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72.
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2024-02-22 09:30:14Dimitri laughed when the children ran by him, chasing each other with water guns. He had their parent's lists on his phone, and his only job was to keep a keen eye on them. He was also waiting for Ayesha to arrive, looking down at the headphones on his lap.
"Uncle Dima. Uncle Dima." The children chorused to get his attention.
"Yes. What do you need?"
"Can we have ice cream?" The youngest child, Maya, hiccuped.
"Of course you can, princess. Do you all want some?"
"Yes." They all sang.
"Okay."
He noticed Ayesha's car pull in as he stood. The children barrelled towards the ice cream truck that had pulled in not too long ago. He called after them to be careful and walked with his hand behind his back while his eyes remained on Ayesha.
She skipped over to them, smiling as she slung her bag over her shoulder. She looked beautiful. Dressed in green and red, with gold in her hair. She was definitely leaning into the craze of the season
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Ayesha wheeled her suitcase to the living room, still unsure of what she had agreed to do. The driver had informed her that he was waiting for her, she had everything set to leave, but her racing heart made her question her decision.“Are you going to keep that poor man waiting?”She chewed her lip nervously, turning to Joseph. “I don’t know about this.”“D
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It was late in the afternoon when they made it to his apartment. Dimitri had told her on the flight that he didn’t have the heart to sell it when he left. Something about being sentimental about a place he lived in for so long. He also didn’t want it to sit idly when he was away, but until he figured out what to do, he hired someone to handle the upkeep every week.The curtains had been opened, the air fresheners had been filled, spritzing the room with a peculiar scent. One Ayesha wasn’t familiar with but smelt amazing. The floors had been waxed, the chairs polished and shined. Whoever was maintaining the apartment must have come to prepare it for him the day before.She set her purse down on the sofa and took off her jacket. Dimitri had asked her to go up so he could talk with someone at the reception. So, as she waited for him to come in, she stood by the balcony, looking at the sea of houses below her.“It’s quite a view, isn&rs
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"There he is."Dimitri waved at his friend when they spotted him from the cart. Bolin had set up for them to meet under a large tree overlooking an expanse of field far from his home. Dimitri had requested they meet in the open for Ayesha to enjoy horseback riding without the limits of fences.Bolin was particular about who handled his horses on open fields, but after his first-hand experience watching her, Dimitri vouched for Ayesha's temperament with horses."Oh, look at those babies." Ayesha shrieked.Carina, Bolin's head equestrian, was walking two horses towards him. They were magnificent, tall and muscular. Their mane and tail were healthy and long. The lustrous strands glisten under the sunlight."Many people come over here to hire the horses and to train. He has a field, not too far from here, where players come to practice.""Players?""Polo, rodeos, showmen. Basically, anyone that wants a good horse for sporting activities."
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Ayesha tied her bandana on her head, fluffing up her curls. It had been a blissful two weeks, and now they only had one day before returning to their lives in Watford. So, for their last day in Greece, the last country he had worked in, they were escaping to spend the remainder of their time at one of the more private beaches.She shimmed into her dress, using the sheer gown to hide her swimsuit. She packed her beach bag with towels and lotions. After everything was set, she went to the adjourning door to check on Dimitri.“Hey. You ready?”“Come in.”She turned the knob and peeked in cautiously. He smiled at her from the bed. He was bent over, tying the laces of his sneakers.“Just about ready. You?”“Done. Done.” She showed him her packed bag and entered the room. “I have packed my bags. We can leave as soon as you’re finished.”He chuckled and stood. “Then let&
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Dimitri thanked the driver as he dropped the last of his bags on the stairs. They had returned to town in the evening because she wanted to spend the day walking around the city and buying gifts for Joseph and Carol, plus a few other friends she had not mentioned before. He indulged her. With her help, he got gifts for his sisters and parents.“Take the rest of the things to her place.”He asked and handed the address to him.Ayeshadidn’tbother arguing. She thanked the driver before he drove off and walked ahead to open the door. Dimitrididn’tlook over his shoulder as he kissed the top of her head and walked in behind her.He and Ayeshahadn’tspoken about being more open with their relationship since he proposed it weeks ago. Hewasn’tgoing to pres
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Ayesha woke up in a fright. She yanked her hand back from the invisible grip and scrambled away from the darkness until her back hit the bed frame. Her lips trembled. Her eyes scanned the room, feasting on every bit of light it saw. Itdidn’ttake long to realise where she was.The suitcase on her bed, clumsily packed with clothes falling out the sides, made her stop. Then she remembered her frantic actions when she returned fromDimitri’splace. Her words rioted in her mind, blossoming her headache as she recalled arguing with Joseph.She sniffed, using the bed to help herself up from the floor. With fresh tears
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Dimitri looked up when someone passed by him. He meant to continue reading the email on his phone, but whoever it wasdidn't move away from the table. And for a split second, he wondered if it was Ayesha, only to raise his head to see his younger sister.“Morning.”He raised his cup to her.“Gloomy.”She replied before she sat down.“Brat.
