“He goes every summer,” Mom said. “He takes his entire posse and rents out every available villa and has nonstop parties.” She shook her head in disgust. “Drunk people everywhere. Naked people everywhere. Sex everywhere. They take advantage of the local women. It’s disgusting.”
“Sounds . . . just like them.” Joss laughed under her breath.
“He invited me to a party the other day.”
“Tell me you didn’t go,” Mom said.
“Of course I went.” I stifled a smile as I looked over at Joss, who was enjoying this entirely too much. “You can’t say no to the prince.”
“Adeline.” Mom exhaled, closing her eyes briefly. “The last thing you need is another scandal. We need you back on your feet, not on your back underneath a prince who won’t remember your name in two weeks.”
“Mother!”
“I’m just stating a fact,” she said. “When we lived there, I watched as he and his brother seduced all of the women in that town. Most of them won’t even talk about it and that alone speaks volumes.” She shot me a look before turning and facing the palace. “Now, let’s go. We have work to do.”
Joss idled behind my mother and I idled behind her as the doors to the opulent palace opened and the grandeur inside was exposed to us. I’d been here before, once when I was a girl and again as a teenager. That time, I’d come by myself. It was only a two-hour drive from the beach, and my parents were sending me away to boarding school the next day, so I decided to run away for a while and come here. I’d started exploring with a tour guide, but halfway through, I somehow ended up completely lost. That was before social media and paparazzi started hounding under-aged socialites.
I got my first glimpse of the princes that day, though I didn’t tell anyone about it. It wasn’t like it had been an experience. They were walking the section of the palace that had been closed off to the rest of us and were headed into the back of a car. They never looked up or saw me, and even though I was inside the palace walls, I felt like an outsider. Even from that angle, they seemed untouchable. I assumed they were on their way to the beach that day, to the villas they rented out from my family each summer, when I was sent away and they got to stay. A part of me hated my parents for doing that. A part of me knew they did it to protect me, so that I wouldn’t end up like all the other girls in that small town—vying for their attention and never achieving to sustain it longer than a few nights.
“The ball takes place in the GARDENS,” my mother said, cutting into my thoughts. I blinked away from the beautiful mirrors and gave her my attention. “But we’re set to meet Madame Rose, who manages everything that happens on the palace premises.”
“Have you already contacted the dancers?” I asked Joss. “We’ll need Madame Graciela’s choreography. And acrobats. Call our contact in Montreal and see how many they can send over. We’ll also need fire-breathers, the ones we hired for Tamara’s wedding. The band and DJ . . . ”
“The palace will provide flowers and food,” my mother said, cutting me off. “I believe they also have a list of bands and DJs they’d like.”
“That’s helpful.” I didn’t enjoy dealing with caterers or florists.
Most of the time they already knew who I was setting up events for and overcharged me before I stepped foot in their office. We reached a door at the end of the hall and waited after Mom knocked a couple of times. It was opened by an older woman with beautiful white hair that was swept back and pulled into a classic low bun.
“Madame Perla,” Madame Rose said, upon seeing my mother, then looked at us. “Mademoiselle Joslyn, Mademoiselle Adeline. Please, come inside.” She stepped back and gave us enough room to walk into her office, which was breathtaking, like the rest of the palace.
“Thank you for seeing us,” I said. “We’re honored to play even the smallest role in such an important event.”
“I’m glad you’re aware that it is a very important event,” Madame Rose said. “You come highly recommended by my daughter, who attended a wedding you planned. She raved so much and since she’s already married and has no use for event planners, I’m hoping this will be the next best thing.”
“Whose wedding did she attend?” I asked, smiling, grateful to know that my scandal hadn’t made it all the way here, and if it had, it wasn’t a big deal to them.
“Danika Smirnov.”
“Oh.” I smiled. “That was quite a big one.”
“It perfectly showcased some of what we’re capable of,” my mother said.
“Well, if it were up to me, we’d have elephants and camels, but the Queen is much more demur than I am, so I’m curious to know what you have planned so far.”
I was a bit surprised to hear that about the queen. I didn’t know much about her, but from what I’d seen in magazines when they allowed photographs to be published, the parties had been dripping in extravagance. I explained to Madame Rose what I had in mind, with the dancers and band, DJs and acrobatic shows. She listened intently, writing things down every so often.
“I expect everything to go off without a hitch.” She set her pen down and looked at the three of us. “I have a full staff at your disposal. You may use them for whatever you need. If you plan on bringing any staff of your own, they’ll have to go through a background check and search when they arrive.”
“We can use yours,” I said quickly. “The three of us will be on hand and we have two other women I like to bring to make sure everything is seamless, but aside from that, I’m happy to use yours.”
“Good.” She smiled as she stood up and extended her hand toward me. “I cannot wait to see what you do.”
“Thank you so much.” I stood and shook it.
“If you have any questions, feel free to email or call.”
“I will.”
Joss and I walked out of the office with my mother and Madame Rose trailing behind us.
“We’re going to do a quick tour of the grounds,” I heard my mother say. “And draw up a plan for you. You’ll have it by the middle of the week.”
