THAT FIRST SITE IS EVERY WRITER’S DREAM DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I’VE TRIED WRITING SOMETHING AND THOUGHT GOD DAMN IS THERE A SPECIFIC WORD FOR WHAT I’M USING TWO SENTENCES TO DESCRIBE AND JUST GETTING A BUNCH OF SHIT GOOGLE RESULTS
Book Synopsis: The social season may be over, but Harper Gale’s problems are just beginning… Harper came to Cordonia looking for adventure, and ended up finding love… not in the arms of a prince, like she thought she might, but in those of his commoner best friend, Drake Walker. But even though Prince Christian has chosen someone else to be his fiancée, Harper’s hope of a happily-ever-after with Drake is put to the test when she finds herself in the centre of a contrived sex scandal. With everyone at court a potential suspect, can she get to the bottom of the plot against her and clear her name? A rewrite of TRR2 with many changes.
Word count: I will tell you when it’s done! Chapters average around 6,500 words at the moment. Several of them are in the 8,000-9,000 word range, but there’s a lot to cover and I promise it’s worth it!
Rating/Warnings: E (tons of swearing, major angst, serious lemons, references to sexual assault, physical violence, PSTD episode, the list goes on…)
Missed Book 1? Catch up on the events of the social season in (Un)Common Attraction.
Meet the Cast
Playlist
Harper’s Scrapbook
Chapter 1 - Leaving on a Jet Plane
Bonus Chapter - Drive
Chapter 2 - I’ve Been Waiting For You (NSFW) + Bonus Material
Chapter 3 - Hotel Room Service (NSFW)
Chapter 4 - Southbound (Bonus Material)
Chapter 5 - Sparks Fly (NSFW)
Chapter 6 - Confiteor
Chapter 7 - Independence Day (NSFW) (Bonus Material)
Series Summary - Prince Liam fell for Riley Brooks hard and fast. A marriage filled with love and devotion was within his reach. But everything changed when she vanished into thin air just before the end of the social season. As everyone around him begins to voice their concerns regarding her scandalous departure, a confession from an unlikely source turns Liam's world upside down and makes him begin to question everything around him.
Book/Pairing - TRR - Liam x MC (Riley Brooks)
A/N 1 - This AU starts right before the beginning of the engagement tour. There is a two-month lapse between the coronation and where we pick up, but we will stray from canon. Please excuse any errors found.
▪︎ Rated M for mature audiences - Series will contain NSFW material, violence, and graphic depictions. Not suitable for anyone under eighteen years of age. ▪︎
Characters belong to Pixelberry.
A couple of mornings later, Liam stood beside Madeleine with bright lights blinding his vision. They were arriving at an early interview with an international broadcast team to spread awareness of their upcoming union. They made their announcement of the updated tour a few days prior, and the public was very receptive. Constantine, Regina, Adelaide, and Godfrey all presented a united front for the cameras with Liam and Madeleine; the only one who seemed opposed was Godfrey, who said it was a ‘wasted opportunity’, but still went along with the majority and showed his support.
Ever since, Liam found himself incredibly uneasy. He knew it was a bold move, but hoped having everyone rally behind him would work to his advantage. So far, he had been correct in his assumption. However, he realized that could easily change at the drop of a dime. The current moment of peace was incredibly unsettling as everyone waited on pins and needles; the fear of the unknown, along with the plethora of endless unanswered questions, ran rampant through his mind. Despite his attempts to portray himself as a strong, dominant leader, he knew those closest to him could see right through the cracks.
Liam met Ray briefly the night before. He and Olivia explained everything they were working on and Liam couldn’t believe so much went by them. Even Olivia expressed the same notion, but they both agreed that having Ray in their corner gave them a sense of relief. Although, the stress of a rebuttal heavily loomed on everyone’s conscience; all they could do was follow the leads they had, and hope for the best.
As they entered the studio, a boisterous voice caught Liam’s attention. They hollered at a few stagehands close by, drawing the attention of everyone around. “Do you not recognize this beautiful face? Let me in, baby doll. I need to get to my brother.”
The woman shook her head. “I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t let you in without authorization.”
“I’m sure you can make an exception, can’t you?”
“No, I can’t–”
“Cummon… I know you know who I am, or who I used to be, anyway…”
“I apologize, but I can’t just–”
Liam approached and gave the woman a sheepish smile. “My sincerest apologies, but he is with me.” The woman flushed, but nodded and stepped aside.
“My man!” Liam suddenly found himself enveloped in a tight hug, his feet nearly lifting off the floor. “It’s so good to see you, Li.”
“You as well, but what the hell are you doing here, Leo?”
Leo flashed a smile as he pulled away. “I got a call from a little bird who said and I quote, ‘your brother needs some kind of emotional reinforcements; please come and assist before his tears stain all of my clothes’.”
Liam chuckled before he asked, “Liv?”
Leo nodded. “Yup. She did not give me details, however…”
“I’ll fill you in as soon as possible, but we have to be careful.”
“Say less. How are you, man?” Leo took in Liam’s tired eyes and slightly slouched posture, and knew he wasn’t doing the best. However, Leo could admit Liam must have stepped up his stoicism game; if Leo didn’t know exactly what to look for, he would be oblivious to Liam’s struggle just like everyone else.
“I’m fine, Leo.” Leo stared at Liam with a knowing expression. Liam let out a slight huff and emphasized, “I am, I mean – my mind’s racing a million miles an hour at all times with a plethora of what ifs, but…”
“We need to catch up properly later, brother.”
“That we do, Leo.” Liam gave him a sad smile before Leo pulled him into another hug. “Thank you for coming. It means a lot, especially now.”
“I always got you, Li, always.” Leo tightened his grip on Liam.
The stagehand from before approached the pair and timidly spoke, “Sir? They’re ready for you.”
The brothers stepped away from each other and Leo playfully punched Liam on the arm. “Go get ‘em, tiger.”
Liam walked away with a small smile and made his way back over to Madeleine. Madeleine made eye contact with Leo; she narrowed her eyes and visibly clenched her jaw, to which Leo smirked and blew her a kiss.
They ushered Liam and Madeleine around the studio and sat them on a couch in a small, but ornate set. The only other people in the vicinity were the camera crew, Leo and Penelope. Liam was undeniably tense, but knew this was what needed to happen; at least until they could get a solid lead, pointing them to what transpired with Riley. He had no other choice but to conform and show whoever was holding the cards that he was playing along.
After only a few moments, a tall woman with a slender frame appeared and bowed to the pair. “Your Majesties, I am Vivica Whittaker, a lead reporter for the International Gazette. It’s an honor to be here with you.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Whittaker. We’re thrilled to be here. Aren’t we darling?” Madeleine asked Liam, her face trained in a bright smile.
“Of course,” Liam replied, trying to mimic her elated expression.
“Let’s get started, shall we? I understand you were on an international engagement tour, but decided at the last minute to stay in Cordonia. Can you explain the thought process behind that?”
“We have decided for the greater good of Cordonia we are going to tour our homeland. International support is important to us, and we plan to go on our intended venture at some point. However, we feel we need strength within our borders first.” Liam answered.
“We hope that by doing so, the people will see us as the united front that we are.” Madeleine beamed at Liam, the sight causing his breakfast to roll in his stomach. “Cordonia is our number one priority.”
“How is that going? Are the two of you enjoying your travels?”
“Indeed, we are,” Madeleine claimed. “It’s like living a fairytale every day with Liam. He makes me feel special and valued, like I’m the only woman who’s ever mattered.”
“What a special connection the two of you must have! Your Majesty, do you have anything to add?”
“I echo Countess Madeleine’s sentiments,” Liam responded in a flat tone. He wanted to scream his true feelings for all to hear, but kept his intrusive thoughts at bay. He cleared his throat and quickly added, “The sudden changes have gone over well, and we are thankful for that. To our international counterparts, I’d like to once again extend my sincerest apologies, and we hope you’ll consider joining us.”
“How do you balance your work and personal life, sir? I understand the busy life of a monarch, and I’d assume it would be fairly difficult to find the time to spend with your fiancé.”
“I make it work.”
“He’s being modest. He continuously blows me away, making sure I know just how much he loves me.” Madeleine reached for Liam’s hand and threaded their fingers together. “I know how much he cares, and that’s all that matters.”
“You two are couple goals!” Vivica clapped her hands. “But I have to address the — elephant in the room.” She spoke to Liam specifically. “The night of your coronation, you chose a different suitor in front of Countess Madeleine. Can you tell me what was going through your head at that moment, and how it has affected your current relationship?”
Liam could only stare at the woman before him. The lighting suddenly felt like infrared, beating directly down on his face. Sweat drenched his brow in an instant, and moisture gathered in the palms of his trembling hands. He counted to ten to steady his rapidly thumping heart, swallowed thickly, and responded in the calmest manner he could. “A lot was going through my mind that night and I wasn’t thinking clearly. I didn’t see the answer sitting right in front of me the entire time, and I regret not seeing it for so long…” He trailed off.
Although he hoped it was a vague answer, the truth the statement held momentarily hit Liam like a ton of bricks – because it was true, just in a different context. Until he opened his eyes to the truth, questions about that night were easy to divert; now, it was simply a daily reminder, a constant trigger for his unending guilt. He momentarily let himself get lost in the never-ending sea of things he didn’t do or neglected, further letting this chaos fuel itself.
Madeleine noticed his forlorn expression and babbled to direct attention back to herself. “He’s more than made up for his errors in judgment since then, and I hold no animosity toward him. What kind of woman would that make me if I did, Vivica?”
Vivica looked at Madeleine in awe. “You truly are such a role model. Let me ask what your thoughts are about the scandal against Lady Riley. She was one of the top contenders, some even saying above you before her scandalous departure.”
Liam visibly tensed beside her, but Madeleine straightened her posture and smoothly answered, “We have since moved on from that as well. We truly hope Lady Riley and Lord Tariq are happy, and we thank them for ridding themselves of our court.”
Madeleine shook her head and studied Liam with tears dancing in her eyes. “I can’t believe she would do such a thing to the people who gave her a life here. She betrayed her future King; he did nothing wrong, all he did was offer her the world. For her to throw it away, throw him away, as if he was irrelevant breaks my heart. But I’m thankful in the end; I’m the one who got to pick up the pieces.” She stroked his cheek, her vacant, calculated stare piercing into his soul.
Liam had to use all of his willpower to force a smile. Her touch felt like slime; it took every ounce of strength not to slap her hand away. He knew she was good, but not this good – if he didn’t know any better, he would believe her, too.
Vivica peered at them with longing eyes. “I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say I’m glad everything worked out in the end. Where is your next stop on your engagement tour?”
“The next official event is in Portavira. However, tonight I will celebrate our upcoming nuptials with my closest confidants at my bachelorette party.” Madeleine smiled.
The rest of the interview concluded without incident, nothing exciting or newsworthy; it was mostly Vivica and Madeleine speaking of the wedding arrangements, as well as Madeleine discussing her plans as a future monarch. Liam interacted when appropriate but stayed silent otherwise. Although he carefully kept the appearance that he was listening to the women as they animatedly spoke before him.
When the questions concluded, Liam quickly stood and made his way over to Leo, who was talking to a brunette beside the refreshment table. Liam cleared his throat as he approached, and Leo shooed the woman away. “You didn’t have to do that, Leo.”
“Nah, she was killing my vibe, anyway.” Leo snickered. “Dude, I almost thought you really loved Madeleine. Like, wow. You guys are fucking convincing!”
“Thanks, I guess.”
A bout of silence overtook the brothers as Leo tried to think of what to say. He remained unsure of what was going on, as they hadn’t received the chance to speak in a private setting. “Hey, Li, did I hear her right? It’s her bachelorette party tonight?”
“Yep.” Liam slightly chuckled. “It’s not funny, but… Olivia has to go.”
Leo howled with laughter. “What do you mean ‘not funny’?! That’s hilarious!”
“She doesn’t think so. I believe her exact words were, ‘We’ll see if I make it through the night without making a kabob out of her’.’’
“Good. Saves us a lot of trouble.” The brothers shared a small laugh, but another stillness came shortly after. “Li, if the devil is gonna be busy anyway, let’s go do something, man; take your mind off all this bullshit.”
“I’ll try, but–”
“No, no buts. You need to get out of here for a bit; let your hair down, and try to relax.”
Liam scoffed. “Relaxing is the last thing I should do right now, Leo. You don’t understand what’s been going on–”
“Exactly! How can I help if I don’t know what the hell we’re dealing with?”
“You’re… right…” Liam sighed, as he truly considered the offer. “Okay, we’ll do something later.”
“Way ahead of you, brother. Figured you’d need an escape after a morning of press ops, so I booked us a spa for the afternoon. Even secured enough spaces to bring Max and Drake along.”
Before Liam could respond, Madeleine’s voice rang out through the nearly deserted studio. “Penelope! Where the hell is my lemonade?!” Both watched Penelope scurry toward Madeleine and timidly offer her the drink. Madeleine took a sip and practically threw it back at her. “What is that?! I asked for sweetened, you imbecile!”
Penelope shrieked as the cold liquid covered her face and drenched her hair. “I–I–”
“I–I–” Madeleine mocked. “FIX IT!” she bellowed, causing Penelope to flinch and run away.
Leo scoffed. “Wow.”
“Tell me about it,” Liam answered. “All day, every fucking day.”
“So we have upgraded ultra cunt to super duper ultra cunt? Free of charge?”
“Unfortunately, so. This is mild compared to some of the things I’ve witnessed. Once, she made Penelope cut her skirt and put it on the ground so she wouldn’t have to walk through a puddle.” Liam rolled his eyes. “She’s absolutely out of control.”
“Why’s Penelope letting her treat her that way?”
Liam shrugged. “I would guess to appease the soon-to-be Queen and try to stay on her good side.”
“That seems extreme.”
“If the past couple of weeks have taught me anything, it’s that nobles will go to extreme measures to get what they want…” Liam trailed off, an air of sadness and regret notable in his tone.
Leo clapped Liam on the back, reassuringly squeezing his shoulder. “Come on man; fuck them, fuck the court, let’s go relax.”
Liam sighed. “Leo, I want to, but I need–”
“You need to relax for a bit, Li. Spend some time with your brother. Whatever is going on, Olivia is handling. Let her do her thing, and let’s unwind a bit.”
Liam remained hesitant to agree, but Leo made a valid point. Plus, the thought of being away from everyone telling him how to act and who to be sounded incredibly cathartic. A small smile crept onto his face and he finally answered, “Alright, let’s go.”
“Bet, I’ll call tweedle-dee and tweedle-dumb.”
Liam and Leo met up with Drake and Maxwell a short time later and made their way over to the spa Leo reserved. As they arrived, everyone started in a changing room, where they shed their clothes and wrapped themselves in warm towels. A staff member led them to a big, ornate room with one larger pool in the middle and another smaller one to the side.
