The Prince or the Crown

chapter eight

I arrived at Teterboro Private Airport at 2:00 in the morning wearing the clothes Marko had picked out for me: a white cotton button-down shirt with dark gray dress pants, my hair up in a high bun, and a long green overcoat to top it off. 

We were only allowed three bags, so I had my giant gray suitcase, my blue duffel bag, and my faux leather shoulder purse.

My father walked alongside me, carrying all my paperwork as the doormen ushered us inside. 

I gasped as I saw the woman standing near our terminal. “Richard, that’s Chloe Michelle,” I whispered. 

He scanned the crowd. “Oh, my God, it is. Do you think she’s the other American lottery winner?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” I breathed. “Just look at her.” Being the daughter of one of the most adored celebrities in the country, Alan Michelle, Chloe was incredibly gifted with stunningly good looks. Bright blue eyes, smooth light blonde hair, perfect face, hourglass body; she had it all. 

“You are Bella Adere?” a man in a suit asked me as we approached the terminal, speaking in the same melodic accent as Marko. 

“Yes, sir,” I said. 

“Here are her paperwork files,” my dad said, handing him the portfolio in his hand. 

“You are her father?” the man asked. “Can I see an ID?”

After my dad confirmed his identity with the Aeqaean, he gave me a tight smile. 

“Come with us, Ms. Adere. Mr. Doffman, I assure you, she is in safe hands.” 

And with that, I was whisked away towards the terminal. 

As soon as I approached the crowd of about ten men in suits, Chloe in the mix, my heart started to race. Imposter syndrome started to kick in, and I had to resist the urge to turn and run away. 

“Everyone, we are boarding now,” someone announced from within the crowd. I felt a hand rest on my back and guide me towards the door as two men took my suitcase and duffel bag from my hands. We walked out onto the runway and made our way to the white and green jet standing in the center of it all. 

I took a slow deep breath and tried to concentrate on the stars in the sky and not what might be the beginning of my last chance. 

—

The interior of the private jet was luxurious, and I have to say, the crystal lighting and plush leather cushions almost made me feel like a princess. Chloe, though, seemed right at home as she sat down on the seat across from me and opened up her phone. 

“Hi,” I greeted her, then cursed myself almost immediately after.

She looked up, her blue eyes almost blinding. “Oh, hi,” she responded, smiling. Then she gasped in realization. “Oh. Are you the other girl from America who’s going to the Matching?”

What else would I be? I laughed. “Yeah. That’s me. Are you… Chloe Michelle?”

Chloe nodded. “Yeah. And who are you?”

“Uh… I’m Bella Adere,” I said hesitantly.

She stared at me expectantly as if that wasn’t the answer to her question.

“My dad’s the CEO of ABYS.”

“Ohh,” she said, grinning. “Well, it’s nice to meet you.”

I smiled back. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”

“We have reached our highest altitude. You may now move about the cabin,” someone announced over the loudspeakers.