Chapter 7
In her desperate flight, she almost mowed down two maids coming down the hall and did not notice their astonished expressions or the fact that they were calling out to her.
If she stopped to think, she would have realized that she looked wild and edgy with her hair streaming behind her and her haste to get to the front door.
She didn't think about any of it, her only thought to jump in the car she had left at the base of the garage. Her only intent was to get away, as far away as she could, and think about what just happened. What she just allowed to happen. And the awful consequences.
She maneuvered the narrow roads with mindless skills and had to blink the tears away several times to clear her vision. It certainly would not help if she compounded her crimes by mowing down innocent pedestrians or plowing into some unsuspecting driver. Or getting herself killed.
Veering off the main road, she found herself on a dirt road leading to a small chapel.
Bringing the vehicle to a stop, she shut it off and just sat behind the wheel.
She had let Prince Tomas kiss her and had enjoyed every minute of it.
Let's face it, the man was an expert. Hadn't she read in countless magazines his philandering lifestyle throughout the years?
The numerous women he had been with, screwed, used, and discarded?
So of course he was an expert who knew what buttons to push.
And she was the idiot! She slammed her hands on the steering wheel and actually relished the jarring pain.
She was the idiot who had just stood there enjoying his kisses.
Just stood there almost begging for his lips.
The man had tumbled out of some European princess's bed.
And she had been willing to let him tumble her on the carpet in his mother's office.
The queen!
"Oh God," she whispered hoarsely. She was bound to be fired.
Irrationally, she wondered if that had been his plan all along.
Ionie had warned her that they had had to get rid of the other assistants because they had started pursuing the prince.
He had tried to get her fired and when that did not take, he decided to take matters into his own hands, to prove to his mother that she was yet another willing flesh, another woman who was into him.
She was going to lose her job after being here for less than a week. A very nice man had shown interest in her, but oh no! She had to have things the hard way. She had no difficulty turning Luther away, but with the prince, she had practically begged him to take her.
His cologne was still on her clothes. One hand flew to her mouth, pressing against her lips.
They still throbbed from the pressure; she could still taste him.
Feel him. Closing her eyes, she leaned back against the seat.
And she had left her job in the middle of the day.
Phones were probably ringing off the hook.
She had dashed off without her cell phone.
But she could not go back, not while he was there.
She would just sit here for a while and go back to learn her fate.
*****
"What on earth is going on?"
Tomas whirled around at his mother's voice.
"Where is Antoinette? Lucia said she went tearing from the house and drove away.
And I had several people calling me while I was in the middle of the meeting to say that no one was answering the phone.
" Peeling off her gloves, she went to her desk to pick up the phone.
"Well?" she asked, replacing the receiver. "What's going on?"
"Have you tried calling her mobile?"
"I did." Sofia sat at her desk and eyed her son. "What did you say to her, Tomas?"
He shrugged his shoulders restlessly. "I went looking for her. I could not find her anywhere."
"What happened?"
"We had an argument."
A frown pleated her brow. "I thought the idea was to apologize."
"I tried." He spread his hands wide. "She was infuriating as usual. We came to blows and I..." He closed his eyes briefly. "I told you to get rid of her."
"We're not doing that again. What happened?"
He walked jerkily towards the window to stare out blindly. He could still feel her voluptuous curves on his body. The taste of her was still on his lips and oh bloody hell, he wanted her so much, he was insane with it.
"We kissed," he said tonelessly. "I kissed her and I..." Lifting a hand, he raked his fingers through his hair. "I shouldn't have. It's not acceptable. She pissed me off and I just wanted to shut her up."
"You kissed her."
"Yes!" He whirled around, eyes blazing. "I thought going away for the week would do the trick. I thought I would get her off my mind. But it didn't work. As soon as I saw her... I could... I could go away again. I could... you could send her away..."
"You have feelings for her."
Her quiet and collected tone had him settling down. "I shouldn't. It's not proper."
