"So!"

I jumped, startled at the voice that was suddenly beside me. I glared at the suspect while trying to ease my heart at the sudden, very sudden, intrusion in my thoughts.

"I was just wondering if you know how tall that tree is now."

I glared harder. "You know if you don't stop doing that, popping out of nowhere thing you're doing nowadays, I might put a bell around your neck to have a heads up that you are lurking around. In fact, I might ask my father to have a decree," I said. "And what's up with your sudden outburst every time you see me alone?"

She rolled her eyes. "My outbursts are not because I see you alone. Because if I happen to see you alone, which seemed to be every time and everywhere, you would have been completely deaf."

My brows knitted in confusion. "What do you mean by 'every time and everywhere'?"

I heard her sigh before her cornflower blue eyes met my green one. "Laura, you seemed to be keeping to yourself at every corner in the palace. I never bothered you whenever you are alone reading a book. But I always did whenever you are deep in thought."

"How did you even know that I'm in deep thought?" I asked in which she gave a slightly raised eyebrow. "Just because I am not reading doesn't mean I am always deep in thought."

"Laura, I have known you since we were kids. And seriously? You are asking me that question?"

I sighed in surrender. I should have known better than to argue with Jessica. We have always been an open book to each other, easily reading each other's minds, and emotions. I am never wrong in reading her and neither is she in me. If someone could understand me, it will always be her.

The way she cautiously glance at me during dinner is already a tell-tale that she wants something. And usually, that something has to do with certain information. I should have anticipated this conversation the moment the dinner ended.

"Fine," I said before walking away from the Christmas Tree. "I just can't help but think of what happened during my time in New York."

We reached the balcony and let the cool breeze seep through our winter outfits.

"You mean you are thinking about what went wrong with our carefully laden plan?"

I snorted. "We both know what exactly went wrong."

All of those who are part of the plan had anticipated crossing paths with the people who had been acquainted with me. Of course, considering that our company's partners will unlikely chances on venturing out of Europe for business purposes, I decided to just play it cool. There are billions of people in the world and I am sure that I am not the only one who have this face. Only those who know me well and those with sharp eyes could recognize me. Unfortunately, Alexander and Alexandra both have sharp eyes. With the former being responsible for my anxiety, and the latter just getting tangled in our problems.

"Yeah, I know. If we haven't been on his party, he would have just made Nate's and Aaron's company a prospect for being potential business partners," she said before frowning. "or just victims. Whichever way you look at it."

I laughed before biting my lower lip in thought. "I just had a thought. You told me that Alexander's father went broke." Jessica nodded. "And that the company that was passed on him went into bankruptcy. Then, how did they afford to throw a party in that really expensive penthouse?"

"It was their last resolve in attracting partners, I think. They gambled with their last money to attract the rick people."

I nodded at this. It was a pretty great idea, thinking back at that event. A lot of powerful people in the business world are there at the party. It's obvious that the tactic worked. He just took a wrong turn when he decided to be greedy and use me as some sort of pawn to get what he wants.

"My father said that our company will be collaborating with theirs."

"Your dad?" I asked.

"Yes, my dad. And yours too."

My head snapped at her direction so fast I was surprised I am still alive. "My father?" Are you kidding me?

"Yes," she answered, scrunching her nose, not liking the truth. "I still do not understand why our dads seemed guilty in Alexander's situation."

Me too.

"Anyway, let us not talk about Alexander anymore. Let's talk about you."

I rolled my eyes. Isn't that what we have been talking about for the past minutes? "Are we not already doing that?"

"You just told me that you were thinking about the events of the past months you were in New York. After that, Alexander pretty much consumed the rest of our conversation."

I sighed heavily, and let the silence linger for a few minutes.

"You are not getting off easily so you might as well tell me," she warned. I laughed at that.

"I was just trying to formulate words that would actually describe the turmoil that was happening in my head."

She let me think to myself for a few more minutes.

With the silence in the air, the sadness came as well. I thought it was finally okay. I thought I wouldn't think of him anymore because I know for a fact that I might not even cross his mind. But what I have thought was just an assumption. So, I can't help but wonder, "do you think he's thinking of me?" I asked, looking up at the starry night.

"Yes."

What?

"Yes, I think he's thinking of you."

I blinked. "And how would you even know that?" I asked, barely above a whisper.

"I don't"

I rolled my eyes, "you were so confident when you said yes."

"Have you seen the way he looked at you?"

What do you mean?

"He is so into you, Laura." My eyes widened at this.

"He's in love you."

My chest constricted in hurt. "No, Jess. He is not in love with me."

"Of course he does. When you are in the same room as him, it's like you are the only one that exists in the world."

"That's ridiculous!"

"If he's not in love with you, then he wouldn't do all those things with you for the past months."

My friend, I think you have got it backwards

"Jess, you've got it wrong, if he's in love with me he would not do all those things to me."

"What are you talking about?"

"He wouldn't betray my trust like that."

Jessica's jaw dropped.

"Laura, you're the one who pretended to be someone else. You're the one who should earn trust."

I glared at her. "Jess, we have already went pass that secret. He already knows that I am a princess before we even landed on New Zealand. Maybe even longer than that."

"So what's the problem?"

"The problem is that everything he did is all part of the charades. Everything was a sham."

"What do you mean?"

"It was all for the show. Everything he told me was a lie."

"How can you be sure?"

"Jess, he knows my father."

He gave me that exasperated look. "Laura, everyone knows your father."

I am getting tired of this conversation

"Not like that. He knows my father because my father knows him as well."

She paused for a moment, processing the information in her head.

"I get it, now."

Finally

"But you don't."

What?

"Laura, how will he benefit from your father? What benefit will he receive from your father if he's taking you to the places you dreamed of when your father was looking for you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Laura, your father chased you across the world because you and Nate are too busy fulfilling your dreams."

"But he's been talking with my dad ever since."

"Laura, maybe it's the other way around."

"You mean dad is talking to Nate ever since?"

"Yes."

For what?

"Why would dad contact Nate?"

"Did you ever stop to think that maybe your dad is probably tracking Nate?"

I closed my mouth and thought, what you're saying is...

"Laura, all I am saying is that maybe your dad is ordering Nate to bring you back to Switzerland. And that the reason you guys are flying from country to country was because Nate was prolonging the inevitable. That Nathaniel Westwood is so in love with you that he will do everything to fulfill your dreams in the shortest period of time."

I opened my mouth in shock. Then all of those...

"It should have really obvious. The way you talked about him. The way he looks at you. The way you seemed always inseparable even before your little adventures. And come on, you met his mom. You met his grandparents!"

I sighed. "Do you really think he loves me?"

"I do. And I think you should notify your parents early about visiting the Philippines on February."

That took on a different direction.

"I don't remember having a plan to go to the Philippines."

"You told that girl you met at Intramuros that you will be coming back on the first week of February next year, right?"

"I think it' impossible to do that now."

"We're not doing it now. We are simply going to plan it. And this time, our parents will know."

I didn't even get the chance to have another word when Jessica pulled me to my parents to plan my trip after one and a half month.

If what Jessica said about is true, then I hope we can get Nate to go back to the last place of our adventure.