Royal Pain in the Ass (34 page)

I laughed nervously and watched him walk out.
 
He made me feel very awkward.
 
After a few more minutes Xavier walked in, looking much more worn than he had about an hour ago.

“You okay?”

“
Been better, how are you feeling?
”

“
I don’
t have a concussion.
”

I saw him visibly relax.
  “
That is very good to hear.
”

“
Why do I have this feeling that something really bad is about to come out of your mouth?
”

“
Because I
’
ve been asked to remove myself from this situation.
  I
’
m being set up in a flat not far from.
”

“
Wh-what?
”
I felt my heart catch in my throat.

“
That is your father
’
s wish, and I am his employee.
 
I have no choice but to abide by his wishes.
”

“
Why does he want you to leave?
”

“
He believes I am becoming too attached to this situation.
”

“
Oh . . . are you still my advisor?
”

“
Of course.
”

“
I, I don’
t want you to go.
”

Xavier gave me a sad smile.
  “
I won
’
t be that far away.
 
I just won
’
t be sleeping here any longer.
”

“
I still don
’
t want you to go.
”

“
I have to Juliet,
”
Xavier took my face in his hands and I winced.
  “I, I
’
m sorry.” 
He laid a gentle kiss on my forehead and walked out.
  “
Get some rest,
”
he muttered as he closed the door behind him.
 

I suddenly felt cold and sunk down on my bed.
 
Why did I feel like crying all of a sudden?
 
This didn
’
t make any sense.

I was so absorbed in my thoughts I jumped and gave an
‘
eep
’
when I heard someone clear their throat behind me.
  “Oh my god! 
Way to sneak up on a girl!
”
I breathed.
  “
Hi James, what
’
s up?
”

“
You alright?
”

“
Something like that,
”
I sighed, still relearning how to breathe.

“
What really happened this morning?
”

“
What do you mean?
”

“
I mean, I don
’
t buy that you hit your face on the toilet.
”

“Um,”

“
Exactly.
 
Now tell me what is really going on here?
”

“James,”

“
Juliet, you are my daughter, I want to know what he did to you and why you are covering for him.
”

“
He didn
’
t do anything.
  I
’
m not covering for him.
”

“
Juliet, someone hit you.
  I
’
m not daft.
 
I don’
t know who you
’
re lying for, but until you tell me, you are not leaving this room.
”

“
What?
”

“
I believe your term is grounded.
 
You are not to leave this room for any reason.
”

“
Are you serious?
”

“
Completely.
”

I shook my head.
 
Every day I add another reason to why I should never have left America.
  “
Wow, kay thanks.
 
Doctor said I should get some rest.
  I
’
m going to go to sleep now.
”

“
See to it that you do.
”

“
Will do, Captain,
”

“
Excuse me?
”

I gave James a wink and a thumbs up.
 

“
Juliet, you have to understand that this is for your own good.
”

“
Of course.
 
Everything is,
”
I smiled sweetly.
 
He caught the sarcasm.

“I
’
ll have something sent up for you.
 
You, you, ARGH,
”
James stormed out, slamming the door behind himself.

I flopped against the bed.
 
I was going to go insane.
 
I heard a buzzing sound, and it was then I remembered Xavier had given me a phone.
 
I went over to the buzzing and opened it up.
 
There were several new text messages.
 
I had access to the outside world.

Chapter XVIII

I picked up the phone and saw twenty new text messages and seven missed phone calls.
 
Four phone calls were from Harper, two from Gwen, and one from Xavier, then I turned to the text messages.
 
Harper had sent several:

hey

how r u

im drunk

but I kinda like you

so when r we guna hang out

soon i hope

but i like the tattoos

i want to see that other one ;)

I felt my face flush.  Oh my. 
And that was without a reply.
 
I wasn
’
t sure how to respond so I just didn
’
t. 
Then I went to see Gwen
’
s texts.

girlie watch your back

i dont think u can trust Xavier

hes shady

hes always talking shit about me

sry about 2nite

ily either way

but srsly u can do better

harper really likes you

he wants to shag you ;)

i hear hes a good time ;)

i miss you

Once again I felt my face flush.
 
Good to know that I need to watch what Harper and Gwen say while intoxicated.
 
Then I had two from Xavier.

Juliet, I
’
m being escorted off the property, James will send my things

I will be back tomorrow morning to figure out arrangements, don
’
t worry everything will be alright.

I couldn
’
t explain why that made my heart sink.
 
I didn
’
t like the idea that Xavier was being sent away.
 
I felt empty again.
 
As exhausted as I was, I just cried myself to sleep.
 

I was woken up to being violently shaken.
 
I saw Angelica standing over me and screamed.
  “
What the hell?
”

“You
’
re leaving.
”
Angelica smirked.

“
What?
”

“You
’
re finally leaving.
”
She repeated.
  “
Daddy is sending you away.
 
Not a moment too soon either.
  It
’
ll be nice for you to be gone again.
  I can
’
t wait for things to get back to normal.
”

“
Great, now get out.
”

“
Excuse me.
”

“You
’
ve had your fun, and you can get out now.
 
Okay, thanks.
”

“I can
’
t wait for you to be gone.
”
Angelica sneered and stormed out.
 

“
Angie, darling, that
’
s hardly becoming of a lady.
  You
’
re better than that.
 
That
’
s something I
’
d expect from that one.
” 
Millie chided as she glided in.
  “
As for you, let
’
s get your things packed.
  You
’
re being sent off.
”

“
I already told you, I can
’t leave.
 
The king has revoked my passport, so sorry, can
’
t go home, even if I wanted to.
”

“
No, you aren
’
t going back to America, we need to watch you.
 
You are however going away from society for now.
 
My husband has finally reached his senses.
 
Meet him in his study.
”

“
Great.
 
How about you let me get dressed and I
’
ll go meet him.
”

“
What?
”

“I
’
m not wearing pants.
 
So get out and let me put some on unless you really want to see me naked.
”

“
Oh heavens!
 
Good lord!
”
Millie screeched as she dashed out.
 
I couldn
’
t help but start laughing.
 
I knew I was wearing pants, but Millie didn
’
t. 
I grabbed a change of clothes and headed to James
’
s office.

I knocked and heard a gruff enter.
  “James?”

“
Juliet.
”

“
What
’
s going on?
”

“
I have spoken to my sister.
”

“Okay?”

“
Have a seat.
 
We have much to discuss.
”

I sat in one of the chairs across from him.
“I
’
ve been told I
’
m being sent away?
”

“
I need to discuss a great deal with you.
”

“Okay?”

“
Juliet, you
’
re angry with me.
 
I understand why.
 
I didn
’
t act the way you believe I should have.
 
I cannot change the past.
 
Your mother hiding you from me is not what I would have wanted.
 
I wish I had gotten to watch you grow up into the young lady you are.
 
There are a few problems with the scenario we now have.
”

I eyed him warily.
 
I had this feeling that the next thing he said was going to hurt.
  “Okay.”

“
You are so much your mother
’
s daughter it frightens me.
 
This society will never accept that.
 
I have not been entirely straightforward with you.
 
I have wanted to tell you so much, but I haven
’
t been able to bring myself to do that.
”