Emily's POV
"Are you shitting me?" Gen asked rhetorically as she threw herself face down in my bed in my hotel room, worn out from exhaustion.
"I can't believe Sebastian is a prince," I finally spoke while staring at my reflection from a wine glass.
I poured myself another drink. I was having one hell of a day. First, I had to put an abrupt end to my hotel project then I found out my ex-boyfriend was the Prince of Conovia and I was summoned by him and his father about the rights of the land.
I downed three glasses of wine— one after the other.
"At least share with me as well! I'm having a bad day too!" Gen snatched the bottle out my hand.
"No! Give it here Gen! Give it here!" I squealed and a competition to tug-of-war broke out.
A sudden knock came at the door, putting an end to the battle of the wine. I got off the bed, straightened my clothes and opened the door slightly to reveal one of the hotel's receptionists.
"I'm sorry to disturb Miss Hollen, but there's someone here to see you."
"Who?" I wasn't expecting any visitors.
"You would have to see for yourself ma'am."
I heaved a sigh and looked down at myself. I still looked lit from this morning. I followed her into the lobby and my bottom jaw dropped when I saw who it was.
What is he doing here?
How did he know where to find me?
And I thought he said he had to be at a meeting.
I composed myself like he had no effect on me what so ever.
"Sebastian," I began.
Two men dressed in black stood with folded arms behind him as he approached me.
"Emily." He stood directly in front of me, so close that I could feel his breath fanning the tip of my nose.
I took one step back. "How can I help you?"
"Let's have dinner tonight so I can explain some things to you and apologise for treating you like an object earlier today."
Little butterflies formed in my stomach. "You're asking me out on a date?"
"No! It... um... doesn't need a title. Let's just look at it as two friends having a meal after nearly ten years."
The butterflies faded away. My face fell and there was a pang at my beating heart. "Okay. I accept."
"Great. Be ready at eight."
I watched as he walked away. It was just something that satisfied yet taunted me to watch his figure.
"Em, what did he say?"
I leaped out from my trance and narrowed my eyes at my best friend. "He wants to do dinner." A smile crept on to my lips.
"Dinner sounds amazing. Let's pick out an outfit. Where are you having dinner with him? A restaurant or at the palace? What are you gonna wear? Red or white or both?"
She was asking question after question and I ignored every single one of them.
I went back to my hotel room and stopped Gen at the door. "Gen, you know we're not roommates, right? And you've got your own hotel room across from mine?"
"Yeah I know... but I want to see you get dressed Emily."
"No. I can handle getting myself ready. You just go back to your room and chill out."
She lowered her head and stepped out of the door. I closed the door quietly after her and went into the closet.
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At seven, I got out of the shower, toweled off my tan skin and blow dried my hair and applied lotion before putting on my underwear. I debated whether I should wear a white dress or the black one. Black was my signature color, something I think I took from my mother. And white... well, it complimented my skin tone. I tried them both.


In the end, I settled for the black dress.While I was adding my finishing touches the phone rang. I picked up the receiver.
"Good evening Miss. Hollen, your—"
"I'll be right down. I'm almost out the door," I said to the receptionist, knowing what it was she wanted to say.
"Certainly, ma'am."
I hung up and busily sprayed on my perfume. I rushed out of the door and bumped into Gen.
"Jesus! Gen! Why are you standing outside my door?"
"Because I wanted to wish you good luck before you leave, and I wanted to give you this," she put a bracelet with a gem in the center of it onto my wrist, "for good luck."
"Thanks Gen." I pulled her in for a tight hug. "You're such an amazing person and friend."
"Go get him tiger."
We shared a laugh before I went towards the elevator.
A limousine awaited at the hotel's entrance. I got in and sat down expecting to see Sebastian but the seats were empty.
Where is he?
I didn't dare bother to disturb the driver with any of my questions.
The limo pulled off the entrance and smoothly drove onward. I gazed at my wrist watch; it showed 8:15 p.m.
