Chapter 3

"Oh my God! Are you alright? Are you sure you want to come tonight?" That was the first thing I heard when I answered my phone while I was getting ready for the party. I changed from the purple to the royal blue knowing that that was Jason's favorite color. He would be drooling over me in no time in this dress. It clung to every curve of my body, hugged my average stomach but showed cleavage from anyone's upper view. It really wasn't a dress I would consider wearing. It had a lace sash that hung from the arms and rung at the middle finger. I had earrings and a necklace that matched the dress. It was silky. Any man would want to touch the fabric and it felt cool against my skin. I shook my head as I looked at my reflection. I had my hair up, curled, and hanging down my face so that I would either have to move the piece of hair from my eyes or 'someone' else would have to.

"Yes Shelly. I am fine."

"Richard told me what happened. Jason said he went to go get his cell phone from the Diner but Richard said he had just been talking to mom on the cell phone in the men's shop. He took his shirt off and paused in the middle of doing so. Threw his shirt on the chair, told them he would be right back and left the shop. They saw you at the corner and he was headed straight for you instead of the diner. What do you think he wanted to say?"

"Probably to keep clear of Richard." I said putting on eye liner as the phone sat on my table on speaker. "I am so glad your mother isn't continuing this party Sunday. I don't think I would be able to stand it."

"Going to church in the morning?"

"Even if Olyvia is going to see if she wants to switch religion."

"Damn it!" I yelled throwing the container against the mirror. "What the hell man! Wait…. Might be fun…." There was silence for a moment.

"Your starting to enjoy this aren't you?"

"Actually it scars me I am starting to sound like you." She laughed then.

"See ya later."

"Later, sis." I hung up the phone, grabbed my small ribbon purse with my ID, money, and keys in it. I put it around my waist so that the bow was on my left side and left the house for the party.

It seemed like there was a ton more people at this party. My mask the same as it was last night only because it's the only one I own and I loved it anyways. I didn't find Shelly at the door but in a group of our friends. I caught a few people's glances as I came to the group. Shelly turned, smiled and brought me into the group.

"This is Madam." They all looked at me. Shelly placed her fingers at her mouth to hush them. "Remember what I said." She whispered. They grinned. Jasmine took my hand as if she had never met me before, Jeff took my hand and kissed it. Kendra smiled taking a sip from her fruity drink. Ben looked at me up and down as I chuckled.

"So will you be my next victim for the night?" I asked him. He grinned.

"Poor Richard doesn't know what he's missing."

"I think it's a great idea." Mike said. "And you have an advantage tonight, Candice."

"Shhhhh!" Shelly shoved him as he rubbed his arm. "It's Madam!"

"Oh yea. Madam, Jason and Olyvia was arguing earlier."

"What about?" Shelly asked.

"Well, the news got a nice picture of Jason with Candice, a friend of ours," Mike said pretending I wasn't who I was. "and she wanted to know what he was doing holding her. He said he had just pulled her away from the accident. She should read the article if she wants more information. She then asked if he was in love with her." I felt the blush creep up but tried to hold it down. I would give anything to hear him say those words to me. "He didn't answer at first as if he was thinking. Then in a low tone he said no." My heart sank. I really thought maybe that would be an ice breaker. A jealous wife. No one wanted that specially when that jealous wife is cheating when they are engaged. I shook my head. "He laughed then asking her if she was jealous. By that time she was alligator crying. She said if they are to get married he has to never see her again." Everyone looked over at me as I felt my heart literally hit my feet. That bitch!

"Oh come on!" Shelley exclaimed. "Is she really serious?!"

"Dead." Mike said back. "He had shook his head and said she had some pretty demanding requests for someone who couldn't live without him." In unison everyone gasped then Oohed. I just smiled. "With that he had walked out she yelled after him that she meant it. She's the one that would benefit from marrying him not the other way around so why would he care about her demands."

"How do you know this happened?" I asked him.

"I was standing by the door waiting for him like he asked me to. We were going to go horse back riding before the party. He just wanted to 'report' where he was going."

"Now she's tagging him?" Shelly exclaimed again.

"Apparently. Like you have to have a guest book in order to see him and OK it with her." I shook my head.

