Bella was curled up next to me, sleeping and dreaming
as we flew over the Atlantic Ocean. Charlie was also snoring while Linda and
Alice were awake. Linda was reading a book on her Kindle and Alice was staring
out the window, her face pursed in a grotesque frown. Alice blinked up at me,
her eyes vacant and she sneered as she got up, stomping to the bathroom in the
private jet.
It was going to be a long fucking trip. Why did I invite the devil spawn?
“Your highness,” said the steward. I blinked
up and smiled at him, blandly. He was looking at my girl with disdain. “I’ve
spoken with the captain and we’re on schedule to land in Gevalia a little after
seven in the evening. We were afraid that we would have to go around a storm,
but it dissipated, meaning it’s clear skies ahead.”
“Excellent,” I answered.
“Is there anything that you need, your highness?” He blinked
around the cabin, his nose wrinkled.
“None of your judgment and attitude,” I
replied. He stood up, his eyes wide.
“Your highness?” he sputtered. “I would
never.”
“You have, as soon as they walked on the
plane. Not royalty and, therefore, not worth your time. Why should you be
polite to these commoners?” I sneered. “That man? He has Parkinson’s disease, a
debilitating neurologic disorder and is in constant pain, losing more and more
fine motor control daily. He worked all his life to provide his daughters, but
when he was diagnosed, the woman next to me? The woman I love more than my own
life? She gave up her career as a teacher to come home and take over the family
business so her father and sister didn’t lose their livelihood or home. I don’t
need your sanctimonious crap, your derision. These people are my personal
guests and not pieces of garbage. If your attitude is anything like what I’m
going to expect in Gevalia, tell the pilot to turn around. I don’t want it.”
“My apologies, your highness,” he whispered.
“Don’t apologize to me. Actions speak louder
than words,” I scoffed. He nodded, scurrying away.
“Nicely put, Masen,” Linda quipped. “He was a
weasel.”
“He may be out of a job,” I grumped. “I won’t
have anyone give my girl or you any grief. Not some smug steward or the Queen
of Gevalia.”
“Or Alice,” Linda snickered.
I shrugged, leaning my cheek against Bella’s
head. I watched as we flew over the
ocean, seeing it morph into cloud cover and land masses. Eventually, my eyes
drifted and I woke up when the wheels touched down on the tarmac. When we
pulled into the hangar, the doors opened and we were greeted by Felix. He
welcomed our guests with a friendly smile. He also stamped passports and
escorted us off the plane. I briefly told him about the steward, who was
working with the flight crew to remove our luggage and avoiding my anger,
clearly. Felix told me he’d handle it and led us to a waiting convoy of cars. I
looked over my shoulder, watching as Felix dismissed the steward. The steward
was clearly angry, pointing to the car. Felix nodded curtly and two of
Gevalia’s military police placed cuffs on his wrists, leading him away to a
nearby squad car.
Private jet
Felix, Masen's personal valet
Royal SUVs
Château ...
