“Bloody oath.” I laughed too. “Did you realize we threw out my identification? How am I getting on a plane?”
“Oh, you don’t have to worry. Mr. Hawthorne will handle everything,” Sienna said, pulling me out of the elevator when the doors opened into a lavish lobby. “Next we meet with Kellan and Poppy. You’ll be completely safe in their suites. You’ll get cleaned up and then we’ll video chat with Victoria Hawthorne to move on to the next phase.”
“Okay, I trust you at this point, so let’s go meet the Hawthornes,” I said, then stopped.
“Do they know I don’t look very good, especially to meet a perspective husband?” I wiped at my face trying to wipe away any excess blood, then brushed at my hair. “I still have this wig on. Should I take it off?”
“No, leave it ‘til we’re inside. Besides, I like the red color on you. Now you just need mermaid fins,” Sienna said, turning me to face the person at the door to the suites.
“Imogen, I assume.” A tiny brunette full of energy grabbed me by the hands. “I thought you’d never get here. Come on in, we have things to get ready.”
I turned to Sienna who was now being hugged by this tiny person. I obviously made a face- something like a ‘what the heck?’, because Sienna laughed back at me.
“Oh my gosh, I forgot. I’m Poppy Hawthorne,” Poppy said, waving us into a living room. “Let’s get you guys a drink and, Imogen, I’ll bet you’re dying for a hot shower.”
“That’s no bull dust,” I said. “I feel covered in blood.”
“Right about that. I have a doctor coming to scan your eye and look you over.” Poppy handed me a drink of water. “Not to worry. He’s the Hawthorne family private doctor. He won’t tell anyone.”
“Thank you,” I said, feeling like a broken record. “Can I shower first?”
“Yes. Sienna, I have to call Victoria to let her know you’ve arrived,” Poppy said, picking up her phone. “Can you take her to the blue room? I left you a robe and clean clothes on the bed.”
“When is lunch? I’m starving,” Sienna hollered back down the hall jokingly.
We walked into a massive room that was indeed blue. I wasn’t sure of it, but I think everything in the room was blue. It was a bit overwhelming, almost comical, like it was an inside joke. But who was I to scoff at it? I’d never known anything but beige growing up, maybe a little brown or yellow sprinkled in for color.
“This is your suite until you leave the country with your new husband,” Sienna said, gesturing with both arms. “Isn’t it amazing? I once tried to count how many shades of blue were in here. I gave up on twenty.”
We both had a good laugh. I liked this girl Sienna as much as I liked Chloe and Sophie. I hoped James Bond let them know I was safe. I looked toward a smaller blue hallway where I could see steam forming.
“That’s your shower, my lady,” Sienna joked. “Go on, the housekeeper started it for you. If you don’t hurry, she might show up and wash you.”
The horror I felt at that statement must have shown on my face, because Sienna bent over laughing.
“You’re hilarious.” I laughed all the way to the loo until I turned the corner, and there stood the housekeeper, holding the shower door open.
I’m not getting washed by a blow in. How the heck am I going to get rid of her?
Chapter 6
AUGUST
I’m giving him an ultimatum to get married to a mail order bride,” Mom said, tossing back the rest of her wine. “He needs to show the world that he’s responsible. Our stocks and business dealings depend on it.”
What she was suggesting sounded extreme. I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I chose to think it through. She obviously sensed my thinking enough to not say anything for a few minutes.
“Okay, I let you think for a few minutes,” Mom said. “Now I need you to help me get this done.”
I’d had to get Asher out of a lot of things over the years, but this time…wasn’t gonna be one of them. Mom had on that serious face that usually meant ‘Don’t argue with me’. I supposed it could be worse. It worked for Parker, and I wasn’t even sure Parker liked anyone or anything besides heart valves.
“When have I ever said no to you?” I stood and reached my hand out to help her up. “Let’s go get this done.”
Parker and Mia were on the living room floor with their puppy and Asher was deep in a conversation with Dad. Asher looked to me for reassurance. All I could do was shrug. I heard my sister before I saw her. It was always that way with Murphy.
“Hey, creep.” Murphy hugged me. “Are we mad at Asher or what?”
“Hey, kid.” I turned her to face Mom. “What does that face say?”
Murphy sat her purse on the side table and headed to the bar for a drink. I watched as Asher excused himself from dad and beelined for Murphy. He was desperate for information. If only he knew what I knew and how his playboy lifestyle was about to change.
“Trey just messaged me that he had an emergency at the hospital and won’t make it in time for the family meeting. Time is of the essence, so everyone sit and let’s get this over with,” Mom went on, barely taking a breath. “By now, you have seen the tabloids and social media comments.”
We all nodded and took seats around the room. Asher stood by the bar enjoying a scotch as if this wasn’t about him.
“Asher, you’ve gone too far this time, and our dealings with corporate business outside of the country and in the country are not very happy,” Mom said. “Many of them have said they want to rethink their dealings with Hawthorne Architecture.”
“What?” I walked over to Asher and took the drink out of his hand. “This I didn’t know. Asher, do you have any ideas on how to correct this?”
“Not really,” Asher shrugged. “I don’t see the big deal. It’ll go away in a few weeks.”
“No, son, it won’t this time. You publicly cheated on and embarrassed the daughter of a prominent royal family,” Mom said, taking over the conversation. “He spoils that daughter and she is out for blood.”
Murphy laughed out loud and Dad looked up from a file he was reading.
“Did I miss something funny?” Dad asked.
“Henry, there is nothing funny about your son bringing shame to the family,” Mom scolded. “I have a plan and I need this whole family to help straighten this out.”
“Why do I have to be involved?” Murphy whined. “Send our resident playboy out of the country until it passes.”
“Murphy, you are completely correct, but we are going a step or two further,” Mom said, waiting for Asher to look at her. “Asher is going to go to Australia with August.”
“I don’t want to go to Australia,” Asher complained. “I have too much work to do here,” Asher lied.
“You don’t do your work. August keeps that business thriving. Now you’re harming all his hard work,” Mom said. “So, you will go, and when you get there you will be picking a mail order bride.”