They lowered themselves down into the bigger area, each letting out a content sigh of relief. Liam reached for the tray of drinks that was left for them and passed them around to the group.
Leo sighed as he sat back and took a long swig from his glass. “You know, this cider is still one of the best spirits I’ve tasted – and I’ve sampled a lot.”
“I don’t think being an alcoholic classifies as bragging rights.” Drake retorted.
“Ha!” Leo howled. “Are you fucking kidding me, Mr. ‘all I drink is whiskey’?”
“Whiskey isn’t just alcohol, it’s art – thank you very much.”
“It’s alright, but what about literally anything else?”
“I don’t need a pussy drink to get a buzz,” Drake responded with a shrug.
“What about my pineapple paradise punch? You love that, right?” Maxwell asked, his expression hopeful.
“Nope, sure don’t. I only drank it last time because you hid all the whiskey, didn’t you?”
Maxwell sank further into the pool. “No……”
“Mm hmmm, bullshit. I’m on to you, Beaumont. I’m lucky I didn’t start my period drinking that frilly shit!”
“Man, I remember the last time I had that stuff. Well, barely…” Leo recalled as he stared off into space with a crooked smile.
“Yeah, isn’t that when you got caught with your pants around your ankles behind the staircase at your last Bash?” Liam chimed in as he hid a mischievous grin behind his glass.
Leo’s eyes shot open, his jaw dropping instantaneously. “Dude! You swore you’d never tell!”
Liam snickered. “I didn’t tell them — you did, right after it happened.”
“For real?” Leo asked Maxwell and Drake.
“Oh, yeah.”
“Big time.”
“Huh…” Leo raised his glass and took a sip. “Well, no shame in my game, I guess.” He said with a shrug. “Needed to rub one out and I couldn’t find a decent selection. It was that, or try to get it up for Maddy.”
“That’s still pretty fuckin’ weird,” Drake responded with a mortified expression.
“No, what was strange was when he continued even after being caught,” Liam interjected with a shudder.
“What was I supposed to do?! Put it away?”
“Uh, yeah… Regina was absolutely mortified.”
Drake downed the contents of his glass in one gulp. He forcefully sat it down next to him and stood. “On that note, I’m gonna hit the cold plunge for a bit; soothe my bones.”
“Alright, Grandpa.” Leo chided.
“Fuck you, Rys.”
“Can I come?” Maxwell asked with a hopeful expression.
Drake pondered it as he looked from Liam to Leo and sighed before he finally relented. “Fine. But I swear to God – if you say one word about a goddamn peacock–”
“I won’t!” Maxwell exclaimed as he climbed out and ran toward the smaller pool. Drake reluctantly followed behind, shaking his head and grumbling to himself as he went.
Liam and Leo laughed at Drake and Maxwell’s antics before a tense silence came over them. Liam submerged himself in the water and lay with his neck against the edge, trying his hardest to let the gentle ripples wash his worries away. Leo racked his brain, trying to calculate how to approach the conversation that brought him here; Olivia gave no information over the phone, but he knew if she was calling, it was something serious. Leo also recognized Liam would not reach out for help; even if he was on fire and needed water, Liam would suffer in silence and shoulder the burden alone.
Leo was there to ensure that did not happen, no matter what.
Leo drained the contents left in his glass and sat it down before he started, “So… Seems like you’re a little on edge...”
Liam scoffed. “That’s an understatement.”
“Oh? Anything you want to talk about?”
Liam sighed and sat up. He kept his gaze on the pool water in front of him as he softly answered. “I just have so many unanswered questions…”
“Riley?” Liam nodded, so Leo continued. “What exactly happened?”
Liam cautiously looked around the room, leaned in, and quietly told Leo everything they knew. He left out the grimy details regarding the maid’s murder, but redacted nothing otherwise. When he finished, Leo stared wide-eyed into the pool in front of him, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. “Wow…”
“Yeah… I can’t wrap my head around everything. I knew something was off, but I let everyone around me convince me I was wrong to feel that way.”
“You mean father?”
Liam nodded with a remorseful expression. “Yes, along with Madeleine, Regina a few times, and not to mention the tabloids. I look back now and wonder how I could have been so stupid, so blind to the truth.”
“Look, I know how relentless our father can be. How do you think I ended up engaged to Madeleine? I didn’t pick her because I wanted to — I chose her because he made me feel like I had to. He hounded me day and night about it. Again, why do you think I was constantly escaping from Bastien?”
“I know you understand how he can be. But once again, I feel like I’m being backed into a corner. Even with the alternative route on the tour, we’re still running out of time and we’re no closer to getting answers than before. I know I must marry Madeleine, but how can I even fathom such an idea when there’s a very good possibility someone plotted to put her there?”
“You think that was their goal?”
Liam finally turned his gaze from the pool in front of him to Leo. Leo saw a world of emotions flicker through Liam’s eyes, his bright blue orbs darkening to nearly black. The unending rage he felt flourished; coursing through his body and creating a tidal wave of unaddressed emotions.
“Absolutely. It’s the only theory that makes any kind of sense. Someone removed Riley from the situation and either staged or altered pictures to paint the scene that she left to be with Tariq. Someone blackmailed Olivia to force her away, and she would have been my second choice; Madeleine essentially won by default. In the two months between the coronation and the beginning of the engagement tour, nothing happened because I played right into their bullshit. Once I started asking questions and poking my nose around, they started eliminating loose ends.”
“That makes sense… you said something about a guy you hired?”
“Yes, but keep that between us. Bastien doesn’t even know his true intentions; nobody does besides a select few I know I can trust. I can’t risk another incident like with the maid; we can’t lose any more leads. He’s checking into the source of the article with Olivia and attempting to locate Tariq and Riley. Until he uncovers something or the forensics comes back, there’s nothing we can do.” Liam quietly answered and turned his gaze back to the pool in front of him, the dark clouds of despair threatening to take over once again.
A silence overcame them as Leo tried to figure out how to respond. However, Liam spoke again before he could. “Leo… the more time that passes, the more I feel like something truly terrible happened that night. There’s no reason for either of them to be completely untraceable. I mean, you know Tariq! The man is practically fucking useless out in the real world! There’s just no way…” He shook his head. “I can’t fathom it. Where did they go? Why hasn’t Bastien been able to find them?”
“Well, Li, you and I both know Bastien is kind of stupid. He didn’t even make running from him that hard, to be honest. That guy has the capabilities of a premature fucking kitten.”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Liam slightly laughed. “I know… but I’m hopeful Ray, er, Harold, will find something, anything leading to her whereabouts. I care about locating Tariq, but Leo – I need to see that she’s okay. As much as I hate to think about it, I know someone injured her before she left. That maid told us she was unsteady but seen walking down the hall, so I guess it’s reassuring that nobody carried her out, at least.” He spoke just above a whisper, his tears threatening to flow freely.
“Liam, I know what kind of pressure you were, and are still under. I understand, more than most. Honestly? I don’t know what I would have done in that situation; it’s an impossible thing that nobody should have to face.” Leo shrugged. “But… the most important thing is you’re doing what needs to be done, and that’s what matters now. We’re going to find them, Li, I just know it.”
“I… I’m trying to stay hopeful, Leo, I really am…”
Leo nodded with a sad grin before he quietly started again. “Liam… brother to brother… tell me, in all reality, are you going to marry Madeleine?”
Liam sighed and remained silent for a long while to gather his thoughts. “I–I’m not sure at this point. I don’t want to, but I know it is what’s expected of me.”
“Who says?”
“Tradition dictates that–”
“Liam, fuck tradition.” Leo interrupted. “You did what you were supposed to do to ascend the throne; from there, it’s your call what happens. I know you want to do right by those who have worn that crown before you, and I get that, I do – but you can pave your own way and do things how you see fit!”
Liam looked at Leo with a torn expression. He opened his mouth to respond but was silenced when Leo spoke again. “Liam, you are in control here, not anyone else. You can do whatever you want! You don’t have to let our father, or anyone else, dictate what you do. If you want to follow your heart and say fuck it all, there’s not a lot anyone can do to stop you!”
“What if people doubt me? What if the court questions my decision-making? Because as rough as it is to admit, you and I both know Madeleine would make a decent Queen! And they already think I’m unstable because of what happened at my coronation."
“Liam, fuck what people think. You’ve spent your entire life bending over backward for the throne, even when it wasn’t yours to inherit. You’ve never done a single goddamn thing for Liam. I heard stories about you and Riley during the season, and I wish I had been around to see it. I saw pictures of the two of you from the Regatta and I have never seen you so happy. If that happiness is within your reach, I want you to take it. Fuck everyone else.”
Liam didn’t respond, only kept his vision to the pool in front of them. Leo took in Liam’s dejected expression and added. “I also know about a certain clause that could be useful if you were to see fit…”
Liam sighed. “Trust me, I’m familiar with it. A part of me wants to call off the rest of the tour and the engagement alike, but I know that won’t help us figure out what happened to Riley. I’m convinced someone in the court is responsible, and to disperse them would make this more of a nightmare. For now, I must act as if I truly intend to marry Madeleine. I’m at least trying to project that I’m okay with it, but – you and I both know how she is, especially with a Crown in her sights.”
“Boy, do I.” Leo guffawed. “Listen… I understand why you’re continuing for now, but that doesn’t mean you have to go through with the wedding. You already know what to do to call it off; the only thing stopping you is yourself.”
“I just hope we can get some answers before I have to decide,” Liam responded with a heavy sigh.
“I’m sorry, Liam…If I never would have abdicated…”
“If you never would have abdicated, I never would have had a social season, which means I never would have gone to New York and ultimately never met Riley. She’s the greatest gift life has given me… All I can pray for is her safety, wherever she may be,” Liam replied with a sad smile.
Leo placed a reassuring hand on Liam’s shoulder. “We’re going to figure this out, Liam. I’ll do whatever I can to help you, and I’ll do the absolute most to keep dad off your ass.”
Liam half laughed and pulled Leo into a tight hug. “Thank you, Leo. It means the world that you dropped everything to come here for me.”
“That’s what big brothers are for,” Leo replied as he squeezed Liam tighter, hoping to calm his brothers’ heavy anxieties. He didn’t know what he could truly offer, but regardless, he was going to provide Liam with a sense of grounding; when the weight got to be too much, Leo would be there.
As Liam and Leo released each other from their embrace, Drake stalked toward them with Maxwell trailing behind. His face was red with exasperation and he walked with his hands balled at his sides, determination in his steps.
“Okay, I’m done entertaining Maxwell. Hope you two had a touching family bonding moment, but it’s over now.” Drake griped as he reached them.
“Oh, come on! I didn’t even mention peacocks!” Maxwell pleaded.
“No, but I shouldn’t have to tell you I don’t care how comfortable your nuts feel in your goddamn underwear!”
“They’re ball hammocks! I’m just trying to help you out!”
Liam and Leo shared a laugh at their nonsense. After some extra time at the spa, they agreed to rest and have dinner later. Liam smiled, knowing Madeleine should have already left for her festivities by now, so at least he knew he shouldn’t have to deal with her until morning. However, he couldn’t stop his mind from racing as he wondered how Olivia and Ray were faring, and if they had come across any answers.
Olivia bobbed and weaved her way through the mass of people in the high-end lounge hosting Madeleine’s party, Ray not far behind. Although this was the last place she wanted to be, she knew it was time to make her presence known; she was ready to go back into the lion’s den and rejoin the court.
So far, the search for Riley and Tariq brought no leads. Ray reassured Olivia that he still had places to look, but that only calmed her flourishing uncertainties for so long. On the plus side, he worked his magic and had insurmountable success with the article.
Ray hacked into multiple accounts and finally landed inside the photographer’s correspondence. The woman was merely a paparazzi and posted everything using a public computer. It was tricky, but he not only found the digital receipt for the bank transfer, but also the initial message requesting service. They offered a hefty payday, as well as detailed instructions for entering the estate and what specific shots would be required; attached at the end was a word-for-word story written out, only missing an author’s name. A comparison showed them the finished product mimicked what they sent word for word. When he tried to look into the sender’s information, Ray could not trace it; firewalls and other encryptions blocked him at every turn. Regardless, he stumbled upon a golden piece of evidence.
Ray deciphered the receipt and collected the account number of the sender. From there, he transferred the information to a well-trusted associate; someone Olivia had used herself for aid in the past. The goal was to attach a name to said account and then – they would finally have a solid lead.
Olivia was confident an answer was looming in their near future — it was so close she could practically taste the satisfaction of the victory on her tongue. In the meantime, it was time for her to ‘show her support’ and play pretend, the same as Liam. Olivia and Ray couldn’t think of anything else they could accomplish or uncover in the shadows; it was time to broaden their spectrum and test the waters of the nobility, starting with the other former suitors.
Olivia approached the table where the ladies were sitting and put her hands on her hips. “What a coincidence running into you here, Countess.” She chided.
Madeleine visibly tensed. “Olivia? What are you doing here?”
“Surprised to see me? Perhaps that’s because I didn’t receive an invitation to this little soiree.”
Madeleine clenched her jaw as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Can you blame me? Why would I want you here?”
“Well, first off, let’s not forget who the first choice was...”
Madeleine’s jaw fell to the floor. “How dare you,” she turned from her usual shade of porcelain to ruby in an instant, her annoyance escalating rapidly.
Olivia smiled warmly. “I didn’t mean it as a slight, my dear Maddy… I’m only stating facts. Regardless, you’re welcome.” She batted her eyelashes with an innocent expression.
“I owe you nothing,” Madeleine growled with narrowed eyes. “Why don’t you go crawl back to Lythikos and stab a tree, or some other barbaric nonsense that your kind practices?”
Olivia snickered. “Come on, Maddy, you know as well as I do that it's tradition for all the suitors to attend the engagement festivities. I’m only doing my part...”
Madeleine rolled her eyes. “Your presence is unappreciated, but noted. You may leave – now.” She emphasized, trying to shoo Olivia away with her hand.
Olivia howled with laughter but stopped as she took in Madeleine’s intent gaze. “Oh, you were serious?”
“Absolutely!”
Olivia plopped herself down at the booth. “Well, unfortunately for you, I do what I want. Now, what are we talking about, ladies?”
Madeleine growled and mumbled something under her breath, but Olivia couldn’t make it out. Kiara and Penelope shared hesitant looks, both seeking permission from Madeleine to speak. Olivia ignored their silent conversation as she realized something; even without Riley, they were still missing a suitor.
“Where’s Hana?”
“Who?” Madeleine answered, avoiding eye contact.
“Hana… Hana Lee.”
“Oh! Right! Hana!” Madeleine exclaimed after a long moment. “I extended the invitation, but unfortunately, she declined to attend.”
“Did she say why?”
“No, she didn’t.” Madeleine eyed Olivia suspiciously. “Why do you care?”
“I don’t,” Olivia snapped. “I was only making an observation, is all.”
