Chapter 23 — Miles

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d get to live out my childhood fantasy of pulling a Mission Impossible.

I had to be logical about it, smart. One wrong move, one wrong calculation on my part would have alerted the guards, and therefore Father.

From the few reports I’ve read about Jamieson’s escape from his own kingdom, he relied on the daily delivery of produce to his palace as an escape route. His situation was obviously different from mine, but I’d argue that it was no less dire. He’d apparently slipped into the servant’s quarters late at night, changed into an attendant’s uniform, and snuck into an empty shipment crate that was to be sent out the next morning.

So, that’s exactly what I did.

Was it an over dramatic ordeal? Yes.

Was it absolutely necessary? Also, yes.

At the strike of twelve, I let Jingles out of my room. He went barreling down the hall, right past the security personnel stationed outside my door. They gave chase, affording me the opportunity to sneak out and away. There was a crate full of linens in the kitchen destined to be shipped off for cleaning. With no other options, I crawled inside and waited until morning for the transport truck to arrive.

I made it out without tripping any alarms.

After that, it was a simple matter of climbing out of the crate and making my way to the airport where I managed to find a private pilot. Buying his silence was a simple enough task, barely making a dent in my wallet.

Before I know it, I’m in New York.

But my mission isn’t over until I find Lisabet. Until then, I have to lie low.

The first place I go is the penthouse. I make sure to keep my gaze glued to the ground to avoid being recognized. New York is swarming with opportunistic paparazzi, but since nobody knows about my impromptu visit, I’m able to hide in plain sight with the crowds of tourists filling the streets.

The penthouse has a private elevator entrance around back, so getting up to the top floor is uninterrupted. It’s only when I reach the safety of the apartment, overlooking all of New York and its brilliance, that I finally allow myself the chance to relax.

My father has no influence over me here.

I’m free.

Now, onto more pressing matters.

The first thing I need to figure out is how to track Lisabet down. I’ll keep trying her phone, but there has to be something more immediate that I can do. I know she’s employed with the New York Golden Philharmonic, so I could probably call them up and see if they can point me in her general direction or put me in contact with her. Apart from that, I really don’t know what else to do.

Who knew escaping a country would be easier than finding the woman I love?

Whatever I decide to do next, I need to do it fast. I’ve already been gone from the palace for a few days, and there’s no doubt in my mind that my parents are turning over every rock in Oxland just to find me.

Finding Lisabet is going to be a daunting task. New York is by no means a small place. She could literally be anywhere. And to make matter worse, I don’t really know what I’m going to say when I do find her. There’s no telling if she’ll even want to see me, but I have to try.

Now all that’s left to do is start.

I’m just about ready to call every phone number in the city when three soft buzzes sound at the apartment door. It catches me off guard. My first thought is that it’s Father or his goons. Could it be that they’ve located me already? If that’s the case, I shouldn’t answer. Pretend I’m not here.

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

I slowly make my way to the front door and look at the intercom just beside it. It connects to the call box downstairs, the security camera’s footage grainy and in black and white. There’s someone standing there, hoodie pulled up over their head, obscuring their face in harsh shadows.

“Who is it?” I ask.

“Miles?”

My stomach leaps into my throat.

I recognize that voice.

“Miles, is that you?” Lisabet asks. “I’ve tried every apartment complex in the area. This is the last one, so I’m really hoping that—”

I’m running out the door before she’s even finished her sentence. The wait for the elevator takes too long, so I take the stairs instead, barreling down them like a madman. I burst out of the front doors of the apartment complex’s sparkling lobby, breathless. I ran so hard I see spots in my vision, but the dizziness and lack of air is totally worth it.

Because Lisabet is here.

She’s here and as stunning as ever and if I were to pass out right now, I’d be fine with it so long as it’s in her arms.

“Hi,” I say, ignoring the burning sensation in my chest.

“Hi,” she echoes, sounding just as relieved.

I drink her in. Lisabet looks ridiculously cute in her oversized black sweatshirt. But she looks comfortable and warm, and that’s strangely sexy to me. She’s got her hair pulled back, only a few stray strands of her hair falling before her eyes. It takes every ounce of strength I have not to reach out and kiss her here and now, regardless of who might see us together.

“Can I come in?” she asks. “I think we should talk.”

I nod. “Of course. Right this way.”