“Will that give you enough time to have everything ready?” Madame Rose asked.
“Plenty of time,” I said, turning around.
“You have a lot of faith in your work,” Madame Rose said.
“If I don’t, who will?”
With that, I walked with my mother and Joss to the gardens and we started coming up with a plan. I found myself trying to ignore the fact that it was for Prince Elias and trying to put another face to the occasion, though I couldn’t understand why. Thankfully, the gardens were so lavish and striking that roaming around freely allowed for me to put thoughts of him in the backburner. The lawn was so well manicured. Close to two-thousand acres of greenery. It felt endless and with as beautiful as they were, I couldn’t imagine there being a time they weren’t being tended to. I could barely keep a plant alive for three days, let alone be in charge of this. The party would take place in one area of the gardens, and that was the area we needed to focus on, with a large circular area that was perfect for a stage and dance floors to surround it. The circle around the area was elevated, like an amphitheater. It was absolute perfection for what I had in mind.
Chapter 11
The bookstore looked completely different after Lenora and Pedro were finished with it. It looked quaint, but beautiful on the outside, with bright green grass and a sleek, white storefront that made it look like a fancy boutique store. Upstairs, the café area was adorable, though it was still missing a lot of things, including an actual coffee maker and barista. I’d have to speak to my uncle about that when he got back. Instead of spending my time stocking books, I spent it drawing up ideas for the Versailles gala. I was on my fifteenth drawing when the door of the shop opened, making the bell above it ring and giving me pause. A customer? It shut and opened again. And again. And a fourth time. I set down my pencil, shut my iPad, and stood up, waiting for the customers to come into view. I saw the first man dressed in all black, followed by th
ree others, and I already knew Prince Elias was due to follow. My heart slammed in my chest as I waited.
As usual, there was no use in bracing myself. Each time I saw him, I found myself surprised. Today, he wore khaki pants and a white short-sleeve button-down that gave me a full view of his muscular arms. The top two buttons were undone and I found myself licking my lips as I stared at his neck. He had an almost golden skin tone that I knew wasn’t natural, but more so from being outdoors. The brown loafers he wore tapped atop the hardwood of the bookstore as he approached, and I forced myself to look into his dark eyes. He was staring right at me, yet there was no way for me to decipher what he was thinking.
“Hey,” I said, my voice more excited than I intended. “Looking for a book?”
“Just here to browse.” He walked to the first aisle, leaving a bookshelf between us, though I could still see the top of his head, and when he glanced up, his eyes. “You weren’t here yesterday.”
“No. I trust Mrs. Meyers delivered your basket nicely though.”
“She did okay.”
“Just okay?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Where were you?”
“Out of town.”
“Will you be delivering it tonight?”
“The basket?” I frowned. “Yeah. I mean, I’m back. Why?”
“I like to know who’s delivering my things.”
“Okay. Your security knew. I informed Pierre that Mrs. Meyers would be delivering it.” My confusion was clear in my voice. “Is there anything in particular that you’re looking for?”
“What are you working on?” He ignored my question and walked around the bookshelf and over to me, eyeing the iPad in front of me.
“It’s a work in progress. It’s bad luck for you to see it in this stage.”
“Bad luck for who?”
“In this case, both of us.”
“Both of us?” He frowned.
“It’s for an event I’m planning.”
“What event?”
I picked up the digital pencil. “Your gala.”
“You’re planning the gala?” His eyebrows shot up. “How did that happen?”
“Madame Rose contacted my company and asked us to plan it.”
“Did she now.” His gaze dropped to the iPad again. “May I see?”
“I . . . I don’t really like to show my sketches to anyone before they’re ready.”
“Even if it’s an event for me?”
“They’re extremely rough sketches.” I pushed the button and entered my passcode quickly.
“The ball is in a week. I don’t think you have time for extremely rough sketches.” He watched me for a long moment. “I thought you had a date that night.”
“I do.”
“Will it be before or after the gala?”
“I’m actually taking him.”
“A work date then.”
“Sort of.” I clicked on the iPad and swiped to the beginning of the sketches. “Maybe it would be unfair for me to take him there.”
“I’d say.” He shrugged a shoulder. “But I haven’t been on many dates, so I don’t know if I should be giving you advice on the matter.”
“You haven’t been on many dates?” I met his gaze.
“I haven’t.” His expression was completely serious, but his eyes twinkled as he looked at me. “Is that so hard to believe?”
“Yes.”
“Have you been on many dates?”
“Define many.”
“I’ve been on five,” he said. “That’s not very many.”
“Five?” I balked, trying not to laugh. “You’re so full of it.”
“I’m being completely serious. Why don’t you believe me?”
“Because you’re Prince Elias, future king of France, most eligible bachelor in the world. People say you’re handsome and charismatic and I just can’t imagine you would have only been on five dates.”
“People say?” His mouth twitched. “What do you say?”
“I definitely think you’re handsome.”
“Not charismatic?” He was fighting a smile.
“I mean . . . not to me.” I bit my lip. “But maybe to others?”
