The Man's Outrageous Demands (7 page)

“Fine, I’ll be down there in a few moments,” she said and hung up the phone.

She passed by Stacy’s desk who had obviously been eavesdropping on Marabeth’s end of the telephone call. “I’ll be down in the minister’s office,” Marabeth said needlessly. “I’ll get this straightened out and we’ll leave as soon as I get back,” she called to Stacy who accompanied Marabeth on most excursions outside the palace.

Marabeth’s heels clicked softly on the white marble floors as she made her way to the opposite end of the palace. It was a long walk but she used the time to calm down. She was still angry when she walked into the minister’s office but at least she wasn’t as furious as she was a few minutes ago when she’d first been informed of Sam’s arrogance. Marabeth almost never got angry, a contradiction to the assumption that redhead’s had fiery tempers. She was very even tempered and got along with just about everyone since she simply enjoyed being around people most of the time. Sam Montrose just brought out the worst in her.

Five minutes later, Marabeth walked into the Defense Minister’s office and smiled at the man sitting in the outer office. “I’m here to see the Minister,” she said as he stood up and bowed quickly.

The man lowered his eyes and a red flush crept over his cheeks as he spoke. “He’s waiting for you, your highness,” the man stuttered awkwardly. ”He said you could go right in.”

Marabeth couldn’t understand the man’s flustered behavior but continued on politely. “Thank you,” Marabeth smiled and walked down to the end of the set of offices where she new the Minister of Defense occupied a very large, airy office.

The door was already open so she stood in the doorway before walking in. She saw Sam sitting behind his desk, reviewing some document and making notes. Marabeth watched him for a long moment, trying to get her thoughts together as she watched him, knowing her senses were all tingling with awareness. Suddenly, he looked up and saw her standing in the doorway. He stood up immediately, smiling. “Your highness,” Sam said as he walked around his desk and bowed. “What brings you down to this area of the palace today?” he asked reaching out to take her hand in greeting.

Marabeth ignored the flutters that started up in her stomach as he approached. Stacy was right. He was hot. But that description didn’t seem to do him justice. The man was just pure, male perfection. His handsomely tailored suit stretched across his broad shoulders which she was sure was all padding, but still made him look bigger than most men. His dark hair looked soft and touchable and his face, well, Marabeth knew that he could fill in for the male models in any magazine. He was just that handsome. And he scared her more than anyone she’d ever met, including her father who had made intimidation into an art form.

She cleared her throat and remembered that she was a princess and as such, she was above this man in rank. He shouldn’t intimidate her in any way. Clearing her throat again since the first time didn’t seem to work at all, she focused on the reasons he was here, standing awkwardly in his doorway. She walked into the room, feigning an assertiveness she didn’t feel. “I wanted to discuss your edict to cancel my appointments.” Marabeth lifted her chin and pulled her hand out from his.

“I don’t believe I canceled anything,” he said and waived a hand to indicate that they should sit down in the comfortable chairs placed around a coffee table.

She followed his lead, walking over to the set of chairs and sofa. “You restricted my ability to leave the palace, didn’t you?” she asked, taking the first seat and placing her hands over her knees in an effort to calm her shaking nerves.

“Yes.”

“Well, isn’t that the same thing?”

“No.”

Marabeth gritted her teeth. Patience, she reminded herself. “Okay, explain to me how it is different,” she asked, trying to smile but knowing it didn’t come out as very friendly.

“You can have your appointments here at the palace,” he explained as he took the seat right next to her.

Marabeth wanted to laugh but knew that wouldn’t be the best approach. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Absolutely not. I never joke about work,” Sam said with a straight face.

Marabeth looked into his eyes. She thought there was a teasing look about him but wasn’t sure. “I can’t have all my appointments come here.”

“Why not?” he asked, raising an eyebrow questioningly.

“Because…” she tried to think of a reason. “Because it just isn’t feasible.” Marabeth knew that it was weak but she just couldn’t think with him sitting so close to him and looking so handsome.

