MY TREASURED DESIRE

Chapter FORTY-FIVE: Colonel Leslie Adams, Saved!

Tuesday, 5:20 am Local Time (Tuesday 9.20 pm, GMT or UTC.)

Imperial Chalet, Guests’ Suite AA, Imperial Palace, Achaia.

18 Days Before the Proposed Traditional Marriage Between Alexa and Reynold.

Don Leslie’s POV.

I saw myself in the excursions we had - as teenagers – from our college. I remembered a girl I liked so much. But at that time the class difference between our families was so wide. They were so wealthy, but my family is a military dynasty. So, I had to shake off the dream. But the young lass was there, with me, at that excursion.

Our Social Studies Teacher, who led us on the trip, told us that we were going to visit “Heaven…” To start with, our flight headed for the closest airport to the Disney Parks, the Orlando International Airport (or MCO for short), which is located in the Southeast of Central Orlando, the USA… That flight was memorable. The cloud was heavy, so we had a bumpy flight… My seat was closer to the rear exit. It was cozy and I had the privacy of some sort. I was sitting next to the most beautiful girl I had ever met in my life, Miss Fiona Rich. As she got scared, the seat belt was not enough for her, so she was always clinging to me, and I chose to cuddle her, stroking her blonde hair. In my heart, I became a hero of a sort…

I hated that time when we landed. I did not want the experience to end. I was only 15, I remember, and this feeling is not right for my age…

We arrived at Disney Park by bus. We were checked in, and at a time, we took a boat cruise and alighted in a place where we could see live mermaids, male and female. Just like what we watch on TV. I calmed myself down as we visited a place that looks like we were near the moon. After that experience, we entered a place of beauty and esoteric bliss… A voice said in an echo, “Welcome to Heaven!”

I enjoyed the bliss while it lasted, and Fiona was always by my side. I think she likes me too…

And she started asking me questions so that she might know me better. I was elated. I told her about our family. Immediately I mentioned my dad’s name, Chu-Young Adams, she moved away from me.

“Why, Sensuous,” I asked, praying that she would never leave me. But she shook her head and said…

“I hope your dad is not Major Chu-Young?” she asked, and the cat got my tongue. What has my father done, again? Thank God she did not wait to hear my response. But that was just an escapist thought… I don’t want her to leave!

When we saw and entered another boat, we saw sharks and other mighty fishes… I felt a soft hand grabbing me at the waist… “O Lord, let this be Fiona,” I said silently.

“Yes, Leslie, it is I… Fiona,” she responded with a broken voice. “That shark wanted me for lunch. Please, hold me…” I looked left and right… More people were scared to death. They could not see other people’s drama. So, I went before her and gave her a full hug… It took only a while before I was caught by our Leader of the delegation, Mr. Leslie Dreame. He had a reputation of being a romantic man who had one of our most attractive female teachers as a girlfriend. But now I got scared, and I allowed Fiona to stand alone. She opened her eyes, and heard Mr. Leslie Dreams say,

“Welcome to Heaven!”

“Heaven?” Fiona wondered and looked around. No one was looking our way!

Mr. Dreame took a searching look at both of us and said, “How is your little brother, Alan Junior?”

“He’s 5 years younger. He’s only 8, and he can’t be here,” Fiona answered innocently.

“Oh No,” Mr. Leslie Dreame mocked, pointing at me, then to her before saying, “I just want to know whether you like him.”

“Yeah, I love him! He’s such a lovely doll.”

I never knew that Mr. Leslie Dreame could be so mischievous. I watched him smile, and he said, “What are you waiting for? You are in Heaven. If this is what you have always wanted, then, you may kiss your bride-to-be!” We were both lost looking at one another.

Fiona caught up with herself and looked at Mr. Dreame. She said, “I was referring to my little brother, Sir. Leslie is only 15. We are not ripe for matured play!”