She almost smiled at his reasoning. If she knew her son, he was going to try and fight the emotions as hard as he could. And he would think that running was his best option. "That's your father talking."
He lifted his head to stare at her. "He was right. Besides, she hates me."
"I'm sure that's not true. Where are you going?"
"To look for her again."
"I already sent someone to do that. Why don't you go out for a little bit? I will have a word with her."
"I don't know what to do."
"You will think of something."
He eyed her with a frown. "Why are you not upset?"
"About my son kissing an attractive woman?"
"About your son, the prince, kissing an employee," he corrected.
"The fact that my son has never done that before means that this is different." She smiled at him. "You should think about that while you're out."
Leaning back in her chair, she allowed herself the smile that had been hovering since she heard what he had to say.
She had never seen her confident son so unnerved.
It was as if he was jumping out of his skin.
She really liked the young woman. Antoinette Carter had been here for a little over a week, and she had made an impression.
Not just with her, but the staff and the associates as well. She was no-nonsense, but in a good way. She was also efficient and a wonder with computers. And she had learned the business and figured out what to do on the second day. She would make a very good wife for her son.
She wanted the best for him. Not one of those socialites who would allow him to walk all over them. He needed someone strong, someone who would never allow him to get away with anything. Someone like Antoinette Carter.
Things were changing, the world was changing and unlike her husband, she had an open mind and would not care in the least that Tomas married an African-American woman.
Others had taken that route. Francesco in Italy and Alexander right here in Spain.
And they were happy. The atmosphere was shifting and as long as her son was happy, nothing else mattered.
She had never been. Her marriage to Eduardo had been arranged, but she had fallen in love with him and prayed fervently that he would return the favor. It had never happened.
She spent years being the submissive wife, the woman behind the man.
It had debilitated her. She was only now getting back her footing.
He had ruined her, destroyed her self-confidence with his infidelities and lack of respect.
Antoinette was not the kind of woman who would ever allow anything like that in her life.
Her smile returned as well as the sparkle in her eyes. She was going to be looking forward to the fireworks she knew were coming.
*****
Antoinette had composed herself enough to return.
She had even braided her hair into one thick plait and left it hanging.
She couldn't do much more because she had left the pins in the carpet in the queen's office.
No doubt they would be picked up by the vacuum when one of the maids did the cleaning.
One of the drivers had met her while she was on her way back with the disturbing message that the queen was waiting for her.
She had wanted to ask the man if the woman seemed upset or if the prince was still there, but had held her tongue, realizing it would not be appropriate.
She would not beg for her position. It would be too undignified.
She was going to accept the fact that she had to leave gracefully or as gracefully as possible.
And she had dashed out without a jacket.
The thin sweater had been an inadequate layer against the sharp wind. Handing the keys to the valet, she took a deep breath and made her way inside.
"Senorita Antoinette, are you all right?"
Her humiliation had started. Lucia was staring at her with a concerned look on her face. The woman had seen her headlong flight from the palace of course and no doubt everyone was privy to that information. She could imagine the speculations as to what had upset her so much to send her rushing out.
"I'm fine." She forced a smile. "The queen is in her office?"
"She is. I will send in a tray of refreshments. You're cold."
She had been unconsciously rubbing her hands up and down her arms.
"A little. Thank you, Lucia. Gracias."
"De nada."
Taking a deep breath, she braced herself and lifted her head as she made her way towards the suite of offices.
The door was open and she stepped forward tentatively, expecting to see the prince there as well. Her relief was palpable when she only saw the queen. She was on the phone.
Gesturing towards a chair, the woman continued her conversation in rapid Spanish.
The conversation had to do with some delayed shipment and Antoinette felt the guilt soaring through her body. It had been her job to follow up. She had not done her job.
"Well, that's sorted out." Sofia put the phone away and focused on the woman perched on the edge of the chair. She noticed the difference in the hairstyle but made no comment.