Royally Kidnapped by the Prince

10

THAYER

My self-discipline is legendary.

I was born with privilege—with a golden spoon. Since birth, I was molded to be a man with dignity, with

class. I was taught how to act, how to smile, how to behave, and how to speak. Everything.

But here I was glaring at the asshole who broke my Kennedy’s heart while I was fighting the urge to

yank her head and devour her mouth for a raw kiss.

Pride swelled in my chest as she remained calm, throwing curses at her ex.

A woman cursing in front of people was not quite impressive. With an exemption of my woman. And

watching her stand against that son of a bitch was even a turn-on.

For the next couple of minutes, I leisurely observed her even though I may have fucked up in the head.

I dutifully inspect the apartment she shared with that scuzzball. My chest constricted in jealousy. Then I

realized what a class A asshole he was. He didn’t deserve Kennedy, and I was sure that Kennedy

deserved better, who respected her and gave her what she needed and wanted, not someone who

denied her even over sex.

And that new woman of his. I didn’t see anything special about her. I turned my attention to my woman,

and I didn’t like even a bit of how Raoul fucking Foster raising his voice at Kennedy, but I left it to Lud

and Ash. They could handle this situation easily.

Dominance was in my nature. It ran in my blood. I noticed how Raoul reacted upon seeing me. I used

to it because most people showed the same reaction when I was in my royal mode.

“Again, it’s none of your fucking business.” Lud was enjoying a little bit too much, tormenting Raoul,

and he kept calling Kennedy love. If I had not known him, I would be striking him with punches, but

Kennedy grew to like him. And I could trust her with Lud, even with all my being—he would never

betray me.

“We’ll be leaving once Kennedy’s belongs out of here,” I said formally, even if my blood was boiling and

my fists were itching to punch this asshole directly in his ugly face.

“Good, because that man over there is being disrespectful.”

“He’s quite over-protective over Kennedy.”

“And who the hell is he?” He was even more confused.

I started to have fun myself.

“I’ve been telling you for quite some time now that I work in movers.”

“I don’t believe a word he said.” He looked at me.

“I heard that,” Lud replied from the sofa.

“Ken, who are these people? How did you get entangled with them?”

My stomach clenched tightly. “Watch your tone, Mr. Foster.”

“I think I’m gonna leave,” said the woman. “Call me, Raoul. We have a lot to talk about.”

“Oh, trouble in paradise already.”

“Lud, enough,” I said calmly.

“Why would I?”

The door slammed shut behind that woman.

“This fucking asshole cheated on Ken, raised his voice on a woman, and he thinks I should give a fuck

of giving him my respect? I’m a womanizer, but I never cheated on women. I never disrespected them.”

“So you’re a perfect guy just like to swing his dick around?” bantered Raoul.

“Yeah. That’s my point.” Lud was still calm, not giving any interest in Raoul’s outburst.

“And you call that respect?”

“Yes, dude, because I gave them what they wanted from me. If they wanted sex, I gave them. I’m not

trying to be so righteous or a saint because I am not that person. But they said one’s man loss is

another man’s gain.” He smirked.

“What?”

“Oh? That’s deliberately obtuse.” Lud snickered.

The movers had finally arrived.

“Ken, I’ll leave you to pack your things. I have something to do.”

“Great. Just run away, man!” Lud yelled before Raoul shut the door behind him.

I moved towards Kennedy. She helped to assist these men, placing her things in the box. “You okay?”

She quickly turned to me, wearing a bright smile on her face. “Yeah. Why?”

I shook my head. “I just wanna make sure you’re okay.”

She sighed. “I can’t believe it. I even attended their office Christmas party, and he introduced me to that

woman.”

“No one could have known that.” I tucked the loss strand behind her ear.

“Just make out already.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’ve been difficult, Lud.”

“He’s an asshole.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” She looked at Ash, still watching like a hawk on the window.

“I was referring to your ex.”

“Oh? Then that’s a good thing that he’s already my ex. I love my new apartment, though.” She giggled.

I couldn't help but smile. I thought it was cute and sexy. “Glad it meets your standard.”

“Are you kidding me? As long as you pay the half.” It was fully paid, but she would still receive a

different revised contract as if she had to pay the original payment.

“Of course.”

“So, are we like roommates now?”

“I still have to travel a lot, but yeah. Your roommate. Anything you wanna change?”

“No. That’s already perfect. How about you?”

“If you like the way it is, then we have to keep it that way.”

“Thank you.”

We went back to the hotel after the movers transferred her things to our new apartment. Apparently,

there was a service to fix and organize an apartment that Ash had already arranged.

I sent her to her hotel room with a huge hollow in my chest. Her words struck like lightning. Talking

about honesty when what I’d been doing the entire time was lying to her.

“You okay?” she asked me. Her eyes filled with concern. “Sorry about earlier. I don’t usually talk trash,

but he let out the beast in me.”

“The sexy beast, I hope.”

Her smile was bold, yet it held gracefulness and genuine. “Thank you for the help, roommate. Wanna

come in?”

My stomach twisted in knots. “I have something to do. I’ll send you a message later.”

“It’s fine, wanderlust.” She winked at me.

***

“What the exact fuck, T? Why did you turn it down?” Lud asked. Confusion settled on his face.

“I’m losing my shit every time I’m around her.”

“And it’s that supposed to be a good thing?” Ash was sitting in front of the monitor.

“I’m still lying to her, Ash.” Ash would definitely understand me. Lud as well, but without his illogical

advice.

“Then start by telling her bits and pieces. Like, ask her if she’s willing to give up her job for love.”

“She won’t,” I answered quickly.

“Are you sure she’s the one?” Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

I glared at Lud.

“I take that as a yes. 100%?”

“One million percent.”

“Then the truth will always prevail, T. Start by telling the truth before it’s too late, or she will find it out

from someone else. I heard her saying about honesty earlier. She knows the feeling of betrayal and

lies. You don’t wanna put her in that position again.”

“What should I do?”

“Tell her the truth. Show her your pictures, or Wikipedia, whatever.”

I stared at Lud with my brows knitted together. “What if she won’t like who I am? What if she let me

choose between my responsibility for her?”

They looked at each other.

“Then you should have thought a million times over before we traveled for this stupid quest of yours.”

Lud rolled his eyes.

“You’re not helping.” Ash threw a glare at Lud.

An excruciating silence stretched on.

“Invite her to visit your country,” Ash suggested.

“It would shock her. His pictures are everywhere.”

“That’s the point, moron,” Ash answered Lud while I watched them banter.

“Where in the hell of taking it too slowly you didn’t understand?”

“Just stop it, you two. Let me think.” My mind didn’t seem to work the way I wanted. My chest, though,

squeezed painfully as I thought of continuing lying to Kennedy.

“Can I say something?” Ash asked.

“As a friend? Of course.” I gestured to him to talk.

I waited.

“Kennedy is a smart and independent woman. If I may be honest, she would be a great wife. She

would make you a happy husband. And she would love and understand you because she knows how

important and huge is your responsibility to your country. She would never ask you to choose between

your family, your title, your country over her. Trust me. It won’t come to that.”

“She loves her job.”

“But there would be the only one you, Thayer, in her life.”

I threw myself to the bed. “I’m scared.”

“You’ve faced harder trials than this. I know this is where your future lies, but if Kennedy is the right one

for you, she will find her way back to you.” Ash had a point.

Lud scoffed. “The question is, are you willing to sacrifice something to her?”