17. Soren #2
I pressed “Send” to Jude as the door opened and Blake entered.
“Soren? Are you okay?”
I swiped at my face in a futile attempt to hide my tears. “I’m fine. Just taking a break.”
“No, you’re crying. Phoenix asked me to check up on you.” Blake came over to where I was sitting and took a seat opposite me.
“He didn’t need to do that.”
“If it’s any consolation, I saw the whole thing and it wasn’t your fault. It was an accident.”
“Maybe I could have convinced someone of that if it’d been just one drink.”
A choking sound left Blake, and I stared at him only to find his face red from the effort of suppressing a laugh.
“It’s not funny,” I said. “I might lose my job.”
“Hardly. Phoenix is too awesome for that. My first day here, I tripped over my shoelace and face-planted into a woman’s ample bosom. I mean, it was nice and all, but not exactly a good first impression.”
“Oh my God. You did not.”
He grinned. “I sure did, but it got me laid that night, so it all worked out. In fact, I’ve been with Mistress now for almost two years.”
“Wow. At least your incident was with someone nice. That guy wants to get me fired.”
Blake snorted. “Evan threatens to get someone fired every time he comes here. It’s sad, really.”
“Seriously?”
“He’s always rude to staff,” Blake continued. “Don’t take that asshole seriously.”
“Are you sure? Phoenix may have no choice but to fire me.”
“Please. Phoenix runs the show and doesn’t let anyone abuse his staff. Once you’ve gathered yourself, he wants you back at the table.”
“He does?”
But I didn’t want to face that horrible Evan again.
No, I made the mess and should face it.
“Okay. I’ll just take a couple of minutes.”
“Good.” He squeezed my shoulder. “You’re doing great, Soren.”
After he left, I checked my reflection in the camera of my phone and groaned. My eyes were red-rimmed, and I didn’t have the cosmetics I needed to disguise them. I made do by pressing some damp towelettes from the bag I’d brought with me to my swollen eyes.
As I was about to put away my phone, I saw that Jude had sent me a few messages asking me what was wrong. I shot him a quick reply that I’d overreacted and everything was fine, then closed my locker. I took several deep breaths before making my way to the VIP floor.
The tightness in my chest eased as I found Phoenix and Martin alone. Evan was gone.
The moment Martin saw me, he waved me over. “There he is. Still as beautiful as the moment I first saw you.”
I shuffled over, bowing my head. “I’m sorry about spilling the drinks on your companion.”
“If anyone should apologize, it’s definitely going to be me for subjecting you to such an unpleasant person on your first night. You would have done me a great service if you had spilled one of those glasses on him sooner.”
I raised my head, surprised, and Martin winked at me. I glanced at Phoenix for clarity, and he smiled with a nod.
“You don’t have to worry about Evan,” he said quietly. “I had security escort him out after he got rather belligerent.”
“I would have asked him to leave if Phoenix hadn’t stepped in,” Martin added. “Please, sit. Let me make it up to you.”
I blinked. “I can’t. I’m working.”
“You’ve had a difficult night. I’m sure Phoenix won’t mind if you keep me company.”
“It’s okay,” Phoenix said. “The client’s always right, remember?” Then he winked at me. “See if you can get him to drop a hefty sum for all the trouble he’s caused me tonight, and there your job ends tonight.”
“Umm, okay. If you’re sure.” Hesitantly, I lowered myself onto the edge of the booth. A part of me couldn’t help wondering if this was a test and I was failing it badly, but Phoenix walked away, leaving us alone.
Martin poured water into an empty glass and slid it toward me. “You look like you need this.”
“Thank you.” I didn’t even refuse it because I did. I downed the drink and sighed as I set the glass on the table.
“I’m sorry for the way Evan spoke to you,” he said. “I brought him here tonight, which makes his behavior partly my responsibility.”
“He was upset. I understand.”
“He was rude,” he said firmly. “I was trying to be patient with him, but he went too far. I draw a line at his prejudice.”
Ah, so Martin had picked up on that too, and it wasn’t just my imagination. It was still such a difference facing microaggressions in this country because of my race. Most of the population of Belvaria was Black, so it wasn’t something I’d ever encountered in my own country.
