MY TREASURED DESIRE

Chapter TWENTY-ONE: The Soldier Who Loves Me.

General Raymond Chang’s P.O.V.

Senior Officers’ Mess, Military Base, New Beijing, Achaia.

It was 6.00 pm at the Senior Officers’ Mess. The large hall was filled with lovely ladies in evening wears, smart-looking men - young and old - with uniformed personnel dressed in their smart military tuxedos, some carrying either a glass of preferred drink or holding guests of the opposite s*x, chatting, smiling, or cracking jokes. Two very long decorated tables were filled with delicious, appealing fruits, food, and assorted wines for the banquet – that people have already started to help themselves with. With a colourful plate of strawberry fruit, berries, and boiled cabbage in his left hand, Colonel Spinks could be seen teasing the gorgeous Colonel Michelle who stood akimbo picking and munching on her colleague’s fruits. A little far from them, I was enjoying a light talk with an elderly female General, whose civilian husband was laughing at our funny discourse. Some six feet away from me were about four strong-looking men, dressed in a different blend of the ceremonial military uniform: Those are members of the Royal Guards that would always be seen wherever the Crown Prince goes. Then, most heads turned as a classy, fair blonde with two pretty, but tough-looking, female bodyguards walked in our direction…

“My General, it would be expedient to be excused from you now,” the artillery Brigadier-General smiled at me while gently cuddling her husband’s arm. I could only bow a bit, with an appreciative smile. She responded with a toothy smile: “Enjoy, Our Crown Prince!” as she briskly walked away with her partner.

“Surprise, Surprise, My Coy Mistress,” I turned and spoke to my surprise main guest, yanking my spectacles away with one hand.

Greta smiled, gestured her bodyguards to take their distance, and directly addressed me, “Do you always remove your trendy trademark like this? Some guests may find out the difference…”

“Thank you, Honey. I will only have the closest acquaintances getting this close to me… To what should I attribute your being here for me today?”

“Guy handsome, why do I feel that you did not invite any female guest – as usual. We cannot have a celebration of a returning peace between Middleville and Achaia with a grumpy prince… Hence, I have come to give you all it takes to be happy!”

One Military Steward bowed before Greta, stretching out his tray of wines. The lady made a wink at the steward as she picked an orange juice. With her head movement, she directed the steward towards her bodyguards and took the prince’s arm. They disappeared into the Royal Suite usually prepared for the Crown Prince at the Military Base. The Royal Guards took their positions at the entrance to the suites.

Soon, both were alone, and Greta tried to open the door to see if it was locked.

“Only my fingerprints and that of the crown prince could unlock that door once locked by any one of us,” I told her, and she turned around with seductive intent. She came closer to me and started undressing me. Before I could protest, her gorgeous dress was on the floor… Naturally, I do not think I could resist her, coupled with the fact that I want her as my wife. She moved me to the relaxation area and… we had one-way lovemaking! In thirty-two minutes, we were done.

“Thank you for returning us to reality, Honey,” I told her after we had relaxed for a while. But she cut in…

“Now, promise me that you will do what I want for me?”

“Of course,” I responded, but added thoughtfully: “Provided that neither will your request break the growth of our kingdom, nor destroy better friendship!”

She responded with a little peck on my nose, “I can assure you.”

“So, shoot!” I demanded, expressing my relief through a deep outward breath.

“I see you love me so much… Give me a chance to make you happy too – for a lifetime!” I stretched my arms for a hug. She ran into it, and I felt somehow melancholic. It seems like “Let us kiss and say goodbye,” so, I shuddered and zoned out. She brought me back with a deep kiss on my lips.

She said: “Promise that you will never turn around to hate me, no matter what happens?!”

“Did I hear you right? What are you up to, Greta?”

“Do not overthink. Just say YES… Aren’t you a soldier anymore?”

Suddenly, I felt strong and ready for the worst. So, I said: “Okay, Yes?”

“To make you happier than this for a lifetime, would you permit me to throw a party for us? I will invite only one couple amongst my friends whose lives you once saved… Just the four of us! The party holds in my father’s Mansion at exactly 6.00 pm on this Friday.”

“In six days? What are you celebrating?”

“What we are celebrating -” she corrected. “Exactly what made you zone-out a while ago?” Her question was a conclusion, making it sound even more ominous…

***

Raymond Chang’s P.O.V.

Sir Reinhard Merkel’s Mansion.

