Suitors

Akela (Emily)

I ignore him. The amusement in his voice is enough to tell me that he is intentionally provoking me. We walk in silence with the chipping of the birds filling the air and beautiful butterflies flapping their delicate wings all around us. It is a beautiful scenery, but I can’t keep quite anymore.

“Your Highness, I think…”

He cuts me off.

“Call me Keano.”

Kayl was right. This man is not here for any business.

“I will stick with Your Highness if you don’t mind,” I keep my straight face while he flashes me that smile. I don’t know anyone with such an perfect set of teeth.

“I mind.”

I stop walking and look at him. He thinks I am some pushover, he will learn today.

“Well, I also mind being on first name basis with you.”

My firm tone does not seem to deliver the intended impact. He actually gets closer to me, forcing me to move backwards.

“Give a name then, Princess. How about Honey? My Love? Hubby?”

I take another step back and gentle push him away from me.

“I will stick with Your Highness, thank you.”

“Why?”

This man is crazy. That is his title. Everyone addresses him like that.

“Because that is who you are.”

“I am Keano. That is who I am,” he objects. Now I feel like we are going in circles.

“Are we going to discuss business or not?”

He chuckles and I want to beat myself for smiling.

“You look terrified of me, Princess.”

“Business, Your Highness,” I say firmly.

“Feisty and hot. I won’t proceed until you say my name.”

I let out a sigh and remind myself that he is royalty.

“You can’t be ser…”

I completely freeze when he kisses me. I have slapped him hard on his face before sanity returns to me.

“What are…”

He cuts me off again.

“Apologies, Princess. I was curious.”

This man is really pushing my buttons now.

“About?” I grit my teeth. I would punched him if he was not a prince.

“About how you taste, My lady. Your lips are so inviting and delicious.”

He even licks his lips and gives me that witty smile.

“This conversation is over. Discuss business with Kanye,” I say and leave him there.

I find Kanye in the lounge. He is standing in front of the window facing the garden. He must have seen everything.

“You and the prince?”

I huff and head to my room. He set me up, I am certain of it.

A few minutes later, he is knocking on my door.

I ignore him, but he won’t leave.

“Angel please don’t be mad at your brother. I have a surprise for you.”

I roll my eyes when he walks in and flash me that smile.

“I hate men, Kanye. Don’t try to set me up.”

He unexpectedly hugs me. This family is big on hugs. I somehow always feel at home in their arms.

I let out a sigh and rest on his strong shoulder.

“That bastart you married is not all men, Princess,” he says angrily. Erick has that effect on him. I don’t know what will happen the day they meet.

I move my head back to look at him.

“Still. I don’t want any relationship right now.”

He nods.

“The prince is captivated by you. He is convinced that his search is over. I will ask him to give you space.”

“You will do that for me?”

We are rich but the prince is royalty. I know that it won’t be easy for him to tell him to back off.

“Of course. You are my sis. I will die for you.”

My heart melts. I can’t believe that I missed out on being protected like this growing up.

“I love you, Bro.”

He chuckles and hugs me tighter.

“Love you too, sis. Want to go watch Kayl perform on Friday?”

“I would love that.”

“Swell! I will book the VIP section. Don’t tell Kayl, we will surprise him.”

I accompany him to the golf course the following day. I roll my eyes when several women show up in their skimpy golf attires. My brother and his friends are catches and loaded. Women do all crazy stuff to get closer to them.

“Hi Akela.”

I don’t even know these women, but I am Kanye’s sister, they suck up to me. I wave and focus all my attention to the laptop in front of me. I would not have come here had Kanye not insisted and bribed me with the ice-cream we will have later.

I am irritated when one stands above me and reads what I am working on. Talk about lack of boundaries!

“Business models? I took a course on that. I can help you with it if you want,” she suggests.

It is early in the morning, yet they are here. I wonder if they really have nothing more important to do than chase after wealthy men. I can’t believe that Erick thought I was like these women. The more I see them, is the more I am furious about every hurtful word he said to me.

