Part of that had come with letting go of his life in New York. Truly letting go of it. He couldn’t live with his head in both places. He’d had to choose. It didn’t mean he would never grieve his former life. It wouldn’t be human for him not to. But as he got more comfortable in his role as king, the affinity he’d always felt toward his homeland had taken over. He knew he could take this country where it needed to go. Knew he had the global perspective his father and Athamos had not.
If he was content, his fiancée was another reason for it. Having her back in his bed, having that intimate bond to look forward to every evening made the long, complex days bearable. They’d taken to having dinner together in their suite a couple of nights a week so they could spend quality time with each other. He’d found himself sharing more and more of his thoughts and plans with Sofi´a as the days went on. Her sharp, objective perspective on things always gave him excellent food for thought.
Thankfully, his soon-to-be wife also seemed to have found a peace of her own. When she wasn’t doing a public appearance with his mother or sister, she was caught up in her designing with a ravenous enthusiasm that made him smile.
They’d given a joint interview to Akathinian TV last week, their first broadcast interview together. Sofi´a’s inner happiness had shone through this time, her innate wit and charm capturing the host’s heart and earning her good reviews. The image-conscious press had also picked up on her fashion sense, grudgingly conceding she was a bit of a shining star.
It was the boost of confidence Sofi´a had needed. She was acting more like her charismatic self, the woman he’d known in New York. And if that took him dangerously close to exploring uncharted feelings for his soon-to-be wife, he had deliberately held a part of himself back for just that reason. Now was not the time to be clouding his head with emotions he wasn’t capable of fully expressing. Feeling.
He had promised Sofi´a a partnership. To protect her, to be by her side. For a man who didn’t do commitment this was one promise he could keep.
* * *
They were done. Sofi´a stood back and surveyed the ten prototypes she’d created for the maternity line she would launch at the boutique, pride swelling her heart. It wasn’t a whole line, but it was ten solid pieces to start the fall/winter collection with next year. Ten pieces Katharine had raved about and couldn’t wait to sell.
A rather ridiculous number of customers had come in to the boutique asking for the dresses Sofi´a had worn in her public appearances. The press coverage she had once considered a suffocating fishbowl was paying dividends. The sooner she got these prototypes off to the manufacturer so they could source material for them and produce samples for approval, the better to take advantage of the current buzz surrounding her and Nik’s engagement.
Satisfaction at a job complete filling her, she leaned back against a table and drank in the late-afternoon sunshine pouring through the windows of the studio. She felt remarkably content. She’d given up her obsession with what the people thought of her because she really couldn’t control that and focused instead on her design work and the creative outlet it provided.
The restlessness that had consumed her since coming to Akathinia had faded as she’d gained a sense of purpose. When she was using her role for good as she had when she’d visited Stella’s youth group and shared her experiences in business, when she helped Queen Amara with one of her charitable endeavors, she could see a vision for her life here.
It helped that she and Stella had become fast friends. Although Queen Amara had taken Sofi´a under her wing and guided her in her role, she had the sense the queen would always have a certain distance about her, just as Nik had said. As if she held part of herself back. Perhaps it was her way of protecting herself against the storms and humiliations she had endured with her husband?
And then there was Nik. Her insides warmed as they always did when she thought about him. Her cynical, hard fiancé was evolving into a more knowable, approachable version of himself as they continued to deepen their bond. It made her decision to gamble on them, to gamble on the fact he might develop deeper feelings for her someday seem as if it hadn’t quite been the foolish thought it had seemed at the time. That capturing his heart was within the realm of possibility.
Heavy footsteps sounded in the hallway. Her heartbeat picked up in anticipation. Nik home already?
Her suspicion was confirmed as her fiancé walked in, a dark suit complementing his swarthy good looks, a sexy aura of satisfaction surrounding him. She smiled a greeting. “I saw the announcement. Congratulations.”