Chapter 5
Katie woke up early the next morning. Usually she would need at least two cups of coffee to bring her back to life. Today however she felt happy and excited. She really liked Sam and if this was the only chance she got, then she would enjoy it while it lasted. It's not every day you get to almost be Royalty!
Katie opened the door to get to work and found a beautiful bouquet of roses in all colours, a huge box of chocolates and a teddy bear that had a wand and a tiara on. There was a card attached to the flowers and it was from Sam.
Katie turned the envelope over to open it. There was an actual red seal on it! The stamp used on it was a detailed Coat of Arms. Underneath the Coat of Arms were the words "Stärke, Respekt, Loyalität". German for Strength, Respect and Loyalty. Katie finally found a use for all the language classes. Katie opened the letter inside.
Dearest Katie
Thank you for being there when I really needed you. Please join me in the garden for breakfast. It wouldn't be right to eat all these delicious things without my beautiful future wife!
Love
SamP.S I thought of you when I saw the bear. Tiara...check, as for the ring, you'll just have to wait and see.
Katie hugged the letter and bear, then gathered the flowers to rush inside. Once the flowers were in water and the bear safe and comfortable on her bed, she was off to meet Sam...er her future wife.OK no that was still weird argh!Katie felt so elated. Who knew Sam was so thoughtful and romantic? She went to the garden near the hospital restaurant. Company policy believed if staff's stomachs were full, then so was production.
The food was responsibility sourced and lowered the company's carbon footprint. They owned a huge bamboo forrest that not only lowered carbon dioxide emissions but made many products. They had turned dry, arid lands into lush forests. It had not only made it more beautiful but had given the people jobs and the animals homes again. The very letter and envelope she had just read were made from bamboo.
Katie found Sam at an outside table. There were at least ten cloches on the table!They must be hiding something good. Sam smiled and got up to greet Katie.
" So how did you sleep?" Sam asked as she gave Katie a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Not much actually but the bit that I did get was good." Katie said as she sat down in a chair Sam had pulled out for her at a smaller table nearby." Did you sleep well Sam?"
" I did yes thank you, for about half an hour." Sam replied with a chuckle. Soon two well dressed waiters came out like magic to present their first dish.
Katie was presented with the starter. The plate was art. Yoghurt swirled from the outside in to draw the eye to the food.The fresh fruit arranged around a sculpture of honeyed oats and almonds. Then little tears of cream placed here and there.
The main was crispy, glazed bacon with fresh cheese, lettuce and a fine pickle all on fresh homemade bread. There was fresh coffee, tea and three types of fruit juice.
" How do you bring yourself to eat these stunning dishes?" Katie asked genuinely astonished.
" It's still very difficult to do but, I just think that if someone went to all the trouble of making something so artful, then I couldn't possibly hurt them by sending it back untouched.
My brother did that once. We were celebrating my mom's birthday. Jeffrey was about eight and I was six. He refused to eat anything even the dessert which he threw onto me in a tantrum.This in front of every citizen in our country and those we are allies with."
"You're joking! What did your parents do?" Katie asked as she started eating the fruit without noticing. She was so intent on what Sam was saying that she soon looked down to find an empty plate. Sam took her queue from Katie and had a few bites before she spoke.
" Not much they just laughed and went to get changed. They never were very strict. They led by example and taught us from a young age that we had different responsibilities then our school friends. At the same time they let us be children." With a shrug Sam finished the last of the breakfast sculpture.
" I really like the sound of that. I never really remember being a kid. I'm an only child and I've helped my parents bring money in since I was ten."Katie looked up from her bacon on heaven expecting the same look of pity. She was used to all her friends feeling sorry for her. Sam just looked intrigued.
" It was fun to be busy all day. We would all get up early and head off to the bakery. We spent all day together making delicious goods. I used to go with my dad on his motorcycle doing deliveries."
" My mom wasn't always like this. She lost her mind when her heart broke. We went from a happy family building a future.To a single mother being thrown out to make room for a lady half her age and IQ."
"I'm really sorry Katie that must have been terribly hard for you." Sam said trying not to make Katie feel worse. If there was one thing she knew about Katie, it was that she hated being pitied.
" It ripped my world apart. It was a long time ago I really don't worry about it anymore. The only lasting effect is that I dislike lairs." Katie said taking a sip of guava juice.
" Sam thank you for the roses and the bear and this lovely breakfast." Things were getting too serious. Katie didn't want to send Sam spiralling into depression.
" It's no problem at all. I like...I like spending time with you Katie. I just want you to know I value and appreciate you. I know you're doing me a favour but it doesn't mean you should be treated any less." Sam rambled on and then drank juice to stop what non-smooth thing she might say next.
