Kesia lifted her eyebrow, threading her fingers. “Does anyone know about the auction?”
“Only this Rasheed person, who’s been temporarily pacified,” she said. For how long? Blackmailers always came back, and if she were to stay with Nassor, most likely this Rasheed person would only demand more. Their relationship would suffer, certainly. Her heart squeezed in her chest.
Kesia waved her off, her bangles swaying with the swing of her hand. “Oh, I know dirt about Rasheed to keep him quiet, dear. Trust me.”
“Really?”
“His first wife had an affair when they got married and his first born isn’t his biologically. Of course, I’d never tell a soul, but he doesn’t know that. A proud, old-fashioned man like him would never admit to being cheated on.”
“Royalty is a lot like daytime soap operas.”
Kesia laughed. “Why do you think I was shunned? No one is innocent.”
“Thanks. I know Nassor has responsibilities, and he must marry. How can I be that person when I can’t let go of the past and what happened to my mother?”
“You can let go. I mean, I’m not talking about seeking justice. You should do all in your power to avenge Mary’s death.” The look Kesia shot her held the intimacy of a warm embrace, and somehow, it comforted her. “I’m just saying, if you love him, you can focus that energy into the future. If you think you can’t make it with him, then you’re right, by all means leave. A future queen should be resilient and strong. You should use your background and trials in life as a way to cement how much you’ve been through and use it to make great things as a queen. Not to let it make you feel unworthy or less-than.”
Izzy ran her fingers down the waves of her hair, processing the words she just heard. “I never thought of it that way.”
I’m fucking tired of these games. Of you not believing in me. In us. The regret in his voice echoed in her ears. Did he speak the truth? He’d given her the decision-making power about an issue that could highly impact his ruling as king. He’d trusted her.
“If you feel unworthy of him because of your background, you’re empowering all those people who did you wrong in the past. The ones you should let go.”
You’re just a lost soul, alone in the world. An old, sad voice whispered inside her, bringing back those days when she hid in the pantry for longer than she could count. When she’d prayed someone would adopt her. When she’d prayed she’d change and become more open like the other kids.
Do I still want to believe I’m alone? A lump lodged in her throat. Is it that hard to let go? “I thought I had let the memories go. I mean, I moved on and went to college, found work.” No. Determination bolted through her, and she sucked in her breath, ready to write her own future. To kick the past to the curb.
“Yes. That’s excellent, but you’re a smart woman. I’m talking about other opportunities. I love my son with all I’ve got. If you think you’ll be a weak queen and wife and will bolt at every obstacle, I understand you leaving. I wouldn’t want that for him.”
She straightened her shoulders in a regal move, stretching to her full height. “But if you’re strong enough to make it, then show it to him. Show it to yourself.”
…
“Are you sure about this?” his lawyer asked.
“Yes.” Nassor ran his fingers through his hair. He’d given Izzy the option, and she’d suspected his reasoning. Moving on with the charges and making them public was the only way to proceed. She’d been right—he had been selfish by thinking about the status quo of their relationship alongside what happened to Mary Roberts.
He’d meant to share a concern, as a partner, but she also had shown she wasn’t up to facing the downside of becoming royalty. The hard decisions. The regret. The victories.
“It’d be cleaner to—”
“We’re doing the right thing. We’ll call the police, hand them Obasi, and the names. They will take care of getting warrants from judges and arresting the culprits. I’ll be on their tail and will be sure to pressure them to help end this operation. More people don’t have to die over this.”
“Of course, sir. I’ll meet with John Williams now and talk to him. We may need the American woman, Ms. Lima, to come along tomorrow to testify.”
He jammed his hand into his pocket. “I’m sure she will.”
“Good.”
He shook hands with the lawyer, then in a matter of seconds, the healthcare council populated his conference room. The director of the project showed him a presentation about the new ways to make it more affordable for people. The memory of his friend Jonah popped in his mind. Yes. He wouldn’t have it any other way—he was no longer suggesting ideas to his uncle. He’d implement them, and help the needy.
“When can we execute this?” he asked.
The middle-aged woman with the short haircut fixed her glasses. “Well, Your Royal Highness, if you approve, we should get companies and businesses aboard with this plan in about six months. Then we can work on making new—”
The door swung open and Izzy stormed in, with Guban gesticulating behind her. “I’m sorry, Your Highness, I told her to wait to speak with you.”
Izzy held a silver plate in her hands with a half-moon lid. She walked up to him, a glint of mischief in her eyes, her expression soft and hopeful—much different than a few hours earlier. His gut clenched and then unclenched immediately after, as if she had the power to undo the knots in his stomach. Hell, she also had the power to cause them.
