The Reluctant Princess

Chapter Two

Molly

I paced the large airy room for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"Ok, Theo, so let me get this straight. First of all, you lie to me, and given the nature of our relationship, I really think I had the right to know," He had the shame to look embarrassed, "But now, you expect me to give up my life and my job, and marry you? I don't think so."

"Well, it wasn't really my idea." I shot him a look, and he backtracked. "What I meant was, I don't want to get married either. But I have to. I have no choice. So when Grandmama found out about you, she said that it was ideal." In that moment, I almost felt sorry for him. He looked kind of miserable, but then I regained my composure. I was being forced into a marriage with a guy I didn't love, for god's sake!

"Look Theo," I said, sinking into the nearest chair, "You're a Prince. You're good looking. I'm sure you could find a model or someone who'd be more than willing to marry you. There's really no need to involve me." Theo looked across the room at me. His dark, serious eyes were filled with a kind of remorse, as though he felt sorry for me. He probably did.

"Molly, that's the thing. I need to marry an unknown. No offence," He added hastily, "But it'll prevent any pre-marriage scandals. I've been lying low here in London, but once the press find out I'm here, the media storm will begin. And the lower profile my spouse has, the better." The expression on my face mustn't have been convincing, because Theo stood up and walked over to me. He stood behind my chair, and placed his hands on my shoulders. He bent down close, until I could feel the warm breath on my neck.

"Mol, I know this is hard for you, but..." I shook him off and rose out my seat. I grabbed my coat from where I abandoned it on the chair.

"I need time." He didn't say anything. "I need time to think. I can't just go waltzing off to a country I've never heard of, get married to a guy I've known for little over a year, abandon my job, my family, my home..."

"How much time?" The question startled me.

"What?"

"How much time do you need?" Theo repeated the question patiently, but I could hear an undertone of an emotion I couldn't detect.

"I-I just need time." I replied feebly.

"We fly out on Wednesday. That gives you two days." When I didn't answer, he sighed. "Molly, you'll be a princess. Live in a castle. Be waited on hand and foot. Have every material item you might want. Isn't that enough?"

"I'm not a material kind of girl." Were my final words as I swept through the door, and ran away, as fast as I could.

***

It was Wednesday morning, and I was sweating. The stairs to the offices that I worked in suddenly seemed to have multiplied. This was the last link I had to break. I'd told my Mum (my dad died when I was three), my closest friends, done all the necessary paperwork. Now I just had to tell my boss that I was leaving. She'd tell me that I was insane. She'd be right. What was I doing? It was so ridiculous I almost wanted laugh. This was like a bad rom-com.

After standing at the bottom of the stairs for five minutes, I started to climb. Here goes nothing.

***

It happened exactly as I thought it would.

"You're getting married?!" Laura shrieked. "What the hell has gotten into you girl?" I shook my head in reply.

"I don't know. He needs my help, and I'm going to give it to him. What's the worst that could happen?"

"You'll be trapped in a loveless marriage with no prospects for the rest of your life? You're not princess material Molly, can't you see that? You drink Starbucks for breakfast when you remember it's a meal, and you can't do your hair!" Although she was my boss, Laura was the only person who was telling me what she thought straight up. My mother was delighted; I would marry well and leave her money; my friends had been too distracted by the material benefits to see what I was getting myself into.

"Yeah, well. At least Andrea can be promoted now. She deserves it." Laura sighed and waved her hand in a meaningless gesture.

"I don't think there's anything I can say to sway you, is there Molly?" I shook my head.

"No. I've made up my mind, Laura, and I have to do what's right." She sighed again, and pulled off her glasses.

"Just promise me Molly, if it gets too bad, you walk away. You didn't ask for this, and so you have every right to leave, to do what's best for you. Got it?" I nodded, and for a second, I thought she was going to hug me. But the moment passed, and I left the office, tears pricking my eyelids. That was it. I was my own now.

***

The VIP lounge in an airport is the place to be. Sleek, white leather sofas lay dotted around the room. Floor to ceiling windows provided spectacular vies over the runways, and farther afield, the city I so dearly loved, and was leaving behind. As I stood there, staring out, I was reminded of all the good things that had happened here. I had gotten my degree, bagged a fantastic job, and a poky flat that I was proud to say I half owned. I'd also met Theo. That was a good thing. Although, I was now beginning to wish I'd never laid eyes on him.

I remember the first time I met him. I arrived at the flat with all my belongings, and he was already there, stretched out on the sofa, a beer in his hand. I guess you could say it was love at first sight. Theo was gorgeous; his black hair was slightly too long, flopping over his eyes, which were a piercing blue. They stood out against his tanned skin, which I later found out extended to all parts of him.

I had been thrilled when he's taken an interest in me. I knew he didn't want a serious relationship, and neither did I, so we just went with the occasional hook up, which now I came to think about it, had become more frequent of late. I'd meant to end our budding relationship weeks ago, (I never got too attached), but I'd never found the right time. If only I had, I wouldn't be in this situation now.

"Miss King?" I swivelled around, and was greeted with the sight of a unifromed man. I was the only other person in the room besides him, so I presumed he was talking to me.

"Eh, yes?"

"The plane is ready for you to board now." My stomach dropped, and with a growing naoseous feeling, I followed him. My luggage had already been shipped ahead, and I was only carrying my handbag. That alone intensified the feeling that I was trapped. As I walked out of the airport and across the tarmac to the plane, I felt a tear slide down my cheek. But what reason did I have to cry? This was my fault; I'd allowed the rash, stupid side of my personality to take control. And I was a proud person. Once I made a decision, I very rarely went back on it.

So there was nobody to blame but me, I thought, as I climbed the stairs to the private jet I would be travelling on. And maybe Theo. But I was almost there now, and there was no turning back.

I sat and stared out the tiny window as we climbed through the air, watching London disappear. I ignored the bulky file that had been placed on the seat beside me. It contained all the information about the country I was to become princess of, and I was supposed to read it for the duration of the six hour flight. I decided halfway though that I'd better get on with it, because this was my life now. And I had to deal with it.

****

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Tara.