“Humph.” Madeleine lifted her nose to the sky and crossed her arms, turning her body away from Olivia. The three women quietly spoke amongst themselves, intentionally excluding Olivia; not that she cared. The only reason she was there was because she knew it would be heavily publicized, and true to fashion, the reporters snapping photos of them inside at random moments proved her theory to be correct. Since she was absent from the first few events, she figured jumping in with this ‘intimate gathering’ would show she was going along with the ruse as well.
Throughout the night, the ladies attempted to put space between themselves and Olivia, but she would promptly follow them. Kiara seemed less off-put, even trying to converse a few times. Penelope, however, wouldn’t even make eye contact, let alone speak to Olivia. In a couple of occurrences, Olivia caught Penelope intently watching her. She quickly averted her gaze, but not before Olivia noticed, and she lost count of how many times it happened. The expression she wore each time piqued Olivia’s interest; equal parts curious and apprehensive.
The ladies bounced their way around the dancefloor most of the night. Olivia didn’t join, but stood still as a statue close by with Ray not far away, intently watching their every move. At one moment, Ray tapped her shoulder and attempted to tell her something, but Olivia couldn’t hear him over the surrounding commotion. He motioned to a side door and pulled her to it before Olivia could protest; the noble ladies slowly fading from view.
As they made it outside, Ray studied the area to secure their privacy. “What’s going on?” Olivia tentatively sought.
“I got the details on that account.”
“And?”
“We have a name.”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “I’m not in the mood for games, Harold. Spit it out.” She snapped, her patience quickly dissipating.
“Penelope Ebrim,” Ray answered with utmost confidence. However, Olivia started laughing, hard enough that tears were forming in the corner of her eyes.
“I’m serious, look.” Ray reiterated, holding his device to her. He showcased a comprehensive report on all incoming and outgoing transactions from their target and started listing them off. “Charity donation, coffee, coffee, dog food, a hefty charge to some online place called ‘American Girl Dolls’, but here, this one –” He pointed to a specific line. “– The date matches, the account numbers match, and it’s the exact amount offered in that correspondence.”
“Ho-ly shit…” Olivia gasped. Out of everyone who could have been involved, Penelope was the last person she could have suspected. “We have to question her.”
“Is she here?”
“Yeah, inside with the others.”
“Well, what are we waiting for?”
Olivia nodded, and the two took off into the crowded vicinity. They sped to the area the ladies were in when they left, but there was no sign of them. After checking there, they went back to the booth from before, only to find another party occupying it. They searched the bar, bathrooms, and anywhere else they could think of. After a while, Ray and Olivia decided they were gone and opted to leave and resume their search for Riley, intending to speak with Penelope at a later time. However, as they exited onto the street, they saw someone crawling into a taxi, and upon quick inspection realized it was Penelope.
“Penelope!” Olivia yelled. She knew Penelope heard her because she suddenly moved quicker. Olivia rushed over to stop the vehicle, but wasn’t fast enough.
The cab drove away and Olivia could see the back of all three ladies’ heads in the window. Penelope, however, was the only one who glanced through the back windshield and locked eyes with Olivia. She noticed the tears that glistened on Penelope’s cheeks in the dim streetlamp lighting, even from afar; the glistening of her running make-up sparkled as it ran down her face. Olivia wanted to believe the clueless, ditzy, poodle-obsessed Penelope couldn’t have been involved in something of this nature, but all the signs said otherwise.
The car faded into the night, leaving Olivia and Ray cemented in place on the nearly deserted street. Frustration coursed through both of their veins, as more questions seemed to pile themselves on top of the already unending list.
Regardless, they now had a name and concrete, undeniable evidence that Penelope was involved – she wouldn’t be able to deny knowing something. It wasn’t much, but it was a start to what they hoped would be the end of this never-ending spiral of madness.
All they had to do was get to Penelope and make her talk. Considering the next stop on the tour was Portavira, Olivia knew that opportunity would present itself, and soon. Penelope could run, but once the thunderous hand of her inquisitive monarch was added to the equation, she would have nowhere to hide.
Tags (if you'd like to be added or removed, please let me know): @choicesficwriterscreations @ao719 @txemrn @imashybish @queenrileyrose
Series Premise – An American teenager from New York City is introduced to the world of a small European country and its society of royalty, nobility, and commoners. How will her life story be transformed? Will this new adventure bring her happiness...or regret?
Marabelle Series Masterlist
Main Pairing – Prince Liam Rys x F!OC Sophia (Sophie) Taylor
Other Pairings – Maxwell Beaumont x M!OC Daniel (from NYC), Drake Walker x F!OC Melanie Smithson
Most characters belong to Pixelberry.
Series Rating – M*🔞Warnings: this series will have NSFW material, crude language & innuendo.
Chapter Summary – It’s the evening of the Masquerade Ball. Bertrand and Maxwell formally introduce Sophie to King Constantine as Lady Sophia of House Beaumont and officially joins the court as a noblewoman. Prince Liam and Sophie spend more time together and reach a milestone.
Music Inspiration:
When You Walk in the Room, Sanne Saomonse
A/N1: Bethany Beaumont, Maxwell’s mother, is originally from the U.S. and is Barthelemy Beaumont’s second wife. Annabelle Beaumont (deceased) is Bertrand’s mother.
A/N2: ‘Social Season’ in this AU series refers to a traditional period in the spring/summer for royalty and members of the court to take part in Balls, dinner parties and charity events.
A/N3: My submission for Choices Flashfics @choicesflashfics, Week #52, prompt 3 - “Well...that was/this is unexpected.”
A/N4: My submission for @choicesseptemberchallenge2023, @midnightmelodiz, Day 4 – Dreams, Day Dream, “I’m in love with you!”
It’s A Dream Come True
Royal Gym, Cordonian Palace
In the heart of the palace, Liam and Drake were in the midst of an intense workout session. The Royal gymnasium was within an imposing chamber with high, vaulted ceilings, adorned with paintings of legendary battles and noble ancestors.
Liam adjusted the weights on the bench press and began to lift, his muscles straining against the resistance. Drake, spotting him, supplied encouragement.
“You’ve got this, Li! Remember, every rep gets you one step closer to looking dashing in that masquerade outfit.” Drake chortled with a grin.
Liam chuckled, grateful for Drake’s support. “I don’t know how I’d manage this without you, my friend. It’s not just about looking good at the ball, though. I want everything to be perfect for Sophie. This is a big night for her.”
Drake nodded, understanding all too well the pomp and circumstance of court events.
“Yeah, I feel you, buddy. Melanie has been talking about this ball non-stop. It’s like the Super Bowl of fancy parties, and I am determined not to embarrass her.”
Their conversation paused momentarily as they continued their workout, their thoughts on their respective relationships. While Drake thought about Melanie and their commitment to each other, Liam’s thoughts went back to his conversation with Sophie after the garden party.
‘Sophie, I’m glad you could make it.’
'Thank you for inviting me, Liam.’
'I hope you don’t mind my asking, but is everything all right? You seemed a little ... disturbed earlier.’
‘I must admit, running into your chest was not exactly how I envisioned starting a conversation today.’
'Nor I, but it was a pleasant surprise nonetheless.’
Sophie opened up about the events that had troubled her that day. She spoke about the pressures of court and the weight of expectations, and her encounter with Madeleine.
Liam knew and understood that the palace and the court can be overwhelming; even at times, for himself. He found that they had ‘common ground in unexpected places.’
This was why he was determined to get to know her better. He felt a connection with her and a shared understanding that went beyond their titles. Liam wanted to find out everything about her.
After finishing their sets, they retreated to the terrace to grab water bottles and fresh fruit. Liam sat down with a towel and wiped sweat from his brow. “Have you chosen your mask for the ball yet?” he asked Drake.
Drake scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Not yet, but I’ve been thinking something mysterious and intriguing. Melanie loves a good mystery, so I want to keep her guessing all night.”
Liam grinned. “All night, Drake? Really?”
“Yeah, maybe not all night,” Drake winked with a grin. Liam laughed taking a swig of water.
The Masquerade Ball
“Awe, Sophie... look at you!”
Maxwell blurted excitedly, as he twirled her around to appreciate her gorgeous red ball gown.
Sophie blushed at Maxwell’s enthusiastic compliment, feeling a warm flutter of happiness in her chest. Her ball gown, with its intricate lace details and flowing skirt, had taken her hours to choose with Aunt Bethany, but it was worth it to see the delight in Maxwell’s eyes.
“Thank you, Max,” she replied, her voice soft and touched by his admiration. “You don't look too shabby yourself in that dashing suit.”
Maxwell chuckled and gave her a playful wink. “Well, I had to step up my game to match your elegance tonight. Wait until Liam sees you, little blossom,” he teased.
“Are we ready?” Bertrand inquired, stepping beside Sophie and his brother, offering his arm for her to take.
As Sophie slipped her arms with her cousins, Maxwell exclaimed, “let’s do this.”
The doors to the grand ballroom are opened, and the herald announces,
“Lady Sophia Taylor of House Beaumont, accompanied by Duke Bertrand Beaumont of Ramsford with Lord Maxwell Beaumont of House Beaumont.”
The Introductions continued, as each noble or noble couple made their entrance into the ballroom.
King Constantine and Queen Regina, seated on the raised dais, exchanged polite greetings and nods with each noble as they were presented, their regal presence commanding respect and admiration from all in attendance.
As Sophie, Bertrand, and Maxwell approached the royal dais, Sophie executed a graceful curtsy, her gown billowing elegantly as she lowered herself before the King and Queen.
Bertrand and Maxwell, the brothers by her side, performed deep and respectful bows.
King Constantine and Queen Regina acknowledged their gestures with warm smiles and nods of appreciation.
Prince Liam, who was standing to the right of the dais, could not help but smile as he caught Sophie’s eye after she had finished her graceful curtsy as she moved towards him. His smile was warm and friendly, a silent greeting that conveyed his pleasure at seeing her once again.
"My lady, you are a vision of beauty."
Sophie, her cheeks tinged with a subtle blush from his attention, returned Liam’s smile with a gentle one of her own. It was a small, private moment amidst the grandeur of the ballroom, but it spoke volumes of their connection and friendship in the midst of the royal event.
A soft gasp escaped her lips as he gently lifted her hand and pressed a tender kiss to it. Her heart fluttered at his chivalrous act, as she felt a rush of warmth and attraction towards him.
With a charming smile, Liam offered his arm to Sophie in invitation to join him in the ballroom. She gracefully accepted, her hand resting delicately on his arm as they entered the grand hall together, the music and festivities swirling around them.
Melanie, watching the pair stroll into the ballroom, could not take her eyes off them. Their presence captivated her completely.
“Do you want another drink, Mel?” Drake asked, trying to get her attention. His voice broke through Melanie’s trance, and she turned to look at him, momentarily torn between her fascination with Liam and Sophie and the offer of another drink.
“Oh, uh, yeah, sure,” Melanie replied, her gaze reluctantly leaving the couple as she refocused on Drake. “Thanks, Drake.”
As Drake shook his head and started to walk to the bar, Melanie could not help but steal another glance at the couple now across the room. Liam and Sophie looked so comfortable together, their laughter heard from across the hall. It was hard for Melanie to ignore the pang of jealousy that tugged at her heart.
Drake returned with a fresh drink in hand, offering it to Melanie with a warm smile.
“Everything okay?” he asked, concern clear in his eyes.
Melanie forced a smile, trying to shake off her feelings of longing. “Yeah, just lost in thought, I guess. Thanks for the drink, babe.”
He nodded understandingly, his stare lingering on her for a moment longer before he turned to talk with his sister, Savannah. Melanie took a sip of her drink, determined to enjoy the evening despite the twinge of heartache.
Melanie watched as Liam gracefully guided Sophie across the ballroom floor, their waltz a mesmerizing display of elegance. The couple moved with such synchronized grace that it seemed as if they were the only two people in the room. She could not help but feel a pang of envy at their obvious connection.
As they waltzed towards the French doors and stepped out onto the balcony, Melanie’s curiosity got the best of her. She decided to follow discreetly, making her way through the crowd and out onto the balcony as well. The cool night air greeted her, and she saw Liam and Sophie standing at the balcony railing, gazing out at the garden maze.
From her vantage point, Melanie could see the intricate pathways of the garden maze lit by soft, romantic lighting, when she felt a tap on her shoulder.
Startled, Melanie turned to see a royal guard standing behind her. She immediately straightened up and offered a polite smile.
“I’m sorry,” she said apologetically. “I didn't realize. I was just admiring the view.”
The royal guard nodded, his expression stern but professional. “I understand, Miss, but for security reasons, we need to keep this area clear. I’ll have to ask you to return to the main ballroom.”
Melanie nodded in understanding. “Of course, I didn’t mean to intrude. Thank you for letting me know.” She turned to leave the balcony, casting one last glance at Liam and Sophie, but they were no longer there.
The Garden Maze
Sophie’s laughter echoed through the hedges as she darted around corners. Her gown billowing behind her. The scent of blooming flowers filled the air, and the distant sound of music from the palace mingled with the symphony of nature. Liam pursued her with playful determination, his eyes alight with mischief as he turned a corner.
He found Sophie, cheeks flushed with eyes sparkling, standing at a small clearing where a stone bench rested beneath a canopy of Ivy. Sophie, breathless but with an impish grin hiked up her gown, revealing her shapely legs and slipped off her heels.
“A lady must do what a lady must do,” she declared, her voice teasing. Liam couldn't help but chuckle, charmed by Sophie’s unpretentious spirit. He approached slowly, allowing himself to savor the moment.
“Well, this is unexpected,” Liam remarked, his voice laced with amusement.
Sophie's eyes twinkled mischievously. “You didn't think I let you catch me so easily, did you?”
Liam shook his head, feigning innocence. "Of course not. I just did not expect you to resort to such … tactics.”
With a playful glint in her eyes. Sophie stepped closer. “Desperate times call for desperate measures, don't they?” She winked.
Their continued banter dissolved into shared laughter, filling the garden with an infectious joy. Liam took a step closer, his fingers lightly brushing against Sophie's as he reached for her.
“Well then, Lady Sophie, I shall have to employ my own tactics.”
As if in response, Sophie took a step back, her eyes dancing with anticipation.
“And what tactics might those be?”
With a sly smile, Liam lunged forward, but Sophie was quicker than he anticipated. She dodged his outstretched hand with a graceful pirouette, her laughter ringing out like a sweet melody.
Their game of tag continued, each chase and evasion bringing them closer together, the connection between them growing stronger with every shared moment. The palace seemed a distant world, forgotten in the enchantment of their own private garden.
They finally paused, breathless, and flushed from their game of tag.
Liam’s gaze met Sophie's, and in that moment, the world seemed to fade away leaving only the two of them.
Their newfound love, unspoken yet palpable, hung in the air like fragrance of the surrounding flowers. It was a love that was blossoming amidst the twists and turns of the garden maze, a love that had taken root in their hearts.