“Hallo Fräulein Deutschland!” Michelle hugged her host. She went to the couple who were smiling as they stood upright to acknowledge her presence… “The Cat with Nine Lives, and the bravest Italian!” She greeted the couple happily.

“I am so honoured to see you, Colonel Beautiful,” Miss Greta Merkel responded.

“Oh My God, can you see the crown prince of Achaia…” Miss Chu Celerina giggled aloud, as Colonel Michelle swiftly turned… “Don’t worry: He won’t be miffed at you. It’s not work time, Colonel Beautiful,” Chu Celerina teased as her partner beamed with a huge smile.

“Greta, did you not say a party for FOUR? Why is your CRUSH here?” Colonel Michelle whispered, but that was way too loud: I was trained to hear the silent whispers!

Nothing seems off as Chu Celerina and his Italian boyfriend - Navy Captain Cassidy Rossi Junior - were already there. But I was surprised to meet Colonel Michelle Guan here, too. Now, I can say that the stage was set for a casual, mini party with only four invited guests, not four friends, as Merkel made Michelle and I to believe… I joined the four and we all exchanged warm pleasantries.

Greta’s Sitting Room was lavishly decorated. The ushers and stewards were dressed in formal white uniforms. There were only two tables, having two classic royal chairs each. And ahead is a higher stage big enough for an entertainer to perform – beautified with colourful lights. There was a star-shaped spotlight reflecting its brightness where a solo standing microphone was placed. While Miss Greta stood in between two magnificently decorated tables, Miss Greta snapped her fingers and the Popular Spaniard African broadcaster, Hollywood actress, and gifted singer, Miss Venus Garcia appeared. She swung her hips to the R&B beats, moving sensuously into the spotlight. The five friends - with the hospitality assistants in the room - let out an exciting scream! Venus sang a track from one of her Grammy Award Winning R&B Singles: “Two Tables, Four Lovers!”

It was time to be glued to the mega star… The atmosphere was so romantic. But Michelle was busy looking at me – I saw her through my rainbow spectacles, and I wondered why?! I had thought that this moment would be for Greta and I. So, where lies the forever happiness she boasted about?

Another romantic track and Greta went straight to invite Navy Captain Cassidy Rossi Junior and Celerina Chu to the floor. I loved their electrifying dance. Then, she came to pick Michelle and I… Five of us started dancing. Then, the lights became more colourful, a bit dimmer. Right there and then, Venus Garcia moved on to another Grammy Award track of hers; that one she used to grab an Oscar: It was a movie soundtrack exclusively for a Bestseller – Princess Gorgeous - in which she grabbed an Oscar for the best female act in a supporting role… As quick as lights, Greta disappeared as the blues song gripped our emotions.

It took me time to acquiesce to this need to dance with Michelle. I thought I am beginning to go beyond my level. She is my subordinate for crying out loud! But Michelle raised her left hand to my face and looked straight into my eyes. I shivered a bit, as she opened my suit’s lapel and hung the spectacle in a padded pocket meant for it. She took my hands and placed them on her own waist – left and right, while she slid her hands around my neck. We started a romantic dance move which made my reasoning to loosen a bit…

I remembered when the A.S.S.S. team went on a military assignment in South-West of Italy. The Don’s house is on an Island surrounded by the Tyrrhenian Sea. Italy is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea: by the Adriatic Sea to the northeast, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, the Tyrrhenian Sea to the southwest, and the Ligurian Sea to the northwest. Our Team was expected to arrest, and bring to justice, a wild Don of the underworld who assassinated a diplomat in Achaia and escaped to his fortress in Italy under the cover of his home nation’s diplomacy - Capone Cassidy Rossi (Don Cassidy). That justice mission was embarked upon with the secret permission of the Italian Naval Command and the Government. After the mission was almost completed, the Don unexpectedly appeared with his weapon, and Captain Guan received four bullets aimed at me. However, one young Italian patriot, a naval Wing Commander, shot the Don and ended his reign of terror. He was the Don’s only son, then Commander Cassidy Rossi Junior: the head of the Italian military support for the mission! That gentleman is dancing with Chu Celerina beside me on the same dance floor… Oh, she took bullets for me in her line of duty… I respected her for that. But I never allowed any emotional relationship to spring out of that! Then… Michelle broke my flow of thoughts:

“How I’ve prayed for this opportunity to come, My Prince.”

