The Queen: Love's Death || ✔️

Chapter 15: Princess' Decision

Hera

I had never met a man as complicated as Bryson Genaro. The man was mysterious, vague, unpredictable and completely baffling. He left me in awe last night when he proposed on our first date and made me even more speechless this morning when he sent flowers to my office the moment I left the house.

Sitting with Jude across from me in my office, I smelt the white lillies for the millionth time with a smile on my face and she wiggled her eyebrows at me.

"This Bryson guy is a keeper, girl, one date and you can't stop smiling, that's a good sign." She whispered to me while winking.

"Yeah... and to think that he proposed." I admitted to her.

Jude was my best friend. I met her in college and I gave her the job as the receptionist at the Throne building.

"I still don't know what he looks like..."

"Didn't you see him the day of the meeting?" I asked her.

"No. I was stuck in the kitchen getting a lecture from Gladys about the stupid coffee machine needing to be plugged off when not used to save electricity."

"Is she still on that?" I chuckled.

"She's the reason why majority of the staff have to start their second shifts ten minutes later. She plugs off the coffee machine, microwave, kettle..."

"... so that's why it takes you an hour to get me coffee?"

"Nah, that's just me. I just don't feel like being sent around for coffee most of the time." She admitted nonchalantly and I smacked her arm playfully where chuckling. "So what's your answer?"

"For what?"

"The marriage. Is it a yes? A no? A maybe? A 'not in this world'?"

"It's an 'I'll think about it'." I answered her honestly.

"You're joking." Jude deadpanned.

"No. I'm still thinking about it."

"Seriously Hera? Men like Bryson are hunted down on a daily basis in this world. He didn't offer you companionship in bed or even a relationship. The guy offered marriage. The whole white dress and black tux shebang! That's rare, girl, don't waste time drooling over it. You of all people knows how rare opportunities are in this world, I mean, you are a businesswoman so you know these things."

"But what if it's a mistake? What if he's not the one?"

"And what if he is? Remember that Bryson Genaro is not like the everyday Dick, Tom or Harry that we meet and have to tolerate in a marriage the whole time. That guy's is a special package sent straight from destiny delivered to you."

"What?"

"Bryson Genaro is known to be stone cold and emotionless. He is known to get with girls only for one thing and he won't mess up with that thing. Millions of girls have tried to get through to him but to no avail because Bryson Genaro doesn't give a damn about such things..."

"... how do you know all these things?"

"I work in the corporate world. There is no way that a name as big as his isn't mentioned in nonchalant mingling conversations. In fact I've heard more about him than about his actual company."

"Well, what do you know?" I asked in interest, placing the flowers down on my table.

"For one, I know that he is strictly professional. Nothing personal about him is ever mentioned which could only mean one thing, he's an introvert. In the business world, everyone talks about him and about his personality and goals and all that other stuff they make up because they've never really had a conversation with the guy. But in reality, no-one even knows what his voice sounds like. His meetings are handled by Damien, he doesn't travel as often and he works from home. Everyone knows that. No-one knows a whiff about his personal life or about him in general, which doesn't do his mysterious façade any good, and that kinda sums up to him being an introvert. Which is really rare in the business industry."

"He talks to me so smoothly and effortlessly, I couldn't have guessed that he was like that." I admitted.

"Exactly. The fact that he can be so comfortable around you despite the fact that he isn't even comfortable around his business associates should tell you a lot about how he feels for you. Not to mention that ring on your thumb, I'm sure not even his mother has had the privilege of wearing it."

"Seriously?"

"It's just a weird thought of mine. Don't take me seriously." Jude defended herself, playing with the diamond on her left ring finger.

"But what should I say to Blade and Bullet? Oh my word, and Zeus?"

"Hera. You're a grown woman now and the fact that you still feel the need to justify your actions to other people is scary. So don't do it. You want Bryson just as badly as he wants you, I can see it in your eyes. So instead of worrying about others, worry about yourself and about what flavours your wedding cake will be. Blade is married. Bullet is married. Zeus is married." Jude counted them with her fingers. "They have their own wives and families to worry about, not yours. You can't keep compromising yourself for others and do what they think. Start considering what you think and about what you want. Blade, Bullet and Zeus can't live your life for you."

"And what about my mother? What would she say?" I asked truthfully, swallowing a huge lump after mentioning her.

"Your mother trusts you more than she trusts herself. So I'm pretty sure that she'll trust whatever decision you make. And judging by what I've heard, she will have a bitch fit and try to do something to scare Bryson away, but let's be honest, your mother stands no chance against Bryson Genaro." Jude smirked.

"You don't know Queen Claudia King like I do. She hates being challenged."

"But then she'll have to get used to you marrying Bryson because it's what you want. And if she doesn't approve, then she'll face the wrath of the most dangerous businessman in the world."

"You don't know the half of it." I shook my head, hoping with everything in me that Jude never came face to face with my mother.

"So is it a yes?" Jude asked me with hopeful eyes.