“Just so you know, Sabrina, you're welcome to have an alcoholic drink whenever you like,” he said.
“But I'm technically working right now,” she said.
“This is true,” he said. “But I certainly don't mind it if you feel like cutting loose once in a while. Just want you to know, in case the opportunity arises while we're in New York City.”
“I'll keep that in mind,” she said. “Thank you, Marco.”
Marco took another sip from his martini and then leaned back in his seat. He felt great about how the conversation was going with his beautiful new hire. She was absolutely perfect for the position. She was easy on the eyes, sweet beyond belief and seemed to also carry a sense of humor. There was nothing that Marco didn't adore about her. But that fact concerned him as much as it excited him. He worried that he would have trouble keeping secrets from her, especially knowing that they would likely become closer over the next couple of months.
“Sabrina,” he said, in a relaxed voice.
“Yes,” she replied, turning to face him.
“I just want to say thank you for taking this job,” he said. “I've got a really good feeling about this.”
“I've got a good feeling, too,” she said. She grinned. “It's already better than I could have imagined.”
“I want to apologize again for not being able to be completely open with you about who I am and what I do for a living,” he said. “I feel terrible about it.”
“No need to feel bad,” she said. “I understand. And besides, it doesn't matter what you do. I'm here
to make sure your needs are being met that's all. Anything else you wish to share with me is completely up to you.”
Marco nodded and relaxed into his seat once more.
“Thank you for your understanding,” he said. “Truly, it's appreciated.”
I don't even know her, so why am I having to fight this powerful urge to open up to her? I haven't felt this in a long time, and certainly not for someone who is basically a stranger. There's something special about Sabrina, there's no denying that. I can't tell her everything about who I am, but I'll be as honest as I possibly can without giving away too much personal information. That's the best I can do. I want this girl. I want her bad. I just hope that keeping my royal blood a secret from her doesn't somehow screw things up between us, he thought.
Chapter 5
Sabrina
Sabrina's face was practically plastered to the small window of the plane. She watched with absolute wonder as they descended into New York. For her, it was as if they were about to land upon a newly discovered city, something reserved for daydreams and fairy tales. The downtown city of Memphis paled in comparison to New York’s skyscrapers that reached like modern-day castles into the sky. A fraction of New York could swallow all of Memphis, Sabrina thought, and she had never felt so tiny.
After a smooth descent, Marco’s plane landed on a small, private runway at John F. Kennedy International Airport. This put his private jet was out of the way of the big commercial airliners landing nearby. Once the pilot had stopped the aircraft, they all exited the directly onto the runway’s pavement where their driver would pick them up.
A gust of wind was the first thing to greet Sabrina when the door opened. It caught her hair and whisked it chaotically as she climbed down the jet’s attached staircase. Marco and Valetta were close behind.
“This is where I leave you two,” Valetta said, stopping and standing at the foot of the staircase with a hand still rested on its railing. “I believe that’s the driver right there.” She was forced to shout against the wind, pointing into the distance at a black Cadillac sedan approaching on the runway.
Marco pulled his baseball cap down onto his head and slipped his sunglasses on. It was his attempt to look like an average tourist. He replied to Valetta with a thumbs up and Sabrina felt compelled to give her a hug and offer a sincere thank-you, but Valetta waved quickly before turning and beginning her ascent back into the jet.
The driver pulled up to Marco and Sabrina. He lowered the passenger window and gave a business-like nod. He was a middle-eastern man in a black suit and white dress shirt. His sport coat was buttoned over his crisp black tie and Sabrina could smell his cologne even though she was standing outside of the car.
“Good afternoon,” Marco greeted him.
“Good afternoon, sir,” the driver said. He hopped out of the car and opened the trunk. Then he took Sabrina and Marco's luggage and placed it gently inside, before returning to the driver's seat.
“Do you want to take shotgun, Marco?” Sabrina asked.
“Shotgun?” he replied, with a confused expression.
Sabrina giggled. “Yeah, sorry. I hadn't considered the fact that you've probably never heard that phrase. It means the front seat of the car. Do you want to ride in front?”
“No, no,” Marco said, as he opened the real door for Sabrina. “I'm happy to ride in the back with you.”
Sabrina nodded and climbed inside, followed closely by Marco.