Without a word, Liam took a step closer, his hand gently cupping Sophie’s cheek. She leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed. Their lips met in a tender, unhurried kiss. Sophie's blue eyes met his as Liam wrapped his other hand around her waist to pull her closer. Their lips met again, this time with an urgency as Liam deepened the kiss; his tongue searching hers.
Beaumont Estate
It was early morning when Sophie awoke in her bedroom at House Beaumont. The dreams she had experienced that night were like fragments of a beautiful story unfolding into reality.
As the soft light filtered through the gauzy curtains, Sophie could not help but smile. She lay in bed, the memories of her adventures with Liam in the garden maze still fresh in her mind. The way he chased her, the laughter they had shared, and the kisses that had ignited a fire within her heart.
With a contented sigh, she pushed back the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She couldn’t linger in bed all day, no matter how tempting it was to stay in bed with her daydreams. ...but she knew Marabelle was waiting for her morning ride.
Sophie picked up a brush and began to brush her long, chestnut hair. Her reflection in the mirror seemed different now – happier, more alive. She remembered the laughter they had shared, the way Liam’s eyes sparkled when he looked at her, and the warmth of his embrace. In her thoughts...Liam, I think, I’m in love with you!
Series Synopsis: This is a short-story series written from Drake’s POV that explores an AU where Drake meets Harper (my OC from (Un)Common Attraction) by himself before the boys come to the bar on the last night of Christian’s bachelor party.
Word count: Will tell you when it’s finished! But chapters average around 6,000 words atm.
Rating/Warnings: E (swearing, angst, punch-ups, lemons)
OK Tumblr Geriatric Ward, let’s talk about your posture-
there are things you should be doing now to prevent yourself from starting to look like 🥀
Why does it matter? Future you would like to avoid the pain, limited motion, and fall risk that goes along with worsening posture.
What’s the focus?
1. Keep the flexibility in your spine
2. Stretch the muscles in the front
3. Strengthen the muscle in the back
Here are some simple things you can do daily while sitting and when you get up to go into the bathroom or the kitchen
Keep the flexibility by doing these repeated movements: 10 repetitions several times a day
The goal is to give yourself a double or triple chin. Keep your nose pointing forward, don’t let it tip up or down
Thoracic extension- use a chair with a seat back that comes up to the level of your shoulder blades. Try to bend back over the top of the chair without arching away from the seat back and without extending your neck. If the pressure from the top of the chair is uncomfortable you can place a towel there
Stretch the muscles in the front by using a door frame. This one will feel good afterwards
If this isn’t enough of a stretch you can do one side at a time. If you have the right arm up step forward with the right foot and turn slightly to the left. Then do it on the other side.
Strengthen the muscles in the back by squeezing your shoulder blades together for a count of 10 and then repeating 10 times. You can do this several times a day Hint: Don’t lift your shoulder blades up
There are lots more exercises for strengthening your back muscles but this is a good starting point and easy to do. I like doing it while driving
Tips:
Do the best you can
If it hurts stop
Envision future you saying thank you each time you do one of the exercises
NOTE: I can do most of these with the cerebral palsy. In fact, a lot of these little exercises are automatically part of my physical therapy. My problem is I already have hyperlordosis, spine arthritis, and cervicogenic headache. These have helped me at least try to have a posture.
Ghosted (In Progress) – Liam x F!MC - Prince Liam fell for Riley Brooks hard and fast. A marriage filled with love and devotion was within his reach. But everything changed when she vanished into thin air just before the end of the social season. As everyone around him begins to voice their concerns regarding her scandalous departure, a confession from an unlikely source turns Liam's world upside down and makes him begin to question everything around him.
Here Comes The Sun (In Progress) – Liam x F!OC (Kyla) - Two lost souls longing for hope stumble upon each other in a random encounter. When fate brings them back face to face, can what should be a devastating situation end up bringing the sunshine back for both?
A Wild Ride – Liam x F!MC - A small rewrite of the diamond scene from Book 1 Chapter 11 (Drake’s birthday) and… beyond. 🍋
An Apple A Day – HCTS AU, no pairing - Constantine gets himself into a predicament and is in need of assistance. (Coming Soon)
Ghosted (In Progress) – Liam x F!MC - Prince Liam fell for Riley Brooks hard and fast. A marriage filled with love and devotion was within his reach. But everything changed when she vanished into thin air just before the end of the social season. As everyone around him begins to voice their concerns regarding her scandalous departure, a confession from an unlikely source turns Liam's world upside down and makes him begin to question everything around him.
Here Comes The Sun (In Progress) – Liam x F!OC (Kyla) - Two lost souls longing for hope stumble upon each other in a random encounter. When fate brings them back face to face, can what should be a devastating situation end up bringing the sunshine back for both?
A Wild Ride – Liam x F!MC - A small rewrite of the diamond scene from Book 1 Chapter 11 (Drake’s birthday) and… beyond. 🍋
An Apple A Day – HCTS AU, no pairing - Constantine gets himself into a predicament and is in need of assistance. (Coming Soon)
Drake Walker is annoyed that Maxwell Beaumont invited their waitress back to Cordonia with them. Not because he doesn’t like her, but because he likes her a little too much.
The longer the social season stretches on, the closer his raging jealousy pushes him to the edge of complete self-destruction.
Now that scandal has rocked their world and threatened her continued presence in his life, how far will he go to protect what he desires most?
Series Premise: Two years after his abdication and wedding to Katie, Leo meets Riley the night of Liam’s coronation.
The story is told in first person POV that switches between Riley and Leo.
Catch Up Here
Summary: Leo meets Riley’s parents, Katie makes an appearance, Riley gives Bertrand advice.
Book: TRR/RoE
Pairings: Leo x MC, Drake x Liam
Rating: M
TW: language
Music Inspo: Love You Like That—Dagny
Thank you to everyone who reads, likes, comments, and/or reblogs this. I appreciate it so much. ❤️
RILEY
“Well, don’t you look nice,” my mom crows as Leo lifts the train of my gown and carefully drapes it near my feet in the limo.
“Thanks,” I smile nervously. I’m having trouble wrapping my brain around her and my dad being here. In Cordonia. For Liam and Drake’s wedding. How did this happen?
Leo straightens and steps back, motioning for my mother to go ahead. She swats his arm with her opera-gloved hand. “Aren't you a gentleman?”
My mom slides in beside me because, of course. “You look nice too, Mom.”
She really does. Her black gown is strapless and fits her perfectly. Her hair is in a simple chignon, and I can’t remember the last time I saw her wear makeup.
My dad sits heavily across from me, and Leo takes the seat next to him.
“Thank you,” my mom trills and winks at my dad. “Did you see Daddy in his suit? He didn’t want to wear a tie, but I convinced him!”
I try not to groan at her calling him Daddy. I will never get used to it. “It’s a good tie.”
My dad frowns and smoothes the blue tie down. “I’m taking it off after the wedding. Feels like it’s choking me.”
“Not a fan of the formalwear,” Leo pipes up. “Me either. I only break it out when I have to.”
My dad cracks a grin and jostles Leo’s elbow. “I could not agree more!”
This is surreal. They were waiting at the end of the huge staircase. I think I introduced them to Leo. I remember saying we needed to get to the basilica. Now we’re all in a limo.
“You guys flew?” I ask, glancing between them. “I thought you didn’t trust planes.”
“That’s what tranquilizers are for,” my mom whispers loudly. “We slept the whole ride.”
I’d kill for one of those right now.
“We decided to make a little trip of it!” My dad booms. Leo doesn’t wince like I do; he shoots my dad a grin instead. “Why not?”
“Where else are you traveling?” Leo folds his hands in his lap and turns slightly.
“Paris!” My mom squeals.
My parents in Paris. I can’t picture it. I haven’t even been to Paris.
“You’ll love it,” Leo grins at her. “I just came from there. If you need any recommendations on food or places to go, please call me.” He takes a card from his wallet and hands it to my mom. I try to read it, and all I can make out is his name and part of his phone number.
Leo is going to regret giving my mother that information.
“Aren’t you sweet?” My mom crows. She elbows me. “We never get to meet your men.”
“My men?” I echo. There were no men to meet. Unless she wanted to meet guys I had in my phone as Paul Smoothie Place or Ryan Gym. Or Burke. Not to mention she yelled at me for dating Leo because he was married. Except he isn’t. That’s weird to wrap my brain around.
I guess she got over that because she’s being way too nice to him.
“It’s wonderful to meet you both,” Leo smiles broadly at my parents, and I could kiss him. “Riley’s told me so much about you.”
“We were planning to visit her in California,” My mom says the state name like it’s an illness. “But we couldn’t resist a wedding!”
Shit, I haven’t told my parents I’m moving to Greece yet. As long as Leo doesn’t-
“Once we’re settled in Kavala, you’ll have to come out,” Leo interrupts my thoughts. “It’s not far from here.”
“You’re moving to Cordonia?” My parents shriek in unison.
“Greece,” I manage a weak smile. “Leo’s racing there, and I got a job offer. I was going to tell you after the wedding.”
“I’m sorry,” Leo says quickly. “Riley’s been so busy. I shouldn’t have assumed she had time to fill you in on everything.”
Leo mouths sorry at me across the limo, and I wrinkle my nose and poke the tip of my tongue out at him. He’s being so great with my parents, and now I guess I don’t have to tell them.
“That’s certainly exciting,” my mom says brightly. I sneak a look at her expression, and her lips are pursed slightly. She’s wanted me to move back to Kansas for a long time; I guess she finally figured out that isn’t happening.
The basilica looms before us, and my dad cranes his neck to take in the giant structure. “Look at the architecture on that! They don’t make buildings like that anymore.”
He also said that about an Olive Garden once.
“It’s impressive,” Leo agrees. He's being awesome, and it makes me feel less on edge. “Cordonian royalty has been married there since it was constructed.”
My mother stares pointedly at me, and if she’s about to ask what I think-
“Would you get married there?” I squeeze my eyes shut as my mom’s voice fills the car. “Once you’re divorced, I mean.”
“Mother!” I snap my eyes open.
“What?” She bats her eyes at me, her features arranged in an innocent expression. “I was curious, is all.”
She will stop at nothing to marry me off. She’d give me away for a bowl of chili.
“It’s fine,” Leo chuckles and winks at me across the limo. I side-eye my mother. “I’m actually not married, there was a legality issue, but it wouldn’t be my first choice if I got married again.”
There’s something different about his tone, and I look up, expecting to see him looking back at me. Except he isn’t. He’s staring out the window.
It was the way he said married. I don’t want to get married right this second, but it is going to lead there, right? Unless … Leo doesn’t want to get married ever again. Did Katie completely ruin the idea for him?
I’m getting ahead of myself. We’re moving in together. That’s enough for now.
Isn’t it? Who am I anymore? I don’t want to think about this. I want to focus on Drake and Liam, and how happy they’re going to be.
“That’s wonderful you don’t have to get dragged through a divorce,” my mother says, sounding way too pleased. “Lucky you!”
The car comes to a slow stop, and I force the thoughts out of my head. “This is you guys,” I take in the barricades and the crowd outside the basilica. “We are on groom duty.”
The door opens, and my mother carefully steps out, smoothing her dress. “We’ll see you soon, Riley.”
My dad slides out behind her, slapping my knee on his way out. “Knock ‘em dead, Rileykins.”
I press my lips together and smile. “Yep.”
“Nice to meet you, Leo!” My mom wiggles her fingers at Leo. My dad grunts and nods, but I know he’ll corner Leo later.
“The pleasure was all mine,” Leo shoots a megawatt smile at my parents before my dad slams the door.
I flop back against the seat. Leo moves to sit next to me, draping an arm around my shoulders. I glance up at him, trying to figure out what’s going on with him, but his face is blank. “Your mom liked me.”
“Yeah, she did,” I snicker. I hope he’s ready for the weird texts she is going to send him. “My dad will talk your ear off later.”
“Looking forward to it,” Leo drops a kiss on my head. “You can tell they really love each other.”
“They do,” I know I’m lucky. A lot of my friends' parents hate each other. “I’m shocked they’re actually here.”
I have to ask.
“Did my mom scare you with the marriage talk?” I make my voice light. “You seemed a little tense.”
A muscle in Leo’s jaw ticks. I want to poke it. He is definitely tense and he’s not saying anything. It’s not really the time, but give me something.
It’s so quiet I can hear the tires crunching gravel.
“Leo?” I nudge him with my elbow after the silence stretches. “Are you okay?”
The car stops around the side of the basilica, and Leo almost leaps out of his seat. “We’re here!”
Damn my mother.
“Okay,’ I barely get the word out before Leo is out of the limo, flinging open the door.
Leo helps me out and straightens the short train on my gown. We walk in more silence to the side entrance, stopping just inside.
Leo rests his fingers on my jaw, his eyes almost glowing in the sunlight. He leans down, stopping just before our lips touch. “I'm not going to screw up your lipstick, am I?”
“No,” I whisper before pressing my lips to his. Leo’s breath hitches as his tongue curls with mine; he pulls me into his chest. I feel his heartbeat through his shirt, and I wish I knew what was going on in that head of his.
Way too soon, we separate.
Leo frowns and drags his finger along my bottom lip. “I messed you up a little.”
“Fixable,” I pat the small silk purse under my arm. “It’s just makeup.”
Leo’s face relaxes, and he shoves his hand into his pocket. “See you up there, kid.”
“See you,” I wave. I don’t have time to think about it because I need to get to Drake, and it’s the opposite of the way Leo needs to go. I turn and walk quickly down the hallway, my heels seeming too loud in the quiet corridor.
What the fuck is going on?
———
LEO
Fuck fuck fuck.
I speed walk down the hallway. I almost proposed in the car. I have a problem. I have almost proposed twice now, and it isn’t the right place or time.
It doesn’t help that I have the ring. Riley was so close to finding it this morning on my dresser, and I shoved it into my pocket without thinking.
I knock on the solid wood door and hear Liam yell to come in. It’ll be fine. Riley probably thinks I have jitters because of today or something, having to be around my dad and that bullshit.
“What the fuck?” I can’t help but exclaim as I step into Liam’s dressing area.
Katie is sitting primly in a high-backed blue chair, wearing a white silk gown that is so long it covers her feet. She came to the wedding in white, and I’m not surprised. Rashad is across from her on the tufted sofa, and a man in a long black cloak sits beside him. Dinesh is standing with his hands in his pockets a few paces away from Katie. He doesn’t look happy to be here. I haven’t seen him since the housewarming.
Why are any of them here?
“Ah, Leo!” Liam chirps, turning away from the full-length mirror to greet me. “You’re right on time!”
My brother is ready to get married. He’s wearing all-white regalia, his medals shining brightly in the sunlight seeping through the windows. He looks younger, somehow. He’s happier than I’ve ever seen him; the smile that stretches across his face is so enthusiastic I can’t help but smile back.
“On time for what?” My lip curls as Katie glares at me. “I don’t understand.”
