Two hours passed quickly. She jumped up and refreshed her hair and makeup and changed into her ribbon cutting dress. All the people participating at the actual facility would wear black tie formal so for this, she chose a simple black dress. She would change into something fantastic tonight for the actual gala and dance, in case Trane still wanted to dance with her.
A knock at her door caused a skip in her heartbeat and she rushed to answer, feeling breathless. Trane in a tux standing at her door was something she would not soon forget. He shimmered with confidence and an air of strength, yet she knew he was sensible and caring underneath. He was her everything, she knew. And again, she questioned whether she wanted to give him up. “You ready to wield the scissors?” She placed her hand on his arm and they moved down the hallway.
“I’m so proud of this facility. It’s the first of its kind in the world.”
She resisted the urge to say, “I know.” She was just as proud. “It’s fantastic what you are doing, Trane. Everyone always says, ‘we should do something’ and here you are, doing it.” Again she regretted her part in the resistance EcoFresh would play at the event.
He stood taller. “Thank you Phina. It is the thing I am most proud of in my work for the crown.” His gaze flickered to her out of the side of his eye. “And you as well. Your work with the press has brought additional change already.”
She blushed furiously, ridiculously, at his praise. But she was so grateful to hear it, knowing it had caused trouble for him personally. “Thank you.”
They were driven across town in a line of limos. As soon as everyone was in place onboard the platform at the edge of the water, Trane pulled her close beside him and then began his speech. He talked of his years of work for reform, his desire for all of the countries along the Mediterranean to join him, his anticipation for the groups to sign a productive accord at the summit meeting, and his happiness that such a facility as they now stood on exists. “We can drink the water. As ocean levels rise, we can utilize this resource in our countries for much needed fresh water. The process is simple and can outlast the generations.” He spoke with power and infectious excitement. Everyone around them held smiles. Reporters recorded every word. Cameras flashed throughout. It was a monumental day, and he should be proud.
“And now, to officially get this boat pumping water.” Those nearest chuckled. He held up the scissors and slit open the ribbon.
As he lowered them and turned to Phina, the boom of an explosion shook the platform and vibrated under her feet. She wobbled and would have fallen to the ground, but his arm was immediately around her waist, holding her up. Her heart pounded in a rush of panic. They were surrounded by security who rushed them off the platform and into limos in a matter of minutes. She craned her head to see what was happening but tall men in suits blocked her way. She knew from drills at home the best thing for her to do was walk swiftly and quietly. She worried for the others on the platform but she knew they too would be rushed to safety. Lucan was the best at this job she had ever seen.
Trane hurried beside her, his face tight. He watched over their heads and frowned.
Once the limo doors closed, the car moved away, down several streets. It stooped, Lucan stepped in and it continued. “Nice friends.” He said to her.
Her heart stuttered. “What?”
“Your friends. Real friendly.”
“EcoFresh?”
“Yes, but let’s drop the façade. We all know they are the Environs, and even though this is normal from them, I didn’t think with you involved they would revert to their typical tactics.”
She couldn’t believe it. “No. Lucan. EcoFresh are not, the Environs. These guys are fresh out of college, excited to make a difference…” Her voice trailed off watching Lucan’s expression. She gasped. “I’ve been working with the Environs?” She felt dizzy, her breathing picked up and as the car began to spin, she worried she would pass out.
“Come Phina, surely you knew who you were working with.” Trane’s disapproving voice pinched at her chest, tightening inside.
She shook her head. “What happened?” Her voice shook, but not as badly as she felt. At least she was keeping it together.
“A bomb. At the facility.”
Trane groaned.
“How bad is the damage?” She would donate to recover it. She felt sick.
Lucan’s face intense, he leaned forward. “Bad enough.”
“And the summit? Can we move forward?” The despair in Trane’s voice cut Phina at her center.
Lucan frowned. “That’s the question. We have to move locations, keep it secret. Closed doors.” His eyes flicked to Phina. “Probably best discussed without present company included.”
She gasped but said nothing. She didn’t blame them. “If you knew EcoFresh were these terrorists, why didn’t you approach me about it?”
“We didn’t know how entrenched you were with them. And we didn’t want you to go into hiding.” Lucan crossed his leg. “I knew you weren’t totally aware of their potential, listening to you talk at the café. It was obvious no matter what you knew them to be, you were expecting peaceful demonstrations.”
“So you spied on me instead?” She was furious, but she brushed her anger aside. She had to remind Lucan what she knew. “They have plans along the parade routes. All those people.” She felt sick, and tears streamed down her face. “What can I do?”
“Nothing.” Trane’s eyes were cold, his body stiff. “Don’t. Do. Anything.”
The limo pulled in front of a different hotel. A team surrounded the door and Lucan said, “Phina, this is where you get off. Your belongings will be moved. Stay in your room until we give you the all-clear.”
She looked from one to the other. “I’m sorry. You know I would never want this. I am so sorry.”
Lucan nodded. Trane looked away.
She stepped out of the car and was rushed into the hotel. She thought her heart would break from her lost trust within the Valdez family, in particular from the closed off expression on Trane’s face.