“Thanks. My brother is helping me.”

Her eyes lights up before taking a seat next to me. She took my police response as an invitation.

“Of course! Kanye is the best business man in Hawaii, after you’re your father, of course.”

I let out a sigh and fight the urge to chase her away.

“I am Alohi, by the way. Your family does business with mine. Maybe Kanye has mentioned me.”

“Sorry, I just got to know my family. I have not paid attention.”

I am doing my best to be polite with her. I have heard her name a multiple times. Kanye hates her and avoids her like plague. I am hoping she would leave and let me continue working in peace.

“Really? Not even once?” she urges, desperation evident in her voice. “A…L..O..H..I,” she spells her name as if I am some idiot. “Do you maybe have problems hearing?”

I let out a sigh, she is really pushing her luck and pushing my buttons. No wonder Kanye hates her.

“My sister would not know you because I have never mentioned you,” his menacing voice reminds me of Erick. I never even stalked him like this, yet he treated me like a psycho. I quickly shut him out of my mind. The bastard is history.

“Kanye!” she exclaims excitedly, while I shake my head.

I was once poor, but I don’t recall being like this with rich guys.

“Stop harassing my sister and stalking me. I will get a restraining order against you.”

She repeatedly blinks her long fake lashes and shakes her head.

“I am not. I came to play golf.”

Kanye raises his eyebrow and points out, “Really? It does not look like you are doing that.”

I guess these are the joys of being an illegible bachelor.

She flashes him a smile and hurries off. That is when I notice the dak, tall, handsome man he was playing golf with. The way he is looking at me makes me self-conscious.

“So, this is the gorgeous princess of the Forrest empire?” he asks charmingly before bowing his head and planting a kiss on my hand. “I am Ikakia of Kapule Corp.”

“Yes and she is off limits,” Kanye responds and protectively pulls my hand away from him.

“I was just greeting her, man,” he cries and acts all wronged. I am getting used to this.

“Not acceptable.”

I don’t even turn to see who said that. Kanye promised me that he would not be here, but here we go.

“Your Highness,” Ikakia greets, while I give my brother a stern look.

“She is off limits. You do not touch or kiss any part of her body.”

The prince’s firm tone prompts me to turn and look at him.

Ikakia bows respectfully and apologises, “Forgive me, Your Highness. I had no idea that she was spoken for.”

“She is.”

I narrow my eyes at the prince announcing his claim on me. It will repel unwanted attention, but I can’t risk him thinking that he owns me.

“I am not and not planning to be.”

I back away and hide behind my brother when he approaches. The expression on his face tells me that he is up to no good.

“Your Highness, a word,” Kanye says, taking his attention away from me. My hero.

I watch them move a distance from us. I hope he tells him to back off.

“The prince, huh?” Ikakia asks, amused.

“There is nothing between us!” I snap and he laughs. That came out more defensive than I intended.

“Are you sure? You sound very defensive, Your Grace.”

I clench my fists and suppress the urge to punch his face. I am going to hit a lot of rich idiots at this rate.

A day before my homecoming ball, I have had it with Kanye and Kayl’s friends.

“That’s it. I am not going anywhere with you,” I declare and mom laughs.

“Come on, sis. You are the gorgeous heiress of the Forrrest empire. You can’t blame them,” trust Kayl to say this.

All his hip-hop friends are unrestrained. They have been on my face since we attended his concert. He announced to the whole world that I was his sister. Now I wish I stayed unknown. One of his friends has even composed a song about me. The interviews he does about the meaning of the song are just shameless.

“Maybe I should befriend Inoa, Alohi and that girl who has tattoos of you,” I suggest and they cry out in unison, “No!”

“I do get bored. They can come and keep me company here at home.”

Dad laughs when they frantically shake their heads. Those are their stalkers.

“Fine. We will keep our friends away,” they concede while I flash them an innocent look.

“And my princess wins!” Dad beams proudly. “You will make a great business woman, Angel,” he adds. That is what I plan to be.