Fifteen minutes later, the driving came to a halt. The door opened and I got out. The wind instantly met my skin. The stars were voided from the night sky by thick clouds and the moon looked like it needed charging. Nonetheless, I was looking forward to seeing his face.
I walked down a paved path and into a unique building that resembled a private restaurant.
"Miss Hollen, I presume," a waiter with a cheerful smile greeted as I entered.
"Yes."
"Right this way." He led me to the only table and, of course, Sebastian was there, reading from a menu. His eyes traveled to me as I sat down opposite from him.
"Hi."
"Hi," he answered before setting the menu on the table, "you look beautiful."
"Thank you, and you look handsome."
It was true. The Sebastian back at high school versus the Sebastian sitting across from me, I would take the current version any day. He appeared more muscular, more manly, more handsome and more of everything in the right proportion.
"How have you been Emily?"
I smiled. "You mean over the last ten years or...?"
"If that's where you wish to start."
"I've been great Sebastian. I graduated top of my class and took over my family's business of worldwide hotels. I've been doing that ever since."
"Amazing. And how's your brother?"
"Which one?"
"The one who almost killed me over nothing."
I laughed awkwardly as the flashbacks came to when Evan pounded Sebastian silly when he saw me crying in the halls. "I'm so sorry about that Sebastian. Evan had always been overprotective of us, and he got—"
"Hey, it's okay. I guess I deserved that for being such an idiot, and I was an even bigger idiot when I let you go."
I couldn't believe he just said that. My smile brightened and so did his.
"Excuse me sir, ma'am, are you ready to order?" the waiter kindly interrupted.
Sebastian and I ordered and continued our conversation.
"So tell me, why did you hide who you really were?" I asked.
"In truth, I didn't know who I was. Mother took me away when I was only three and moved to America for a normal life. I guess things were hard for her too and she didn't want me to have to go through something like that, but when she died, it rose a red flag. Father eventually found me and took me back here right after high school."
"So how do you feel about being a prince now?"
"Actually, I'm about to take the reigns from my father and become king."
My eyes widened. "Congratulations. When will you be king though?"
"As soon as I find myself a wife."
Emily's POV"A WIFE?" Gen shouted loudly when I told her how the dinner went. She had come over to my hotel room, again, and was drilling me for every detail."Yes, a wife," I confirmed."Em, if you were to marry him that means you'd become a queen. It would be a dream come true for you. You always wanted to be a queen. Remember when we were kids and we would play dolls? Instead of being a mermaid, you'd rather be a queen."I smiled warmly at her. Gen had always had my back. She was very supportive and called me out whenever I was wrong about something or did something that didn't fit my character. She was a real friend."I highly doubt he'd even consider having me at his side, Gen. He's not the same guy I left at high school. He's different. He has transformed."I got off the bed and closed the windows. The rain had been pouring down and it was beginning to get extremely cold. I cuddled up in bed next with Gen
Sebastian's POVHer sweet scent lingered around me. When she pulled away and I stared into her deep 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 in the court as king, I would have to marry someone, and my father thought it would be appropriate to marry someone already of royalty. Princess Naomi was from a neighboring country and was raised by 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 assassination five years ago. The news was devastating to the Three Kingdoms, so the Queen of England advised my father that the next king of his court should marry the Princess of Scots to form an alliance and a much more united kingdom before the thron
Emily's POVThree Days Later"Em, why are you not dressed for the ball?" Gen asked as she poked her head through the door."I'm not going," I answered as I lay my head on my pillow, feeling sorry for myself.Gen was already dressed in a lovely purple and white dress that hugged her chest area but flowed freely from her waist down to her ankles. Her white heels, silver earrings and necklace added the finishing touches, 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 bed."I know what I saw Gen!" I snapped and she put her hands up in surrender."Emily Hollen, you shouldn't be wallowing like this. Sebastian will be looking forward to seeing you. He invited you. If you want to get back at him, I think you should get your ass of