“Ms. Reyes Embry was spotted near the palace after Bastien had her removed, as luck would have it,” Liam adjusts his collar one last time. “I was thinking earlier about how free I’ve felt since the coronation. How free I’m going to feel after the wedding. I decided you should have that freedom as well. I would like to stand at the altar today, knowing my brother doesn’t have anything else hanging over his head.”
Goddammit. Liam can’t help himself, and I couldn’t ask for a better brother.
“Thank you,” I grab Liam in a hug, careful not to crease his regalia.
“Of course,” Liam hugs me back, patting me on the back before stepping away.
“I’d like my lawyer present,” Katie growls, crossing her arms tighter.
“Mr. Thorne is on a plane back to New York,” Liam peers at the large grandfather clock in the corner. “As of a half hour ago. The district attorney was keen to meet with him, and I offered my assistance.”
Katie’s eyes widen, but she doesn’t speak. She knows, Drake sent her that info.
“Judge Carras, please proceed,” Liam says firmly.
The man in the black robe stands, lifting a paper in the air. “This document was found to be fraudulent. Ms. Reyes Embry’s marriage to Mr. Trent Barlow was never dissolved, and her marriage to Prince Leo is not legitimate.”
“WHAT,” Katie shrieks, the sound bouncing around the room. I forgot how loud she yells. “No! The king annulled it! I asked, and Leo asked, and he annulled it!”
Today keeps getting better.
“I am afraid not,” Judge Carras shakes his head at her, “You can pursue a divorce in Cordonia; however, Mr. Barlow may be entitled to a significant portion of your finances given the amount of time that has passed, in addition to your relationship history.”
Katie’s face drains of color so fast I think she might faint. She’s hitting the floor because I’m not catching her.
“Trent doesn’t know we’re married,” Katie whispers. “Thank god. I can make this go away.”
I might feel the tiniest bit bad for her if she hadn’t been so terrible to Riley. I can forget what she did to me, the cheating and all of it, because I know she never really loved me. I’m mad I didn’t see it sooner. I’m mad that I was so desperate to find someone to love that I fell for the wrong woman. But Riley was off limits, and Katie made her life hell.
“Oh, Trent knows,” I offer with a smile. “I sent him an email. He’s going to fight you tooth and nail, Kate.”
I’m not bluffing. I found his consulting business online and let him know what was going on. He emailed me back almost immediately. Trent is probably camped out by the gate at Katie’s home. Unless Jess let him in.
“How could you?” Katie says with a strangled sob. “You knew how much Trent hurt me! You hated him for it!”
Trent is slimy. Annoying as fuck, opportunistic. Not so different from Katie. There’s no use arguing that Katie was awful in our marriage. She’ll never admit it, and I don’t need her to. I have closure.
“What’s that saying?” I stroke my chin, pretending to mull it over. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend?”
Katie stands and whirls on Dinesh. “You said the annulment was official! How could you be so stupid?”
Dinesh uncrosses his arms and stands to his full height, his eyes dark. “I had to spend the better part of a year babysitting you and your siblings because your grandmother didn’t trust you to do what she instructed. That she concocted this ridiculous battle of stipulations to begin with was infuriating. I told her to give all her money to charity.”
I can’t help but snort. Liam covers his mouth, but his shoulders are shaking.
“I didn’t care,” Dinesh says in a clipped tone. “Your task was to get married. I didn’t care to whom. You get to keep your inheritance. If I never have to see
you lot again; it will be too soon.”
With that, Dinesh whirls on his heel and storms out, slamming the door behind him.
Rashad stands and pats me on the back. “Close call, Leo.”
“Too fucking close,” I agree. I’m listening to him from now on.
“You have a little …” Rashad pulls a handkerchief from his pocket. “Pink lipstick.”
I glance in the mirror, and he’s right. Riley’s lipstick. She’ll be so happy it’s finally over. I carefully wipe the smear from my top lip. “Thanks. I dropped Riley off before I came here.”
Katie crosses her arms. “That woman ruined everything.”
I pat the box in my pocket. “Riley is everything.”
Katie reddens, but before she can say anything, Judge Carras speaks up.
“If my services are no longer needed, I’ll be on my way. I’ve already instructed my clerk to destroy the divorce filing.”
“Of course,” Liam shakes the man’s hand. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.”
“It was no trouble,” Judge Carras smiles fondly at Liam. “King Liam. I am looking forward to your reign.”
The judge bows and leaves. Katie watches him, mouth open like she’s having trouble believing what happened.
“Ms. Reyes Embry,” Liam booms. “One more thing.”
Rashad removes a folded paper from his suit jacket and looks to Liam, waiting.
I glance back at Liam, and my brother has his king
mask on.
“You’ll be escorted to gather your things following this decree,” Liam says, his voice colder than I’ve ever heard. “You are hereby banned from Cordonia, and cannot come within one hundred feet of any member of the royal family, including Lady Riley Brooks. Additionally, any interviews, books, or films that you attempt to create speaking about the royal family, also including Lady Riley, will leave you subject to a lawsuit. This extends to your immediate family as well.”
Katie’s jaw drops. That wonderful, thoughtful bastard.
“You can’t do that!” Katie gasps. “I have rights!”
“Yes, in America; however, this decree will apply no matter where you reside,” Liam’s tone doesn’t change; his face remains still. “I suggest you return home.”
Rashad steps forward and thrusts a paper into Katie’s hands. I assume it’s the official declaration.
“That’s all.” Liam turns his attention to his phone. A guard appears and takes her arm, escorting her to the door.
Katie’s eyes lock on mine. I remember the first time I saw her in Athens; a cold chill creeps down my spine. Riley’s eyes replace hers, and I feel warmer.
“You should have stayed a one-night stand,” I lift my hand, giving her one last wave.
Katie doesn’t have time to retort as the guard closes the door behind them.
———
RILEY
I won’t laugh. I won’t.
Drake tugs at his collar, and I swat at his arm. “You’re making it crooked.”
“I look ridiculous,” Drake grumbles. He turns abruptly, and the tails on his pristine white tuxedo swish. I bite the inside of my cheek hard.
That’s love. Wearing a ridiculous frilly suit when you’d rather wear denim. Madeleine should have signed off on the horse; it’d have been epic.
“No,” I lie. “It’s just for the ceremony; then you can change to the blue suit. It’ll be fine.”
“You look good,” Drake grins suddenly. “Not bad for a couple of commoners, huh?”
“Not bad at all,” I fix his tie and pat his shoulder. “All things considered, you seem very calm.”
I am freaking the fuck out and thinking about my mom’s tranquilizers again. I want everything to be perfect for Liam and Drake. No drama.
Drake carries himself more confidently. He used to slump around, to try to blend into the background. Tears spring to my eyes, and I blink them back rapidly.
“I’ve had whiskey,” Drake quips, a smile tugging at his lips. “It all doesn’t feel real. I never thought … well, you know.”
I do know. Drake doesn’t want to be emotional right now, and I”m not going to make him talk more. “Want me to pinch you?”
“Nah,” Drake turns as the doorknob turns. “That must be-”
I glance over my shoulder, doing a double-take when I see who it is. Bertrand, in his best three-piece black suit, holding a small boy on his hip.
“Hi, Bertrand,” I smile as Bertrand shuffles toward Drake and me.
“Lady Riley,” Bertrand has dark shadows under his eyes; he’s not even trying to smile. Not that he really does, anyway. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
The last time we spoke was right before the Coronation. Bertrand apologized for underestimating me at the beginning, and complimented me for the way I carried myself through the season. Bertrand and I are never going to be besties, but there’s mutual respect.
“Is this Bartie?” I touch the kid’s hand softly, and he grabs my finger. Those eyebrows are definitely Bertrand’s. Hopefully, he’ll grow out of it.
“Yes,” Bertrand beams proudly, looking slightly less wrecked. “My son.”
“He looks so much like you,” I pull a face, and Bartie laughs. Huh, maybe I am good with kids. “Not that I know what Savannah looks like.”
I’ve been here for over a week, and I’ve never seen her. That’s weird, right? Especially since I’ve been with her brother a lot of that time.
“Yes, she’s been quite busy at Ramsford,” Bertand’s smile drops. “Lady Savannah is getting ready, as we both are going to escort Bartie down the aisle.”
Right, he’s the ring bearer.
“Figures,” Drake holds his arms out. “Give me my nephew.”
Bertrand transfers Bartie to Drake with no hesitation. Drake bounces Bartie, murmuring things I can’t hear. It’s so adorable, I might cry.
Drake wanders away, whispering something about how if Bartie needs to spit up, now’s the time, when I notice Bertrand fidgeting with something in his trouser pocket.
“Do you have a mouse in your pocket?” I keep my voice down. The vibe between Drake and Bertrand is a little tense.
“I most certainly do not,” Bertrand huffs, revealing a ring box. He opens it; a large pinkish-red gem gleams from a gold band. “I was planning to ask for Lady Savannah’s hand today, but I am unsure of what to say, how to begin.”
I tune out as Bertrand frets, keeping a smile on my face. Because that is not going to happen. No fucking way is Bertand going to steal Liam and Drake’s thunder. Of all the days, he thought this one was appropriate? Fuck. No.
Bertrand finally shuts up, and I push the ring back at him. “Why do you want to marry Savannah? Let’s start there.”
“She’s the mother of my child,” Bertrand blushes. “We have had a rocky road, however-”
He didn’t say he loved her. That’s telling. He feels obligated, and that is not the way to start a marriage.
“What’s the rush?” I cut in gently. “Shouldn’t you wait? You can get to know each other better.”
“Lady Savannah requires a grand gesture,” Bertrand argues. “I let her down.”
“I don’t see how,” I quirk my lips to the side. “She took off, and Maxwell made sure she had what she needed. Just because there was a little confusion doesn’t excuse her for taking off like that.”
I’d have taken off too, but I wouldn’t have let Maxwell send me all that money. They’d never hear from me again.
Bertrand looks lost, and I know he’s trying to take care of everyone again. He’s been doing it so long, and the dude needs a break.
The thing is, Bertrand needs something to look after him. That’s not Savannah. How do I tell Bertrand he has mommy issues without saying it?
“I think you should wait and see what happens,” I say carefully. “You've moved Savannah into Ramsford; you’re co-parenting, right?”
Bertrand nods.
“You need someone to take care of you, too,” I fight not to wince. This is so gross. “It seems like Savannah might not be able to do that. But you don’t need to be making any big decisions right now. Okay?”
Bertrand’s shoulders relax. “Thank you, Lady Riley, for your sound advice. I believe I will hold off on proposing just now. There is enough to worry about with the wedding at hand and Bartie’s propensity for screaming at any given moment.”
I laugh and pat his arm. “You’re a good man, Bertrand.”
Drake ambles over and holds Bartie out to Bertrand. “I don’t know what you feed him, but he smells like a landfill.”
Bertrand’s nose wrinkles, and he holds Bartie away from his suit. “He only eats the finest organic fruits and vegetables, as well as farm-raised animals.”
Bertrand scurries away, and Drake glances at me sideways. “Did you just talk him out of proposing to my sister?”
Oops. “Yep.”
“Thanks,” Drake smirks. “I love my sister, but she’ll put him in an early grave.”
I push his arm. “He was going to do it today! No fucking way.”
“I doubt anyone would have noticed,” Drake shrugs, his hands moving to his tie again before dropping his hands. “Speaking of, when’s Leo making an honest woman out of you?”
Leo’s blank face flits through my mind. “First of all, we haven’t been together that long.”
We haven’t, way less than a year. We’ve just been through some serious shit. Why is everyone on my ass about getting married today?
“You aren’t there yet?” Drake turns away from the mirror and gives me a stern look. “Because it seems like you are.”
That punch really did help.
“I don’t think Leo is,” I fight the urge to pick at my nails. I got them done yesterday, and they have to make it through today, at least. “He just got out of that situation with Katie; even if it wasn’t a legal marriage, it was still a relationship. I don’t expect him to be ready to get married tomorrow, you know?”
As long as he’s ready one day, I don’t say. When did I turn into this person? I was never into labels or marriage before. It’s really all Liam’s fault.
I want labels with Leo. I want to change my name one day. I want all of it. What if he doesn’t?
Something in my face must have given me away because Drake slings an arm over my shoulder and hugs me into his side gently.
“Enough about me,” I clear my throat, forcing a smile. “Isn’t it about time to head out? How’s the procession going to go?”
“Madeleine is probably waiting,” Drake rolls his eyes. “Constantine is first; Regina is already at the altar.”
I forgot to tell Leo about Landon. I will during the reception. I can’t be the only one who knows.
“Next is Bartie and his parents, then you and Leo,” Drake swings open the heavy wood door. The acoustics in this place are nuts; the sound bounces down the long hallway. My dad is probably pointing out all the little building details to my mom right now.
“Okay,” I struggle to keep up with Drake’s long strides. He slows once he notices I’m practically jogging. “Then who?”
I’m guessing Liam is waiting at the altar. Or maybe they both are? I can’t picture Drake walking in alone.
“Liam and I are walking in,” Drake’s face creases in a wide grin. “Together.”
“I love that,” I exclaim, not needing to force the smile anymore.
“It feels right,” Drake exhales. “Nobody waiting on the other anymore.”
I squeeze Drake’s arm. “Perfect.”
“I haven’t said one word to my mom,” Drake lowers his voice. “Or seen her yet.”
Whoa. That fucking sucks. She comes all the way here because of Savannah inviting her, and then nothing?
“She hasn’t reached out at all?” I hiss. “You haven’t talked to her since you were 18!”
“She hasn’t. That conversation was a bust, too,” Drake sighs and pushes his shoulders back. “I’m not gonna let her ruin anything. I might have regretted not inviting her one day, but at least I’m covered.”
“True,” I slip my arm through Drake’s elbow. “My parents showed up. My mom is going to love you. And probably make you do the electric slide.”
Drake guffaws, his face relaxing. “That’s something to look forward to.”
We’re almost to the giant doors leading into the chapel; I can see Madeleine tapping her watch even though we aren’t even close to late, when footsteps from behind me catch my attention.
It’s several members of the King’s Guard, and no way. Katie? I knew Bastien didn’t have it under control.
I glance up at Drake, who not only doesn’t seem surprised, he’s laughing. I turn my attention back to Katie, her face full of fury, her long white gown dragging along the marble tiles behind her.
Even if she didn’t wear white all the time, she’d have still worn that dress. Did she think they’d let her in? What is her game plan here?
I take a deep breath as I realize it doesn’t matter. I guess I’ll see her tomorrow for the hearing, if she shows up.
“You ruined everything,” Katie huffs, the guards not slowing to let her speak; she’s forced to call over her shoulder. “I hope you’re happy!”
“Thanks, I am!” I call out. Maybe it’s petty; I don’t care. It’s enough to make Katie freeze until a guard nudges her.
Madeleine recoils from Katie as she passes, but she moves further into the hallway to make sure she’s escorted outside.
“What’s going on?” I ask Drake, who’s mostly collected himself.
“Liam wanted Leo to be free before the wedding,” Drake explains. “I knew she’d show up.”
