“No, you won’t,” he says with a sly grin. “You’re going to stay with this woman no matter what. I can tell.”
“Yes, I am,” I say with a small smile.
“How about this, then? Let’s go to London tomorrow to meet with the team. Give her a few weeks to worry. We get started on the product line, and when you get back, she knows she can’t treat you like that again.”
I consider his words, wishing like hell that this offer wasn’t coming at this exact moment in my life. My gut hardens. “You have no idea how badly I want to say yes right now.”
“Then do,” he answers. “It would be the smartest decision you’ll ever make.”
Shaking my head, I say, “I know it would, but the thing is, I can’t keep breaking promises to her, especially when I’m a big part of the reason her whole world is falling apart. But if your team could give me a bit of time, I’ll get to London as soon as possible.”
He breathes out hard through his nose and I know he’s not happy. “When? A day? Two days?”
I almost say yes, but deep down, I know a couple of days won’t cut it—not when things aren’t going to get easier for her until after the final episode of the show. “Realistically, it would be more like a few weeks, possibly a month. She and I promised each other to stick together while the show airs, so I can’t very well say, ‘good luck with that, see you when it’s over.’”
“Seriously?” he asks, looking quite annoyed. “I’m offering you the chance to have your name on the world’s best outdoor gear and you want to hold up my entire team so you can go hold your girlfriend’s hand for a month? I’m about to make you wildly rich, Will—beyond what you ever dreamed. All you have to do is say yes.”
This is it—a chance for steady money for the first time in my life, which would make me far more acceptable in the eyes of Arabella’s family, and in my own, for that matter. I could give herallthe things—stability, an amazing lifestyle, freedom, a home worthy of her. But if I say yes, at this moment, when things are falling apart between us, there’s almost no chance of sharing any of it with her.
I blow out a long puff of air and rub one hand over my scruffy chin. “Believe me, Kenneth, I know this is the greatest offer I’ll likely ever get and that turning it down is one of those things I will quite possibly look back on and deeply regret, but the thing is, all the money in the world is worth nothing if I don’t have her to share it with.”
Kenneth stares at me for a moment, then says, “I’m serious, Will. I’m not going to make this offer twice. I have a corporation to run, and if you don’t want in, I’ve got to move on.”
My gut flips and my heart drops down to my knees. “No, I want in, believe me. And I get that you’re the kind of guy who moves fast. In fact, I admire you for that.”Don’t say it. Don’t turn him down. Take the money. “But as grateful as I am for the opportunity, I can’t say yes. Not right now.”
“Is she really worth giving it all up for?”
“Yes, Kenneth, she is.”
17
When You Sink So Low, Even You Can’t Stand Yourself…
Arabella
Princess Arabella Allowed Out of Her Luxury Prison to Attend UN Conference in Vienna
Written by: Uma Yung, Royal News Correspondent, The Daily Times
Avonians the nationover are finding themselves utterly irritated with fourth in line for the throne, Princess Arabella, after comments she made about the trials and tribulations of royal life were made public last night. A generally quiet, and for the most part respectable member of the royal family, Her Highness has been making waves over the last six months, including sneaking away to film a reality TV show,Princess in the Wild, with professional survival expert Will Banks, with whom she is currently romantically involved.
The patron of dozens of charities throughout the kingdom, Princess Arabella has been a steadfast source of grace for the oft-troubled family. But last night’s comments shocked and horrified even her most fervent fans. Several royal bloggers took to their computers last night to express their disdain for her complaints about royal life. Granted, during the audio recording of her confession, she did make mention of the fact that complaining about her privileged and luxurious life was not something she should do openly.
The palace clearly agrees that this is a total blunder, having put out the following statement only one hour after the show aired:
“Princess Arabella’s comments were made at a moment of weakness during her difficult time in the harsh jungle environment, after a long day of hiking through treacherous terrain. At the time she made them, she was suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, and severe epidermal injuries to both ankles.
“The show’s producers chose to take advantage of her in this weak state and it must be stressed that she believed this was a private conversation between herself and Mr. Banks, and at no time was she informed that their conversation was recorded, neither before, nor after, filming.
“Always a reliable champion of her many causes, Princess Arabella has a generous nature, an open heart, and is overwhelmingly grateful for the blessings she has received in her life. We ask that Avonians take those comments with a grain of salt and a full understanding of the context in which they were made.”
Whether or not Her Royal Highness meant the comments, they have certainly proved themselves to be wildly unpopular, earning her the nickname Princess Precious by one particularly popular royal blogger who goes by the name of KingSlayer99. Time will tell how this latest royal scandal plays out, but one thing is certain, Avonians throughout the kingdom will be glued to their television sets every Thursday night to see what she says next.
“Bollocks,” I mutter, leaning my head back against the leather headrest. I lift my gaze from my mobile phone and out to the streets of Vienna, as we travel toward the United Nations Conference Centre. Oh, to be back in the Caribbean with Will, floating along on the sea together, talking and laughing and making love. It seems impossible that that was only a few weeks ago, when I’m here alone, rain drizzling down while my entire world feels like it’s falling apart. But there I go complaining again, which apparently isno bueno. At least I can escape the media ugliness for a few days and focus on something important.
I cannot believe the palace went with the exhaustion and dehydration thing. Honestly, that’s like the publicist’s last desperate refuge. It makes me seem like I’m hiding a serious drug addiction instead of just being a whiny brat.
My phone rings and I see that it is my assistant, Mrs. Chadwick, calling. I sigh and answer it.