But in the stillness of her room, her heart quieted and her fingers flew across her keyboard. “Trane, the future of the world’s resources is in your hands.”
Chapter 14
Trane stared out the window in their limo ride to their secured location. Lucan wisely held his tongue. The injustice of it all struck him the hardest. He was the only one who was trying, the leader in environmental protection, had dedicated his life to preserving the Mediterranean. And yet he was the one attacked.
The summit drew attention. It was the perfect location to make a point. He understood that. But he couldn’t stop to make sense of the rushing feelings that raced through him. Anger. He clenched his fists. “How close are we to taking the Environs down?” His voice sounded calm, but Lucan’s eyes responded with the same fire that Trane felt.
“A matter of hours.” He uncrossed his leg. “One benefit from Seraphina being involved and the reason we didn’t inform her of all that we knew, was that through her we were able to get a jump start in tracking their movement.” He checked his phone. “Don’t worry, brother. They don’t have long to last on this earth.”
“That sounds ominous.”
“I just mean, their entire structure will be take down, the lead members put on international trial, and they will be made an example of.”
Trane nodded. “I should feel more satisfied with that.”
“I know. But we still have a facility to repair and an interrupted summit to carry out…and your girlfriend was involved.”
“How can you still even call her that?” He narrowed his eyes. “No. I don’t want to talk about it.” He turned back out the window and again, Lucan wisely kept to himself.
The anger coursed through him on the current of betrayal and real sadness. He had again hoped to work through some things and at last have Seraphina in his life. Her career was a real problem. It didn’t have to be, but she placed such a high importance on her stories,
on reporting, on her sources. He gritted his teeth again. Even if they are known terrorists. Instead of pounding something with his fist, he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. “How far away are we?”
“Arriving now.”
They pulled into a nondescript building. Lucan’s thumbs flew across his phone. “All the countries’ leaders participating in the summit have been accounted for and moved for security purposes. We will meet here in the upstairs conference room. No press.”
Trane nodded. “Perhaps we could video the proceedings.”
“Yes, taken care of. They will have a live stream for our country’s local networks.”
“Thank you Lucan.” He appreciated his brother’s thoroughness. The very best at what he did, instead of hiring a head of security, he preferred the job himself.
They were shown to their rooms, much like a typical hotel room, but without windows. And Trane fell into bed.
Hours later, still not asleep, Trane received the text he wanted from Lucan. “Every Environ leader in custody.”
“Thanks brother.”
The next day, all the world leader representatives gathered around a table and signed an agreement, the furthest reaching of its kind, committing each country with shared sea shoreline to better care for the precious resource. Trane breathed in with pride when the last signature sealed their agreement and they all stood and clapped. King Nico Valdez stood and clapped him on the shoulder. “I can’t think of a better person to lead us in this. It is through your excellent vision and decades’ long Valdez and Torren tradition, that we were able to work through our differences, compromise where needed and create such a productive synergy. May we keep our agreements and have the beautiful sea to enjoy and subsist on for many decades to come.”
They clapped again, everyone cheering for Trane. He waved them to quiet. “Our excellent work today could never have been accomplished without the commitment of each of you to preserve something beautiful. May our children’s children praise our names.”
Lucan stood to inform them of the security protocol. With the Environs detained, they were free to come and go as they pleased and were invited to continue with the evening’s events.
Trane shook hands with each member of the summit who he had come to admire and appreciate. And then he and Nico and Lucan were alone.
Lucan gathered his papers into a briefcase. “Trane. She didn’t know.”
“But how could she not know? And this whole thing just highlights one more reason we can’t make it work. How can I be with someone who keeps these connections, who puts the story before the crown.” Before him. It hurt. And he wasn’t ready to try again. No matter how much his arms ached to hold her and his heart longed to hear her laugh.
Chapter 15
Every text she sent Trane was not returned. She left messages on his voicemail, even called his assistant. She half-heartedly considered having her royal liaison contact his.
She had praised him with well-deserved accolades in her coverage of the terrorist attack and the subsequent summit proceedings. The Vadlez family were model examples in all of their reactions, in their efforts to preserve the environment, in their reactions to her initial inflammatory articles. The boy she had fallen in love with in high school had become a man she could truly admire.
And she trailed far behind him. How could she have been so foolish. She checked and rechecked her sources, but nothing in EcoFresh indicated their connection to the Environs, that they were the Evirons. Every time she thought about it she cringed in embarrassment. And vowed to guard her first-hand knowledge closer, to keep her trusted friends tighter and vet out the others. She sighed. She hated to live that way. Her nature, open, friends and acquaintances important, she wished to trust everyone and be trusted in turn.
Her phone rang. “They’re ready for you.”
She smiled. A press association award from her country. And several others as well. Her article on change had spread throughout the world, and she was now quoted on talk shows and among environmental experts. She was pleased with the attention but mostly because they always included Trane and his efforts and used the Torren nation as an example, the summit as a document to duplicate in other areas. She felt like she had given all Trane’s hard work a voice and a path out into the world.