My eyes well with tears again. I should have known Liam would fix things before the wedding. He’s too good.
“So that’s-”
“All done,” a voice breaks in behind me. I spin around, and Leo gathers me in his arms. “No more dealing with her ever.”
“I doubt that,” I glance behind him to Liam. “Wow. You look amazing.”
He looks like Prince Charming. Or King Charming, I guess. Is it weird to think he looks beautiful?
“Thank you,” Liam grins. “I issued an order; Leo can fill you in later.”
I nod, liking the sound of that. “Let’s get you married.”
Drake stands beside Liam, nervously adjusting his cufflinks. Liam takes his hand, and Drake visibly relaxes. They exchange a smile, and Liam quickly presses a kiss to Drake’s lips. They stare at each other a moment before Drake chuckles and squeezes Liam’s hand.
It’s the smallest gesture; if I hadn’t been looking, I wouldn’t have noticed. My heart is so full and I should have packed more tissues in my purse.
Madeleine clears her throat as Savannah and Bertrand arrive, slightly out of breath, Bartie in tow. I glance at Savannah. She kind of looks like Drake. Same eyes, same hair. The texture and color, not the cut. That’d be weird. She doesn’t look happy.
Constantine glances at his watch, shifting on his feet. Does he have other plans, or does he want to leave as soon as possible?
“I’ll be right back,” Leo whispers and drops my hand. I watch him lean in and say something to Constantine before nailing his dad right in the side of the knee with his fist.
Constantine grabs the wall for support before slumping against it.
I hear a snort, and I’m betting it came from Drake. Leo stops next to me and grabs my hand, bringing it to his lips.
“What was that?” I ask from the corner of my mouth.
“Trying to set you up,” Leo watches Constantine shaking his knee, like that will help him stand better. “It was long overdue.”
I don’t feel bad for Constantine. He might have inadvertently helped Leo, but his intentions were shitty. At least he’ll spend the rest of his life seeing Liam and Drake happy together. That’s gotta burn.
“So sweet,” I rise on my toes and brush my lips against Leo’s cheek. He chuckles and catches my lips quickly with his.
Leo loves me. No one has ever loved me the way he does. It’s going to be okay.
No more thinking about marriage. Except for Liam and Drake’s. I need to calm down.
“Time to go,” Madeleine trills. I hear the faint notes of the organ through the door. “King Father, you first.”
Constantine limps through the entrance. Leo smirks.
Madeleine turns her attention to Bertrand. “The child between you, please, each of you holding one hand.”
Bertrand lowers Bartie carefully, and he and Savannah take one of Bartie’s hands.
Madeleine opens the door a crack and ushers them through, softly closing it. She thrusts a bouquet of calla lilies into my hands.
I smooth my dress, and Leo adjusts his bow tie. I loop my arm through his.
A/N: @peonierose sent me an ask a few months ago and this is where my brain went. Thank you so much, this was fun! 💕
A/N 2: Drake hasn’t been introduced in this AU yet, but he and Ari have a weird relationship 🤣 She got tired of all his tips during the season and they tend to bicker like siblings. Riley follows her lead.
Book: TRR/RoE
Pairing/Characters: Leo x OC, Liam x MC
Rating: M
Warnings: Bastien jokes, language, inappropriateness of Leo x Riley. Slightly NSFW pics.
Word Count: 535
Summary: Riley accidentally sends photos meant for Leo to the group chat.
Thank you to everyone who reads, likes, comments, and/or reblogs this. I appreciate it so much. ❤️
Series Premise: Two years after his abdication and wedding to Katie, Leo meets Riley the night of Liam’s coronation.
The story is told in first person POV that switches between Riley and Leo.
Catch Up Here
Summary: Leo’s marital situation is explained, Riley gets a job offer, and it’s almost wedding time.
Book: TRR/RoE
Pairings: Leo x MC, Drake x Liam
Rating: M
TW: sensuality, language
Music Inspo: For Me, It’s You—Lo Moon
Thank you to everyone who reads, likes, comments, and/or reblogs this. I appreciate it so much. ❤️
LEO
There’s no way Luca said what I thought he did.
“Sorry, I was hallucinating,” I shake my head, trying to clear it. “What did you say?”
“You aren’t legally married,” Luca repeats, his mouth twitching in amusement.
Riley turns slowly, and I imagine my expression mirrors hers. Her eyes are wide; her mouth parted slightly. I think she turned slowly; everything feels like it’s slow motion.
This can’t be real. I am not that lucky.
“That’s not possible,” my brows knit as I glance back to Luca. “I’ve had dreams about it, but there’s no way.”
I’ve had a few good dreams. Mostly where Katie is secretly a spy and gets thrown in jail.
I begin to pull the blanket back, about to stand up, when I remember I’m naked. Riley sits beside me, bending her legs and moving them to one side. Her fingers are plucking at the hem of my shirt, and I take her hand between mine.
“Let’s reconvene in twenty,” Luca raises an eyebrow as I pull the sheet tighter around my waist. “It’ll give you two a minute to get dressed. Shower, perhaps.”
I’m about to protest, I want the whole story, and I want it now; but Riley is already reaching for her phone. “I’ll text Drake and Liam; they should be in on this, too, right?”
“What happened to it not leaving this room?” I interject. Luca can’t swoop in, say life-changing shit, and then make me wait around. It’s torture.
“Forgive me for being dramatic,” Luca sighs heavily. “Is anyone going to tell Katie? No.”
I realize he has a point. “Bringing in Liam and Drake is not a bad idea, I guess.”
“By chance, is your father available?” Luca asks, a little nervousness coloring his tone. If I didn’t know my dad, I’d probably be a little scared of him too.
“One second, “ Riley taps something on her phone. She gets an alert almost immediately. “Liam says he’ll be there.”
What’s my dad have to do with it? If I’m not married, the boat captain who married us wasn’t legit or something.
Riley slides off the bed and whispers something to Luca, but I can’t make out what. His ears turn a little red, and he swats her arm.
Riley shuts the door behind him and pulls my shirt over her head. “Come on, let’s find out how you aren’t married.”
I climb out of bed and cross the room to her. “There has to be a mistake, honey. I’m trying not to get my hopes up.”
Riley hops a little and kisses my nose. “Luca is thorough. He wouldn’t say anything unless he were sure.”
She grabs my wrist and pulls me toward the shower. I let her lead me into the ivory-tiled bathroom, gold accents everywhere. I hate it here, but Riley makes it a little easier.
As the water beats down on my back, I blink droplets from my vision. “This would mean that it’s all over.”
Riley pushes her hair off her forehead, a nervous smile touching her lips. “It’s almost too good to be true. No more bullshit.”
“No more bullshit,” I echo.
–
Riley struggles with the zipper on the side of her dress. I brush away her fingers and zip it for her, my touch lingering on her ribs.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you wear green before,” I run my eyes over the knee-length dress. There’s lace around the shoulders, and Riley looks as good as she always does. More even because I’m not drooling over a picture on my phone. I wind a tendril that escaped her low bun, the silken strand sliding over my finger.
“I don’t usually,” Riley steps into a pair of nude heels, smirking over one shoulder. “But Mads is on my last nerve, and she’ll hate it.”
I love her so much.
“You’re sexy when you’re petty,” I chuckle before sobering. “It’s not too much, is it? Helping with the royal shit?”
I enclose Riley’s hand in mine and open the door, closing it behind us. I don’t doubt she’s doing a fantastic job.
“It’s challenging sometimes,” Riley keeps her voice low, the throaty sound washing over me. “I don’t know how Liam manages. But I like helping, and it’s temporary.”
“I understand that.” We walk in a comfortable silence until I remember something I wanted to ask her. “Hey, what did you say to Luca earlier?”
“Oh,” Riley snorts. “He hooked up last night; he was all rumpled. I told him I’d figure out who.”
“There’s a long list of unattached people around here,” Riley will tell me when she knows. I am on Regina’s arrangement buddy duty. I don’t know if I really want to know, but I am way too goddamn curious.
“My money is on Max,” Riley whispers as we near the doorway. “Or Liv.”
Luca is seated at the large table in the formal dining room, about halfway down. Liam and Drake are on one side, and as they notice Riley and me, Liam stands.
Drake glares.
My dad is a few seats from everyone, poking a spoon into a bowl of gross apple cinnamon oatmeal that he eats every day.
Riley moves around to Luca’s side of the table, and I pull her chair out. She grins in that way that wrinkles her nose, and my chest warms.
Drake grumbles something under his breath.
“What was that?” I ask Drake before dropping into the chair beside Riley.
“Breakfast will be out in a few minutes,” Drake enunciates each word, and I have a punch coming at me later.
Liam’s already resumed his seat. “I understand Leo and Katie’s marriage isn’t valid, Luca?’
“Precisely,” Luca leans forward in the high-backed chair, peering around Riley, his eyebrows raised. “Who’s Trent Barlow?”
That’s a name I didn’t expect to hear. I glance at Riley out of the corner of my eye. Our fingers are interlaced, her hands are a little chilly. I massage her hand with mine and drop a kiss on her head. She squeezes my fingers, and I wish we could go back to bed.
“Katie’s ex,” I met him once and wasn’t impressed. He was almost more annoying than Alex. “They were engaged before she met me; she walked in on him with another woman.”
I never thought she’d cheat on me because of that. Katie went on and on about how much it hurt her. I bet she was cheating on Trent, too; that behavior doesn’t happen overnight.
“He got her to sign a marriage license in Greek,” Luca adds helpfully. “Do you not see where I’m going with this?”
I do, but I don’t think it’s the same road he’s on. That’s my wishful thinking talking.
“You annulled the marriage,” I swivel to face Constantine. “Before Katie even accepted my proposal. We stayed here a few days, and it was done.”
“Yes,” Liam interjects. “I traveled to a diplomatic summit in Auvernal in your stead, but we spoke after, before you went back to the cruise.”
I smile sheepishly at Liam. He left out the abdication discussion. Liam cocks his head to one side and grins at me.
I don’t need to tell Luca about how Madeleine appeared in my bed or that Regina was furious with me. She kept testing Katie, and the woman failed spectacularly. At the time, I thought it meant I was on the right track, and to be honest, it made me more determined to marry her.
Constantine was oddly calm and rational that day. That should have been a red flag.
My dad won’t make eye contact.
“Didn’t you?” The words come out more condescending than I mean them but too fucking bad.
Constantine lifts his head; the spoon clinks as it falls against the side of the bowl. “No, son. I did not annul that woman’s marriage.”
A collective gasp goes around the table at Constantine’s bluntness. I didn’t expect him to come out with it so easily. He called me son.
Does my dad … care? Why didn’t he tell me sooner? Is that the assistance he meant when I got in last night?
“Why was that?” I say far more calmly than I feel. My heart is hammering in my ears; it feels like it might beat out of my chest.
“I could see that whatever you had with that woman wouldn’t last,” Constantine sighs as if he’s exhausted just thinking about it. “You hadn’t abdicated at that point; I didn’t truly believe you’d go through with any of it.”
Riley’s hand slips back into mine. I can almost feel how angry she is at Constantine.
“I’d prepped Liam, of course,” the old windbag isn’t done. “As a precaution.”
I remember what Drake said about Liam going on more diplomatic trips. I thought it was a way to separate the two of them. It could have been both.
“What if it had worked out?” I’m sure he had a backup plan. “What then?”
Constantine sighs again, and I am hitting him right behind the knee. “I would have annulled it if you two had children or the relationship progressed smoothly. Perhaps I would have insisted on a vow renewal of sorts; you would be legally married.”
“She would have loved that,” Drake doesn’t try to keep his voice low.
Constantine was downright jovial at the housewarming. He played beer pong without whining and kept Regina in check.
Did he want me to be happy?
The confusion must be written all over my face because my dad stands, pushing his bowl away.
“I know this must conflict with the villain narrative you and Liam have regarding my behavior,” Constantine crosses his arms. “Everything I do is for you boys.”
That sentence doesn’t quite ring true, but my dad’s not done. “For Cordonia.”
There it is.
Riley tenses beside me. I drape my arm around the back of her chair, rubbing her shoulder with my thumb. She lets out a deep breath.
“Cordonia is more your child than Leo, and I ever were,” Liam stands, his challenging gaze meeting my father’s. “I understood why Leo abdicated; happiness and love were not things he could find here. As for me, I never believed I’d be able to be a good king as well as marry the love of my life. You refused to let me forgo the season; you told me Drake, and I’s relationship would ruin the country. You tried to set up Riley as betraying me, even though you were aware there was nothing romantic between us.”
“Cordonia must always come first,” Constantine almost looks contrite. “I met Lady Riley and knew she had to be kept away.”
“Why?” Riley snaps. “What could I have possibly done?”
“You were in Liam’s ear,” Constantine admits. “Had you not come here, Liam and Madeleine would be wed tomorrow. I couldn’t risk another outsider darkening the family name.”
That’s why he didn’t annul Katie’s marriage. He was keeping an outsider away. He’s not invited to my next wedding.
“When we split, it would be easy to spin that Katie was married already and deceived me,” I clench my jaw. “Katie would look bad. Not the family. I can appreciate that because it’s Katie, and she’d have deserved it.”
Constantine’s face relaxes, and he thinks I’m on his side. He should have annulled it, but I am not saying that out loud. More of his games, of thinking he has a say in my life when he doesn’t.
“Riley was too big of a threat to the control you try to keep over Liam.” I shoot a withering look at my dad. “Liam is confident in his own abilities and Riley helped him see how wrong you were. She didn’t deserve what you tried to pull.”
A thunderous expression that reminds me of the face he made the night of the Coronation takes over my dad’s features.
“I’m not cut out to be king, obviously,” I falter. Riley’s fingers press against mine and I clear my throat. “Liam is going to make this country better, despite your bullshit.”
“You have made a mockery of this monarchy,” Constantine spits. “I did what I had to do!”
A stunned silence stretches. I hope Constantine decides to move to Applewood full time because it’s going to be awkward facing Liam and Drake every day.
“Hey, Dad,” Drake calls out. “Thanks for the warm welcome to the family. I’m not gonna let you try my special cider.”
Constantine freezes. I can’t look at anyone. I’ll laugh. This is serious, and I can’t.
I see Riley’s head turn to glance at Drake, and she loses it. Her whole body shakes the chair, and she snorts a little, the way she does when she laughs too hard. Drake joins in, and soon everyone at the table is in hysterics.
“Oh, it hurts,” Riley massages her side. “Cramp!”
“You’re welcome,” Constantine huffs before stalking to the door.
“No one is thanking you,” Liam manages to say between laughs as he leans into Drake. Drake rests his head on Liam’s, laughing harder than I’ve ever seen him.
Constantine doesn’t slow his steps, but he definitely heard.
The laughter dies down as the kitchen staff heads our way with plates and mugs. My stomach growls. I can’t remember the last time I ate. I guess dinner last night.
