4

CARLY

“I’m sorry, Carlott. I can’t do this anymore.”

“What do you mean?” I had been crying since the report broke out, and my face was all over the news channel, social media, and gossip sites. And there was nothing good to say.

My hard work for years didn’t matter. I was just the rogue Princess. The charlatan.

Stellan looked in pain, struggling to tell me what he felt

about our situation because I knew he cared a lot about me. “I thought this would work, but clearly, I was wrong. I ruined your life, Princess. I can’t do this to you, your brother, and your family.”

“You did not ruin me or my brother or my family. These people ruined us. Why can’t we ever have a life as normal people do?” I held his hand. “Let’s get out of here and never come back. We’ll go somewhere that nobody would recognize us.”

“Running away is not the answer. You should face this and prove them wrong.” The moment he pulled his hand away, I knew he had given up. We barely started, but we were already over. 

I shook my head harshly. I could barely see him through my blurry eyes. “Don’t do this to me. I need you now, Stellan. Please?”

He shook his head as well. “I’m sorry, Princess. I’m so sorry. I hope, one day, you can learn to forgive me.”

“Don’t go, please?

I jolted up, wiping the tear that fell while I was asleep. That was the first time I had a dream about him in years. 

I loved him even if he left me hanging. He said it was for the best and did not even ask what was best for us or what I wanted. He just left. He left me when I needed him the most, when everyone, including my people and parents, turned their backs on me. Except for my brother, who understood my situation and my feelings toward his best friend.

Whenever I remembered what the media labeled me, it made me want to puke. It broke my heart over and over again. I wanted to hide—somewhere G****e maps could not locate me and live there alone until I grew old.

Since my country had lost its trust in me, I cast myself away. And here I was, living an ordinary life in a foreign land.

“Morning, Princess.” Heera was an early riser. “Coffee?”

“Thanks.” I joined her on the kitchen island. “How’s your job?” She found a better job at K & B Designs. That was how I found their official account on I*******m and fell in love with their designs.

“Great. And my boss is great too, handsome and taken.”

I sipped my coffee. “You will find a great man for you, Heera. Who knows? Maybe one of these days, you will bump into him and throw coffee into his well-tailored suit.”

She crunched her nose. “Not really my type. I want someone who’s strong and values his family, but whatever if he’s God given to me. Thank you.”

“Trust me. If you are not looking for him, he’ll just appear out of the blue.”

“Like your boss.”

“I like someone serious in life, in his job, in relationships, but I can’t stand a person who doesn’t value someone’s opinion and is too serious as a heart attack that doesn’t even smile.”

“Maybe he has a lot on his plate.”

“We have bad days, Heera, but not every day like my boss, who has billions but is never grateful.”

She sighed as she looked at me in disinterest. “What’s with you and your boss? Give him a reason to smile, then.”

“I admit, he’s good-looking.”

“You mean hot as f—” She widened her eyes at me. “Carly?”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine. He’s fine. He’s attractive.”

“What’s so hard in admitting the truth?”

I emptied my cup. “I gotta take a shower. I can’t afford to be late. Mr. Grumpy Billionaire never tolerates tardiness.”

An hour later, I entered the Langston Tower. My boss might have as well penthouse in this building. I joined my officemate in the elevator. Before the doors slid close, my boss just held it open, making everyone gasp.

My eyes went wide.

My breathing held. 

There he went, standing tall in all his hotness. He was fit but not muscular. And his thick umber hair looked like he just raked his long thick fingers through it.

His strong stone-blue eyes were pinned at mine. “Storm, out. Now.”

“Sir?” I asked, confused.

“Yes. You. Out.” He gestured his hand. The other was in his pocket.

Nobody moved. My officemate was patiently waiting for us. 

“Okay.” I swallowed hard. 

As if on cue, they step aside, giving me my way out.

I met his gaze as the elevator slid close behind me. “Am I fired?”

“You will get a notice if I fire you.”

I sighed and pulled out the iPad from my bag. After I unlocked the screen, I went to his schedule. Rome was already walking out of the building, and I had no choice but to follow him.

“Boss, do you have a meeting I didn’t know about?”

“No.” That’s all.

“Where are we going?”