The ride up to the top floor is excruciatingly slow. I have no choice but to stew in my own silence, practically itching to touch her. The scent of her light perfume fills my head, leaves me higher than I’ve felt in over a week. It’d be so easy to kiss her, hold her, show her how much I’ve missed her.

But I want to do this right.

No matter how much I want her, assuming that she’s already mine just wouldn’t be fair to her. I know better than anyone what it’s like to have my choices made for me. I won’t subject Lisabet to the same treatment. She’s her own woman capable of her own decisions. I can hope and pray that she wants to be with me as badly as I want to be with her, but I won’t allow myself to pressure her into anything. I can see now that trying to win her over requires so much more than gifts or fancy trips. I was wrong to assume I could win her heart like that.

We step into the penthouse, the space around us practically crackling with electricity. I ache to reach out, drawn to her like a magnet. I think she feels the same way, too, judging by the way she seems to lean as she regards me slowly with her eyes.

“Are you doing all right?” she asks timidly. “I heard you, uh…You ran away.”

“I did. I’m OK. Better now.”

“Good. That’s good.”

The silence between us is thick and heavy, so much unsaid but on the verge of being revealed. I decide I better take the reins, get everything off of my chest.

“Lisabet, I’m sorry. I should have told you about SM Records. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe in you or your capabilities. I just wanted…” I sigh, at a loss for words. “You make me unbelievably happy, Lisabet. And I just wanted to make you happy in return. All my life, people have always wanted things from me. I can safely say that you’re the first person who’s ever made it difficult for me to give things to. I never thought about it, but giving gifts is my way of showing affection.”

“I don’t need things for you to show me affection, Miles. Being with you is enough.”

I smile gently. “I know that now. But still, I’m sorry if I made you feel…I don’t know. Like a charity, I guess. Please know that I don’t think you need my help. I just want to make sure you have the best of everything, because the woman I love deserves nothing less.”

Lisabet takes a step closer, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “I want to apologize, too. I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did. I should have given you the chance to explain instead of storming off.” She stops about a foot away, peering up at me. “How did you manage to get away from the palace.”

I chuckle softly. “It’s a long story.”

“I have to admit, I was really close to freaking out when I saw my face all over the news.”

I grimace. “No doubt my father’s work. He probably leaked those photos of us to try and turn public opinion.”

“Public opinion doesn’t matter,” she says firmly. “All that matters is what you and I think.”

“And what do you think?”

She closes the gap between us, reaching out hesitantly to hold both my hands. “I think…I love you. And because I do, I want to work with you to put all of this behind us and move forward.”

My heart soars. “You really mean that?”

“I really do. I love you, Miles. These last few days have been absolutely awful. I only ever feel like myself when I’m with you. I don’t care if your father doesn’t approve. I don’t care if gossip magazines drag my name through the mud. I don’t ever want to be apart from you again.”

I give her fingers a squeeze, taking a deep breath. “I don’t care about any of that, either. You’re it for me, Lisabet. That’s never going to change.”

“Are you sure?”

I cup her face, stare deeply into her eyes. “Without a doubt.”

“Good. Because you’re it for me, too.”

We both break out into massive smiles as we move in for a kiss. It’s sweet and passionate and hard enough to bruise, but I don’t mind. Neither does she. If anything, Lisabet’s determined to kiss me that much harder.

It’s an intricate dance that somehow comes to us with ease. She reaches up and grabs the collar of my shirt, pulls me as close as humanly possible. I circle her waist with my arms. Our lips slot together perfectly as our tongues glide over one another, growing reacquainted with each other’s taste. Lisabet groans and moves away for a second while I give chase, keeping our lips pressed together, completely forgetting the need to breathe.

Chest to chest. Her fingers in my hair feel phenomenal, the gentle scrape of her nails against my scalp a wonderous comfort. The heat of her skin against mine is unlike anything else, ignites fireworks within me as I burn with want from the inside out. It’s honestly baffling how good she feels against me. A perfect fit, absolutely complimentary. She moves when I do, stops when I do, reading every one of my movements like we’ve rehearsed this kiss a thousand times before and still somehow manage to achieve that euphoric excitement that comes with first tries.

“How long do you think you can stay missing?” she asks, amused.

“Maybe another couple of hours. My father may very well start a war if I don’t show up soon.”

“Then we’d better make use of that time, don’t you think?”

“Bedroom?”

She nods. “Bedroom.”