would have been less painful.

  He crossed the room as image after image of Chloe flashed through his mind. He remembered her in loving detail down to her handmade fragrance. Even now, he could smell the spicy fragrance, unique to her alone. Luciano reached the steps and froze. Her perfume wasn’t a memory and he glanced to where his father danced with the blonde. She was gone and his father was now again talking to Albert only now with Ella by his side.

  Maybe he was losing his mind or maybe―just maybe, Chloe was here. If she was in his palace then why dress in disguise?

  Something inside him brought his stepmother to mind and had a strong feeling more than ever that Ella had to be behind Chloe’s change of heart. He scanned the room again, no signs of the blonde. Where would she have gone? His mind raced. She’d danced with his father. Albert knew something and apparently the blonde feared Ella.

  Where would she go?

  Where would his father have her make retreat?

  Please be here Chloe and talk to me.

  He slipped out the front door and slowly walked around to the side of the grand palace to where his office doors resided on the main floor. The room through the windows appeared to be still in darkness.

  Strange. Very strange.

  He pulled a key ring from his pocket and unlocked one of the doors. Then eased the cool brass handle in his hand, pulling the door open and stepping in. The light fragrance hinted in the air around him he wasn’t alone. His fingers reached for the switch to the overhead light.

  “Leave it off.”

  He startled slightly and his heart jumped to his throat. “Chloe?”

  “Please don’t turn on the light.” The urgency in her voice sent his nerves on edge and he lowered his hand from the switch and stepped deeper into the room. His eyes adjusted to the dimness. The only light in the room came from the soft glow of the moonlight shining in through the glass panes in the door as well of the windows.

  “I have to admit you’re the last person I expected to see here.” He didn’t mean to come across as terse, but his heart still ached from her rejection. Luciano neared the desk and her curvy form rose from his desk chair.

  A heavy sigh filled the room. Her shoulders raised then fell from the inhale and exhale of breath. “I don’t even know where to begin. I have so much to say and…” The emotion in her voice wasn’t hard to miss and his soul took another mortal blow.

  “Tomorrow is my birthday. This grand affair is for my sake.”

  She turned away from him and the pale yellow light of the moon highlighted the grief on her face. “Don’t let me keep you from you guests. I shouldn’t have even come.” She turned back toward him. “Have a happy birthday, Luc.” The threat of tears lacing her words froze his heartbeats. Her body brushed by him as she stepped toward the office door.

  Something was dreadfully wrong. He spun and captured her wrist in his grasp. “Why are you here?” Stepping closer to her, he didn’t release his hold on her and tried to ignore the heat the contact of his skin against hers induced.

  “I…” Her head lowered and she sniffled.

  “Chloe, please talk to me.”

  Her head lifted and she tugged her wrist free from his hand, turned again to the window and his gaze followed her. She remained silent for a moment then turned to him. The light of the moon highlighted her face and he could make out her expression. Sorrow engulfed her pretty features and he doubted he would be able to take much more. She may not have any clue, but she slowly was killing him.

  “I came for a couple reasons.” Her fingers lifted to her face and brushed against her cheek.

  Luciano wasn’t a fool or an idiot, yet the love of his life stood shedding tears and he had no clue as to why. “You’re hurting me. You standing here crying, your rejection―”

  “I didn’t want to, but I had no choice. She threatened to destroy my family and kill you.” A muffled sob and sniffle filled the air between them. “When you showed up back in my life I thought all the pain and loss I’d suffered had been worth every year of loneliness. Those days with you were perfect, the nights you shared my bed and your body with me were incredible and I couldn’t risk harm coming to those I love, instead I broke both our hearts in the process.”

  “Did your father and mine know you were coming tonight, dressed as blonde?”

  “It was my father’s idea. He suggested I come to you, though I wasn’t sure if my speaking to you would make much difference.” Her voice cracked. “My dad thought me explaining things to you was the best when I told him everything. I made a mistake coming here. Well not to the palace, but to see you.”

  Words failed him and he longed to ask the question on his mind. However, he already had a very good idea as to what her answer would be. “Did Ella have something to do with you shutting me out and not wanting to be around me?”

  Her hands covered her face and she quietly cried into her palms. “I can’t believe you’d think I’d say no to you so quickly, when I’ve loved you for almost half my life. Who do you think I was talking about just a few seconds ago? Of course I referred to Ella, she is a bitch and, I fear, my worst nightmare.” Another muffled sob filled the distance between them and he stepped over to her.

  “Don’t cry, I beg you, Chloe, please. Tell me what happened.”

  Her face lifted and her dark tear filled eyes stared into his. “What does it matter? I hurt you and―” She shook her head. “Even this, us alone should wait.”

  His patience grew thin. “Answer me two questions. Be honest and pretend for a moment there would be no bad consequences.” His earlier suspicions pushed him on. “Do you still love me?”

  “More than air to breathe.”

  He snaked an arm out and yanked her toward him.
Luciano expected resistance, instead her body melted into him and her cheek rested against his chest. His soul experienced some comfort as his arms wrapped around her and he held her close to him. “Don’t cry, il mio cuore.”

  “I don’t want her hurting you, she threatened to kill you.” Her grief filled voice sent a pain to his chest. At least though he could hold her and right now, he needed her more than anything. “Even you touching me could bring you death.” She paused a moment. “What was your other question?”

  “If there were no Ella, would you agree to marry me? I can handle the answer, so be honest.”

  “I would love being your wife more than anything else in the world.”

  Fierce pricks assaulted his eyes and he struggled not to cry. A difficult thing, hearing how devastated the woman he loved was. He kissed the top of her head and held her for a long moment. “There has to be a way to be together.” His hold tightened and for the life of him, he didn’t want to let her go.

  Chloe stepped out of his arms and stared up at him. “The other reason I’m here.”

  This time her voice held no grief or sorrow but a certain coolness that caught him by surprise. “What is it?”

  “The night I ran out of the house she threatened me before you and my dad…”

  His hands slid up her back and savored the feel of her beneath his touch. “Go on.”

  “You won’t believe me.” She hung her head and despite the softness of her voice, he had caught the hint of fear.

  “Try me. I did get turned into a frog, I’m a little more open minded than most.”

  She looked back at him, inhaled deep then sniffled. “Her eyes glowed red as she walked away with your father.”

  He released his hold on her and stepped back. “No…” A voice screamed in his head.

  Turning her back to him, she stared out into the night. “I knew you wouldn’t believe me.”

  “It’s not that I don’t believe you.” If what Chloe said was true, they had a serious problem on their hands. However, the red glowing eyes did explain a great deal. His mother’s death and Chloe’s terror where his stepmother was concerned were good places to start.