We've been in New Orleans for three days. When she arrived in my office, I was beyond surprise. I couldn't believe my eyes.

Angel Face

The person I have always wanted to see but can't was standing in front of me, calling me with that silly nickname she gave me back when we were just kids.

Drawn to her, I cancelled every appointment on that day just to give her all my attention.

She smiled. And I thought I was ready to die.

Seeing her face like that seemed to make my world rotate again. Seeing that beautiful bright smile on her face makes every suffering and pain in my heart seemed to pass.

I was hopeless. And I am very much aware of that.

She had me wrapped around her pretty little fingers. She knows I would do anything, everything for her. And as disgusting this may sound, if she asked, I would gladly cut even my balls and gave it to her in a golden platter. Although, I know she would never ask me of that.

I must've really been going crazy thinking something like that.

"Hey," she had said, and that simple word drew all my attention towards her.

I was just there, staring up at her as her eyes drew my soul in.

Beautiful as always

Inside and out

"What are you doing here?" Came out my stupid words. I should have said something better but her being here just took all the appropriate words away.

She was about to take a seat on one of the living chairs in front of my desk but my abrupt question stopped her. The smile on her face instantly faded. And damn it, I wanted to kill myself.

"Do you want me to go?" she asked. "I'm sorry if I didn't schedule an appointment. I should've known you're bus—"

"No!" I exclaimed, halting her sentence. "You know very well that I would drop anything to have the pleasure of your company."

The smile came back to her face. And I mentally patted myself at the back.

"I'm glad."

I gulped. I'm heartless when it comes to her, I'll do anything. And just stared at her. Those blue eyes are really pulling me in. I could be lost or drowned in them forever. I would've stared at her more if I hadn't noticed the expectant look in those blue pools.

Idiot

Say something.

I cleared my throat. "So what brings you here?"

"I need you to accompany me to New Orleans."

*****

And so we flew to New Orleans.

I cleared my schedule for a whole damn week just so I could spend my time with her.

We're in a city where every person is surrounded by arts, and music. This is probably the place where I tasted the finest whiskey in my life.

But somehow none of those mattered as I was standing off the sidewalk, staring at the girl who could capture my eyes from a distance.

The way her blonde hair sways every time she moves her hair. Those luscious lips that always curve up widely whenever she's genuinely happy. And of course, the blue eyes that always brightens whenever she's beyond delighted.

She held out her hand for me to take, and gladly let her take me with the crowd of musicians, and dancers.

The memory of my first time being here in the Crescent City was really unpleasant. Finding out that my girl has been hanging out with someone who is of low caliber. That memory flashed before me and for a moment I was in a trance.

Then her worried face brought me back to the present.

"Is everything okay?" She had cautiously asked, probably seeing the indifference in my face.

Looking at her, I can't stay mad.

How can I?

I don't like seeing her face like that.

A person like her only needs to have a smile on the face.

The look of worry, sadness, or any other negative feeling must never be present.

So I smiled back. "Nothing." I had said. "Now, come on. We have to enjoy this moment."

The whole afternoon, we did nothing but enjoy ourselves in each other's side. It was as if I was transported back to the time when we were young and free to do whatever we want. Her smile and laughter never cease to amaze my heart.

That evening, we ate at the place we were staying. For once, we didn't go back to the past. The whole time we were together, she only ever talked about how happy and free we were. All she talked about was the beauty of the city we were staying at and how it reflects her whole personality. She's really living this moment that we have. Enjoying this moment with me.

She told me the places she wanted to visit again and visit for the first time.

"Paris." She had murmured dreamily. "Even though I've been there countless of times, I still want to go there. Again, and again."

I just smiled and listened to her intently.

"Being there for so many times still felt so surreal."

"How about being here?" I had asked, interrupting her daydream. "If you really want to go back in Paris, why are we here? In New Orleans?"

She placed her elbow on the table and leaned forward. "Because this whole city is me. When I'm here, I feel safe, at home. I feel like this city is making the tourists part of every celebration. It's like you're not just visiting anymore but rather, you're one of them. This city makes you feel like you're one of the people here."