I ignored her baby talk and said, “Sir, if we are in heaven, I have a humble wish. I wish to have Fiona as my wife when I grow up. She is such a beautiful fairy!” and she blushed, covering her lovely face.

I shook myself out of my reminiscences and remembered that I had an appointment to meet Sir Alan Rich for some preparations, today. Childhood dreams, now I love another girl that won’t tell me her last name… Soon, it would be 8.00 am… I rushed myself into the bathroom.

***

Tuesday, 8:50 am Local Time (Tuesday 6.50 pm, GMT or UTC.)

Sir Alan Rich’s Residence, New-Beijing, Achaia.

18 Days Before the Proposed Traditional Marriage Between Alexa and Reynold.

I wore a three-piece suit that I got from General Chang as an arrival gift. One set that costs a fortune: The quality is something else. I long to see what Sir Alan Rich would say. I was driven to the Rich Mansions by one of the General’s numerous drivers in one white Mercedes Benz A-Class Limousine. And Mr. Rich met me at the entrance to his main house with a woman who looked exactly like the woman who toys with my heart back in England… We had dinner together at the Zyuganov Imperial Restaurant, New Beijing, yesterday.

“You are here… This is the man whose father almost caused a major earthquake in our marriage,” she said, smiling – same voice as Fiona the Coy Mistress. I was almost losing it… What did my dad do? Now, what am I doing, trying to date the Industrialist’s wife? Where would I start from…? Now, I have done something I'm sure my Dad would spank me for!

I smiled and kept quiet. She shook hands with me, like a true lady she is, and invited me to come into her home… I kept mute.

We entered the posh living room, and the wealthy man about my father’s age looked at me in the eye and said, “Yeah, my wife is gorgeous… that was how Major Chu-Young was also carried away looking at her! He calls my wife, ‘Sensuous!’ Can you beat that?”

I breathed harder, shifting on my seat. Then, he called… “Fiona, your business partner is here. I just hope he is not Major Chu-Young’s Son!”

“I will be with you in a minute, dad…” a female voice, exactly like my Coy- mistress’ voice. I felt I should be getting crazy. I looked in the direction of the voice and I almost fainted… The same woman sitting here with her husband was coming my way…

“F-Fiona?” I was clearly overwhelmed! I kept my mouth agape while looking at… I now know that they are mother and daughter. Where is the age difference?

“Brigadier-General Leslie Adams… Seems as if you’ve met my daughter.”

Fiona shook hands with me, and I was still shocked. Then, Sir Alan Rich continued, “Beautiful Women in my Life. I invited General Leslie here because I was marvelled at the way his security business was flourishing in the USA. I discussed some business terms with him and asked him to meet me in my home in Achaia for the final deal… I discussed with His Imperial Majesty, and he told me that his son had informed him that Brigadier-General Leslie Adams would be the recipient of the Imperial Medal for this year… He also said that our ‘guest’ would become the Ambassador Plenipotentiary to the British Island Nations outside the shores of the UK… I also promised him a good gift, which I had discussed with my lovely wife… General Leslie Adams, I hope you are comfortable?”

My forehead has beaded sweats on it, but the room temperature was so low that normal people should shiver! I only nodded… Then Fiona asked, “Dad, he fell head over heels in love with me within my 6-months USA trip. He asked for my name, and I refused to give him my surname. Hearing Fiona alone did a lot of damage to his composure!”

Her parents were interested. Her mother prompted her, “That is what it should be… Tell me more!”

“Dad, this was the gentleman who called me ‘Sensuous’ when we went on the Excursion for the Final year College Students. Since College Prefects who were a year lower became a part of the trip, I met him at close range. He was 15 and I was 13. Incidentally, I asked him if his father was Major Chu-Young!”

His father was interested in my answer, but I was saved by what she said, “Dad, I don’t think it matters anymore… Since that day, my heart waits for him.”

