The Playboy Prince's Dilemma: Bloodshed or boardroom

2020, February 14th

(Velora, Stormhold)

AIDEN

Elena walked through the doors of the candlelit restaurant and my fear that I made a mistake by coming tonight was confirmed. Why did I let my ex-fiancée, Avory Moore, sway me into believing she would actually show up tonight?

Newly engaged to Stormhold's monarch, King Theron, Queen Avory Moore had nothing to offer me. And yet, when she called and said she wanted to return my mother's ring to me in person, I gladly agreed.

If only to see her one last time.

"Avory sends her regards," said Elena, taking the seat across from me.

Elena put the ring box down in front of me. I just stared at it. Not once but twice has this ring failed to get me married. The bloody thing was obviously cursed.

"Avory really did want to come Aid, but Theron just isn't —"

"Since when are you and Avory such besties?" I asked, draining the glass of champagne in front of me in one go.

Elena and Avory were cousins. Who was I kidding? Elena was so much more than my ex's cousin. She was my first love. My best friend of ten years. My one that got away. Not Avory. Not my first fiancée, Jane. They were heartbreaking to lose, to be sure, but no one ever truly compared to Elena Moore.

"I guess things are better now that you're not in the picture. I'm even allowed to attend the wedding now," said Elena, looking at me with pity in her eyes.

"Well whoop de doo for you."

Those puppy dog eyes didn't fool me. Once, but not anymore. This was exactly what Elena wanted. She didn't want me, but fuck knew no one else could have me. I didn't have it in me to be toyed with tonight. The heartbreak from my newest failed engagement was fresh. Raw. Remaining in Elena's company would only make matters worse.

So I got up, pocketed the ring box and threw a few bills down onto the table.

I was Prince Aiden Condron, second prince of Caspira. I was trying to blend in, a small miracle for someone like me. Giving my security detail the slip wasn't the issue. Their uncanny ability to show up when I used a credit card was. Which was why I paid my bills in cash.

Being on foreign soil meant I had a better chance than usual of success, but judging by the special treatment I received all night, someone here knew who I was. It was best not to linger.

I was about to walk out the door without another word when Elena took my hand and stopped me.

"What part of not friends did you not get?" I snapped, having disowned her and ended our friendship when I found out about her role in my failed engagement.

"I'm not sorry about keeping you and Avory apart," she said, after hesitating for a moment.

I didn't know why I sat back down, only that I couldn't quite help it. Maybe some part of me wasn't done tearing into her yet. Maybe part of me would never be done with Lady Elena Moore.

"I'm not sorry about Jane dumping you or John dumping me either," she continued.

Why wasn't I saying anything? Walking out the door? Why did it still matter what a bitch she was being?

I wanted to be anywhere but there and yet my legs failed to move.

"Pick another day, El. I don't have it in me to go ten rounds with you tonight, only to end up nowhere, like always."

Her piercing greys begged for me to stay, but I forced myself to get back up on my feet anyway.

"Then let's go somewhere this time," she murmured.

It had been a while since the last time I had heard that vulnerable voice. After everything we had been through, my heart should have been closed to her. Elena wasn't still supposed to be able to make me stay. Yet, stay I did.

"Another no strings offer from the woman who cost me not one but two fiancées? I think I'm going to—"

"No," she said, her voice firm and determined. "This time the offer is all of me, Aiden."

Her grey silver orbs brimmed with the same anguish they held during my engagement to Jane. At the time, she was planning to marry my brother, John.

"I know that you've been hurt before because of me, but you need to know why it keeps happening," she insisted.

Run. Whatever she's about to say, it's a trick, a lie, some sort of deception.

Everything with her was just an illusion.

We grieved John together. A man who, as it turned out, wasn't dead. That was the extent of our friendship. Only that look, it was unearthing things long buried between us.

Heartbroken, I needed someone to matter to. Just not her. It couldn't be her.

"I'm in love with you, Aid."

With those words she blew up my world. I just stared at her. I didn't love her. There had been other women. I had let go. Bloody hell, why wasn't I moving?

"I know how it sounds, believe me I do. When John ended our engagement and married Jane, I was prepared to be broken up about it forever. But he's not the one that lingers in my thoughts, Aid. He's not the one I can't quite get away from. Seeing you with Jane and Avory in ways you couldn't be with me hurt so badly. I didn't get it then. I do now. I hate that I hurt you, but I'm not sorry."

Once the shock wore off, the anger hit hard. It was too late. All those lonely nights she spent swearing up and down that it could only ever be John. All she wanted was John, John, John. How many times had I let her rip out my heart? How many times was I sure that she'd choose me?

"There's nothing between us but pain and resentment, Elena," I said, swallowing hard, desperate for air to flow normally through me again.

"I know," she said, getting up and coming over to cup my jaw. "After all these years spent watching you with other women because I couldn't admit what you were to me, believe me I know. I don't want to lie to myself anymore. So when you're ready, come and find me. This time I'll be whatever, whomever you need me to be, Aid. I want to make the pain stop for both of us."

With that, she simply walked away, like she hadn't just ruined my night.