XLVIII

XLVIII

Clarissa Williams immediately started her work as soon as they touched down on London's airport. It had been two hours since they returned, but in her point of view, it seemed like a year because of non-stop phone calls, tower of paper works and everlasting updates. Then, the prince was lost in the thin air and she could not see him anywhere in the palace.

She read the financial report of Prince Alexander's office, which was done by Shirley Woodman. It was not needed because the latter was a responsible accountant, but that was the problem.

Now that Alexander got married to Shirley, it did not mean that the accountant would leave her ethical requirements. There was a high probability that Shirley would exchange her love to the prince for her profession. That was what human usually did. They needed money, not love. It would not give you food.

When she was checking the document, she was relieved when the miscellaneous expense account was the way it was and there were no notes at the end of the document saying anything about the prince relation to the AMFA.

I was wrong about her, Clarissa thought, she is different compare to Emily.

She went to the His Highness' office to see if the prince came back to earth and started working. However, the office was locked and when she opened it, she did not see a trail that the prince visited his office after going back from New York City.

His desk remained the same and nothing looked like disorganize. Everything was fine until she saw a picture on the floor, laying near the foot the table.

Her eyes widened when she realized what picture it was. She immediately entered the office and locked the door. It was not the picture she was worried about, it was the document under those pictures.

She grabbed the photo from the floor. It shown Prince Alexander and Princess Emily happily took a picture together in Maldives. Both of them were so young and really in loved with each other. Shirley resembled the young Emily.

She was right when she saw Shirley Woodman's curriculum vitae for the very first time during their search for a new accountant. The way she smiled. The way her blue eyes naturally glittered. The way her brownish hair elegantly waved on the side of her face. It was very similar to the prince's first love.

Even though she was from USA and getting her was very expensive and risky, because they could get another one who was more experienced and from England, Clarissa took the chance. She had only one goal: to stop the nightmare of the prince.

At first, she wondered if the two were relatives. She did a further investigation, there were no circumstances that the two were blood-related. They were just simply looked alike.

Seeing the prince fell in love again, she was grateful that she took all the risks of getting Shirley Woodman as his accountant. Clarissa was like a mother to him so she would do everything to prevent the prince from his rebellion.

Clarissa opened the drawer, where all the secrets of the prince were hidden, to keep the picture away from the present. She was thinking of burning these pictures before Shirley discovered it.

Before she could put the picture inside, she knew that something was missing. She slapped her face to make sure she was seeing right.

The folder of Prince Alexander's contract with AMFA was gone. She cursed loudly and automatically got her mobile phone from her pocket. She called His Highness immediately.

Prince Alexander answered the call after several rings that made Clarissa more infuriated. She put her palm on her forehead when the prince finally answered.

"What's wrong, Clarissa?" His voice was from the man who just woke up.

"Have you visited your office?" Clarissa asked while locking the drawer again.

"Not yet, I'll do my job later. Don't worry. I'm just fixing everything with..." She did not let him finish what he was saying.

"That's not the problem," she heard the prince sighed from the other line, "Your contract with AMFA was not in your drawer, unless you threw it away before going to your wedding."

"What are you..." he did not finish what he was saying because someone knocked on his door as what Clarissa had heard from the other line. When he opened his door, he said to his secretary, "Let's talk later. My father's men are here. I'll call you in an hour."

When the call was ended, Clarissa quickly exited the office and went to the third floor. All she could think was:

The King already knew about the prince's relation with AMFA!

-----

Queen Beatrice had a meeting with her charity directors when she received a call from Chicago. She excused herself and went to a small room in her office. She did not want someone to overhear her.

"Your Majesty," a low voice from the other line said.

"Richard," the queen need not to ask whom it was because she already knew, "Do you call for good news?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," he responded instantly, "We did as you wished."

"Good, enlighten me please," the queen commanded as if they were only having a sales talk for a new product.

"Mr. Woodman is in a hospital now and currently in comatose. He was crossing the street when one of my people hit him by a car. We did it professionally so no one could point who the suspect is," Richard told as if he was only reciting a story from children's book.

"Is that all?" The queen was out of patience to hear a simple story like that, "Do you think I'm satisfied of what you've done?"

"Your Majesty..." the man sounded scared as if he would die anytime.

"I want them to be out of the hospital and I don't care if Mr. Woodman is recovering or not. Make sure that no hospital will accept them, you understand?" The popular elegant voice of the most powerful woman of the palace turned into a monster. She was unrecognizable, evil and unloving unlike to her image being the queen of England.

She ended the call without waiting for the answer. What was essence of his answer if Her Majesty's command should be obeyed?

She came back to her charity directors as if nothing happened. She did it many times before; conscience was not an issue anymore. When it came to her position in this palace and Alexander's, she would do anything even being immoral was the consequence.

When the meeting started again, someone knocked on the door and barged in without the queen's permission. The three King's men bowed their heads before spoke to the queen.

"Your Majesty, the King wants your presence to his office," the man in the middle said.

"Why?" Was the only word that got out from the queen's mouth. She thought that the King needed her presence when there was a big problem.

She had no idea what the problem was until she thought of Shirley Woodman's case. What if the King learned about her plan.

"He just gave us a command, Your Majesty, we apologize," the same man answered politely.

Queen Beatrice did not ask again and went to his office with the king's men. She was calming herself. She kept on telling to her mind that nothing would happen badly.

When they arrived to the king's office, the queen gasped when he saw his second son kneeling on the ground while blood dripping from his left eyebrow. When Alexander looked at her, she saw dark circle around his same side of eye. The other side of his face was worse. His cheek was red because of slap or punch. His other eye had already closed. A wound printed on his lips.

"Alexander," the queen ran to her son, but the powerful voice of the king stopped her.

"Beatrice," in just one call of His Majesty, she stopped and stared at him. He was standing a meter away from where his son was kneeling.

"Gregory, what have you done to our son?" She shouted, almost damaging her throat.

The king laughed loudly, "So, you're playing innocent here Beatrice?" He walked toward his wife and at the same time, the queen knelt just like her son. The king's presence made someone melt to death.

His features raged with anger. He did not believe that the queen he had loved, encouraged her son to join the rebels of his government.

"I won't forgive you," he said and slapped the queen with his hard hand.

"Stop, Father, mother has nothing to do with this. I'm the one who joined them!" Alexander stood and walked to his parents, "I'm the one who wants Nicholas to be dethroned!"

The king gave his second child a punch that made the latter lied down on the ground.

"Because of what you've done, you're not going to like your punishments, especially you, Alexander, my prodigal son," the king ended his speech by kicking the younger one on his ribs. "You're a direct opposite of your brother."

(A/N: What can you say about this chapter? I hope I can get your insight by leaving a comment! :) I'll dedicate the next 3 chapters to the best 3 comments. Have a nice day! GOD bless!)