“I am so sorry I did not recognise you again,” I managed to speak. So, how did I become a wimp? Then I continued, “I waited for you all my life. I did not want to meet any other woman. But a lovely aura followed you when I met you at that Conference. My heart told me, ‘That is your Fiona’. I called your name, and you turned back to look at me… But that innocent beauty that had made me wait forever was not what I saw. Still, the aura won’t leave… Hence, I followed you everywhere!”

“So, were you the one that was saved from assassins bullets on 14th October?” Sir Rich’s statement caused quite a stir in me. I came in the entourage of the emperor on that day, and a subordinate that we hired from Israel died on that day!

“How?” I asked.

Fiona explained, “I went with a group of friends to a highbrow Restaurant in Oslo, Norway. I heard the discussion of some young policemen on the need to eliminate that Security Chief so that they could reach the emperor. I had a random bodyguard’s photo that I took from one of the girlfriends who just crush over anyone they see… So, I seduced the guy with the photographs. I took your picture and replaced it with the one I had, without being suspected!”

“But that was dangerous,” I screamed.

“I am glad I did, because the man I saw looked just like my childhood crush, Leslie!” she said. “I only saved my love, and I told my parents that I had found you. So, Dad traced you out! Here we are!”

“So, I am not here for business?” I asked with a smile. When I saw that the parents were busy checking us out, I added, “My hunch was that ‘she was the one’ that I had seen, even when I could not recognise her!”

“What other business could be greater than life’s life-long unity?” Sir Alan Rich asked me pointedly. “We had waited for you for so long. So, are you interested in your first love, or you are not ready?”

I responded with a huge smile and looked out for Fiona, with all my heart. “Fiona, before Dad and Mom, please tell me: Will you marry me forever and make my wish in Disney’s Heaven come to pass?”

“Leslie, I have waited for you all my life… Even without courtship, I will marry you and learn about you forever!” She answered with a smile and jumped at me. I caught her and kissed her passionately. I turned to the parents and requested, “Dad, Mum, please allow my Fiona to come with me to meet the Crown Prince and the Chief of Imperial Defence Staff?”

“On the condition that you join us for brunch before you take her out. Bring her back tonight,” Sir and Lady Alan Rich echoed.

Sir Alan Rich continued, “I know that you want her to be the first person you hug when the King declares that you can have what you wish for… I told you that I met the emperor, right? Take her along for the final declarations. But I don’t want her to warm your bed tonight…”

“I will conclude my Marriage Proposal Presentations before I go back to England. If you permit me, we can also plan the Wedding… Which Church do you attend, Mom and Dad?”

“Good-News Christian Mission, Lagos, Achaia.”

“Oh, the Wesleyan Cathedral?” I was so happy. That is also my Worship preference in the US!

“O Yes… Enter to worship…” Fiona’s Mom chanted the Motto, and I replied,

“…Depart to serve!”

***

Tuesday, 4:40 pm Local Time (Tuesday 8.40 am, GMT or UTC.)

Crown Prince’s Residence, Imperial Palace, Achaia.

18 Days Before the Proposed Traditional Marriage Between Alexa and Reynold.

Don Leslie’s POV.

We entered the palace premises and moved straight to the Crown Prince’s Residence. I met the G.O.C, A.S.S.S. coming out of the Residence. I gave a salutary compliment, and he responded.

“What a pretty wife you have found for yourself, Leslie,” Prince Raymond quipped, and welcomed Fiona with a smile, “You are welcome, Ma’am. And I guess I should escort you to the presence of the Crown Prince… Please follow me.”

The crown prince had his fiancée, Princess Alexa, and his brother’s fiancée - Colonel Michelle in the palace. But the hospitality of the prince knew no bounds. In a twinkle of an eye, assorted kinds of food, fruits, and drinks were served. Music was also played to welcome the guests. It was a beautiful experience, especially for Fiona, who have to appear before her parents, with her fiancé, later tonight.

It was a night well-spent.