*THE HOLLEN SERIES 04*
????????????EPISODE 05????????????
??????????
*?? RICHES AND ROYALTY ??*
??????????
??????????
Sebastian’s POV
Her sweet scent lingered around me when she pulled away and I stared into her de-ep grey pair of eyes. I wanted to get lost in them, I wanted to wake up to them every morning for the rest of my life.
I exhaled sharply as I remembered the message I received from my father.
In order to take over my father’s position at the court as King, I would have to marry someone and my father thought it would be appropriate to marry someone of already royalty. Princess Naomi was from a neighboring country and was raised by both her parents, King Leon III and Queen Emeralda.
King Leon was cold-hearted and his people feared him. He made enemies wherever he went and that was one of the causes of his untimely @$$@$$inated death five years ago. The news was devastating to the Three Kingdoms so the Queen of England p@$$ed a merger to my father that the next King of his court should marry the Princess of Scot to form an alliance and a much more united Kingdom before the throne was handed over to the enemies.
Father agreed and now that I was next in line, I was deemed to marry the Princess and I was not looking forward to it.
Princess Naomi and I met once at a ball. She was beautiful in the face and graceful as a wave but she was no Emily.
“Hey, are you okay?” Emily asked, snapping me out of my wonders.
“Emily, there’s something I have to tell you,” I began and an exhale escaped my mouth. I had to tell her. “I’m…..”
Sirens filled the tarmac. We turned towards the noise and three vans were racing towards us. I immediately knew that they were here for me.
Just short of our distance, the vans came to a halt and several bo-dyguards made their way forward. Emily panicked and I quickly held onto her hand.
“It’s okay. They’re here for me,” I said in her ear.
“Sir! We have orders to bring you back to the grounds immediately!” my personal bo-dyguard spoke.
I nodded my head respectfully.
Emily turned towards me, her eyes looking for a response from me.
“Please don’t leave. Go back to your hotel and I’ll see you soon,” I spoke. She nodded her head and at that moment I was tem-pted to ki-ss her but such actions were forbidden in the prese-nce of others.
I rele-ase her hand and got into one of the vans and a bo-dyguard took the one I came with. I watched Emily until I couldn’t see her anymore.
What am I going to do?
______________________
Emily’s POV
“So we’re not leaving?” Gen asked for the thousandth time as we walked into the hotel’s lobby.
“Gen, look around. We’re already back at the hotel. Of course we’re not leaving.”
“This is wonderful. He doesn’t want you to leave Emily. Do you think that he’ll ask for your hand in marriage soon?”
That thought had cross my mind but I wasn’t expecting Sebastian to pop that question anytime soon. We had a lot of making up to do, especially me. And he was a Prince which meant that I just couldn’t waltz over to his house and demand his company.
Gen and I headed back to my be-droom and I waited for a phone call or text message from Sebastian but it never came.
___________
It had been one week and I didn’t hear a thing from Sebastian. My patience was running thin. I could have been back at home with my family and friends but I stayed for him.
I picked up my cellphone and called my mother. She answered after the fourth ring.
“Emily darling, I thought you were supposed to be here one week ago.”
“Hi mom, I’m sorry. Something came up and I’ve decided to stay here a bit longer. How’s dad?”
“He’s doing great. He is with the boys right now but he misses you Emily. He’s worried that something happened to you. He was about to come find you. You’re his princess.”
My heart jumped by the word ‘Princess’ because there was a possibility that I could actually be a real one.
“I miss you all too. I miss home. Please tell dad that I’m fine and he shouldn’t worry so much.” My father was very overprotective for the family no matter how old we were.
“When are we going to see you?”
“I’ll be home soon mom.”
“Okay sweetie. I’ll tell your father that you called and that you misses him as well and you’re okay.”
“Thanks mom. I love you. Bye.”
“I love you too baby. Bye and take care of yourself.”
I hung up and a smile came upon my li-ps. I loved my parents. Dad were overly-protective and mom was extra- loving but they were the best parents ever.
I flopped down on a chair on the balcony and looked out at the horizon. My phone vibr@ted in my hand and I looked down at the screen.
