I entered Nate's office carrying, or more like hugging, a bunch of files from half of the departments in his building. He was talking to someone over the phone and I stood there, clenching and unclenching my jaw.

"...yes, of course. I'll be taking care of that once I got there." He hung up and gave me an annoyed look. "Can't you knock?"

Ugh! He's being an asshole again.

"Obviously. You see these files..." I said trying to lift the files higher to give emphasis, "...are keeping my hands occupied. I just asked Margaret over there to open the door for me."

I stalked towards him and not-so-gently placed the files on his desk, almost spilling his coffee.

"Why would you need these files anyway?" I asked, giving him a hard look.

"Because I need it." Comes out his short reply which annoyed me even more.

It's been two weeks since the gala and it's been hell of a couple of weeks for me. He's been giving me a lot of paperwork to do. He even gave me a file that was supposed to be for the Finance Department. The Finance head offered to help, and I gladly took him up on his offer, but apparently someone was not happy that the file was not finished by me. The next day after that, he made me go back and forth to the Human and Resource Department for some stupid file of a person that never even existed in their database. The next day after that he made me drove all the way to the other office building to just print a single paper that he "forgot" to include. And after that... well I guess you get the idea.

On top of the stress Nate was giving me, Jessica never even explained her reasons on why she didn't make it home after the charity event. I tried so many times to get it out of her, but she evades the subject by not showing her face at home. I can't corner her because Nate's giving me a hard time, and whenever I arrive home, she's already asleep.

What is happening with the people?

"These files dated four years ago," I stated firmly. "Why would you need it?"

He was looking at each folder one by one and suddenly took interest of one. "Because I need this particular file here." He said as he raised a single folder.

"That's it?" You've got to be kidding me. He took the fifth from the top and nodded.

"Yes. You may take this all back to where you got them."

SERIOUSLY!?!

"This is madness!" I looked at him with incredulity.

"What?"

"You made me carry all these files for one stupid folder? You made me go to each of the department to find the document you can't remember the title of?"

"Is that a problem?"

"Of course, it is." I said, slamming my hands down his desk. "Do you know how heavy these are? And carrying them all from the lower floors to here is actually very tiring? Have you no shame?"

He raised his eyebrow. "I don't see why not. You're pretty capable of carrying these because I don't see you having any disabilities or looking pregnant. And besides, you are my Personal Assistant; it's your job to follow my orders."

"Damn straight!" Leaning forward, leveling my face with his. "I am your Personal Assistant, not your freaking slave. So, I follow your orders only up to an extent, Nate."

"We're in the office, Ms. Carter. I suggest you bring your manners with you and address me as your boss."

"What if I refuse?" I said, giving him a challenging look.

"Are you testing my patience?"

"Is your patience being tested?"

He glared at me, but I just smirked.

"If you refuse you wouldn't like the punishments," he said, leaning forward and decreasing the gap between us.

I smiled triumphantly. If his punishment is to fire me, he would have done it already when I first lashed out at him. And giving me more jobs will not do any good for him since by now; he would already know that I will refuse some stupid orders from him.

"Try me." I said, the challenge still in my voice but the moment it went rolling out of my tongue I realized that it was a wrong comeback. I blushed but stood my ground.

He stared at me with a smirk as he raised his hand to touch my lips. Immediately, I felt the jolt of electricity throughout my body at his simple touch.

"You have a smart mouth, Ms. Carter." His eyes staring at my own then back at my lips.

"And what would you do without it?"

"Have a date with me."

My eyes widen at the sudden request. He doesn't actually ask like that. Well, it's not like he asked, anyway.

I narrowed my eyes and pursed my lips. If this is some sort of challenge, then I accept it.

"Sure."

*****

I'm nervous. Quite frankly, I'm freaking out.

"Carter, I'm really sorry, okay? I didn't mean to keep you in the shadows. Please, stop packing. I'll tell you everything."

"Oh, so now you're going to tell me everything," I said, still packing my clothes. "Do you know that Nate put me in hell for the last couple of weeks? I've been dying to have my best friend talk to me, so we could somehow ease each other's nerves. Nut NO! You chose to evade the subject."

I threw in the last of my clothes in the bed and faced her. "You chose to avoid me. Where were you that night? Did something happen between you and Aaron?"

Silence.

I raised an eyebrow. She avoided my gaze and my eyes widen.

"Oh, my go–"

"Nothing happened, okay?" she said, defensively.

"Then why did it take you a moment to answer?" I asked as I put my hands on my hips.

She slumped down the bed and leaned on her knees to cover her whole face. "I don't know."

"You don't know. What do you mean you don't know?"

"I have no idea. I remember nothing at all."

"Did you ask Aaron if something happened?"

"Yes."

"What did he say?"

"Nothing."

A crease formed on my forehead. "Nothing as in nothing happened or nothing as in he didn't answer?"

"Nothing as in nothing happened between us. Do you think that's not the first thing I'm going to ask in the morning seeing him walking out of the bathroom wearing only a towel to hide his lower body while I lie there in my birthday suit?"

My mouth was hanging open after hearing what she said.

"I'm not stupid, Carter. He's been trying to sleep with me the moment he laid eyes on me. I woke up naked in a man's bed. Of course, I asked what happened and if we did anything."

