LVIII

LVIII

"Why are you here?"

My question hung in the air as if no one heard me. Or, I was really alone in this room and only having an imagination. But, my heart drummed in my ribs like it used to be during my days with him.

I waited for him to move, but he stood still until I heard muffled sound outside. The door opened, revealing Isaac, hotel employees and some strangers. They were discussing something, but when they saw the man viewing the city, they halted and curtsied.

"Your Highness," they simultaneously said.

Mr. Legend spoke beside me, "I'm glad you're already here, Shirley. I hope Violet had told you everything."

It seemed I held my breath and stayed my gaze on him forever until I found myself again and turned my head to my current boss. I nodded, "Thank you for this opportunity, sir."

I did not know my real reason why I was thanking him. Was it for my additional compensation? Was it for another point of promotion? Was it I able to finally meet the prince again?

Before Mr. Legend could respond, the man, I was waiting to face me, finally did it. The time became slow as his whole body rotated to see everyone. My inhale hitched once I got the best view of his handsome face. His stunning green eyes roamed to all faces, but abruptly stopped before it could reach me.

Prince Alexander smiled a little that made my every organ jumped. I could not stop on checking him out from some creases on his forehead to stubble on his jaw and chin to his fitted shirt on his shoulder, chest and arm.

"You may sit down," his voice. Oh my gosh, the hot British accent, which followed me everywhere even in my deepest dream, had still same effect on me.

I sat on the nearest chair because my knees wobbled as soon as the last syllable came out from those sexy lips. I did not notice until now that there were chairs formed in a half circle in front of the table, where Prince Alexander took a seat behind it.

Isaac Warden stood on the left side of the prince, while Clarissa Williams was sitting on the opposite side and a laptop on her lap. She beamed when she caught me gawping at her, but it was not a smile of happiness of seeing a pal again after years. It was more a smile for a stranger.

"I'm not the one who gave you the opportunity," Mr. Legend whispered while rummaging the papers on his hand, "They picked you, Shirley."

I followed the trail of his gaze to see the person who gave me this work. His Highness sat comfortably on his swivel chair while listening to the head of hotel's management. I waited for him to capture my stares by his own, but in the end, I was only disappointed.

"As you all know," his words froze my universe, "We will hold an additional charity program for cancer and other fatal disease patients in your hotel, Tuesday next week. Clarissa will give you the list of people we invited."

Everyone but me reacted by nodding or giving their own opinions. I could not think straight because of the beautiful creature discussing about the program. I thought I just missed him like an ordinary girl missing her long distance boyfriend. However, I only realized at this moment that I missed him so much. Even the phrase 'I miss you' was not enough to the longing I had.

"Miss Woodman," someone called me, but my entire focus was only on one person.

I heard a series of coughs and clearing of throats before I realized I was still in a meeting and all eyes were on me, except Prince Alexander who found the documents more interesting than the woman he had loved before.

If Isaac was saying the truth, the prince should look at me now because he longed for me like I longed for him. But, the otherwise was happening. He did not give me at least a glance. There were a lot of possibilities playing in my head when Mr. Legend spoke again.

"Miss Woodman? These are the data needed for the budget."

What was he talking? The papers he handed to me were the answer. I tried to absorb the accounts printed on there, but nothing entered my brain. Maybe, my brain had already left its absentminded owner.

The discussion continued. Different suggestions presented until they reached a certain decision. It was obvious that I did not participating because I was busy planning on how I would talk to Prince Alexander.

We both needed to clear all what happened three years ago and our feelings for each other, if ever he still had it.

His Highness stood and we followed him. I only comprehended that the meeting ended when he said, "Thank you for your hard work. I'm hoping for the best in this event." All of us uttered our agreement. He walked to the front of the table and announced, "The accountant you assigned to me, please stay. Everyone, you may leave now."

The employees of the hotel took the opportunity to shake hands with the prince. Some even took a picture with him. I sighed and gathered my laptop and papers.

Goodness, how was I going to talk with him if he had meeting all day? He was not an ordinary human being. He was a prince, who took care of many people. But, was he using that freaking meeting with a certain accountant to avoid me? To hurt me because it should be me if I had stayed with him?

I would not give up. If I was not able to speak to him today, there was always tomorrow. If barging in was the only way to have his precious minutes, I would do that. Harassment was also on the top of the things-to-do-list.