Unknown number calling.
I answered, hoping that it was him. My heart leaped as his voice came from the other end of the phone.
“Emily, how are you?”
“Sebastian, I’ve been so sad.”
“Why?”
“It’s been a week and I’m just hearing from you.” I wanted to yell at him but I had no idea what was required from him as a Prince. I knew that royalties didn’t just sit on their bu-tts all day and have servants do everything for them.
“I’m so sorry. I’ve been out of the country. I just got back. You were on my mind everyday.”
“So you miss me, huh?”
“Definitely. Can I see you tonight? There’s something I have to tell you.”
“Yes.”
“Be ready at 6:30.”
“Okay. See you tonight.”
I hung up and ran to find Gen. Of course, she was in my be-droom.
“He called! I’m seeing him tonight! There’s something he have to say to me. Gen! I think he’s going to ask for my hand in marriage.”
“OMG! I’m so happy for you. Let’s pick out an outfit for later.”
Later that evening, I was already dressed and waiting for him and just like the first time, a limousine awaited outside for me and took me to the private restaurant.
I found him at the only table in the room. Every nerves in my bo-dy sparked and every hair strand on my skin was waiting to rise up.
“You look beautiful,” he began.
I was wearing a white dress that hu-gged my bo-dy perfectly.
“Thank you. So what was it that you had to tell me?” I knew I should have waited for him to begin speaking but I was anxious and my nerves had the better of me.
“Eager, aren’t you?” he chuckled lightly. “I’m having a ball in three days at the Palace and I’m inviting you. Would you accept my personal invitation?”
“Of course.”
We had dinner and he dropped me back at the hotel. When I was about to get out of the vehicle, he held my wa-ist and pulled me onto his che-st. He tilted my chin upwards so that my eyes were into his. His fin-gers brushed my loose strands of hair behind my ears. Every moment felt like it was in a slow motion film and when his li-ps crashed onto mine, I didn’t want the moment to end.
He pulled my bo-dy forward and I ended up straddling him. The ki-ss never broke until his mouth traveled to my ne-ck. A soft mo-anleft my mouth and his hands roamed my bo-dy outside of the dress.
I began heated. I wanted to to-re my dress off and let him have his way with me inside of his van, in front of the hotel.
His phone went off before our encounter went to another level. He retrieved his phone from his pocket to answer and I was certain I saw the picture of a woman flashing on the screen.
“Yes. That’s wasn’t yet addressed by my father and myself. We’ll have to continue this conversation at another time.” I caught the end of his conversation.
“Umm, Emily, I have to go,” he said to me once he hung up.
I got off him and fixed my dress before getting out. I slammed the door and walked towards the hotel without turning back at him.
*THE HOLLEN SERIES 04*
????????????EPISODE 06????????????
??????????
*?? RICHES AND ROYALTY ??*
??????????
??????????
Emily’s POV
Three Days Later
“Em, why you’re not dress for the ball?” Gen asked as she poked her head throu-ghthe door.
“I’m not going,” I answered as I la-id my head on my pillow feeling sorry for myself.
Gen was already dressed in a lovely purple and white dress that hu-gged her che-st area but flowed freely from her wa-ist down to her ankles. Her white heels, silver earrings and ne-cklace added the finishing touch and her makeup was extra flawless. I almost didn’t recognize my best friend.
“You were personally invited by the Prince himself and you’re going to turn that down because of what you thought you saw?” She was in the room and standing next to my be-d.
“I know what I saw Gen!” I snapped at her and she put her hands up in surrender.
“Emily Hollen, you shouldn’t be wallowing like this. Sebastian would be looking forward to seeing you. He invited you. If you want to get back at him, I think you should get your @$$ off this be-d, get into that bathroom and freshen up, step into your dress and heels, do your hair and makeup and go to that ball and enjoy yourself.”
I rolled over to the other side of the be-d and heaved a loud sigh. Then I slowly peeled myself off and walked into the bathroom. I took a shower and washed my hair. I toweled off my skin, applied lotion and walked towards my closet where I wondered what purple dress I should wear. The theme of the ball was ‘Purple Skies’ and it was mandatory to wear suitable colors to match the theme.