"And he said nothing happened?"

"He said 'we didn't do the dirty.'"

"Is that so?" I said, unconvinced.

"But of course, I didn't believe him. I had to check. I tried to stand and sure enough I don't feel anything. I don't know what kind of soreness women feel when they lose their virginity but whatever it was, I didn't feel it. I checked the mattress, the duvet, and everything and found no traces of blood."

"You had your proofs. Why did you still avoid this subject for two weeks?"

"Because I wasn't still sure." She said, her tone slightly rising. "I googled it and I found out that there are virgins who won't feel sore after doing it; who won't feel any pain while doing it; and who won't leave any blood marks after doing it."

"I think Google just made your feelings worse," I commented, resigning back to packing my things. "And I think he's telling the truth."

"Oh, please." She said, exasperated. "I was naked and drunk. I practically delivered myself to him in golden platter."

"You're right, you're drunk. I think he's not the kind of man who will take advantage of a woman during their weak and stupid state."

She laughed sarcastically. "Ha-ha. What if you were in my position?"

I stopped folding my clothes and looked at her.

"What if you woke up one morning in Nathaniel's bed, wearing nothing but the duvet? What would you do?"

"I'll do the same thing you did. All of it. Except for the googling thing. You know why? Because he's not that kind of person. Both of them."

"Why do you keep saying that?"

"Women practically throw themselves at Nate and Aaron. So why the hell would they take advantage of a drunken woman when they can get every girl in just a snap of their fingers?"

She sighed thoughtfully.

I went to her side and held her hands. "Now that you explained why you were avoiding this subject, I think it's now time for you to explain why you got yourself drunk."

"It's about Alexander."

I nodded. I know because she told me that Alexander was at the charity event. The question is what did he do to make Jessica consume too much alcohol?

"I know what he wants."

My eyes widen. "What does he want?" I asked, eagerness showing in my voice.

"He wants to own half of my father's company."

"What!?! Why would he want that? Is his company not enough?"

"That's not all. He also wants half of the Winzenried Group."

What. The. Bloody. Hell.

"That is a greedy bastard, right there."

"I don't think so," Jessica countered immediately. "I think it's more than just greed. He wants power."

"If he wanted power, then why not go to the kingdoms in the Scandinavian Peninsula?"

"No. He wanted power but not from them. I think he's trying to prove that he doesn't need to marry Karlsson anymore."

"The love of his life? Why not?"

"His father still has his grasps on him. I can feel his hatred towards his father. He's trying to get away from him. From his past and from everything and anything."

"Then why does he have to involve us?"

"Because when he took over, he already made a step towards our fathers' company."

"And he's slowly achieving that. If he did. What would happen?"

"I think he plans to destroy his father's reputation and the Karlssons."

I shook my head. Honestly, I don't understand anything she's saying.

"His mind is twisted. He wants Karlsson, but he wanted the both of them to get out of their family's control. His father wants him to marry Karlsson as soon as possible. But he wants to prove to everyone that he's capable of taking everything he wants."

"I think that'll be good for him, marrying Alexandra, I mean."

"He thinks that Karlsson no longer loves him. He's thinking that the only reason she'll be marrying him is because her parents are forcing her to. So, to get away from their controlling parents, he plans to take them down by using our dads' company."

"So, to get his freedom, he's using power."

"He said he doesn't want to be like you, like us. He doesn't want to run. He doesn't want to hide. He wants to be truly free. He doesn't want to experience walking on land mimes like you and me."

"He's being very complicated. But does he really have to involve us?"

"We just happened to be in the perfect place at the perfect time."

It was a moment of silence after that statement. So, if we weren't here, there will still be other victims to his stupid plans.

I kind of feel bad for Alexander. After hearing that he wants to just get out from her father's controlling hands, I almost felt sorry. But then again, why go to such measures? Why not just talk to them?

Yeah right. Like you could talk to your father about having a bit of freedom.

But his case was different from mine. I am a future queen. The heir to the throne. The bearer of the country. The face of my people. The reputation of the family.

I have duties that I must fulfill.

The silence was broken by my phone ringing.

I looked at the caller ID before answering. "Hello?"

"I'm fifteen minutes away from your place. Be ready by then."

I sighed. "Yes, of course." I looked at Jessica. "Can't wait."

Fifteen minutes later, I was ready. My luggage was already at the living room when I heard Nate pull over.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Do I look sure about this?" I asked, sarcastically. "I will be zero meters from getting busted."

"I just don't understand why you have to agree to accompany him. And of all the places, why–"

"Hey," I said, placing my hands on her shoulder. "I think it's better to be with him. That way I could steer him out from knowing the truth about me. I have to keep him under my nose while watching my back because I might not be coming back here otherwise."

"He said he'll punish you," she laughed, humorless. "But going out of the country? That's not a punishment." She paused for a moment, thinking to herself. "Unless, he already knows your secret."

My eyes widen. "Impossible. My brothers are thorough, and you know that."

"It can't be a coincidence that he's going to Switzerland wi–"

"Yes, it can." I sighed, dismissing the thought. "Even before he made me research about the royal family, he already has plans to extend his business there."

"But what if?"

"Then all the more reason I have to stay and keep a closer watch on him."