And she would at last receive her award. A check mark ticked off a box in her mind. Pulitzer hovered on that list also, but it faded. More than anything, she just wanted to keep getting helpful stories into the hands of those who could use them most, to motivate change.
When Seraphina entered the room, lights flashed and a sea of black and white and glitter and color stood and clapped.
Her throat constricted as she paused to let her gaze linger on the crowd, on their smiles and show of support.
And then she almost tripped up in her heels. Trane stood at the back of the room. He nodded in her direction and then slipped out of the room.
Tears filled her eyes and fell down her cheeks. He had come. He might never speak to her again, but he had come.
Chapter 16
A stack of newspapers, magazines, and lists of websites sat on his desk beckoning to him in a sweet torture. Everyone had told him to read Phina’s work. Two weeks after the summit, and he still refused. He skipped breakfast with the family because he knew they would discuss it. And then five minutes ago, Lucan had dumped this mess on the center of his desk. The truth of it was, he didn’t care how much groveling she did publicly, she had betrayed him, colluded with terrorists, aided in thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to his salt water facility and risked his summit talks. He went to her award ceremony, made sure she saw him. It was enough.
Thankfully, they salvaged the summit. The press conference afterward was limited to a few presses and those with clearance within their organizations only. Lucan’s men were able to round up the ring leaders of the Environs thanks to Phina and they were no longer a risk. The new, agreed-upon regulations for the Mediterranean would save their sea. Every time he thought about it, he breathed out in relief.
Lucan cleared his throat, standing in the doorway of Trane’s office.
“What do you want, brother? I see this pile you left me.”
“I want you to read it.”
Trane pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m tired of feeling angry. But if I read that, I will either be furious with her or forget all the reasons to be mad.” He shook his head. “I can’t let her back into my life.”
“You don’t have to. But she won multiple International Press Association awards. She will be up for a golden globe. Some are talking Pulitzer Prize, Trane. It’s excellent press for your work here, her words could help bring your methods across the world and change the way oceans are cared for internationally.”
Trane grunted. Then he pulled the article at the top of the stack closer. He could at least read her work. The words jumped out at him and he kept reading.
The sun had long set when he finished the final article. He had searched all the online sites and read the follow up news. He sat on the couch in his office, clutching her best piece to his chest with his head leaned back and eyes closed.
“I didn’t know you’d take to sleeping with it.” Lucan crossed his arms and Tripp stood beside him, an amused quirk of his lip annoying Trane.
Trane stared with one eye open. “Oh good. You’re back. I have ‘happy’ and ‘skeptical’ just the two brothers I was looking for.”
They each took a seat on the large overstuffed chairs.
Tripp laughed. “Happy. I like it. If I’m the happy dwarf, what are you? Pathetic?” When Trane closed his eye and ignored them, Tripp continued. “Well, if you want my opinion…”
“He didn’t ask.” Lucan crossed his ankle over one knee.
“But I can tell he wants it, look at that face.” Tripp considered him for a moment and then said, “It’s obvious she loves you.”
Lucan snorted. “Always has. And she’d be a valuable asset to the Valdez t
eam.”
Trane opened his eyes. “So my two opposing brothers agree.” After reading everything she’d written, he had opened the tiniest sliver of hope. He swallowed. “What if she doesn’t want to try again?”
“What if I do?” Her honey voice filled him and Trane smiled with a chuckle before he turned to see her in the doorway and allowed himself to drink her in. “How long have you been standing there?”
His brothers left the room.
“Lucan let me in.”
“Of course he did. The worst head of security we’ve ever had.”
“I heard that.” His voice carried down the hall.
Trane didn’t dare move, irrationally afraid she might leave or disappear.
“Thanks for coming the other night.” Her voice sounded pinched, like she was holding back a mountain of emotion behind those words.
“I appreciated what you did, your efforts, and everything aside, I was proud of you.” He watched her. She looked simple today. Not the power suit, not the royal designer gown, just the Phina he knew in high school. Her hair sat in a messy ponytail on top of her head, her long t-shirt hung over some tight jeans. Her skin looked clean and natural. This was the Phina he knew and loved. He sat up slowly. And loved.
“We made a difference.”
We. He stood. Her eyes lit with hope. They had a chance. He reached for her hands. When her skin touched his, he pulled her close, wrapped his arms around her, cradling. His lips hovered over her upturned mouth. “Are we ever going to make this work?”
She swallowed, moistened her lips and whispered, “I hope so.”
Her breath tickled his mouth and he waited a moment more before pressing his lips against hers. A part of the hurt and misunderstanding began to heal.
Chapter 17
Seraphina packed her things. She was excited to start work at a large international news agency. They had hired her as their lead reporter. Trane had forgiven her. Her visit yesterday was short, but left her reeling with attraction and love and hope. She had invitations to appear on all the big talk shows, including a few in New York. The word was spreading, and she was thrilled she could be a part of what might turn into a worldwide cooperation to protect the oceans. She should be feeling super pleased with how everything was going. But she couldn’t help but want more. She wanted Trane.
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