“I’m a corporate lawyer, your honor, but seeing the speed with which this was brought to arraignment, we had little choice.”
“Any member of the bar. Mr. Ryan, how do you plead to the charges?”
“Not guilty,” said Ryan. His chin was held high, and though Marisol couldn’t see, she imagined there was defiance in his eyes.
“Recommendations as to bail.”
“Excuse me, your honor,” said the lawyer sitting next to the king. “I beg the court’s indulgence. I’m Attorney Porter Shulman, here to present an amicus curiae brief on behalf of Ryan Kelley. The family asserts that no kidnapping took place. The alleged victim, Princess Marisol, will testify she wasn’t kidnapped. She stayed in Mr. Kelley’s apartment of her own will, and was in fact given access to a car that took her wherever she wanted to go.”
The judge sighed. “I see. Princess Marisol, I’ve watched the newscasts, like everyone else. What possessed you to leave your family like you did?”
“Your honor, it was a mistake, but I had a great curiosity about my mother’s family and wished to meet them.”
“I see. And did you?”
“I cannot meet those who are no longer living,” she said sadly.
“I see. Given the facts, I’m dismissing all charges.”
“Your honor,” said the prosecutor. “Mr. Kelley knew the NYPD was looking for the princess.”
“So? She is of-age, is she not? She says she wasn’t held against her will. You have no case, George, so let’s drop it and move on. Mr. Kelley, you’re free to go.”
“Thank you, Marisol,” said Cheryl, giving her a quick hug.
Ryan pushed down the aisle to get out of the courtroom and caught Marisol’s gaze, but turned his head. Cheryl and Peggy pushed out of the aisle, straining to catch up to Ryan. Marisol felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up at her father.
“Well, don’t just stand there. Go get him.”
***
Gustav and four of the security guards followed Marisol in the hall. Reporters jammed themselves in front of Ryan, who was desperately trying to get away from them. Gustav made a hand motion, and two of the guards broke away and shepherded Ryan in the opposite direction of the door, while Gustav opened and closed doors down the hallway until he found what he was looking for. The security guards ushered Ryan into the room, and Gustav motioned for Marisol to join him.
The security guards withdrew, and Gustav shut the door, leaving the two alone.
“Hey,” said Marisol.
Ryan turned his head toward her, anger flashing in his eyes.
“What is this? Am I under arrest by your government now?”
“No, I just want to talk to you, Ryan.” She trembled under his angry gaze, but she had to make things right with him. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry about what, Marisol? Leaving me in the morning with a dear john email?”
“I had to do that.”
“Really? Is that all I meant to you—a quick fuck, and off you go?”
“No!”
“Couldn’t wait to get back to Vattakov?” He spoke the name with disgust.
“It’s not like that!”
“Admit it, you left so you could go marry him.”
“Yes,” she said trembling. She’d never seen Ryan angry before, and it hurt her in ways she couldn’t describe.
“That’s all I need to hear. Good-bye, Marisol.”
Ryan rushed through the room like he was on fire and tore open the door.
“Wait!” called Marisol.
But Ryan didn’t wait, and he was gone when she rushed to the door and looked down the halls.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
New Business Ventures
All of Marisol’s luggage was packed and sent off to the airport. They had spent two additional days in the city, as her father reached out to new connections to try to save their little country. Marisol stayed in her room. She told her father it was because the reporters kept hounding her, but the reality was she couldn’t face New York, Ryan’s New York, without him by her side. For two days she lay in bed inconsolable, eating little and crying into her pillows.
Her father had told her last night they were leaving, and she was glad. She could put this behind her and be the princess her country expected. From this point onward, she would commit to making Dalaysia a better place, just as her mother did. So she got out of her bed and made ready to leave.
Now she waited for her father, who got involved in a last-minute plan to shore up the economics of her country. She stood at the large pane of glass that looked down over the city streets. Just a few days ago she’d stood there, angry and embittered about a fate she had no control over. Now she was sad, gripped with a grief that shook her soul. She had done everything wrong and lost so much. She’d shaken her father’s trust in her and caused him fear and pain. The quest to find her mother’s family had ended bitterly. And on top of all that, she’d lost the man she loved.
The front doors of her suite opened.
“Marisol, I want you to meet our new business partner.”
Her father sounded exceptionally cheerful, which was good. Marisol, however, couldn’t find it in her heart to be glad. Obviously he had worked something out, but Marisol’s heart was still heavy.
“Just a minute, your Grace,” she called out. She looked in the mirror to make sure her makeup and wig was in place. Gone was Marisol the housekeeper. Here stood Marisol, Princess of Dalaysia.
The man’s back was to her as she entered the room, finding her father fixing drinks from the bar. She stopped in her tracks. It couldn’t be.
“Ah, Marisol. I’m sure you know Mr. Kelley.” Her father beamed at her.
Ryan turned and smiled.
“Hello, your Grace,” he said.
“Ryan here has the most amazing ideas for mining indium tin oxide that was too expensive to mine before.”
“He does?” Marisol quirked a brow.
“Yes. The merger with his company and Dalaysia Mining will benefit both KelTech and our country and extend our production of the mineral for twenty years.”
“By that time, there will be something new on the market for creating touchscreens. My company is working on that too, but regardless of whether it’s indium or something else, we’ll manufacture touchscreens and other electronic equipment in Dalaysia, providing continuous employment for Dalaysian citizens.”
“You will?”
“Yes,” said her father. “We’ve been
able to work out agreeable terms, tax deferments, and a favorable lease agreement for the land.”
“That’s wonderful,” said Marisol in a tone that said anything but.
“It is wonderful. It is just the thing to get our country on its economic feet.”
“Yes, it sounds like it is.”
“You know,” said the king, “I think there is something I need to discuss with Gustav. I’ll be right back.”
“Father—”
But he slipped out the door, leaving her alone with Ryan.
“Thank you, Mr. Kelley, for coming to our aid once again,” she said coldly.
Ryan lowered his eyes and pursed his lips. He took a big breath and then looked at her again
“How are you doing, Marisol?”
Marisol lifted her chin, feeling confused. “I’m fine.”
“I see that,” he said with an appraising grin.
Marisol felt exposed and vulnerable. She hated that feeling. “Why are you here, Ryan? You made your feelings clear the last time we saw each other.”
He sighed, and the tips of his ears turned bright red.
“You know I’m Irish, right?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Us Irish, well, when we get an idea in our heads, we get stuck on it. I was crazy jealous, Marisol, of the idea you’d marry Vattakov. It made me act like an idiot. I hope you can forgive me?”
“You’re forgiven for being an idiot,” she said in her most royal voice possible. It held a touch of disdain that would put off most people. Apparently, it almost had the desired effect.
Ryan muttered something to himself, and she hoped he would leave. She couldn’t bear to look at him or to be this close. He had hurt her badly.
He caught Marisol’s gaze again. “Okay, I deserved that. I was an idiot. I loved you for a long time, Marisol, from the first time I saw your picture in one of my sister’s teen magazines.”