“Not to you?” He frowned slowly, as if thinking about all of our past encounters. “I guess I haven’t really been very kind to you lately.”
“Not really, but it’s okay.”
“That should never be okay.”
“Well, you said it, not me.”
“I’m sorry.” He sighed heavily. “I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
“Thanks.” I felt myself smile at his apology and positioned the iPad so that he could see it. “They’re a very rough draft.”
“This is nice.” He turned his face to read the notes on the side. He raised an eyebrow. “Acrobatics? If this is a preview for a potential engagement, I can’t even imagine what the wedding will be like.”
“Me either.” I laughed. “The theme is a seventeen-hundreds masquerade, since you royals have a thing for masquerades and ballgowns.”
“Us royals.” He was fighting a smile. “I guess we do.”
“I can’t believe you’ve only been on five dates.” I looked at him again. He was insanely gorgeous. Not that dates had anything to do with how many women he’d had sex with, but still. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-eight.”
“You need to go on more dates, Prince Elias.”
“Let me take you on one.”
I blinked. “Me?”
“Why is that so hard to believe?” He chuckled.
“Why would you want to take me on a date?”
“Not for appearances.”
“Of course not for appearances.” I scoffed. I wasn’t an aristocrat or a socialite or the Princess of Austria.
“Believe it or not, I mean that as a compliment.”
“Okay.” I glanced away, to the stack of books I was supposed to shelve by the end of the day. Why was I even entertaining this date idea? A date with a prince was definitely not the way to go unnoticed. I was just barely catching my footing.
“What do you like to do on a date?” he asked, beckoning my attention.
“I don’t think we should go on a date.”
“Why not?”
“A date with a prince is not on my schedule for this month,” I said. “I came here to get away from the spotlight.”
“Why were you in the spotlight?” He watched me closely.
“How does anyone end up in the spotlight?” I shrugged. “Poor decisions. They definitely weren’t reporting on me feeding the hungry.”
“Doesn’t your father own the tabloids?”
“No.” I diverted my eyes again. “He doesn’t own the tabloids, he’s just friends with some of the owners, but even he can’t get me out of this predicament. They need things to report on and unfortunately, I was it this time.”
“I can’t stand them. If my father stands up and speaks in front of a crowd the only thing they report on is his insufferable tone. God forbid they talk about all the good things he’s done.”
I bit my tongue. The king did have an insufferable tone and a superiority complex that made the rest of us work hard not to cower at. I wasn’t about to tell Prince Elias that, though. I looked at him again.
“When was the last time you went on a date?” he asked suddenly.
“It’s been a while.” I caught myself quickly. “Pierre aside, I mean. That was a real date until you interrupted us.”
“Did that one end with a kiss?”
“No.”
“Then it wasn’t a real date.”
“Says the man who’s only gone on five and they’ve all been for pretenses.”
“Says the man who’s going to take you on one and make sure it’s real.”
“Oh.” I swallowed as butterflies flapped deep in my belly. I shook my head. I shouldn’t be entertaining this. “It doesn’t change the fact that we shouldn’t be seen together.”
“Because you
r father hates me.”
“No. Because I don’t need more attention in my life right now. If I’m seen with you, it’ll look bad for you as well. People will say you were trying to plot against your father or something.”
He scoffed. “Who says I’m not?”
My eyes widened. “That’s . . . ”
“I know what it is. In the olden days, I would’ve been physically hanged. Nowadays we have death by tabloid rumors.”
“And social media,” I added. His eyes twinkled. It felt like a smile, though his lips didn’t move. I felt mine pull up nonetheless and my curiosity got the best of me. “What kind of things do you want your father to do differently?”
“I’ll tell you on our date,” he said. “We can sit on my balcony, have dinner, and enjoy the view of the ocean.”
“Okay,” I said after a moment. “One date.”
“Seven thirty?”
“That works for me.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “I’ll see you later, Adeline.”
Chapter 12
I wasn’t sure how to dress on a date with a prince and lucky for me and the situation, I didn’t have the closet of the Princess of Austria or personal shoppers at my disposal, so I opted for a black maxi dress and sandals with a gold leaf over each foot. There was a knock on my door at seven twenty-five, when I was just finishing my eyeliner. I set everything down, looked at myself once more to make sure I was presentable and once I decided I was, I made my way to the door. Surely, he hadn’t sent Pierre to pick me up, right? That thought made me slow down as I walked over to open it. What if he had sent him? Would things be awkward?
It was one date.
One date with Elias and like he pointed out, my night with Pierre wasn’t exactly a date. Because the prince hadn’t let it become one. I shook the thought away and opened the door, blinking when I saw the prince standing before me looking handsome as ever, in jeans, a simple black T-shirt, and black loafers.
“You look beautiful,” he said.
“Thank you.” My breath caught.
He’d never called me that before, or said a compliment to me that felt like a compliment. Not since that night. I tried not to think about it. That was five years ago and this was now. This was one date. One date. I needed to make it clear to myself that nothing that happened tonight would happen again. The man was about to become engaged to someone and I’d never see him again.
The Sinful King: By New York Times Bestselling Author Page 7