Sam was unrelenting “Well, despite your articulate argument, I can’t allow you to leave the palace today.”

“But why? What is the reason behind this sudden restriction?”

A shadow came over Sam’s face. Marabeth saw it but couldn’t explain it. It made her very curious though. “I’m not at liberty to discuss it at this time but you’ll have to trust me on this issue.”

“Trust you?” she gasped. Marabeth wanted to laugh but was too nervous. “Why on earth would I trust you?”

“You’re father trusts me,” he replied, leaning back with a slight smile on his face.

“That’s my father. And he trusts you with the defense of his country, not my schedule.”

“It all falls under the same category.”

“I disagree.”

“You’re free to try and leave the palace and test my authority, princess.”

Marabeth gritted her teeth. “What are you doing to me?” she demanded, standing up with her hands fisted at her sides. “This is completely unreasonable.” Knowing that her temper was getting the better of her, she tried to calm down.

Sam didn’t rise with her but looked up at her, a hand on his chin as he watched her furious expression. “I’m sorry you think so.”

She sat down again, wishing she wasn’t so angry but unable to get control while he sat there so calmly. His words just indicated that he was not going to relent no matter what she said. And she knew that no one would enter or leave the palace without his permission. “What about tomorrow?” she demanded, her temper getting hotter as the conversation went on.

Sam’s eyes were hooded as he replied, “We’ll have to see about tomorrow. At this point, I won’t make any promises.”

Marabeth jumped up angrily, her hands on her hips as she challenged him. “You can’t do that to me or my staff!”

“I don’t care about your staff, but yes, I can do that to you,” he said calmly, this time standing up as well and moving slightly closer to her.

Marabeth stepped back, intimidated despite herself. “No. I won’t allow this to happen. I have things to do and people to see. I won’t allow you to restrict my movements like this,” she said and walked over to the window in an effort to find some argument to make this man see her point of view. She swung around to face him. “You can’t do this!”

He didn’t dare follow her but moved a few feet closer and looked down into her face. “It is already done,” he said.

Marabeth wanted to slap his calm face. “Why?” she demanded. “What on earth could be happening that would force you to eliminate my public appearances?” She noticed the shadow again and the curtain fell into place, effectively shutting her out.

“Nothing specific and nothing I can discuss with you at this point,” he said evasively.

His reply was so ambiguous she just couldn’t accept it. “Let me get this straight, you’re not allowing me to leave but you don’t have any specific threats that indicate a danger for me appearing in public. Or at least none that you’re willing to discuss with me despite the fact that they may pertain to my personal safety. Does that sum up the situation accurately?”

He put his hands in his pockets and nodded. “That’s pretty accurate,” he replied.

“That’s a completely unacceptable stance. Let me go about my business and Add extra men, I don’t care. But restricting me allow the security team to do the same. to the palace is going to drive me nuts.”

“I’m sorry that you don’t like the situation but I can’t lift the order. Not at this time anyway. I don’t think that would be safe at this moment.”

“Why?” she demanded, reading between the lines and understanding that something was going on that he wasn’t telling her about.

Sam hesitated, which confirmed her suspicions that he knew something that he wasn’t telling her. “Why don’t you let me worry about that?” he suggested.

That only infuriated Marabeth further, if that was possible. “Minister, you’re being ridiculous. And furthermore, if there is a security issue that involves me, I want to know about it.”

“Let me worry about security issues, Marabeth,” he said calmly. “That’s my job,” he explained.

Marabeth was so angry she could barely think anymore. She knew it would be better to calm down and figure out a way to approach him that would be more effective. As rationally as possible, she turned to face him saying, “I disagree with you on this issue but I understand that you’re not going to listen to anyone’s argument other than your own right now. And I’m too angry to be reasonable myself so I’m not being very effective either. Let me just say that I think you’re being ridiculous and I’m done discussing this with someone as hardheaded and apparently arbitrary as you,” she said and stormed out of the office.