"Shirley, where are you going?" Mr. Legend's question prevented me to take a step

I shook my shoulder, "Leaving?"

"Why are you going to leave?" He made me confused, "You have a meeting with His Highness."

My eyes became bigger and rounder, "Rea-" I cleared my throat and went back to my usual expression, "Really? Ah yeah, you assigned me to work for the budget. So, he was pertaining to me."

Mr. Legend said in a low voice, "Shirley, presence of mind, please. Accountants always need it. Okay? Relax. Tell me if you have a problem." He left with the other workers of our division.

Clarissa Williams and Isaac Warden also exited the office and I knew they were looking at me, but I was not able to return it. I was lost in my thought that after three years of only dreaming of him, I was going to have a private time with my nightmare, himself.

"Shirley, good luck," I saw Isaac peeking between the door and its frame before he totally closed it.

I was alone with him again and our memories together flashed as if it only happened yesterday. My heart suddenly became super active in thumping blood. I would have a heart attack any minute now if it did not come back in its normal pace.

Prince Alexander made his way to me as the result the zoo in my stomach went wild. He remained his eyes away from me, but I still set my own on him. He did not make any contact when he walked on my side, passing me. He locked the door of the office and stayed there for a few seconds.

Seriously, the atmosphere was awkward. We had not spoken to each other for a long while. How should I approach him? Or, should he be the first one to speak?

I kept on swallowing and fidgeting, until he turned himself to my direction and for the first time in thousand days, our eyes finally met. I stood very stiff and everything in me stopped.

In two long strides, he closed our gap. He was a foot away. I could not believe that I was able to smell him, to feel his heat and to see him again. My tears fell before I realized that I became emotional a minute ago.

My finger touched his exposed arm and that little contact created the same electricity. I sobbed, "You're real."

A satisfying smile formed on his face and he held my both cheeks, "Yes, I'm real and you're not a dream anymore."

I leaned on his touch and cried even more. Even though, my brain would not function properly, I still muttered, "We have a lot of things to talk about."

"I know," he softly said, "But, it can wait." His face got closer to mine, "This one can't."

His opened hot lips kissed me as if I was having my first kiss. Without a second thought, I put my hands on his chest and tiptoed to have more access of him. He wrapped his arm around my waist to support me. His other hand was on my neck, it helped to deepen the kiss.

I followed the movement of his lips until his kisses drowned me that I could not recall even my name.

We stepped backward until I felt a hard wall on my back. He was able to shove his tongue to my mouth when I was about to protest because his hands entered the hem of my dress. I protested not because I did not like it. Instead, I protested because anytime, someone might enter the office and caught us. But, he locked it, right.

He stopped kissing me. One swift, my business jacket and dress, including my undergarments, were gone. I was completely naked while he remained fully clothed. The scene was familiar, but it happened in my dream and his office in England.

He put us a little distance to observe me from head to toes. His gaze sparked with fire and he could not stop his grin. He was continually the pervert I knew.

I put my arms across my chest. He frowned and put my arms on my sides. He removed our space again and had his lips on my ear.

"Don't cover yourself, beautiful," he whispered huskily, which sent shiver on my spine, "You know what I could not look to you during the meeting, because I might adjourn it earlier than the necessary. I might not control myself and shouted to them to leave immediately and have you all by myself."

He started to kiss the skin below my ear. I held his shoulders while his hands were on my lower back. His nose grazed my neck, stopped on my bared shoulder and stayed his lips there.

Prince Alexander watched my face again after a few moments. He tucked my hair behind my ear and looked at me as if I was the only woman in the world.

"I should punish you by leaving me that night alone on a bed," he stated while his fingers tracing my hips, "Yet, be grateful that I'm not bad to the woman I love most."

My fear and worry transformed into excitement and affection that is more wonderful when I heard the four-letter word. I gawked at him like a lost beggar on the street.

"You're more than beautiful, Shirley," I totally melted once my name came out from his sinful mouth, "I love your new hair, I love how you reacted to me, I love all of you. Therefore, I decided that in lieu of punishment, we'll do my favorite activity. You can't fight against it."

I mimicked the evil grin plastered on his face, "Don't worry, I have no plan."

With that, he opened the door-I thought a wall-behind me, and it happened to be the master's bedroom. He kissed me again passionately and all I knew I gave him what he needed.

I missed him so much that I had no power to resist him even I had many words for him. Later, we must talk. Our talk was not only for the two of us, but also for our children's sake.

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