"Well, Ben, if you want to be my dance partner till I am swept away by Jason your more then welcomed to. I am sure it won't take long as long as you understand that this is for show… friends only." He laughed.

"No worries." He said his black hair matched Jason but it was cut short. His eyes were green with amusement as he was going to go along with what we were planning.

"Don't forget we have to 'leave' together. Just let me know when you've had enough of this party."

"Now I can say that won't take me long. I just came to see you guys. That's all I normally do. Besides, Shelly told us what was going on and we had to see for ourselves. I am excited that I will be part of this plan." We all laughed.

"Alright lets go to the dance floor. Jason was talking to Henry earlier with Olyvia. She was looking anywhere but at either of them. So lets see what goes on tonight." I linked my arm with Ben's as we all had a partner to the dance floor. His arms came around me as if we belonged in each others arms. I smiled at him, a chuckle escaping his lips as he pulled me more into the dance floor.

"I am with everyone else." He said looking down at me. "You should come out and confess your feelings to Jason. It would make this a lot quicker." I shook my head but kept my smile knowing that we were more then likely being watched.

"Can't. I wouldn't be able to stand it if he turned me away, married the wench, and went on with the unfaithful wife he is going to get." He nodded in response.

"True. I guess it is a tough situation. I heard Richard was asking you to be more then friends with him since Jason is taken." I nodded.

"Yea not sure how that is going to work out. But no reason not to see. I am thinking him and I would be better off being just friends."

"I hope he feels the same way."

"Doesn't hurt to try right." I said smiling at him as we swung and swayed around the dance floor.

"Benny, switch." I was suddenly twirled and grasped by Mike and Ben went to Shelly as she giggled. Mike laughed as we danced.

"What was that for?" I asked.

"Jason saw you with Ben so I figured why not add another to your bed post." I laughed. "Jeff will do the same when he notices Jason getting jealous more. He is right now in a conversation he can't leave. So we have a few minutes to play partner switch." I nodded.

"Great idea. Who came up with that?"

"Shelly." I laughed as he did the same as Ben did as we danced. We talked and just as he said we switched partners. I danced with Jeff until he noticed Jason. He had been talking to his mother, Olyvia and Henry so he wasn't able to leave the group without someone saying something. Then, I was switched to Kendrick who told me about the whole plan. It seemed as if everyone was up for this challenge. I just had that feeling I was going to be the one burnt at the end. But if it was to save the man I loved then so be it. He didn't need a divorce on his reputation anyways. So I danced with almost all of our friends and even some of the other men picked up on the partner switch. I talked, laughed, and smiled at so many people I was starting to wonder if everyone in the ball room knew exactly what we were doing. I laughed as the person twirled me right smack into the familiar soothing protective arms I had felt earlier around me. I looked up, his hand on the ball of my back as he pressed me to him, his other squeezing my other hand in the same protective manner. My heart sank as He still didn't know who I was and that disturbed me.

"Well well." I said as all he did was stand there looking down at me with a grin on his face. "The prince of the ball, and how are you and your future queen doing? Did she fill your sheets royally last night?" He laughed.

"I heard you filled someone else sheets."

"Oh.. Do I detect a hint of jealousy, your highness?"

"Only if you want it there." He came back with his voice dropping to a husky drawl. I hadn't realized that he had scooted us out to the balcony that over looked the garden maze. He still kept his hands tight around me as I watched his face. I didn't know till the scent of Jasmine hit my nose. I looked behind me seeing the maze down below. The sky was dark with specks of evening stars coming out from their hiding places. He had stopped, tightening the grip more. If he tightened it any more we may as well become one person.

"A to be wed man shouldn't feel jealous when a women he barley knows is dancing with another."

"Only if that person isn't thrilled about the bride." I gasped, placing a hand on my chest.

"Sir, I do hope you aren't serious." I exclaimed. Finally some progress of what he was really thinking. My heart skipped a few beats as he let me go. I stayed standing there as he kept his hand at my back, his other catching the small curls that had caught in my eyes. He twirled them more then let it bounce against my cheek. He chuckled at the reaction of the hair.

"Hm…. Totally."

"And your going to go on to marry this bride?" He sighed then let me go walking over to the cement railing that prevented anyone from falling off the balcony. I watched his body as he was wearing the same thing he did last night. He turned, leaned his butt against the railing, his arms crossed then, and he looked down at his polished shoes. I walked over, my hands folded in front of me as I looked at him.

