Page 54 of Royal Hottie
No goodbyes, nothing. Phillip and I are done.
I’m dry-eyed, filled with indignation at his callous treatment all the way to the airport. He’s put me on a first-class nonstop to New York. I’ll transfer from there back to my normal life in Tampa, back to my old bedroom in my parents’ house, and start over, building my career with my new prospects. This was all a dream. Not my reality.
The flight attendant immediately fusses over me with a glass of champagne, warm nuts, a soft blanket, and a complimentary gift box, which I don’t bother to open. All this luxury reminds me of the life I’m leaving behind with Phillip. I can’t wait to get home and put all reminders of him behind me.
It isn’t until the plane takes off that the tears come.
They don’t stop for a very long time.
Chapter Thirteen
Phillip
My fury at Ruby lasted three solid days. I don’t think anyone has ever made me more furious in my life. She chose a job over me, turned her back on what could have been an important path to take together. But when my fury fades, what’s left is a deep grief that guts me. I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, I can barely focus on what I’m here to do. I can’t even muster a smile for the people I meet in dire need of clean water. I drag myself through the days and finally cut it short a few days early, explaining to the Global Sun Water people that I’m ill and need to return home to recuperate.
I want to fix this thing with Ruby face-to-face, but I have to stop home first for Gabriel and Anna. They need the jet for a trip to Tampa, where Anna and Ruby are from. It’s the fastest most direct way to get them there. Anna’s foster father, Mike, who’s been very ill from lung cancer, is asking for her.
The jet is being refueled and going through safety checks in France, so I have time to stop at home. The yacht is waiting to get me there fast. I meet up with Gabriel and Anna at the palace, where Gabriel is pacing outside their suite in the west wing.
“How is she?” I ask.
He jams a hand in his hair. “She insists on packing herself, but she’s crying, and it’s taking forever. She won’t even let me help.”
“I need to do for myself, Gabriel!” Anna hollers through the open door of their suite. “It’s the one thing I can control.”
I peek into the room. “Hi, Anna. I’m really sorry to hear about Mike.”
“You’re here!” She squashes her suitcase and zips it closed. “Let’s go.” She wheels her suitcase out.
Gabriel tries to take it from her, but she pulls it away. She rushes ahead of us toward the stairs. Gabriel signals for a servant to assist her.
“I’m going with you,” I tell Gabriel. “Ruby is in Tampa now. I mucked things up and need to fix it.”
He halts. “You’re leaving too? I was going to put you in charge. I have a few duties to attend to and I need you to fill in. Fuck. Lucas?”
The royal duties fall in line with whoever is closest to the throne. Next in line after me is Lucas, the bachelor who caused a riot.
“Unless you want to ask Mother,” I offer. “I’m sorry, but it’s urgent I see Ruby.”
He scowls. “You know our mother’s in a delicate state right now.” He stalks off, barking out a series of orders to some nearby footmen.
A short while later, we’re all in the waiting Mercedes, the luggage being packed into the trunk, when Lucas knocks on the back window. Anna powers it down.
Lucas’s eyes are sympathetic. “Take care, Anna. I’ll be thinking of you and Mike.”
She gives him a watery smile, reaches out, and squeezes his hand. “Thank you.”
He turns to Gabriel and gives him a sharp salute before doing an about-face and marching back to the palace.
“Hopefully the palace will still be standing when I return,” Gabriel mutters.
I can’t worry about Lucas and what he might do. My mind is on what lies ahead. Gabriel is busy comforting Anna, who’s subdued. I have plenty of time to think on our journey, and what I conclude is this—I need Ruby in my life. In all my excitement over making a contribution to the world, I forgot the most important thing. None of this means anything without love in my life. I should’ve started with that. I should’ve told her how much I love her. I hurt her. I wanted to hurt her and that was petty and wrong. She was right that I don’t know what it’s like to have career ambition. I’ve never had a job, never built a career. Maybe that’s why my work on behalf of clean water became so important to me. For the first time in my life, I felt useful, needed, like what I did mattered. But none of that matters without her.
When we’re on the jet, Anna takes a nap. Afterward, she takes the seat next to me. “Gabriel says its urgent you see Ruby to fix things between you. What happened?”
“I screwed up horribly.”
“I’m sure it’s not that bad. I know you have strong feelings for her. It’s written all over your face.”