I took my one of my purple dresses off the rack. It hu-gged my bo-dy in the right places and the back area was exp-osed. The gold str-aps made it prettier than usual and I thought it would be best to continue with gold. I placed on my favorite pair of gold heels, put on a pair of gold earrings and a long t@$$el statement ne-cklace. Gen @$$isted with curling my hair and doing my makeup. Finally, I applied my bo-dy perfume and took my gold clutch and walked out the door with Gen following beside me.
________________________________
At the Palace, the ball was held in a grand hall. We handed our invites over to one of the bo-dyguards and he allowed us inside after scanning us with a metal detector.
Gen instantly snatched two flutes of champagne from a waiter and handed one to me. I drank it down quickly. I was nervous and my eyes were traveling throu-ghthe very thick crowd for him.
After half an hour without a sight of Sebastian, I decided to finally give up. Gen was asked to dance by a gentleman and I found a seat by a mini-bar and watched on. The bartender handed me a gl@$$ of white wine and I sipped on that slowly and rocked back and forth to the slow music surrounding the room.
After another hour, I left the bar and took a walk down a hallway. I had no idea where I was going but I knew I wanted some fresh air. The air-condition units in the grand hall wasn’t cooling the bo-dy heat from the number of people in attendance. I made it outside, on a small balcony that over look the court yard. In the shadows of a several trees, were two figures. I knew it was Sebastian but I didn’t recognize the woman he seemed to be shouting up. I eased closer for a better hearing.
“You don’t know anything about me!” I heard the woman yelled and placed her hands on her hips.
“I’m leaning to forget everything about this!” Sebastian yelled back at her.
“You dare can’t lean in that direction Sebastian. I wouldn’t hear of it and I’m certain neither would your father. This is going to happen. You don’t have a choice!” she laced.
“See, that’s where you’re wrong. There’s always a choice Naomi. Now, this conversation is over. I have a ball to attend to.” Sebastian walked away from her and now he was heading in my direction. I quickly turned on my heel and hid behind a hedge. The other woman walked quickly after him without a word.
My heart felt like it was caving in. My breath came slowly from my nostrils and my knees became weak. Something was wrong. Sebastian was for-ced into something by that woman and his father. I nee-ded to know exactly what they were talking about.
I went back to the grand hall.
‘Gen must be worried’ I thought and as I walked into the ball to see her,I walked into someone. I stumbled backwards slightly and my heel caught the end of my dress and of course, I tripped and fell on my bu-m. I felt every pair of eyes on me and heard some low laughter. I attem-pted to pick myself up but a hand stretched out to me and help me to my feet.
“Are you alright?” a familiar voice asked.
I only nodded and dust myself off. I had a slight bruise in my left palm and I flinched when I tried closing my hand.
“You’re hurt. Let’s get you look at.”
He held my right hand firmly and the crowd pa-rted like the red sea to let us throu-gh.
“You don’t have to do this Sebastian,” I said as he found a first-aid kit. I was now sitting on a sofa as Sebastian attended to my bruised palm with cotton ba-lls and peroxide. He neatly placed a band aid on and the pain vanished.
“There. All better now?” he asked.
“Yes. Thank you.”
I stood and he pulled me towards him and wrapped me in a very comfortable hu-g. “I had been looking for you,” he whispered in my ear. Ripples went down my spine as he placed tiny ki-sses on my ne-ck. His li-ps went to my jawline before he found my li-ps. He claimed them with authority and I gave in immediately. His hands roamed the areas on my ba-re back when the ki-ss dee-pened.
“I’ve miss you so much,” he said when we broke the ki-ss.
“I’ve miss you too,” I responded like a fool in love, “But there’s something you’re not telling me Sebastian.”
His face fell and his bo-dy language shifted to discomfort. He released me from his hold and ran his hand over his face.
“Sebastian, what relations do you have with that woman you were yelling at before you went to the ball?”
And just as I feared, he said the words.
“She’s my soon-to-be-wife.”
TO BE CONTINUED…..