So, the third time, I didn’t give in. The tears came and went, but she got over it. And Natalie thanked me. I’m new to this whole dad thing, but Natalie is a wonderful mother and I have no doubt she’ll be by my side every step of the way.
“Your Majesty,” Lawrence, one of my advisors, says as I’m wrapping a towel around my waist and walking over to the spread Natalie whipped up. I told her the chef will make anything she wants, but she insisted she’s capable.
“Lawrence, how may I help you?” He only comes out of his office when it’s important. He’s been with my family for over fifty years and is planning to retire this year. He’s grouchy as hell, but he’s always had our family’s best interest at heart and has never steered us wrong.
“You’re needed in the Lavender room, sir.” The Lavender room is where all our meetings are held, and I don’t recall a meeting being scheduled. “It’s of the utmost importance, sir,” he adds.
“Okay, I’ll be right there.”
With a quick nod, he bows and exits.
“Everything okay?” Natalie asks once he’s gone.
“I’m not sure. He’s called an emergency meeting.” Her eyes go wide in fear. “It’s okay.” I kiss her cheek. “Eat and relax, and I’ll be back soon.”
“Can we swim some more?” Jasmine asks.
“Of course, princess.” I kiss her cheek as well. “As soon as I get back, we’ll have a race.”
Her eyes light up. “Okay, bye, Daddy. I love you!”
I still at her words. The one and only time she’s said those words to me was when she was half-asleep. I chalked it up to her saying them out of habit, since she had just told her mom she loved her. But right now, those three words are done with purpose. Meant for me. Because my little girl loves me. “I love you too,” I choke out.
My eyes meet Natalie’s and she smiles softly. She hasn’t told me she loves me yet, but I know she does. She just needs time to come to terms with how fast everything between us is happening, and I’m okay giving her that time. We have the rest of our lives for her to tell me.
When I get to the Lavender room, my mom, Stephanie, Lawrence, and one of my other advisors are all there. They’re arguing with each other, and since they’re all speaking at once, I can’t make out what it is exactly they’re arguing about.
The second I clear my throat, everyone stops talking and gives me their attention. Before I can ask what’s going on, Stephanie speaks up. “I warned you this would happen.”
“What?” What the hell is going on?
“It somehow leaked,” Mom says, sadness and sympathy in her tone. My blood freezes, my body going numb. She’s not talking about…
“They know about Natalie and Jasmine,” Mom adds. “Everything.”
My instinct is to run to Natalie and Jasmine to shield them both, protect them from the shitstorm that is about to come down on us, but it’s better if they’re outside at the pool, oblivious to what’s happening.
“Everything?” I ask, dropping onto a seat.
“Everything,” Stephanie says, pushing an iPad toward me. I click on the article and read it. Pictures of Natalie and Jasmine are on the screen. Ones I’ve never seen before. Someone must’ve found some. I read the article, then read it again. They know everything about Natalie, from her time on the streets when she was a minor, to her job at La Stella’s, to the possibility of her being the mother of my daughter.
“I warned you this would happen,” Stephanie says again, her tone condescending. “She is an embarrassment to this family and country.”
“Enough,” I snap.
“No,” she argues back. “You need to hear it… see what her being here is going to do to this family, to your credibility. She needs to leave before she destroys everything. How are you going to explain to the entire country that the woman you had a baby with is a prostitute? Huh?” Stephanie taunts. “Prostitution is illegal here!”
“She wasn’t a prostitute when I was with her,” I point out, my mind racing. Not because of what they’ll think or say, but because it will all be aimed at Natalie. She worked so hard to put her past behind her and now, this… I wasn’t thinking about how this would affect her. How badly she could be hurt.
“It’s okay,” Mom says, placing a hand on my bicep. “We’ll get through this together as a family.” I relax slightly at her words, grateful to have my mom on my side.
“She needs to leave,” Stephanie says. “Both she and that child need to go.”
“Stephanie,” Mom tuts.
“She’s right,” I tell her, making my mom’s brows furrow. “Natalie and Jasmine need to leave. It’s for the best.”
Stephanie’s chin lifts, and I glare at her. “Not for good,” I add. “Just until all of this calms down.” I look at my mom. “I don’t want her to read or hear any of this.” I point to the iPad. “It will hurt her.”