“What opportunity are you talking about, Colonel?” I asked, trying to dissuade her from taking a wrong decision.

“For whom did you save my life when I had no one I could call my own, My Prince?”

“For myself,” I surprised myself with what I said. So, I quickly explained. “You have always valued my life more than yours. Hence, I needed you to live… For me!”

“I know you mean it, My Prince,” Michelle said as she planted a kiss on my neck. I shuddered. But she continued: “Just that you men are always blind. Your beloved is right under your nose, but you seek for it under the seas, in the dangerous forests, inside the clouds in the firmament, and over the mountains!”

“Hmm-Mmm, The Soldier who loves me!” I mused.

But she heard and replied, “I love you, General R. C. Chang… With everything in me!”

I kept quiet, thinking of Greta… But she shocked me with her question: “Are you rocking me under the influence of the highly seductive blues’ music and still thinking about Fräulein Deutschland?” I was surprised… But she continued whispering into my ears:

“I fell in love with you after I lost my aunt who was like mother to me… You became everything to me, supporting me even with no strings attached… At death’s knell, you were the only one that refused to agree that I had died, after taking those bullets from Don Cassidy in the Tyrrhenian Island, Italy… You had personally extracted all the bullets while I was in the ambulance headed for the Military Hospital…”

“How did you know that?” I asked teasingly.

“You were weeping and sweating, saying ‘My love, you will never die!’ And I could not reply. Since I was under life-support. When I asked from the subconscious if you would love me forever, you removed the life support, kissed me on my lips, replaced the gadget, and said: ‘If you stay with me, I will love you forever!’ Did you say that or not?”

“Umm, I could not recall you asking me anything while you were…” I was caught napping. How could she have heard those words, I said?

“Ay or Nay? Did you say those exact words?” She boldly stepped her feet on my shoes and grew taller, looking straight into my green eyes. I could not breathe, so I said the truth: “Yes, Michelle. I said those words… because I would have lost you, and die too!”

“My Prince, who dies for someone he does not care about?” She asked a difficult question that I could not give an answer to!

“You persisted until the Italian military doctors could see a trace of life in me. And I remembered your kisses, your caring acts, and those genuine sweet talks while you thought that I was unconscious.”

“Mich…” I whispered, but she pressed me harder to her breasts, and continued:

“My Prince, I remember the debt-paid-back thoughts that was triggered as you saved my life at that time when my dad’s raid in the service of Middleville almost ended my life’s story! You saved my life as that bomb dropped by my side. You grabbed me from behind, held me by my boobs and we rolled together into the muddy pond as the giant balls of fire engulfed us… We came out, and you kissed the mud away from my nose and my mouth – Spinks said I bewitched a gallant soldier to seize an advantage to kiss a gorgeous soldier who secretly loves him… Is that correct?!”

At that time, I saw “love” written all over her beautiful face. But I still wanted to settle Greta’s matter… And I saw her tears, and caringly wiped it away, saying: “I promise you; it shall be alright.” Then, Venus Garcia concluded the track and each of us were going back to our seats. And Michelle whispered:

“I will give you some time to clear your infatuation with our casino queen. She knows about my true love for you and will never remain with you! She loves someone else: The one that the others see when they look at you!”

I raised my head and saw Greta smiling at Michelle:

“Colonel Beautiful, I know you did enjoy your first romantic embrace. Didn’t you?!”

She must have felt embarrassed, but I think she must be grateful to Greta. She replied, “Yes, I did. Thanks to my Casino Queen for handing me this opportunity – with the right man!”

Greta stood between the two tables, got the attention of the guests, and started a solemn speech. I noticed that she avoided to mention the name “Raymond” as she intentionally gave glowing tributes to the partnership of Michelle and “the prince” in their national assignments, wondering how compatible we would be in love. What a character, this Greta Merkel: she was trying to match-make Michelle and I… She openly said she respected me more than any man on earth. With that statement, she drew the applause from Michelle and the couple. But she crowned her eulogy with a lie that she had never ever loved General R. C. Chang as a person but would be the happiest woman living - if the highly decorated soldiers came together in love. She confessed that this General’s love for her is genuine but one-sided, and it would be better proven with this match-up! She confessed that she had invited Celerina and her boyfriend as witnesses, and she would be our (Raymond and Michelle’s) Chief Bride’s Maid at our Royal Military Wedding! I was stupefied and overwhelmed but was not allowed to take my leave: I was blackmailed by emotions everywhere!