I wait patiently, trying not to get ahead of myself. This is turning out to be real. A server sets a plate with eggs and sausage with toast in front of me, and I smile politely.
As soon as the staff is gone, Luca leans back in his chair, crossing his legs. “Katie refused to give me a copy when I asked for paperwork on her past marriage. I didn’t really need it; I was nosy.”
I might be falling in love with Luca.
“Could she have known somehow?”
“I don’t believe so,” Luca shakes his head. “Katie may have been embarrassed and didn’t want to explain what happened with the marriage, that she was tricked. She doesn't let anyone in, as far as I can tell. Not even her siblings.”
That’s the truth. I always felt like I was barely scratching the surface with her. She knew all my secrets and I knew none of hers. I thought we’d get there eventually.
“Constantine had to have signed and sealed it, though,” I can’t figure out how he pulled this, and no one noticed until now. “If Dinesh couldn’t tell it was fake, it had to look real.”
“It seemed odd to me that he agreed so quickly,” Drake pipes up. I like it better when he’s quiet. “Constantine knew you were going to marry her; he met her and let that happen.”
“I thought he wanted to be rid of me,” I shrug. “Katie didn’t make a very good first impression.”
It was pretty awkward. I remember her saying “royalty or bust” at some point. I thought she was joking.
Riley puts her chin in her palm, her elbow on the edge of the table. “It does seem weird. Regina definitely wasn’t impressed.”
Luca pulls a document from his blazer and slides it down the table to me.
I unfold the thin document and scan the words. Annulment, yep. I don’t see anything wrong until I get to the bottom of the paper.
There’s my dad’s signature, but it’s wrong. It’s a scribble, and I think I see an M. There’s a blurry outline of the seal, but it’s not right either. I can’t put my finger on what’s off with it.
“What’s this seal?” I point to the circle. Riley glances over my shoulder. “It looks off.”
Riley’s breath warms just below my ear as she exclaims. “Wait. I know that seal!”
Luca smirks at her. “Do you?”
“Yes,” Riley scoots and points to the fleur de lis around the edge of the seal. “That’s Liam’s practice seal. Right?”
That seal. It used to be mine, but I never used it. I gave it to Liam after he told me he wanted to make sure to use it properly. No sloppy seals on his watch.
Liam accepts the paper and scans it. “You’re correct.”
“It still counts, doesn’t it?” I glance at the marking again.
I don’t know why it’s so hard to believe my dad did something to help me. Even if his intentions weren’t exactly pure.
“Do you want to tell him, Riley?” Luca is trying not to laugh, but it’s obvious. I can’t blame him.
Riley drapes her arm around my shoulders and points to the crown near the center. She smells amazing, like roses and something citrusy. “The crest is generally in the middle of the band. That makes it official. There’s also more lettering around the circle. This is decorative and doesn’t mean anything.”
“You did pay attention,” Liam jokes. “I thought I saw your eyes glaze over a few times.”
Riley smirks at Liam. “The only time I went to my happy place was when you kept talking to me about how underrated vanilla is.”
Liam chuckles and shakes his head. “I will die on that hill.”
Not for the first time, I understand why Liam would have picked her.
I squint at the signature, trying to make it out. “I never looked at this paper after my dad signed it; that’s my fault. That’s not his name, is it?”
I gesture to the scrawl, and Luca nods. “Rashad thinks he may have signed it with random letters. Enough loops that it looks legitimate if you don’t look too closely. With the seal and signature, Dinesh had no reason not to accept it as valid.”
That poor bastard is going to get an earful from the family.
“Don’t they drill this into your head?” Luca plucks the paper from my fingers.
“They tried,” I shake my head. “I didn’t pay a lot of attention.”
Drake chokes on a sausage, and I roll my eyes at him. Yeah, an understatement.
I’m not married. Katie is married to Trent. Who she hates, and he definitely wants all her money.
“I’m not married,” it comes out as a whisper. This is good news. Why am I so thrown? The last two years of my life were a lie, with or without that paper.
I feel Riley’s eyes on me and shift my gaze. She looks worried, a frown turning down her mouth. “How are you? This has to be a shock.”
I hold her chin with my thumb and index finger and brush my lips against hers softly.
Fuck Katie. Little by little, the weight has lifted from my shoulders. I abdicated, I started racing, I left Katie, and I fixed things with Riley. There won’t be a messy divorce anymore. There’s no more heaviness.
“I’m not married to Katie,” I repeat, my voice stronger. “Everything is right in my world.”
Riley’s eyes crinkle, and her face is the opposite of the former expression. I’m going to marry her and have so many babies with her. I swivel to wrap my arms around her, ignoring Drake’s throat clearing.
“The universe is working for you, babe,” Riley’s voice is muffled in my chest. ”Finally.”
I hold her tighter. I’m sending Katie sheep. I found a supplier.
“Not married,” Luca says around a bite of toast, forcing me to stop daydreaming. “Rashad has faxed this to Milo. There’s to be a hearing to dismiss the divorce formally.”
“When?” I relax against the chair, arm around Riley’s shoulders.
“Day after your brother’s wedding,” Luca catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror opposite the table and rakes a hand through his hair. Riley was right; he’s disheveled. “Rashad pulled some strings, but that’s the earliest he could schedule.”
“I can call and see if matters can be escalated,” Liam offers helpfully. “The sooner this is settled-”
“No,” I Interrupt. “It can wait. Your wedding is more important, Li. None of my bullshit needs to take up any time.”
Drake makes a noise, and I think it might have been a thank you. They’ve waited long enough for this, I am not going to be the asshole that pulls focus.
Liam looks to Riley. “I agree,” She says with a smile. “He won’t be married for another day.”
I need to get organized. I don’t want to propose to Riley right before my brother's wedding. I can wait until they go on their honeymoon.
Liam accepts defeat. “While I appreciate the sentiment, if you change your mind, let me know.”
I won’t, but I shoot a grateful smile at Liam.
“Is now a good time to tell you that Katie is in Cordonia?” Luca’s voice shakes ever so slightly. He’s even nervous. That’s not a good sign.
“Does she have to be there?” I groan. “Why is she even here?”
Drake said she was in Greece. She’s following me around; I would bet money on it.
“Rashad spoke to the family’s estate lawyer, Dinesh,” Luca says. “Katie is with her sister at a food festival for a documentary. She’ll be notified of the hearing, but she isn’t required to show up. It will happen either way. She won’t be told what it’s regarding past the dissolution of the marriage.”
I vaguely remember Nicole asking me for a favor months ago, just after I left Katie. Liam must have signed off on it, or someone else. Nicole only uses one last name, Embry; it might not have even registered who she was. She’s not terrible, and her documentaries are boring. Like her.
“You don’t think she’ll try to show up?” Riley’s brow creases. “So help me, if she tries to interfere with the wedding-”
“I’ll put Bas on Katie duty,” Drake interrupts, reaching across the table to pat Riley’s hand. “No one is messing up anything.”
Riley bites her bottom lip, and she’s stopping herself from saying Bas is useless. She’s not wrong. Katie would have to be an idiot to show up.
Luca rubs his temple. “I’ve officially dropped Katie as a client.”
“I’m sorry,” Riley sits up and smooths her dress. “She made you crazy, but that commission was good.”
“I’ll recoup some of that for all the hoops I’ve had to jump through,” Luca cracks a smile. “I think she’s a pathological liar, to be honest.”
Katie’s grandmother hired a lawyer to ensure her grandchildren weren’t lying about completing their inheritance tasks. It seemed odd to me, but if they’re not trustworthy, it makes sense.
“Thanks, Luca,” I stretch my arm toward him, offering my hand. “No one noticed until you. It might not have even come up in the divorce.”
“You are welcome,” Luca grasps my hand. “I’d sue her for emotional damage, but I get the sense you’d like to be free.”
Free. It has a nice ring to it.
I nod, smiling gratefully. “I’m buying you a drink later. Least I can do.”
I drop a kiss on Riley’s head and let myself bask in the moment. I’m not married. I never was. This is all a hard lesson that I had to learn. I’m almost giddy.
My reverie is interrupted by a gruff voice.
“Come on, Leo,” Drake stands, shoving his chair back. “Let’s go.”
I suppress a groan and roll my eyes. Time to get punched.
———
RILEY
I pretend to sip the strong black tea in my cup slowly. I’m really slurping as much as I can into my mouth. I am fucking exhausted.
“Lady Riley,” Landon booms, and I keep myself from wincing. Weird how not enough sleep, intense sex, and a roller coaster morning feels the same as a regular hangover. “Have you any suggestions on liaising between the palace and the team? In matters of the upkeep of the grounds perhaps, or when we expand eventually.”
When Landon said lunch, I didn’t think he’d meant today. Landon was in the dining room with Regina when I came in to avoid Madeleine.
I give Landon a way friendlier than I feel smile. “Please call me Riley, no title.”
“Certainly,” Landon cracks a smile. “Call me Landon.”
I nod. “You had to get the ground construction, and business model approved, correct?”
Landon nods again.
“I’d suggest an updated model each year after the circuit is over,” I’m not sure why he’s asking me this. I thought he’d ask about marketing or something. This meeting feels like a job interview of sorts, and I don’t know what’s going on. “Everyone stays in the loop.”
“That’s a fine idea,” Landon says approvingly. “I’m obligated to keep the palace informed on expenses; I can easily include those details.”
Regina slides a small plate with some kind of tiny crustless sandwiches on it my way. I take a small bite and almost moan when the salty meat hits my tongue. Smoked salmon.
“The grounds are nearly completed,” Regina smiles softly at Landon, and her fingers brush his arm before she moves her hand to her lap. The hairs on the back of my neck go up. What the fuck? “I am looking forward to the first match.”
Match? It’s a race, and I’m not correcting her.
Regina recrosses her legs, and I take in her outfit for the second time. She’s been dressing differently, and today she’s wearing a pair of blue silk trousers with a green blouse. She looks pretty and a little younger. Maybe she’s having a mid-life crisis.
Landon smiles softly at Regina, his eyes briefly running over her legs. Ew. Maybe Landon is her mid-life crisis. Do they think I don’t notice?
“Didn’t you have a proposition for Riley?” Regina says encouragingly before lifting a flowered tea cup.
Huh? Did she have to use that word?
“You did?” I dust the crumbs from my fingers onto my plate. I have no idea what it could be.
Landon winks at Regina, and why do I have to see this? I guess Landon is handsome, and if I were him, I’d want lots of time away from Penelope, too.
Landon crosses his arms, and for the first time, I notice the large muscles in his upper arm flex. Okay, I get it. Good for Regina. I am going to pretend I know nothing and never speak of this.
I wonder if Leo knows. He’s going to after I tell him.
“Yes,” Landon leans forward, his expression pensive. “We have a marketing team, but I feel they could benefit from a leader.”
“A press leader?” I close my eyes and curse myself. I need more sleep. “Sorry, go ahead.”
“That’s not inaccurate,” Landon continues kindly. “You’ve run a successful campaign. This is a new team, and we could benefit from your experience.”
He’s offering me a job? He’s offering me a job.
“How, exactly?”
Landon runs through every detail. I’d be in charge of the marketing department, and I’d be helping them come up with a strategy. I would also be a go-between with Liam for all the shit we just went over.
I don’t know what to say. I didn’t see this coming.
“Your salary would be significantly increased from the American team,” Landon finishes. “In addition to the option for you to work from the circuit. I expect you’ll accompany Leo to all the locations, and you would have that ability.”
This has Simon written all over it.
“I could be remote the entire time?” I ask warily. “That would work?”
Landon’s shoulders relax. He was nervous to ask me? “We can conduct meetings via webcam, email, and call when appropriate. In addition to meeting in person when you’re off the road.”
Landon pulls a folded sheaf of papers from his gray blazer. “Look this over. I am willing to negotiate; however, I think you’ll find it more than fair.”
I take the pages, trying to fight back the tears. I poke my arm with one nail, making sure I’m not dreaming. “When do you need an answer?”
Like I’m going to turn this down. It’s perfect. Except Leo. I don’t know how he’ll feel about this, being so connected to Cordonia. My stomach twists. He’ll be happy for me, won’t he?
“How are seventy-two hours?” Landon queries. “With the wedding tomorrow, is that enough time?”
I nod, unable to say anything else.
“I’m planning on attending a few of Leo’s events,” Regina smiles comfortingly at me. “Once Liam and Drake are wed, they’ll be honeymooning, and I shall have some free time, perhaps.”
“That’s great,” I smile back at her. “Leo’s going to love that.”
Leo’s going to be shocked as shit. I sip my tea, wondering what he and Drake are doing.
I hear Madeleine before I see her, her stilettos clacking against the stone floor.
“You have a fitting,” Madeleine announces in a voice dripping with fake cheerfulness. “Tomorrow is the big day, of course.”
I don’t roll my eyes, but smile apologetically at Landon and Regina. “Excuse me. Thank you, Landon. I’ll have an answer soon.”
Landon rises and shakes my hand firmly. “Looking forward to it.”
—
I slump into the boutique, annoyed at spending more time with Madeleine. Liam appears from my right, and I almost jump. Relief washes over me as I hug him tightly. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Liam smiles and holds me at arm’s length. “I may have had a small hand in your dress choice.”
Madeleine sighs so quietly that she probably doesn't think I can hear her, but I do. “One moment.”
I hug Liam again. Madeleine probably wanted to put me in something ugly. Regal, but ugly. I bet there was a butt bow.
Madeleine disappears behind a curtained-off area, and Liam sits on the tufted bench next to the giant three-way mirrors. “You were here often during the season.”
“I was.” Liam used to pop his head in and give me a summary of what to expect. Max helped, too; Bertrand was generally nowhere to be found. Not that I minded. “It’s peaceful. Mostly.”
Madeleine reappears with a midnight navy dress over her arm. She maneuvers a hanger through the straps and steps back. “Thoughts?”
“It’s gorgeous,” I finger the silk fabric. “It might be a little long, but I love it.”
“Try it on,” Madeleine commands. “I’ll fetch the seamstress.”
I go behind the curtain and step into the gown carefully. I zip the side and adjust the sweetheart neckline. It fits perfectly. It is a little long, but I can grab heels, and it shouldn’t have to be hemmed too much.
I step out, and Liam beams at me. “It’s not too large?”
“No,” I smooth down the torso and look in the mirror. Whoa. This is by far the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever worn. The sleeves fall around my shoulders; the fitted waistline flows into a full but not too full skirt. “It's perfect. You picked this?”
“I saw it while we were in France, and Madeleine tried to talk Drake into a lace pocket square at a boutique,” Liam chuckles and stands. “I have another little something or Drake and I do, to be more accurate.”
He fishes a box from his blazer. I only see a flash of red before he drapes a heavy necklace around my neck. “A symbol of your homeland and your time here.”
I gingerly touch the large ruby gem around my neck. It’s a perfect circle, surrounded by small emeralds; tiny diamonds dot the chain. It’s an apple. “Holy shit. Liam!”
