Victoria felt her face heat a little bit. "I do miss you, but I also want to be there for you when you need me."
The carefree part of him slipped just a bit. "Whenever you want to come, I'd love to have you here."
"Would it be best if I was there before..." She didn't know how to finish the sentence.
He nodded. "That would be good."
She sucked in a breath. "I hate doing this while you've got so much going on, but you need to know what happened."
"What's going on?"
"The Director of Public Relations was here a little while ago. Ten pictures of us were released on a local tabloid site. They don't know who you are - yet - but the presumption is that I'm with my fiancé." She bit her bottom lip waiting for his reaction.
Weariness slid onto his face then off again just as quickly. "Thank you for letting me know." He looked at someone beyond his camera. "I have to let you go, Victoria. I'll talk to you soon."
Before she could say goodbye, the call was disconnected.
Mind made up, Victoria stood, went to the bedroom and pulled her suitcase out of the closet.
It was time to join her husband.
Enzo lookedup from his desk when the door to his office opened.
“There’s someone here to see you, sir.” His aide stepped to the side to allow the person to enter.
He blinked, smiled, then stood and moved around his desk. “Victoria.”
She took his outstretched hands and accepted his kiss to her cheek. “Hi.” Her voice seemed a little... something. Shy? Awkward?
They hadn’t seen each other in a couple of weeks - after knowing each other only a couple of weeks to start with. Could that be it?
“What are you doing here so soon? I didn’t think you’d be here for a couple of days.” He’d told her there was no reason to rush, though soon would be good.
“I was able to get a flight almost immediately, so I thought I would pack a few things and come now. Everything else will be here in a few days.” A look of uncertainty settled on her face. “That’s all right, isn’t it?”
His smile remained fixed. Always happy. But in this case, he truly was. “Of course.” He squeezed her hands then let one go as he turned to lead her to the sitting area of his current office. It wouldn’t be his for much longer.
He would be getting a new one. It came with the promotion.
“How are you?” Victoria asked as they each sat in one of the chairs.
The smile slipped, just a little bit. “I’m all right. Worried about my mum and my siblings. My papa passed a few years ago, so at least he doesn’t have to see her decline.”
“I met her a couple of times, years ago, but it’s probably been ten years or so.” She reached her second hand over and covered their joined hands with it. “But how are you? Really?”
Could it be that she didn’t completely believe the happy smile? He fixed it more firmly into place. “I’m all right. It’schallenging learning to take on more of her job than I ever have before.”
“The palace still hasn’t released a statement?” she asked gently. “I don’t know much about the culture here or the relationship your family has with the press and people, but...” Victoria didn’t finish her thought but Enzo knew what she was asking.
“I’m following the directions of my advisors,” he told her. “My mum hasn’t wanted to make an announcement just yet. She’s still trying a couple of new treatments. Until she knows for certain they won’t work...” His smile started to slip, but he wouldn’t let it fall completely.
Enzo knew Victoria would follow what he wasn’t saying. The treatments weren’t working. They wouldn’t work. His mum refused to admit that to him, and likely not to anyone else either, even herself. Her doctors might be the only ones who truly understood.
Victoria gave him a nod and didn’t push him any further. She let go of his hand and reached for her phone. “Sorry. Only a few people will come through my do not disturb settings.” After reading the screen, she closed her eyes and her shoulders slumped a little bit.
“What is it?”
She turned to him with a sigh. “They think they’ve figured out who is in the photos with me. At least they’re 90% sure it’s you.”
