Royal Pain in the Ass, page 13
“Is anyone else here?”
“No, why would there be?”
“Good, we need to have a discussion.”
“Great,” I rubbed my temples. “What would you like to discuss?”
“Don’t take that ungrateful tone with me.” Millie growled.
“Millie, it’s really hard to be nice to someone who obviously hates your very existence. I don’t know what I did to you, but I’m sorry for whatever it is. But let me tell you this much, I’m being very nice to you right now, I’m trying very hard to be cordial, and just so you know, you make that really, really difficult.”
“I am gracious enough to invite you into my home, you ungrateful wretch, and you dare to talk to me that way?”
“Millie, what do you want?”
“Do not snap at me!”
“Then get to the point.”
“Do not tell me what to do, least of all in my own home.”
I sighed and fought the groan. “Millie, you know how you find me annoying and utterly insufferable?”
“Yes,”
“The feeling is mutual.”
“I want you to leave.”
“Excuse me?”
“I want you to go back to where you came from.”
“Millie, my passport has been revoked by the king. I can’t leave.”
“As soon as it’s returned, will you?”
“No,”
“Why are you really here? Are you looking to get Angelica’s inheritance? Are you trying to find some royal to mooch off of?”
“Excuse me?”
“Why else would you try to ruin what Angelica has with Ethan.”
I shook my head, fighting to control my anger. “You can see whatever you want Millie, I can’t be your eyes. But maybe if you opened them every once in a while and really decided to look at what was really there you’d be able to see so much more.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m not trying to ruin Angelica and Ethan. Do I think Ethan is a player? Yes. Do I think he’s good enough for Angelica? No. Do I want to hurt Angelica? Of course not. My question is, what makes you think I want to?”
“You say you don’t want it, but I can’t believe you.”
“Why is that?”
“You are your mother’s daughter.”
“What exactly does that mean?” I asked through clenched teeth.
“It means, your mother was little more than a floozy, a tramp, a whore,”
“You shut your mouth right now!” I roared. I felt rage coursing through me. “You can hate me, insult me, do whatever you want to me, but don’t you dare insult my mother! Not to me! If you want to talk shit behind my back, go for it, but if you think I’m going to sit idly by while you defame my mother’s character, you have got another thing coming.”
“Awfully defensive of something you know nothing about,” Millie replied a coy smile on her face. I wanted to slap that look off of her face.
“What is going on in here?”James stormed in. “Millie? Juliet? What is going on ?”
“James, she comes in here and starts badmouthing my mother. It really pissed me off. Would you please ask her to keep her shit slinging mouth to herself about my mother in my presence?”
“Juliet, do not speak to Millie that way. She is your stepmother, and you need to respect her.” I choked back a response as he continued. “As for you, Millie, what did you say to get her this angry?”
“The truth,”
“She called my mother a whore,” I snapped back.
James pursed his lips, closed his eyes, and a pained look crossed his face. “Millie, do not ever use that word for Rose again.” Every syllable was shaking with a quiet rage. The same sort of rage that he had this morning. “Rose was not a whore, and if we’ve discussed this once we’ve discussed this a thousand times. Rose had no idea I was engaged. It was my mistake, my shortcoming, and you can’t blame her for not knowing. She had no idea who I truly was until just before she left.”
I was watching them both through narrowed eyes. “What exactly happened?” my voice didn’t sound like me; it was shaking, nervous of its own accord.
James gave me a sad look and sighed. “This is a long story. Millie, I think it’s best you leave,”
“Excuse me,”
“Millie, get out,” James warned. The look of contempt on Millie’s face was clear as day, and her hatred rested on me.
“We’ll continue our discussion later,” Millie warned as she stormed out.
James sat down on my bed and slouched down, holding his head in his hands. “You’ve inherited our grief, and for that I’m sorry. This is a long story. It started almost twenty-three years ago, you’ll be twenty-two here soon, if I’m not mistaken.” I felt myself nodding. “I met your mother in Paris. We were at the Louvre looking at the same painting. I saw her and to this day, she is still the most beautiful woman I have ever met. I had to know her name. Rose. I can’t imagine a better name. She was smart, funny, inquisitive, and everything I could have ever dreamed of in a woman. She didn’t realize who I was right from the start. Even when she started grasping who I was, it wasn’t until just before she left that I really explained it. It was the best term of my life. I was sent away for school. She and I happened to be close by and continued out little romance. At the end of the term, we began discussing the future. I informed her I was engaged.”
“Right about the time she left?”
“Just before.”
“No wonder she didn’t tell you about me.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“She was testing you. You gave her reasons to doubt you, and rightly so. She left, you didn’t come after her. I understand her logic.”
“She could have told me she was expecting you!” James huffed.
“She didn’t know about me until after she was home. She found out, her parents threw her out and she took care of me. Alone. A single mother. And she did one hell of a job.”
“Why wouldn’t she tell me? I would have taken care of you too.”
“It wouldn’t have proved you loved her. You may have loved her at one point, but not to the extent you want everyone to believe.”
“How would you know my feelings?”