She was halfway back to her office when she turned and made her way towards the gym instead. She was too angry to work and knew that she’d only stomp around in her offices until she worked her anger out of her system. “Please tell my secretary that I’ve gone to the gym,” she asked a passing servant.

“Yes, your highness,” the servant said bowing and then immediately rushing to convey the message.

Marabeth stormed into her bedroom and pulled on a pair of leggings and a cotton shirt, then headed for the gym so she could work off her anger. She knew it was the middle of the morning but she was just too angry to work now. Not that she could, she thought angrily to herself as she punched the buttons on the treadmill. That obnoxious man wouldn’t even let her leave the palace so what work was there to do? She really didn’t have any obligations except to be present and lend her name to different causes. It wasn’t the most intellectually stimulating work but she felt it was worthwhile and she was contributing to society instead of just being a well known face and a convenient hanger for designer clothes.

She punched the speed button three more times, increasing the pace in an effort to get thoughts of that arrogant man out of her mind. How dare he cancel all of her meetings! He really had no right. She was going to discuss this with her father at the very first opportunity. As soon as she could calm down, she told herself and increased the treadmill’s pace again.

Thirty minutes later, she still felt angry and sweat was dripping off her face. She’d forgotten a towel but wasn’t ready to get off the treadmill. Marabeth was too busy coming up with ways to get back at the odious man. Unfortunately, none of her ideas were very practical and not many were able to be put to use without special training, of which she didn’t have. Some involved sharp objects. Although she couldn’t actually do them, just imagining doing them to Sam made her feel better.

“You’re going to burn out the motor on that if you don’t slow down,” a deep voice said from behind her.

Marabeth looked around and found the source of the voice. Sure enough, there he stood in all his handsome glory. Sam was leaning against the door to the gym, his arms crossed over his chest and he was now dressed in karate clothes and bare feet instead of his immaculate suit.

The first thought that came to mind was that the suit’s shoulders weren’t padded. It was all muscle, she realized. It was an astonishing thought and her eyes were glued to his shoulders and muscular arms for a long moment.

The second thought was that he was spying on her. But that was silly. He didn’t have time to spy on her. She knew he was an extremely busy man and had a huge amount of responsibility on his shoulders. Not only was he the Minister of Defense for Cordova but he had his own security company that logged billions of dollars in revenue each year.

She just wished the man were fat and ugly instead of so physically fit and good looking.

Marabeth ignored him and continued running.

Marabeth’s brother, Prince Maximillian, came into the gym, wearing an identical karate outfit of white and a black belt. “Careful you don’t kill yourself over there, Marabeth,” he called out, noticing how fast she was running and the sweat covering her shirt. With that comment, the two of them moved off to the mats, bowed to each other, then started circling.

Marabeth couldn’t hear what they were saying, but they were laughing and joking with each other, neither really looked like they were serious about their work out. Then Max moved in and tripped Sam, pushing him flat onto his back. For the next fifteen minutes, the two men went back and forth, grunting as each of them got in a good kick or jab on the other person. Each time it was Sam, Marabeth wished she felt good. It was exactly what she wanted to do to him and the fact that it was Max shouldn’t have made a difference. But she hated each time Sam was hurt. There was one time that Sam got Max back and winded him for a few moments and Marabeth almost cheered, then remembered that she was furious with Sam and stopped herself, feeling like an idiot who had no control of her feelings. She didn’t understand them very well anyway.

After another five minutes and several painful looking kicks or jabs, Marabeth had had enough. Furiously, she clicked off the treadmill and stormed away, refusing to watch the two of them beat each other senseless anymore. It was an awesome spectacle but one she could do without.

Sam watched Marabeth leave and that proved to be a very bad mistake. Max turned around and wholloped him, knocking him backwards and flat onto his back again.

Damn, he thought as he looked up at the ceiling. That was twice in one session and both times were for the same reason. Marabeth.