Royally Screwed

Chapter 12

SYLVIE

"Too flashy?", Vicky asks me, pretending to do a catwalk through the shop. The sales assistant nods happily, and compliments the boots my bestie tried on. We are on a shopping spree searching for clothes to take with us on the trip.

But while Vicky is still interested, I gave up sometime ago.

Ever since I heard the news.

"Sy, you need to stop", Vicky comes take the phone from my hands. She knew what I was doing without asking. One look at the screen only confirms her suspicions. "You've stared at the picture of Louis and her for a while now."

"I just never thought I'd care", I let out, trying to understand myself. I don't get it. I've never cared if he dated someone before. I didn't give a damn. He can screw the entire womankind were it up to me.

But why does it feel like a dagger to my heart seeing him and Isabella Alvarez in a picture, seeming extremely close? The Royal Family of Cordelia should be happy. She's a jewellery heiress. She's rich, and gorgeous, and she seems kind.

So why do I care?

"But you clearly do", she points out the obvious.

"I do", I whisper, the coffee in front of me seeming very appealing all of a sudden.

"When was the last time the two of you talked?", Vicky asks me, throwing herself on the couch next to me. The woman at Moncler gets the hint and disappears in another room for a while.

"That day for lunch", I answer.

"That was months ago", she exclaims.

I nod shy. "He told me I'm formidable, Vick. What was I supposed to do?! And the way he looked at me." I take a deep breath. "I. Am. Supposed. To. Hate. Him."

"But you don't", she points out. "You don't, right?"

"I don't even fucking know anymore."

"Look, all I know is that Louis stepped up for you in Deauville. He has always been there for you. He got pissed when you were insulted. He took you out for lunch."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"From where I'm standing, that seems more like love than hate to me."

"There is no way Louis loves me."

Vicky only raises an eyebrow.

"Is there?", my blood pressure suddenly rises.

"I don't know, babe. Guess you have a whole holiday to find out."

Clearly reaching for the coffee now.

~

The Latte leaves a bitter aftertaste in my mouth, although I love it with my whole heart.

"She seems nice", Vicky tries her best.

I only glare, drinking the whole content of the cup at once. It's then the girl rushes over at us, a bright smile on her face. She really seems great.

I hate myself for hating her.

"You must be Sylvie", Isabella lets out, wrapping her arms around me. "It's so nice to meet you, Louis has told me so much about you."

"It's nice to meet you too", I put my diplomacy classes to a good use. "And how wonderful you're joining us on this trip."

"I need to thank your brother, he was generous to invite me", she answers politely. It's then she heads over to my best friend and greets her with the same warmth.

As my brother and Louis reappear from wherever they went, Isabella quickly finds her way to them, settling next to Louis. I turn to my best friend instead.

"Why aren't we leaving?", I ask her.

"We're waiting for Xander", she reminds me, smirking at me knowingly.

I sigh exhausted, rubbing my temples. "I am so going to hell", I whisper.

"But that's okay. I hooked up with two different guys last night. So at least we'll be together."

Although her attempt at comforting was a bit messed up, I chuckle now.

Xander Acosta decides to make an appearance thirty minutes too late. Black sunglasses covering his eyes, all Balenciaga look, a green looking smoothie in his hand, he is grinning over both ears as he discovers Edmund and Louis. The guys share a bro hug, Xander introduces himself to us, and the show can get on the road.

Even objectively, I can't help but noticing one thing: the tension between Isabella and Xander. Ever since Xander saw her, his whole attitude changed. He got more pissed and more alert. Isabella keeps fussing with the sleeves of her blouse, her eyes wondering on him when nobody is looking. He hasn't looked at Louis once ever since Xander arrived.

"Okay, one question", Vicky whispers in my ear as we're sitting next to each other on the couch of Edmund's plane. "What the fuck?!"

I follow her gaze, landing on Isabella eye-fucking Xander again.

I only shrug. "Yeah, I stopped keeping up with what's going on a while ago."

"This feels like Love Island Royal Version", Vick continues. "The two of them silently doing it, Louis looking at you as if you were a sexy pop tart."

"A sexy pop tart?", I chuckle.

"Or something delicious. You come up with a better line."

I roll my eyes at her, yet can't help but dare to look at Louis once. Who was already staring.

My guts start twisting.

All of a sudden, I have to agree with my bestie. This trip will for sure be interesting.