"I am." He said low.

"Why is that?" I stopped and kept an arm and a half away from him something I had gotten so use to that even thought now I did it. He looked up at the flower bushes behind him, plucked a flower from the bush behind him, then placed it behind my ear. I felt the blush push through.

"Because it's my job." His hand went under my chin as he looked at my eyes. "That is what being royalty means. Being and producing heirs and off spring with a loyal no good wealthy girl."

"But…." I was about to give in and tell him she wasn't loyal at all. For him to do the virgin test on her. He just smiled, bent forward and let his lips touch mine. I gasped in response never even having that experience of a man's lips against mine. Only have I dreamt for him to kiss me. But he wasn't kissing me. He was kissing a women that he didn't know, had no idea of her real name, and got jealous over when he saw everyone else in the place dance with her. Not Candice Fairchild. Not the women that really loved him. Just some floozy from his engagement party. He wrapped his arms closer around me as he deepened the kiss. My arms went around his neck as I followed his lead. He moaned as he parted my lips to run his tongue along the roof of my mouth. He moved slowly away from my face as I just as slowly opened my eyes looking up at him.

"Tonight, however, you will be under my sheets." My eyes opened wider as I looked at him. The lust so plain on his face that my heart went to my stomach making it queasy. I moved away from him, able to break the contact his hands had around my waist. I shook my head, trying to think, trying to forget that small passionate kiss.

"I can't." I said looking at him. His blue eyes cloudy as if what I said had no impact on what he was thinking. "You are taken. I do not make a habit of sleeping with taken men."

"I normally eventually get what I want." He said. This was a side of Jason I had never seen and I wasn't too sure if I liked it or not. "The moment I saw you, touched your body, I fell in love with you." I felt the sting of tears in my eyes as I knew it wasn't me he was telling that too. It was some spirited, sarcastic women he had just met.

"I don't believe that's what your feeling. We've just met." He shrugged.

"Love at first sight. There is this part of me that feels I know you. Like some past life we had shared together. Happily." I pressed my hand to my heart my brain trying to tell my heart to stop beating so damn fast. He didn't mean it. He was getting wedding jitters because he was starting to see how his life would be if he married Olyvia.

"I don't believe in love at first sight, or past lives." Candice does! My mind said. I dropped my arms as he started to come closer. "I expect you to respect the women that you are going to marry. You are the leader of this country." He stopped looking directly at me. His head bent slightly. I had over heard his mother say something similar to him when he was eighteen. "You are bound by it to do as you have to to keep the blood line going. Pass on your genes in wed lock rather then a love child. This country deserves that." My voice faltered as I spoke taking a few more steps back. "I will leave you now. I think you need to rethink what you have just spoken to a complete stranger." I turned, letting the curls sway around me as I walked calmly into the room. As soon as I knew the people covered me I ran for the bar, taking the bottle of whiskey from behind it where I knew it was kept.

"That bad?" Shelly asked. I placed the bottle back after taking a healthy chug, turned and looked at Mike Shelly and Ben.

"He… kissed me…" Shelly gasped as Ben and Mike shook their heads. "Told me I was going to be in his sheets tonight. I told him I didn't make a habit of sleeping with taken men. Then.. He told me he loved me." I felt the tears start. "But it's not me he was telling that too. It's some stranger he barely knows."

"Come on love." I heard Ben feeling hazy now from the whiskey. "Your leaving." He linked my arm with his, smiling to Shelly for show and lead me out the door. "Listen, I don't think you should come next Saturday." He was saying as we walked down the steps. "Stay home. You don't need this stress. If Jason can easily fall for some stranger, and it being Madam, you don't need to break your heart that much."

"I will be OK." I said as he stopped at my car.

"I will follow you home." I nodded, got in and started my car. He did the same and as I saw the headlights I pulled out. I was able to drive safely home. He kept his car running but got out. I got out mine, taking the mask off. He linked my arm again and went up the steps. "Will you be alright tonight?" I nodded.

"A bath and my own sheets sound good." He chuckled, gave me a hug, waited for me to get in the house. Instead of going to take a bath I slid down my door, threw the mask across the room, hugged my knees to my chest and cried into my knees.