Martin leaned back, his arm stretching behind the booth and brushing the back of my neck. I almost jumped out of my skin. Phoenix had told me Martin was nice, and I hadn’t thought much of it, but was he hitting on me?
“There’s something about you that’s familiar,” he said after a few seconds had passed and I hadn’t spoken. He pressed his face closer, examining me.
“I doubt that.”
“The accent,” he said. “I’m trying to place it. Where are you from?”
“It’s not a very familiar place.”
He snapped his finger. “Don’t tell me. It’s Belvaria, isn’t it?”
I sucked in a deep breath and my heart skipped a beat. He was the only one I’d met who’d connected my accent with my country. How familiar was he with Belvaria?
“Yes,” I choked out. “How do you know Belvaria?”
“I’ve visited several times.” His expression became thoughtful.
“Beautiful country. My company opened a hotel in Belvaria nearly ten years ago. The Royal Opera House was falling into disrepair at the time, and the government was struggling to secure funding for the restoration. I’ve always believed historic buildings should be preserved, so my foundation covered a large portion of the work.
I attended a few events at the palace while the work was underway. ”
“The Royal Opera House?” I cried. “That was your company behind the restoration? My father was ecstatic to find a sponsor since there was a disagreement about its funding in the court.”
“Your father?”
My stomach churned when I realized what I’d disclosed. Martin studied me more closely, his gaze moving over my face, and the easy smile slowly disappeared.
“Wait a minute. I do recognize you. While there, I attended the official investiture of the late crown prince,” he said.
“The king invited several major donors to the ceremony. You were younger and dressed differently, but you were standing with the royal family. My God, you’re one of the princes of Belvaria! ”
Hearing him acknowledge who I used to be made my chest ache. It reminded me of everything I’d lost, and it was more than just the crown. Before that, I’d lost my mother at such an early age that I could no longer remember what she looked like. Then I’d lost two of my brothers at the same time.
“I am Prince Soren,” I said quietly. “The deposed crown prince.”
“Oh God, I didn’t know. I heard about the tragedy of your brothers. How are you getting along?”
I shrugged. “I’m making do, learning how to be a commoner. Thankfully, Phoenix took me in.”
“So that’s how you’re acquainted with him.”
“But he doesn’t know about my background, and I would appreciate it if it didn’t get out. Please. That life is behind me, so there’s no reason to bring it back up.”
“I understand.” He reached across the table and took up my hand. “But is there anything I can do for you? Do you have a place to stay? You are welcome to any of my residences while you are here in California.”
“Thank you, but I am fine.” I gave him an appreciative smile. “At first it was really hard, but I-I’ve met someone. He’s kind and wonderful, and I don’t want to leave him.”
“Ah, that’s too bad.” He tapped my nose with a knuckle. “The beautiful, kind boys are always taken. Your gentleman is a lucky man.”
“I’m the one lucky to have him.” I gently tugged my hand out of his.
“Don’t worry. I understand your boundaries, but I’m going to give you my card, and if you need anything, call me—even if it’s just to talk.
” He took out his wallet, removed a card, and handed it to me.
“You might be tempted to throw it away, but keep it. And just in case you get the wrong idea, this help is without conditions. Phoenix can vouch for me.”
I stared down at the card, gratitude warming my chest. I was tempted to give it back, but Martin was the only person I knew who remembered Belvaria as more than the country that had cast me out.
There was no one else to talk to about the things I missed, the things that would sound insignificant to anyone who had never been to Belvaria.
I missed the church bells ringing through the capital every morning.
I missed the aunties setting up their stalls outside the palace gates, their headwraps bright as flowers as they argued over whose arrangements were freshest and who had raised their prices too high.
I missed the old men gathered in the park with their dominoes, slapping tiles against the wooden tables.
I missed the smell of warm mongoose bread from the bakeries on Easter, and in winter, the vendors selling peanut brittle on street corners, and the women leaving church on Sundays in the most extravagant hats and polished shoes, stopping to shake hands, trade gossip, and fuss over children who were not theirs but belonged to everyone anyway.
I missed hearing people speak the Belvarian language around me without having to explain my accent.
Belvaria had rejected me, but it was still home.
I slipped the card into my pocket and whispered “thank you” in Bel, the second language widely spoken in my home country, though English was our official language, and when he responded “you’re welcome” in kind, I almost cried.