" I really like the flowers. I didn't even know roses came in those kinds of colours." Katie said unable to stop smiling.
" The red and white ones in the center mean unity. The dark pink ones mean gratitude. The yellow with red tips mean ' I want to get to know you". The violet ones mean Royalty and the lilac are for romance." Sam said very proud of the thought that had gone into buying the bouquet. She wasn't going to mention that some of the roses also meant 'love at first sight' and 'falling in love'.
" So you technically wrote a love letter in flowers. Why Sam I've never been more charmed in my life." Katie looked at Sam and their eyes locked. The heart and the head were at war. The heart showed it's truth in their eyes. Their brains kept torturing them with past heartbreaks.
" I guess that makes me Princess charming then." Sam said with a laugh. it was more joy that Katie had liked her gesture then that the joke was funny.
" I think if you carry on like this Sam, you're going to have a hard time getting rid of me when the truth comes out." Katie said trying to keep the conversion light.
" Speaking of 'out' how are we going to deal with your mom?" Sam took the chance to change the very touchy subject they were on.
" I think she knows it's just better for her to ignore it. Her marriage went wrong after twenty-five years and now after eighteen years, her daughter is broken too." Katie smiled and played with her empty glass. Sam filled it to stop Katie figiting. Sam could see Katie was hurt by this and it made her heart contract.
" Katie listen to me." Sam got up from her seat and walked over to Katie. Taking Katie's hands in hers she continued. " You are not broken. You are intelligent, the animals adore you and I trust their instincts. You are graceful, elegant and beautiful. I'm proud to say I'm engaged to you. In fact I wish I really was because you're simply amazing. Nobody has the right to make you feel less than. It doesn't matter who it is, understand?"
Sam didn't care if she had shown her feelings a little. She had never been one to hide them. The fact that she wanted Katie so badly that she chose her to be the first to be brought home to her parents. That was a fact she would worry about later, it just felt good to be with her.
" Sam you are all those things and more. Why did you choose me? You could have had someone who actually fit in here. Katie said knowing if she let the joy in just a little. The weight of it would later crush her heart even tighter.
" Someone who fits in here would be family and we are NOT that type of Royalty. Second you happen to blend just fine. And lastly I like you Katie, alot. I find nothing about you to be broken or lacking in any way."
Sam brought Katie's hands to her lips. Her lips barely grazed Katie's skin and it sent a shockwave to her very core."This has been the best breakfast ever but, if we don't get to work soon they will send out a rescue team soon." Sam said looking like a moody teenager.
" Lead the way. Oh did you really have to use a Royal Seal on the letter?" Katie couldn't help asking.
" Not really. Although it's illegal to open it if it's not addressed to you when sealed like that. It counts anywhere in the world." Sam said proudly.
" So then if a journalist was to open it they would be jailed?" Katie said understanding now.
" Exactly! Only they would be put to death and not jailed. It's a very old law that amuses dad too much to change." Sam explained and burst out laughing at Katie's look of horror and disbelief...or admiration.
When Katie and Sam walked into the hospital they stopped dead in their tracks. It seemed all the doctors and med students were all focused on something in the local paper. Some frowned and pointed, others looked up at them in puzzlement. Sam turned to Katie as if to say ' What the hell, the picture was handled'. Sam stepped forward to grab a copy that lay on a desk nearby. She began to read it. Katie looked around and hoped for a clue. Sam was taking her sweet time! She wanted to scream " What the hell does it say!"