Emily's POV"He's getting MARRIED TO SOMEONE ELSE?" Gen asked, her last words ringing out.We were back at the hotel in my bedroom, and I was sobbing like a child who didn't get their way.Gen came over and wrapped her arms around me. "It's going to be okay Em.""H-How?" I cried."Maybe... maybe he won't get married. Maybe he'll put you first and call off the wedding.""I don't think he'll do that Gen. His responsibility isn't to me anymore. It's to his father and his country. He won't give up the throne for me."I sat up and stared out the window, facing the now dark ocean. I felt hurt, but I had no reason to be angry at Sebastian for the way I was feeling. We were just rekindling a bond that had been broken almost ten years ago. I had no say in his life and his choices.My phone rang. I answered without looking at the screen."Why did you run off Emily? You didn't even give me a chance to explain things
Sebastian's POVI got into the steamy hot Jacuzzi first and watched as Emily slowly made her way over. She was so beautiful being shy."Finally. I was turning into an old man here," I joked when she eventually got in.I immediately pulled her into my waiting arms and, for once, my mind was rested. With Emily, I felt like a free man. I was just Sebastian and not the Prince with duties, responsibilities and expectations to a people and a country.I stared into her beautiful grey eyes. The water had plastered her hair to her back and made her tan skin look naturally flawless. She was amazing in every way and I didn't wait another second to kiss her with passion and flare.My hands roamed her body and I pulled her even closer towards me. Her pair of breasts rested perfectly against my chest as she straddle me like a woman on a horse. Her hands went through my hair as the sweet melody of her soft moans sounded in her throat. Her hands
Emily's POVI rose slowly— the maid's eyes growing wider and wider as I stood up— and faced her with my eyes still watered."I'm getting the guards." She dropped her cleaning supplies to make a dash for the door but I was quick in stopping her."Please don't. He knows I'm here. I don't want to get him into trouble," I begged."Who are you?""My name is Emily. Emily Hollen. Sebastian and I are...togeth— we're frie—" I was tongue tied as I remembered the reason I was crying.Apparently, the maid saw my defeat and came over and wrapped me in a small hug without saying another word. Silent tears rolled down my cheeks again and I attempted to pull myself together.Shortly after, the maid left and locked the door after her. I was alone again and, in my head, I was thinking about how to fight with Sebastian when he got back."You son of a bitch! No, that's too over the top. You bastard! No. I can't be so disrespe
Sebastian's POVI stood there, unable to move, as I processed my thoughts while looking at the invitation. My father had arranged for such to take place at the palace in TWO WEEKS!I tore the invite into shreds before tossing it onto the floor. I hated myself for dragging Emily into this— for making her cry.If Evan were here, he would knock my lights out for his sister, again.I walked back into the bedroom; Emily had come out from her hiding place."I heard," she spoke."Yes. He has a tendency of being very loud when he's upset," I responded.She nodded, sadly. Her grace had gone."I think I'm ready to go back to my hotel tonight. I need to do some packing.""Packing, are you leaving? Are you leaving because of this?""No Seb, it's really fine, honestly. Our fling is over and I think we should just both move on. Maybe you should get to know the Princess better and fulfill your duties with an
Sebastian's POVIt had been another week and I still remained in my bedroom. I didn't want to deal with the meetings, the constant talking about my arranged marriage and, most of all, I didn't want to deal with Princess Naomi.After tossing and turning for fifteen minutes in my bed, I got up and walked to the balcony. It was a beautiful day, yet I was unhappy and lost deep in many thoughts. Thoughts of going to fetch Emily and running away with her, thoughts of me bringing her boldly into the palace and introducing her to my father as the woman that my heart oh so desires.A knock on the door startled me."Come in," I called.In walked my maid with my breakfast."Thanks, but I'm not hungry. You can return it back to the kitchen.""Sir, I've been returning your breakfast for three days now. Why won't you eat your meals? Does this have to do with that other woman?""What other woman?" I asked sharply, eyebrows creasing. The last thing I