“Storm, for once, just do as I say.”

“It’s Carly, sir.”

We stopped in front of the black sedan. A car door was already opened for us. 

Glaring, he ordered, “Get in.”

“I am entering the car now, sir.” I climbed into the car. Rome was already sitting on the other side. “Am I allowed to ask where we are going?”

“I’m free till the afternoon. I’m meeting a friend.”

“Okay.” I shut my mouth close. 

He went silent. I suddenly felt conscious sitting next to my boss, whom I called an arsehole. 

All I could hear was the humming of the car engine and my swallowing. My mind went back to my dream. What was that all about? And why all of a sudden, I was dreaming of one of the most painful memories of my life?

“Are you okay?”

“Huh?” I turned my head to my boss.

“You’re gripping the iPad too hard.”

“I’m fine. Thank you.”

“If you are not comfortable sitting next to me in the car. You can tell me now. We can use an SUV.”

“It’s all right, sir.”

“So why is a Brit working in New York? I mean, there are a lot of British and foreigners in the city. Why’d you choose New York?”

“What made you think I’m British?” I arched a brow. “Because of my accent?”

“I didn’t read your resume. I presumed you are.”

“I ran away from home, trying to escape from humiliation and heal my broken heart. Three years later, I find it hard to leave this city.”

“I’m sorry to hear about that. Is your heart healed?”

“I moved on. So as everyone.”

“Hmm.” That was all I got. 

The car slowed down. We are in front of the Kross Tower, his driver opening a door for me.

“Thank you.”

“My bodyguard, Zeeyad.”

“Nice to meet you, Zeeyad.”

He must be Middle Eastern based on his name and his goatee. “You too, ma’am. Just Zee.”

In the elevator, I stepped aside, but my boss stood beside me, giving way to the others who joined us. I didn’t know why I had to join him, meeting his friend. I’d rather work on my desk since he told me he would not bother asking me to run his personal errands, which I was grateful by the way.

We reached our floor. Then I finally realized where we were going, and I was already holding my boss on his arm with my eyes wide open, speechless.

When his gaze dropped to my hand on his arm, I had to let it loose. “Sorry.”

“Hi.”

“Good morning, Sir Langston. Miss Storm. Mrs. Creed is waiting.”

“Thanks.” I smiled at Mrs. Creed’s assistant.

He knocked and waited. 

“It’s open.”

When the door swung open, I was left behind. He went directly to get the baby girl sitting on the carpeted floor. She must be around two.

“My ever favorite girl.” He lifted the baby and kissed the chubby cheek. “I miss you, my darling.”

“She misses you, too. Right, Ame?”

I was even speechless to talk and introduce myself, but Adley Kross-Creed was already smiling brightly at me. 

“Oh, my God.” She barked out, laughing, not caring about the world. “I’m Adley.”

“I know you are, ma’am.”

“Please, don’t call me that.” She was still laughing. “I remember when Romare called me ma’am. Please, just Adley. Romare’s friends are my friends, too.”

“He’s my boss,” I answered shyly and shook her hand. 

“Come and sit with me. Is he still bossy and grumpy?”

I looked at him. He was still busy with the baby girl. 

“Don’t look at him.”

I smiled at Adley. “Yeah.”

“You’re not from around here. And I love your eyes.” She stole a glance at Romare, who was already looking back at her.

“Oh, thanks. My accent gave it away?”

“Your beauty too. And you’re tall. Are you a natural brunette?”

“You too. You’re more gorgeous than in the picture. And no.”

“Thanks. Blonde, maybe?”

I answered with a smile. 

“Rome, can you bring my baby here?”

Romare joined us with the baby in his arms like it weighed a feather. “Here you go.”

When the baby was already with Adley, she introduced me to her child, “This is Amelie. Ame, meet Uncle Rome’s new friend.”

Rome shook his head in amusement. “Done my part. You wanna meet my new assistant. Here she is.”

“She’s so pretty. Her eyes are stunning.” I ignored a little discomfort in my chest as I held the baby’s little fingers.

“We have this get-together every weekend. Romare missed a few weekends, though. And I would love it if you could join us, Carly.”

“Um.” I suddenly didn’t know what to say.

“She has plans with her friend, Adley.”