Chapter 6"I can't believe you left me hanging like that. I just about had heart failure back there!" Katie said as she settled into the passenger side of Samantha's car."How did you think I felt! I swear I thought that paper was going to bite me." Samantha said laughing at their close escape. Despite the news she had just gotten, Katie somehow always managed to keep her away from feeling utterly lost."It did look like you were holding a snake." Katie said and laughed with. The newspapers had all been raving about The upcoming Gala. The Doctors and Med students had gathered round to congratulate them. You see the media didn't follow every social event anymore. Social media as the name suggests takes care of that. What is the use of taking far away photos for front page, only to be outdone by a celebrity selfie?Samantha had devised a no-tech event that she knew would get them curious. Next invites had been sent by hand delivered invitation on actual pap
Chapter 7Katie felt invincible with Samantha by her side. It also helped stabilise her from the flashing lights. All eyes had turned to them the moment their car was announced. Katie actually knew now what the celebs must feel like. It was more of an unpleasant experience and didn't Envy them anymore.The moment they entered the event, Samantha started to introduce Katie to all the guests. She had called her 'my beloved Katie' and something about a rare jewel. All Katie knew was that Samantha seemed happy, proud even to introduce her to all her friends. She could almost forget they were covering a scandal and bending to old, stupid rules.Tonight she would just enjoy being with Samantha. She would keep a level head and not get used to being wanted for once.Katie finally sat down after almost two hours of meeting people and smiling. Samantha had been called away to advise a new sergeon via phone call. Samantha was a doctor and a Princess! You can't
chapter 8Katie looked down at the ring and couldn't believe her eyes. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen in her whole life apart from the gorgeous woman holding it.She looked into Samantha's face and except for the excitement in her eyes the rest of her expression was unreadable.Katie knew that this was just a pretense and that soon people will be looking for the ring, it just looked right.However there was something genuine in Samantha eyes that make Katie lose all remaining thought.This was a very over-the-top romantic gesture just for a pretense. Samantha looked about to break in half with the tension it took to wait for Katie's answer. Katie decided to put Samantha out of her misery whether this was real or not you couldn't help live the fantasy just for a little while.Katie didn't want to think what would happen when Samantha realised that she didn't care for a hal
Before we start ladies and gentlemen. Although real countries are used to add a sense of reality, the people and Royalty from those countries are in no way represented in this story. Any similarly is coincidence. Now on to the good stuff! Chapter 9 The Royal couple looked at the ring and then from Katie to their young daughter. They silently took the ring, nodded and then left. Katie had no idea what that meant or what they would do next. Katie turned to Samantha hoping her reaction would be better. Samantha had an even mixture of thrilled and scared on her face. " Why did you do that?" Samantha asked in disbelief. She had a healthy fear of her parents and so did everyone she knew. For Katie to address them directly, in public of all places, madness! " I couldn't handle the fact that they upset you so much. It was my fault too that we got into trouble. I had to do something. I'm sorry if I made things even worse." Katie said slo
Chapter 10Katie looked down on the roaring crowds that had gathered outside The Palace. News had spread fast and now with only a week to go, people were getting excited.The Palace had been open to the public for over fifty years and tours were available during the week. This was different as they hardly got to lay eyes on The Royal Family. The Queen would address the people once a year and appear at The Gala briefly.To be able to get a look into their daily lives had set the whole country into a frenzy. Katie had been given the guest house and Samantha had been asked to be in her room. It might seem perfectly normal except her room was almost half an hour walk from the guesthouse.She was trapped in The Palace and couldn't go out. People already knew she was close to The Princess and wanted to know more. She had tried to go to town and almost got mauled by a group of fans.Her and Samantha had to be airlifted to work and back. They had to
Katie had seen many TV shows with celebrities in them. She had seen The Red Carpet and all the flashing lights. All it requires is to look good and smile, can't be that hard can it?The first morning when the reality hit it came like an explosion and a tornado all in one. The bowl of cereal felt like the last bit of peace she would ever have. The moment she put the empty bowl in the sink and stepped outside, the assault began. The flashing lights made a person way more disoriented then she could imagine. People were screaming at her with all kinds of questions. They came so fast that she couldn't make out one question from another. Katie wanted to run back into the house but, they had all surrounded her. When a hand gripped her wrist she tried to pull away.The man's grip was ironclad yet didn't hurt her. He walked calmly and made a way through the crowd. Panic ran up and down her spine. This man was dragging her off and she couldn't s
"I don't think I'm even going to The Hospital." Samantha said as she flopped down onto the couch. We have off for a few days I want to do something meaningful. With these cameras everywhere it's a little difficult."" Why don't you go spoil the kids like you did last year?" Katie said hoping to cheer Samantha up." I want to do more then take them candy this year. Last year was great but these kids really miss out. And on top of that I'm still expected to host a charity event for the shelter dogs. " Samantha continued feeling more drowned by the minute."Sam I know you have alot on your plate but I'm here to help you. Hey maybe there's a way to do both." Katie said with a mischievous smile. She grabbed Samantha by the hands and helped her up. "Come on Princess I have a plan!"" What are you up to?" Samantha asked but followed knowing this had to be better and more productive than sulking was." First things first we go visit The Traffic Depar
prologueKatie looked up with her eyes wide as the building quickly engulfed in flames. The flames growing to match the height of the rooftop in seconds. Then just as she gathered her senses, Katie heard a loud bark."Hey...there's a dog inside there!" one of the bystanders screamed."Oh no, no no no." Katie said as she ran towards the violent blaze. Looking from window to window they were billowing smoke already. Katie looked around frantically. The frightened animal had become more quiet and there was no way in. Katie ran to the back of the house hoping for a chance, any chance at all.It felt like an hour had gone by when Katie rounded the corner and found the back door open. With a sign of relief she ran into the house. With the flames closing in behind her as she entered, Katie looked around for any sign of the dog.Moving carefully Katie looked around for a safe way to move around. Just then she heard a soft whimper close by