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Ayesha glanced at the car park where some of her former colleagues ate. She was surprised that the few people who came over to speak to her on the issue seemed kinder and less judgmental than she thought they’d be. They gushed about how shocked they were to find outshewas dating the mayor's son and teased that they were jealous of her luck. Ayesha had every chance to tell them it was over, but she didn’t.She wasn’t trying to enjoy their attention, but she wasn’t ready for the awkwardness that would set in when she said the words. She didn’t want their pity, or questions, or understanding. She just wanted to be alone with her loneliness.The girls cleared out after three minutes, but it felt like forever. So, she waited fo
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An Unroyal Alliance 94.
Dimitri excused himself from the party when he received a call. He kissed Ayesha's knuckles and winked at her as he left her in the care of his mother. He walked deep into the garden to answer the call. He didn't notice the person seated on the bench.When he finished the call, he noticed movement in the bushes. Dimitri cocked his head, trying to see who it was when he heard shaky breathing and noticed the dress as he drew closer."Sofia?" He called.The figure gasped, and he saw her turn to wipe her face. As he drew closer, the dress she wore became more noticeable. It was Sofia."Hey. Hey. Hey. Are you okay?""Yeah." She laughed breathily, turning to face him when her face was dry. "What are you doing out here? Why aren't you inside?""I got a call.""Oh. Work?""No. Not really. It was Bolin.""Oh! How is he?""Fine, and you? What brought you out here?"She shook her head and pressed a finger in the crook
An Unroyal Alliance 93
True to her word, Ayesha had surprised him with her dress for his mother's party. He knew next to nothing about gowns like that. Still, the soft peach colour and layers underneath that shimmered when she moved with the flowers sewn into the fabric made her look angelic. The arms of the dress hung low on her arms, exposing to show off the necklace he had gifted her. The satin gloves she had on reached past her elbow, and she worried the bands every now and then when she spoke.Her outfit had captured his mother's heart when she set her eyes on it. She hadn't stopped gushing over it since. He had worried about her spending so much for the party, but she had proudly assured him that the dress cost her nothing. Her friend's mother was a seamstress, and Ayesha had offered to buy one of her dresses for the night when she lucked out and got it free as long as she advertised the store. And with how many people flocked to ask questions about the gown, Dimitri was sure things were work
An Unroyal Alliance 92.
"So... you are a... you are a... princ... princess?""Yes."Joseph covered his mouth with his hand and nodded. Ayesha sat on the floor, watching him as he tried to understand her story. It wasn't an easy decision, but she wanted to start some reconciliation with her past. Joseph had been with her since she ran away years ago, and she never got around to telling him the truth about where she escaped from. She allowed him to think whatever he wanted, but since Dimitri knew the truth, she wanted to share it with him, too.He was family to her. He had become a brother to her, and she wanted their relationship to be complete."How old are you?"She chortled. "I am twenty-six.""You escaped around ten years ago. How did you get your new name and everything.""My sister-in-law took care of that. She has been like a mother to me since my brother died, and she couldn't watch what my parents were doing to me. They locked me up, and she decided
An Unroyal Alliance 91.
