Hey everyone,
As promised —although a week later— here is the teaser. I'll update as soon as the chapter is ready, so give me a few days to fix the mess Google has made for me.
Thank you for your understanding and encouragement. I'll leave you to read the teaser and don't forget let me know what you think!
EDIT: I had posted this in the morning, but something happened and Blogger saved it as a draft. What irked me more is that I went back to not having access to the blog until a couple of minutes ago. I don't know for how long I'll have access, but rest assured that I'll be working on the chapter.
The rustling of clothes and a ruff groan alerted Bella that her brother was up. She finished preparing breakfast and set to make more coffee.
Caleb stood up and stretched, making Bella snicker at his disheveled look.
Jetlag was not his friend.
“Morning,” he mumbled, sitting at table.
“Good morning,” Bella greeted him, passing him a cup of coffee, which he greedily took.
He sipped while Bella finished the waffles.
Angela walked out of her bedroom ready for the day. “Good morning, sunshines!” she chirped, skipping towards the coffee maker and pouring some for herself.
“What time are we supposed to meet Tia and Carmen?” Caleb asked, now a bit more alert.
Both Bella and Angela smirked at each other. “Tia?” they asked him in unison, mirth written all over their faces.
Caleb fidgeted in his seat and tried to hide his blush behind his coffee cup. He was completely unsuccessful, making both girls laugh at his embarrassment.
He groaned. “C’mon… It’s too early for that!” he mumbled against the rim of his coffee cup.
Bella bit her lips as she plated the waffles. She set them on the table, sitting next to her brother.
Angela sat down across from the siblings. “Thanks, Bella,” she said, spearing two waffles. “And Caleb, sooner or later, you’re gonna have to tell us what happened the other day with Dr. Masri.”
On their second day in Roinne, Bella had dragged her brother and best friend to the art gallery to show them the new paintings she was showcasing at the show. She had left her them alone for a minute when she noticed one of the lights wasn’t working correctly. When she came back from talking to the concierge, Caleb and Dr. Masri were talking animatedly, with Angela standing a few feet away.
“Nothing happened.”
“Nuh-uh, don’t try to deny it, Cal,” Angela said, shaking her index finger at him. “I heard you two flirting and saw you making gooey eyes at each other, so don’t tell us it was nothing.”
“Okay, yeah…I-I flirted a little,” he stuttered, and then heaved a sigh. “At first, I thought she was receptive, but then Bells came and introduced me as her brother.”
Bella swallowed the bite she had been chewing. “Was I wrong to do that?” she asked in confusion.
Caleb groaned and rubbed her hands over his face. “Apparently, yes. She started acting distant and shit after that. She even called me ‘kid’ when we were leaving, and then told me to enjoy my time in Roinne.” He huffed, stabbing a piece of waffle with his fork. “Kid…I’m no kid, dammit!” He shoved the waffle into his mouth. “She’s only eight years older than me,” he mumbled with his mouth full. He drank the rest of his coffee and stood up to refill his cup. “Anyways, the only out dolling out explanations should be you, Bells!”
“Me?” asked Bella, her heart racing. “What do you mean?”
Angela snorted. “Seriously, Bella? Or should I say, Cinderbella?”
Bella groaned. “Don’t call me that!”
“No, no,” Caleb said, sitting back at the table. “She’s right.” Bella glared at him. “Not about the nickname, though that was pretty funny, Ang.” Angela gave him a high five, making Bella huff. “What I mean is, do you really have nothing to share with the rest of the class? What’s the 411 on Princeward?”
Bella palmed her face. “Please, for the love you have for me, don’t ever call him that in his face.”
Angela pulled her hands down. “Sure, sure… But tell us, have you heard from him?”
Bella shook her head, picking up her fork and playing with a piece of waffle. “Rosalie told me he was in Germany for the week, but he would be attending the show tonight.”
Angela squealed and Caleb covered his ears.
“Christ, Ang. I think even the dogs in China heard you,” Bella said, standing up to get a glass of juice.
“How are you not squealing with me, girl? This is great!”
Caleb nodded. “I gotta admit I thought you would be more excited, Bells. What’s up?”
Bella shrugged, taking a sip of her orange juice. “I guess I’m nervous.”
“What are you nervous about?” Angela asked with furrowed brows. “You’ve already met the guy.”
“But I met him as Edward, the hotel manager. Not as Edward, the Crown Prince of Volterra. Things are different now.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Bells,” Caleb said with a shake of his head. “I think I understand now why he didn’t tell you who he was.”
“What do you mean?” Bella asked, sitting next to him.
“He wanted to you to know him for who he was, not for who the rest of the world knew him for. He will always be Edward, the hotel manager, to you. Don’t you see that?”
Bella looked down at her plate, mulling over her brother’s words.
Okay, back to finish this sucker! Till next time,“I gotta agree with Cal, Bella,” Angela piped in. Bella looked up at her and gave her a surprised look. “Don’t look at me like that. I know I was all excited because you met a prince, but the truth is that nowadays things are different. We live in a world where status and power defines people, and I think that was the last thing Edward wanted with you. He let you see a part of himself that he rarely shows. Don’t be one of those people that will change the way they perceive him just because of his job.”