Liam rests his hand on my shoulder before stepping away. “This way, you can always have your homes with you. New York, where you became Riley Brooks, who serendipitously entered my life. Cordonia, all of us are better for having met you. Somehow, it doesn’t feel like enough.”
Only Liam would give me a multiple carat necklace and think it wasn’t enough. It’s not even the necklace, the thought behind it means so much more.
“It’s more than enough,” I wipe a tear away. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”
I turn and hug him, and he squeezes me back tightly. “You are so very welcome.”
My vision blurs and I take the handkerchief Liam offers to dab at my eyes.
“You seem more emotional than I remember,” Liam laughs as I glare. “In a good way. As if my brother has helped you, too.”
“Yeah,” I sniff. I’m not really that much more emotional. I’m just tired and so happy for Liam that I could burst. “I wasn’t willing to be vulnerable before; you and Drake kind of made me. Leo does the same thing, but it’s easier now.”
It was always easy for me to be honest with Leo, even if he wasn’t at first. If we hadn’t worked out, I wouldn’t have regretted anything I did. Luckily, we made it.
“Enough about me,” I say quickly. “How do you feel? About tomorrow?”
Liam smiles widely. “It can’t come soon enough.”
I glance around, trying to determine if any of the suits are Drake’s. “Drake wouldn’t let me see his suit. He grumbled about it being white.”
“He isn’t thrilled,” Liam plucks a hanger, and I cover my mouth. “He did not agree to that easily.”
It’s white, all right. A blindingly white tuxedo with tails and a silk jacquard vest and bow tie. A matching embroidered pocket square peeks from the pocket. It’s not as terrible as the other one Liam described to me, but it’s still a lot for Drake.
“He really signed off on this?” I can’t help but snicker. It’s so fancy and not Drake at all.
“He did,” Liam carefully hangs it back on the rod. “He’s going to change into a blue suit for the reception.”
“Nice.” I start to ask if he’s going to, he has a fairytale prince regalia outfit, and he probably won’t, but Liam interrupts me.
“Was Landon able to find you?” Liam tries to sound nonchalant, but he can’t quite pull it off.
My mouth stays open. “How did you know about that?”
Liam grins sheepishly. “Landon came to me to inquire about your character. I only told him the truth. He confided that the marketing team lacked direction, and Simon had brought up your name.”
“I only worked a few months!” I protest. I know I killed it at that job, but I feel like everything is moving so fast, and I might vomit. Not on this dress.
“Yet you increased web traffic two hundred percent and viewership just as much,” Liam puts a comforting hand on my arm. “I’ll see you often, and you can be by Leo’s side as well.”
Of course Liam followed the campaign I worked on, and talked me up to Landon.
“You’ll see me all the time anyway,” I elbow him. I don’t want to admit I’m nervous about Leo’s reaction. I shouldn’t be, but he couldn’t sign with Simon because of Cordonia. I want to take this job, but is it worth it? I’m getting ahead of myself. “But I appreciate it so much.”
I sit down on the small stool beside the chair, suddenly very overwhelmed.
Liam lowers beside me. “Are you all right?”
“I don’t know where I’d be right now,” my eyes meet Liam’s. His are still the kindest I’ve ever seen. “You talk about how I gave you courage and all that, but you gave me so much more. I have you and Drake, Max, and Liv. I met Leo, and I…”
I trail off, my throat too thick with tears. “I don’t think I would be this happy if I never met you. You changed my life.”
“To borrow your phrase, you’re giving me too much credit,” Liam smiles. “You would be perfectly fine because you are Riley Brooks. The most compassionate and bravest woman I’ve ever met. However, I am more than grateful you are in my life.”
I have to make a joke or something. This is too much. I’m going to cry like a baby at the wedding; I feel it.
“You might be married to Ma-”
“Who?” Madeleine breezes in, a small, older woman in tow. “Stand up at once! You’re wrinkling the gown!”
I sigh and get to my feet. “It’s fine. It only needs to be hemmed a few inches.”
I step onto the small stool, and the woman begins to pin the hem of the gown.
“Is Leo going to be with Drake all day?” I ask Liam. The vibe was definitely weird.
“He’s probably in his quarters or will be soon,” Liam stands and brushes the wrinkles from his slacks. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting.”
“See you at dinner,” I grab his hand and squeeze. “Text if you need me.”
“I certainly will.” Liam squeezes back before walking out the doors.
I glance at my phone on the sofa, the screen dark. I’ll head to Leo’s room after this.
I have no idea what he and Drake are up to.
———
LEO
I put my hands on my knees as I bend over, out of breath. Drake is trying to kill me. He’s not satisfied with a punch.
Drake stops a few feet ahead and jogs back. “What’s wrong, Leo?”
He’s smug, and maybe I’m going to punch him.
“Can you hit me and get it over with?” I straighten and wipe my forehead on the back of my hand. “We missed lunch.”
Riley’s tied up until early evening, she said. I was going to sneak in and see what she was doing. I like watching her work; it’s hot.
“I run every day,” Drake hasn’t stopped jogging, and he’s circling me like a vulture. “Excuse the fuck out of me for trying to keep you in shape.”
He smirks at me, and I glare back at him. I do weights, I box. I jog sometimes. Never running.
I stalk past Drake toward the palace. He’s lost his chance. I know I deserve it, but this is worse. He’s toying with me.
Drake dashes in front of me, forcing me to stop in my tracks. “Fucking shit! Drake-”
I don’t get the next word out because Drake aims a fist right at my torso. Pain radiates from the impact, and I crumple to the ground. I lie on the dirt track, staring at the cloudless blue sky and trying to get my breath to return to normal. He didn’t hold back. I didn’t expect him to.
At least the running is over.
Drake sits beside me and kicks my foot. “I didn’t kill you, did I?”
“No,” I wheeze. “I’ll be fine.”
“I’d have smacked you in the nose,” Drake chuckles. “But I didn’t want your black eye to be a topic of conversation at the wedding.”
“That’s nice of you,” I roll up. My stomach hurts; it’ll bruise. “Sorry for being an asshole to Riley at the beginning. I’ll never hurt her again.”
“I know,” Drake stands and stretches his arm out to help me stand. “I see the way you look at her. You’re whipped.”
“Hey!” I wobble for a second before I get my bearings. It’s the truth. I don’t really care.
“It’s made you a better person,” Drake slaps my shoulder.
“Stop complimenting me,” I quicken my steps. “I don’t know how to respond to it.”
“Come on, bro,” Drake picks up the pace. “Race you to the dining room.”
I don’t want to run, but I don’t want Drake to win. I can take him.
We get to the doors at the same time. Maybe Drake and I are good from here on out. That’ll be new.
–
I’ve gone to Liam’s office, the library, the boutique, and the dining room. No Riley. According to Regina, she had a fitting, and that was the last she saw her. Her phone is off or dead; I can’t remember if she grabbed it this morning.
I decide to go to my room before I go look for her again. Drake had my luggage moved there, so at least I can change.
I turn the brass doorknob, and it’s unlocked. I frown. That’s weird.
I push open the door, hoping this isn’t one of the times Madeleine decides to surprise me. “Hello?” I say cautiously, dropping my key on the wooden table near the door. “Anyone in here?”
“In the bedroom,” Riley’s voice is muffled, and it sounds like she's crying. Wait, she isn’t supposed to be in here. I almost trip over my own feet as I tear toward the open bedroom door.
She's sitting on the end of my massive bed, a garment bag beside her. The zipper is down a few inches, and there’s a splash of red satin showing.
Riley looks up at me, her eyes red and watery, her gaze incredulous. “You bought my dress?”
Liam must have had it hung up or something. My closet is open and mostly empty, and you can see the red through the tan bag.
I try to gauge if she's sad or surprised, and I don’t have enough information. “I did.”
Riley bursts into tears, and I sit beside her on the velvet blanket, taking her hands in mine. “I couldn’t bear the thought of someone else wearing it.”
“You like my ass in it,” Riley blurts and drops my hands to cover her face.
She’s trying to make jokes, and I have to let her. Riley’s emotions are pretty easy to track, and if she’s blurting like that, she’s overwhelmed, and I need to be gentle.
“I do,” I chuckle and remove her hands, ducking my head to look straight into her beautiful eyes. “Your ass is hot.”
Riley laughs thickly and dabs at her eyes. I pull my shirt off and use the edge to dry some of the tears on her cheeks. “But how kind and thoughtful and generous and hilarious you are, that’s the star of the show. Those are the most beautiful parts of you.”
Riley throws her arms around my shoulders. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” I wrap my arms around her waist. I’m not supposed to propose, but it feels right. I’m about to do just that when Riley pulls back. “I got a job offer today.”
I didn’t expect that, but that’s good news. My eyebrows shoot up. “You did? From who?”
“Landon,” Riley shakes her head. “I’m calling Simon later because he had something to do with it.”
“With the team?” I ask lamely. Of course, the team.
“Yes,” Riley launches into a summary, adding that she’d be meeting with Liam about stuff too.
Simon must have had this idea and floated it to Landon. Who loved it. That sneaky wonderful bastard.
“I could work from wherever the circuit is, too,” Riley says. “Landon said we can do virtual meetings and email. He’s giving me three days to decide.”
I’m not even joining Simon’s team, and he’s looking out for Riley and me.
“That’s awesome, isn’t it?” I thought Riley would be more excited, but she is a little reserved. “I’m surprised you needed time to think it over.”
“I’m not sure,” Riley says, surprising me. “I looked over his proposal, and it’s more than generous.”
Her fingers are trembling, and I realize she was nervous to tell me. I don’t know why, and then it hits me. Cordonia. Riley’s heard all the bad memories I have attached to this place, and she knows I’m not ready to be back here as often as being a part of Simon’s team would force me to be just yet.
I never wanted it to affect her. I know how close she is to Liam and Drake and everyone. I expected to be here a few times a week when we move to Greece, less for me if I need a little break. She should be over the moon about this job, and she’s worried about me.
“Riles,” I tilt her chin up and look her right in the eyes again. “This is amazing. You have to take it if it’s what you want to do. We did talk about you taking some time off, but this is too good.”
Maybe she can still take some time off. I have a whole vision of us naked on a beach for a month.
“I’d have the rest of your circuit and a few months after off,” Riley admits.
Naked beach is a go. Maybe I’ll propose there if I can wait for the rest of the circuit.
“Don’t let my bullshit with this place stop you,” Riley opens her mouth to interrupt, but I keep going. “You put everyone else first, and you have to stop that. You have to be happy, too.”
Riley blushes and looks down. “I don’t do that.”
“You do,” I argue. “I love your heart; it's why I fell in love with you. But I’m the selfish one. I will support the shit out of whatever you want to do. If you want to work for Simon and Landon, that’s awesome. I know you’ll love it, and you’ll kick ass. If you want to, I don’t know, switch gears and become a pilot, I’ll quit my job and follow you around.”
I mean every word. Riley’s worth more than any career.
“You’re sweet,” Riley’s lips lift in a faint smile. “I like the work I’ve been doing for motocross. It’s interesting, and I get to see so many places I never thought I would.”
Riley hesitates, and I squeeze her hand, encouraging her to continue.
“I thought after the season, I was supposed to grow up and settle down. Meeting you showed me I didn’t have to.”
“Thanks?” I frown.
“Not in a bad way,” Riley says quickly. “In a ‘there’s more to life’ way. I love traveling around; I hate being in one spot for too long. Even if I have to be away from people I love for a bit, I can visit. And I love getting to do all of it with you. You make everything exciting and better, you know?”
I know exactly what she means.
I kiss her forehead and her nose. “You know me; I don’t like staying put. I felt weird about it for so long. You made me feel like it was okay, this awesome life I can share with you. I love you.”
“I love you,” Riley smiles into the kiss I press to her lips. “So much.”
We kiss for long minutes; the only thoughts in my head are how soft Riley is, her hair, her skin, and her heart. I brush her cheek with my thumb, in awe of how lucky I am.
———
RILEY
“Whoa,” Leo puts one hand on his heart. “Fuck.”
I worry the ruby stone of the necklace between my fingers. I am more anxious than I expected. I’m not the one getting married. All I have to do is support Liam and Drake and make sure no one ruins any part of this day.
“Good, fuck?” I tease, deliberately drawing the words out.
Leo pushes the last button through the hole on his collar, his bow tie still loose. “Best of my life.”
“Smooth,” I blush and tighten his tie, ensuring it’s perfectly centered. “Good thing you had a spare. Your dry cleaner in LA is gonna make some money on the late fee.”
“I knew I forgot something,” Leo shrugs before checking the clock. “Shit, we gotta go.”
I carefully unfurl an edge on the sleeve of my gown. “You’re on Liam?”
“You’re on Drake,” Leo blows out a breath. He rubs his midsection. There’s a small bruise on his torso. I might have laughed when told me about it. I knew Drake was up to something, but I didn’t know Leo was on board with getting punched. Boys are strange.
“Poor baby,” I tease with a pout.
“I deserved it,” Leo shrugs on his jacket, adjusting the blue sash across it.
“Your room is way better than mine,” I glance in the mirror one last time. “Your bed especially.”
It’s like sleeping on a damn cloud with back support. That bed could solve so many problems.
“Glad you liked it,” Leo kisses the back of my neck, our eyes meeting in the mirror. “You’re going to be back in it at the end of the night.”
“Mmm,” I smile, the butterflies that never seem to leave fluttering around my stomach. “Can’t wait.”
A loud knock almost makes me jump. Leo furrows his brow. “We’re not late.”
I follow him to the foyer of his quarters and am not surprised to see Bastien. But, why is he holding dry cleaning?
“Your former wife left this,” Bastien holds the hanger out to Leo. “I had her escorted from the front gate.”
You almost have to admire Katie’s complete commitment to being wretched. She’s dug her claws in and refuses to let go. Leo’s going to have to get a restraining order or something.
Leo lifts the edge of the plastic, a blue sash flops out. “She picked up my regalia. Figures. She better not be back, Bas.”
Bastien clasps his hands behind his back. “I told her she’d be arrested and I’d alert the press. She won’t be a problem.”
Katie won’t risk jail. She’ll probably try to sell another story, but Leo can beat whatever she says in a few days if he needs to.
Bastien hesitates a moment before clearing his throat. “Lady Riley, your parents arrived ten minutes ago. I redirected them to the cathedral, however they are waiting downstairs for you.”
I can’t breathe. “I’m sorry, what?”
My parents are here? Here. They got on a plane and they are here. Here?
“I mentioned you hadn’t departed and they insisted,” Bastien’s eyes crinkle ever so slightly and I know one of them said something weird.
“They can ride with us,” Leo offers, ushering me into the hall and closing the door behind him. “It’ll give me a chance to meet them properly.”
I nod, unable to form words. I was not prepared for this. They’re normal. For the most part. They’re my parents, how bad could it be?
“Come on,” Leo says, an extra bounce in his step as he leads me down the hallway. “Let’s go see my brother get married.”
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