The rains were more forgiving in the morning. It didn't fall with a vengeance like it had all night. Now, there was only a slight drumming on the rooves and floor. Ayesha slipped out of bed quietly to avoid waking Dimitri. She left the room and went around the house, opening the curtains to let in what little sunlight was present. As she waited for some water to boil, she stood in front of the window and watched the rain flirt with the plants in the garden. She intended to start making breakfast but wanted to enjoy the peaceful morning first."Good morning."She turned with a smile to greet Sofia. "Morning. How did you sleep?""Fine.""Tea?""Ach. Sorry, I am a coffee girl through and through. And I am guessing Dimitri still has none of those lying around.""Unfortunately, no.""Don't worry about me. I have caused enough trouble." Sofia laughed and seated herself on one of the stools. Before Ayesha could assure her there was no troubl
An Unroyal Alliance 90.
“Do you intend on buying the store?” Dimitri muttered, not looking up from his phone as he looked through his assistant’s messages.“No,” Ayesha replied.“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the cart will soon overflow.”“Your fridge and practically your house is empty.”“And?” He chuckled.“We’ll stock you up, and you won’t have to worry about grocery runs for the rest of the month. Maybe even two months.”“But you’ve gotten everything you wanted to use to cook today?”“Yes. Indeed.”He dropped his phone into his jacket and leaned on the hand of the cart to watch her. She intently read the ingredients on the back of a large can. She was crouched at the bottom of the shelf; her dress blanketed her legs, and her purse hung to her side.She had come over to spend the day with him and enjoy the
An Unroyal Alliance 89.
Dimitri noticed Ayesha’s car pulling into his parent’s lot before he got in the house. He smiled as he watched her quickly check herself in the mirror and run her hands through her hair. She waved at him when she was done, then grabbed her purse to get out of the car.He walked to her and took her hand, and she kissed him. “Good evening.”“Evening, sweetheart.” He looked her over, taking in her dress and heels. “You look stunning.”“Thank you.” She patted her hair and adjusted the band. “Did you just get in?”“Yeah. We are early.”“Your mom said six.”“Yes, and dinner is usually six thirty. You’d be hanging around in the parlour with us till then.”“Oh.”“Come on. It's tradition. You'll love it.”His sisters were waiting when he got into the house. Vienna was the first to step forward
An Unroyal Alliance 88.
Ayesha rushed out of the forest, scrambling to a stop by a gleaming Dimitri to catch her breath. “Fair and square, huh?”“Your legs are much longer than mine.”“All I hear are excuses.”He handed her
An Unroyal Alliance 87.
Dimitri opened the door but used his body to block his mother’s view of the house. He was going to let her in, but he wanted to give Ayesha time to prepare herself. It was the first time she would meet his mother. With how they broke up, he knew she could feel nervous. But, as surprising as the coincidence was, it was also a good opportunity for his mother to finally meet her without throwing a dinner.Ayesha may not know it, but this was saving her the awkwardness.“Morning, Mom.”“Hello, sweetie.”“What brings you by?”“I went to the store today to oversee the newcomers. Some good things are going on the shelf today. I just stopped by to say hello since I was going through your area.”He nodded and stepped back. He knew when her eyes fell on Ayesha, but he casually said, “Come on in.”His mother looked at him, but she didn’t stare for long. She slipped past him
An Unroyal Alliance 86.
Ayesha wiped her cheeks as she reached the end of her story. She tried her best not to make it sound like an excuse because she still bore the responsibility for her actions. She wanted him to understand, not excuse her. So she chose her words wisely but did her best to speak on every truth he needed. “I can still feel their hand on mine sometimes when I sleep. They dragged me across the palace while I screamed and stuck my foot on the rug. Once my dad was tired, he had the guards carry me the rest of the way. I was spoiled, they said. I would learn, they said.”“You will not leave this room until your wedding day.”She shivered at the memory of the words. “I stayed in that room for two weeks, maybe three, but it felt like months. There was just a single window. They gave me a bed to sleep on, so they weren’t total savages. The guards kept me company, and the maids brought me…more like snuck me some good food here and there. They couldn’t disobey my parents but could do what they cou
