“Oh, for fuck’s sake, will somebody please tell me if they’ve seen her? I’m losing my mind here!”
A tall, deeply tanned girl standing across the room narrows her eyes in my direction, studying me, then turns and makes her way over slowly. Something about her catches my eye. Maybe the way she’s looking at me like she might know something.
She waves the other strippers away with a mere gesture, then juts her hip out and purses her lips. “You look familiar.”
Of course I look fucking familiar. I’m a goddamn crown prince. “Look, I just need to know if anyone has seen a girl with brown hair and big tits. I’ve been looking all over for her. She got fired from her last club, and I’ve gone to twenty places trying to find her.”
Her eyes take on a calculating gleam. “I’m Stacie. I think I can help you.”
“Thank fuck. Where is she?”
She shakes her head, a smile playing at her lip. “It’s going to cost you.”
I grab my money clip and wave it in her face. “Keep talking.”
Stacie laughs. “No. I want you to pay me for a dance.”
Is she serious?
“Not gonna happen.”
She arches a brow. “I’m the most in-demand dancer here.” Then she shrugs and starts to turn away. “Your loss.”
I grab her by the elbow and spin her back around. “Look, I really need to find her. I’ll give you the money for the dance, but I don’t want the dance. Not from anyone but Sapphire.”
She smiles a real smile this time. “I’m impressed. You must really like her. And just so you know, the girl you’re talking about? Her name is Ella.”
Ella. I smile as the knowledge of her real name sinks in. Somehow, it’s fitting.
Pulling out a $20 bill, I give it to her. “How can I find her?”
“She’s not here. She’s off chasing some prince or some shit like that.”
I’m staggered. “She what?”
“Yeah, she met some prince of St. Albania or something like that and took off to his kingdom, hoping to find him. She flew out yesterday.”
16
Ella
The plane lands in St. Albans, and I bounce in my seat, anxious to get off the plane. That was a long ass flight.
I don’t have much in the way of luggage since I took the first flight I could find out of New York, so I bypass baggage claim and go straight to the taxi stand. So far everything in the airport is just like in America. They even speak English here, even though they have the same stilted accents that Derek has.
A combination of nerves and excitement flutters in my stomach as I climb into the cab and give the driver the name of my hotel. I can’t believe I’m doing this. It’s so crazy and impulsive. What if he doesn’t want to see me?
I look down in horror and realize I’m biting my fingernail. I can’t have ragged nails when I find him. How embarrassing. I may need to get a manicure before I begin my search.
Folding my hands in my lap, I look out the window, wanting to take in all of Derek’s homeland. Surprisingly, everything looks just like New York, but better. It’s super modern with tall, sleek buildings, lots of glitzy stores and restaurants, and I even see a few strip clubs.
At least I know I can find a job here if things don’t work out with Derek, though I immediately push that thought away. That just can’t be possible. I have to focus on that night we had together and remember that connection we had. After all, he came back to the club to ask about me. He was trying to find me, desperately, according to Misti.
I smile, thinking about how romantic that is. He came back for me when he realized something wasn’t right. That means there’s definitely something there between us.
The cab goes over a tall bridge, crossing a river that sparkles and shines in the sunlight, looking picture perfect. Then we’re winding through the busy streets, passing official government buildings and huge skyscrapers. Off in the distance on a little island, I see the palace.
Wow. It’s breathtaking. I’m shocked all over again that Derek is actually a prince. He lives there. It’s too crazy. I wonder what it looks like inside.