“If you loved her, like you said you did, you would have gone after her,”
“I had responsibilities,”
“You chose business.”
“I had obligations. You don’t understand. How could you?”
“If I loved someone like you claim to, I couldn’t just let them go. My mother loved you until the day she died. I understand why she was always so sad now. I would be too. To love someone as much as she loved you and know it wasn’t reciprocated. That would break my heart too.”
“Juliet! I will not be lectured by my own child. I have made mistakes, and I have tried to atone for my sins. I was eighteen, what else was I supposed to do? Be thrown out of the family?”
“Mom did.” That shut him up. “After they threw her out, Mom’s parents never spoke to her again. I met them at her funeral. Mom didn’t take the easy way. The easy way would have been to just get rid of me. She didn’t want that. For that, I respect my mother more than anyone else in this world. I’m sorry James, but I’ve lost a lot of respect for you.”
“Juliet, good night,” James stood up haughtily and stormed out without sparing me a glance. I was glad. I knew the look on my face wasn’t pleasant.
The more I thought about it the more I realized I didn’t like who James was back then. My mother was a poor lovesick fool who fell for someone not worth her time. I felt the anger at her situation fill me up. She had truly loved James, and I was glad I hadn’t known him growing up. I had nothing but good memories as a child. My mother loved me more than anything else in this world. We never had it all, but there was always enough. If James had been a part of my life, it would have broken something in my mother to watch him be with someone like Millie. To have to hand me off would have too. Not to mention I wasn’t accepted in this world, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to be who I am today if I had known him all my life. I needed to get my mind off of this topic.
I can’t tell you how happy I was when I saw Xavier sneaking in, Gwen hot on his heels.
“How ready are you?” Gwen smirked.
“More than I can explain,” I offered with a smile. “Xavier, I can’t explain to you how grateful I am.”
Xavier sighed. “Just don’t get caught.”
“Don’t worry, I’m a ninja!” I smiled and hugged him. “Well Gwen, let’s be off!”
Gwen led me through the servant passageways, or secret escape routes as we were now calling them and an hour later, Gwen had me in a tight black halter dress and a pair of combat boots and the way she did my make up made me not look like me again. She then straightened my hair within an inch of its life. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I look like an angsty teen.” I chortled.
“You look hot.”
“All I need is a cigarette and a sign that says ‘you’ll never understand me’ and maybe a hoodie and it’ll complete the look.” I laughed. “Is there more eyeliner on my eyes or on that pencil?”
“Shut up, you look unrecognizable.” Gwen growled.
“That’s true.” I laughed.
“Now, shut up, and cooperate.” Gwen grabbed my hand and pulled me out of her window. It didn’t take us long before we were watching the Flaming Penguins performing. Tracy had found a new boy to try to seduce, Sam was watching the boy from before, and Gwen and I were chatting and drinking. I was so thankful for the drinking tonight. It was helping me not to think. When the boys finished I went up to Harper.
“Hello you,”
“What’s up, kid?”
“Packing up. You look nice,”
“I look like Panic! At the Disco.” I laughed.
“You look fine,”
“I go from nice to fine? Ouch,”
“That’s not what I meant,”
“I know. I’m only teasing. I have a question for you.”
“What’s that?”
“Can I borrow your guitar?”
“Aww you want me to teach you?”
“Pshaw, I already know how to play.”
Harper handed his guitar to me and I plopped myself down on the edge of the stage and it felt good to have an instrument in my hands again. I started absently strumming and carried on our conversation as though nothing was happening.
“You’re actually pretty decent at that.”
“I’m not decent, I’m amazing,” I smiled. “This is nothing. I just needed some kind of music in my life again.”
“Meaning?”
“Being who I am, I need music. Music is my life. Since I’ve been here, I haven’t had any sort of musical instrument in my hands, thus I have all this pent up frustration.”
“I can help you get out some of that frustration.” Harper suggested as he wagged his eyebrows.
I let out a laugh. “I’m good.”
“Aww,” he pouted, sticking out his bottom lip.
“A little farther, not quite out there far enough.” He obliged and I shook my head. “Nope, still not far enough. Sorry. Guess you lose.” I started actually playing music now and realized Harper and I had accumulated a few stares. “I don’t think your fan girls like me.” I teased, looking at all the women glaring at me.
“The blokes aren’t too happy I’m sitting next to the most beautiful girl in the room.”
“You are? Where?” I asked looking around cheekily.
Harper sighed and gave me a gentle push. “You are going to drive me mad, woman.”
“I’m mad as a hatter.” I grinned. “I need some company.”
Harper was so easy to talk to. He made me feel like I was back home again. Before I knew I was the daughter of a duke, before Mom was gone. Like I was just a normal twenty-something year old college student who had no idea what they wanted out of life.
“Juliet,” Gwen sang as she pulled the guitar out of my hands and instead handed me a beer. “I’ll watch Lucy while you drink that.”
“Gwen, give me Lucy,” Harper warned.
“Come and get her. I’m stealing the love of your life!” Gwen cheered as she took off to the other side of the bar, dodging in between different groups of people, much to their disapproval. I laughed and enjoyed the show when I felt someone sit next to me.