"What about being with me? Does being with me makes you feel at home too?" I had asked her and her dreamy smile became serene, nostalgic even. "Because being with you is home for me. Always has. Always will."

She blushed. Her whole face turning pink. And I can't help but grin. Even if she tried to hide it, her whole body is actually glowing. She has ivory skin which means that when she blushes, I can see the glow in her whole body.

When she saw the glint in my eyes, she huffed and stands from her seat. "I'm going to my room."

I chuckled. "Aw. Come on."

She smirked. "I know you got this one so I'll leave the bill to you."

*****

When I went to her room, I found her sitting on one of the chairs out in the balcony.

"Hey," I started.

"I met Princess Laura."

I stopped in my tracks after hearing what she said.

Without facing me, she continued. "Is that really your plan?" Her voice sounded disappointed. "You want to own half of the company of both Border's and Winzenried's, do you?"

Fantastic

So this is the reason why we're here. They figured out that she is my weakness. And now that she's here, she will try to convince me to stop this plan of mine.

All this time, she's just stalling. I thought she just wanted to be with me.

I was a fool.

Fine. Since they already told her, might as well say the truth. "I want to overpower my father."

She looked at me, her eyes starting to moisten. "Why?"

"I want you to be free from the betrothal our parents made. I want us to be free from them. To do that, I need wealth, power."

"Why not just talk to them? My parents want nothing but my happiness."

"You're right." I exhaled, turning away from her. "Your parents want nothing but your happiness. But my father is influencing them to continue with the agreement."

"We could—"

"NO!" I said, louder than I thought. "Talking will be useless when it comes to my father. I know because I tried so hard back then."

"So you will ruin someone's life just to prove a point?"

"That princess was supposed to be at the palace. She doesn't belong here. She's turning away from her responsibilities. She deserves what she's getting at."

"But you'll—"

"I'm not ruining her life!" I yelled. "She already started to ruin her life by sneaking from the palace." I faced her, and fuck me, I just saw a tear rolled down her cheek. "Let's just say that I'm doing this, so she won't get into any more trouble. And you will finally be free from the grasp of the stupid engagement our parents made."

"So that's it?"

"You can't stop me from doing what I planned," I growled. "That's the only reason why you asked me to accompany you, right? Just so you could convince me to stop whatever I'm about to do. Everything we did today was just all part of your plan to stop me."

Slap!

She turned and walked out of the room.

I kicked the closest thing to me. And I was about to smash the vase when my phone started blaring.

I answered the call in a grunt.

"Mr. Kinsley. I already arrived here yet the person you claimed to be here was nowhere to be found." I heard the person say.

"I apologize, your majesty. It would appear that something caused me to stop monitoring your daughter." I said, my lips forming in a tight line.

"But I do thank you. The description you gave me helped my assistant to know that she was currently out of the country with the current owner of the Westwood Land Development Corporation."

"I hope you will hold the end of our bargain."

"Yes, of course. That is, if my daughter is right back where she belongs safely."

"Of course, sire." I told the person in the other line. "I will keep you posted on your daughter's whereabouts."

When he hung up, I collapsed myself on the bed.

The girls fought back. And they used my girl against me. I will not hold back.

I don't know how long I had my eyes closed but when I opened them, Angel Face is back, her face morphed in an angry expression.

"How dare you accuse me of fooling you. But maybe you're right. Maybe I did." She gritted her teeth, forcing her tears not to fall, forcing herself not to show any weakness in front of me. "You want to why? Because I love you!"

My eyes widen.

There it is. The words I've been longing to hear again. The words I thought I would never hear from her lips.

"And because I love you, I want you to forget everything that happened here, now, and in the past." She held her hand up. Between her fingers are papers that looked exactly like tickets. "I want us to elope."

I can't trust you anymore. Your loyalty no longer belongs to me.

Those are the things I wanted to say but didn't.

She says she loves me but after knowing that she's trying to stop my plan, I don't know anymore. Something tells me that she only said those words to make a fool out of me.

To play with me.

I guess I'll have to play with you now too.