5. Independent Woman
5
INDEPENDENT WOMAN
ODETTE
I left the house for a benefit in an evening gown, dripping in a parure Alexandra and my brother-in-law, Rick, gave me for my birthday last year. Alexandra suffered from severe morning sickness during her fourth pregnancy. She and Rick were due to attend a Vision 360 benefit—ironically, aimed to stop pedestrian deaths. Given my recent run-in with a car, I probably was a little too close to the action.
Princesses were expected to attend such occasions. However, I’d been sidelined with school and life. Alexandra only let me out alone because she was desperate for coverage. Ingrid was at a horse show. Thus, I was all she had left at her disposal. Rick said he’d go if I couldn’t, but Alexandra truthfully wanted him to stay. It was a bluff. He wasn’t about to leave her, either.
An organiser greeted me at the hotel’s service entrance with a broad smile. Despite my nerves, her grin reminded me to have fun.
She bowed efficiently. “Your Royal Highness, we are so excited to have you.”
“Her Majesty and His Royal Highness send their best,” I said. “But she is quite under the weather.”
I left it there. It was the early days of Alex’s fourth pregnancy .
“Of course. And we hope The Queen recovers quickly.”
In a few more months . Alexandra had been pregnant for much of the past six years—despite agreeing only to produce the prerequisite heir and spare. Alexandra and Rick remained broody. I was secretly pleased to get a fourth niece or nephew shortly. I adored my niblings.
I aimed to make a splash, prove myself, and assume this patronage. But to do that, I had to shine. I needed to be trusted not only by Alexandra but also by her staff. Tonight, I knew I could make the case for more responsibilities if I did well. She needed more people to help, and I would be that girl.
While I quite literally glittered, I worried about the press droning on about my “constant weight gain.” The twenty pounds I’d starved myself over for years were back to stay. Yes, I was the “chubby” or “thick” sister. I was a whale to hear them tell it, but I ignored their commentary. I had thick thighs, a big ass, and the biggest bustline of the four. It took months for me to embrace my “new” body—the one I was born to have—but when I started cycling, I found its power. My strong thighs were a motor. My ass looked great in cycling shorts—no shade. And in this dress? It displayed every curve in red perfection.
“The board is dying to meet you,” she fawned. “I cannot wait to introduce you. I heard you were a cyclist.”
“I am,” I said. “I love cycling in the city and mountains. I took it up in high school and haven’t stopped.”
“It’s great. I am so excited you were able to join us.”
“I am passionate about making things safer,” I agreed. “It’s essential to all of us that people get to work, school, and play without a fuss and safely.”
“If only! The Prince’s support has been invaluable in moving the ball forward with the government.”
Rick was a moderniser—that’s what happens when a Scandinavian marries into the family. He didn’t understand why public transit here was so dismal. Alexandra ignored his meddling because she secretly loved it and said he “needed hobbies”. She preferred this to sailing.
After a maze of back hallways and the busy catering kitchen, I reached the ballroom to make my rounds. I listened as my private secretary, Karin, pointed out critical information about notable donors and board members. I wished I had my sister Astrid’s exceptional recall for such minor things, but I did not. I could memorise entire choral works in an afternoon but was terrible with names.
“And a board member, Wyatt Worthington. He’s also designed the transit network GPS improvements.”
I stared at a man in a tuxedo with broad shoulders. He wasn’t tall but had dead, sexy, salt-and-pepper hair. I only saw the back of him at first. Then, he turned, speaking to another person. As he patted a guy on the back, I discovered I knew him. He was the kind stranger who helped find Grieg. I might not have remembered his name, but I’d have spotted his warm smile from anywhere.
“I know him,” I whispered.
“Worthington?”
“He helped me find Grieg when he ran off a couple of weeks ago,” I said. “He’s amazing.”
“He’s a billionaire intent on improving traffic here—an American who moved here for some reason and stayed.”
He’s lovely . I tried not to swoon openly.
“Can I speak to him first?” I asked.
“Negative. There is a procedure,” she answered.
I pouted. Why couldn’t I just see Wyatt?
I was pulled around for forty-five minutes talking to people who thoroughly bored me. I wanted to speak only to Wyatt, but I was unlucky. I kept tabs on him, finding his vibe interesting from afar. Wyatt was busy with something else, so I had free time.
“Let me take this one,” I told Karin.
She rolled her eyes. “Fine, fine. What? You have a crush on the handsome billionaire?”
Well, yes .
“No. He’s just a nice guy, and I will catch up.”
I approached Wyatt. He was finally free, getting a refill at the bar.
“Mr. Worthington?”
He turned, staring at me momentarily before putting it together. Nervously, he bowed, then broke into a handsome smile. He hadn’t recognised me before, but did now.
“You were the girl on the bike! ”
“Odie,” I said. “Yes.”
“Princess Odette. Your Royal Highness? I… uh… I had no idea. Forgive me.”
“It’s okay. Really.”
It dawned on me he still had no idea who I was. I basked in this. I’d have to speak shortly, and the whole thing would go to pot.
“I’ve been thinking about you,” Wyatt said.
Oh, have you ?
“About the other day,” he corrected. “I was thinking about that intersection. I have so many ideas. You’re involved with Vision 360?—”
“I am,” I lied. I wasn’t really, but I was tonight.
“Ever want to connect about it? We could use more support from cyclists—especially one with the ear of leadership. You must know some others and have an in?”
I didn’t. That was the perilous social life of a princess trapped in a tower.
“Sure,” I lied.
He patted his inner jacket pocket. I looked at how the suit’s cut perfectly emphasised his broad shoulders. He couldn’t have been more than five-foot-nine but still had a good five inches on me. It wasn’t his height that was striking, though. It was his lovely, strong jaw and compact, fit body. Damn . It was too much. I did h ave a crush.
Wyatt handed me a card. “That’s my email. We should set something?—”
He stopped as a noise drowned out his words. The klaxon of the fire alarm blared.
Fuck!
I looked to see if Karin tailed me. She hadn’t. Suddenly, I realised I had a chance to improve my circumstances. I could either lament my luck or take advantage of the chaos. I chose the latter.