“Hello there gorgeous.”
I looked over and smiled and rolled my eyes. “Would you like to dance?”
I shook my head. “My dance partner is currently being chased around the bar.”
“Would you consider me a place holder?”
“I have not had enough to drink to start dancing with strangers.”
“Should I buy you another drink then?”
“No,”
“Are you hitting on my girlfriend?” Gwen asked suddenly on my lap.
I looked up to see Harper now holding Lucy and Gwen’s arms went around my neck.
“Baby, I think we need another shot and we need to dance.”
Gwen took my hand and stood and was dragging me across the bar in all of about two seconds. “That is Parker, stay away from him.”
“Okay,”
“Now, dance with me darling.” Gwen pulled me out on the floor and we danced and drank when I felt something vibrating in my pocket. I pulled out the phone Xavier had given me.
“Hello? Hang on, I can’t hear!” I went into the ladies room.
“Juliet? Juliet? Where are you ?”
“What? Hey Xavier!”
“What time is it?” Xavier chided.
“I don’t know, I’m not wearing a watch.”
“It’s nearly three in the morning.”
“Oh . . . okay?”
“The arrangement was for you to be home by two.”
“Oh, yeah . . . I might have forgotten that part. I’m sorry . . . I might be a little drunk.”
I heard Xavier sigh and grumble something under his breath. “Juliet, where are you?”
“Hang on, let me find Gwen and ask.”
I went back out and Gwen was dancing with some guy with dark hair and a leather jacket.
“Gwen!” she looked over and waved me over to her.
“Gwen, we’re running a little late.” I whispered to her.
“Meet Nathan!” she indicated the boy she was dancing with.
“Gwen, we’ve got to get going.”
“Nonsense the night is still young!”
“Gwen, Xavier is on the phone!”
“So hang up.”
“Gwen!”
“Fine, give me the phone.”
I watched Gwen nodding and mhmming for a few minutes. “Shut up you insensitive prick! You’ll be lucky if I get her home by noon tomorrow!” she screamed and hung up.
“What just happened?”
“He’s a jerk and you don’t need him.”
“Gwen, he’s my advisor, I kind of do.”
“No, what we need is another drink!”
“Gwen,” I whined as she pulled me over to the bar and ordered two shots.
“Drink this.”
“Gwen, stop it. I’m not drinking anymore.”
“Why not?”
“Gwen, Xavier is risking his job, letting me come out like this. I know you don’t like him, but come on.”
“I’m too drunk to drive, and Sam isn’t ready to leave yet.” Gwen sighed.
“Gwen, this is not cool.” I warned and stormed off. I took my phone back and called Xavier back.
“Juliet? What is going on?”
“I don’t know. My head hurts, and I just, I don’t know.”
“Where are you? I’ll come get you.”
“I don’t know.”
“Find out.”
“Xavier, if you come to find me, I have a feeling it will be very bad. I’ll find a way home. I’ll call you back in a little while.”
“Juliet, be safe.”
“I will.”
I hung up and looked around. Gwen was flirting with Nathan and I was feeling alone.
“Jules,” Harper was suddenly behind me. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“I have to go, but I can’t.” I mumbled.
“Where do you have to go?”
“Home.”
“Okay, if you want I can take you.” Harper soothed. “Let me tell Gwen,”
“No, Gwen doesn’t want to leave. She’s mad at me.”
“Hey, kiddo, it’s fine. Let’s just tell her bye.” Harper led me over by the hand to say bye. “Hey, Gwen, I’m going to take Juliet home, you coming?”
“No,”
“Do you need a ride later?”
“I can find my own ride, I’m fine.”
“Gwen, if you need me, give me a call.”
“I know Harper, you’re always there for me.”
“Night, Gwen.”
“Juliet, be careful.” Gwen pulled me into a hug. “Be very careful.”
“I will, you too.”
She nodded and Harper led me out to his car. “Juliet, you look really upset. You seem like you have been all night. You okay?”
“Yeah, let me make a quick phone call.” I dialed Xavier.
“Juliet?”
“Yeah,”
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah, I’m on my way home,”
“How long?”
“Harper, how long?”
“Who’s Harper?”
“The waiter you were a dick to.”
“Oh, I remember him. Hand him the phone.”
I shrugged. “Harper, Xavier wants to talk to you.”
I tuned out until I heard Harper getting frustrated.
“Are you referring to her father? Yeah, I’ve heard of him. But who he is doesn’t define who she is.” Harper growled. “I’m bringing her back. You can relax. I’ll have her back when I get her back, safe and sound. I’m not about to let anything happen to her. . . . Listen dickhead, it’s not like I’d let something happen to her. . . . . Would you chill the fuck out. I told you I’m on my way with her, now here’s Juliet,I need to focus on driving, I wouldn’t want to drive off a bridge or anything.” Harper snorted and handed me back my phone.
“What just happened?” I asked Xavier.
“It’s nothing of consequence.”
“Well, you pissed Harper off.”
