My One True Love

Chapter One: Welcome to New York

WILLIAM...

William watched as Adalet walked away. He felt a bit disappointed she hadn't stayed a bit longer or that she hadn't offered to show him around but he understood that just because they talked on the flight that didn't mean she trusted him enough to make such an offer. An old looking man approached him, he had gray, almost white, short hair and he walked straight in his navy uniform. "Are you Prince William Johns?" he asked respectfully and William only nodded before the man continued. "I will be your chauffeur in your stay in New York," the man explained and he bowed slightly, he was probably following protocol.

"What is your name, sir?" I asked trying to sound polite, the man who had begun to reach for his suitcases, straightened and fixed his uniform.

"I am Alfred Dickens, Your Majesty, one of the chauffeurs of the New York Company, I actually drove your parents numerous times years ago," the man replied calmly. Alfred Dickens, from my father's stories I knew he was telling the truth, he had also been my father's chauffeur when he and my mother visited New York years back in numerous business trips and vacations. Yes, the royal family also took small trips to New York for fun. "Let me help you with your suitcases," said Alfred after a few seconds of standing silently next to the exit.

"Alfred, there is no need," William said quickly, he didn't want the old man to exert himself even though he looked in great shape. Alfred look taken aback by my informal way to address him but he quickly recomposed himself as he shook his head, "I insist, Prince William. The car is not far away and my age does not prevent me from fulfilling my duties". Alfred quickly took the nearest suitcase from my grasp and started leading us away, he didn't leave me time to respond. I sighed and was thankful he had at least left him a suitcase for him to pull. With no choice, William followed Alfred to the basement of the airport.

Soon enough, they were standing in a parking lot reserved for important people, at least that was how it looked like. Most of the cars there were brands with high prestige among influential people with many resources. Our car was parked at the entrance, it was relatively small and black but I believed it served its purpose, from the things I heard about New York, I would rather move by car than by a big SUV or truck. Alfred opened the trunk of the car and this time he let me help him with the suitcases. Once the trunk was closed, both men got into the car, decided to sit up front because I never liked to leave one person sitting alone as they drove, it just looked like the person sitting at the back was more important than the one driving. Alfred looked startled but he didn't question my decision as he began to drive out to the city.

The drive to the hotel was quiet and long due to the city traffic, I wasn't surprised, I had expected this to happen. "You will get used to this, Your Majesty, traffic here isn't anything abnormal," said Alfred as he stopped on another red light.

William didn't say anything, instead he looked at the traffic ahead of him. His eyes suddenly spotted an auburn headed woman in a small cafe shop at the corner. Anxiousness burned through him and he weighted on getting out of the car or staying through the long traffic. "Alfred, I want to walk around, it is my first time here in New York after all."

"That's fine sir, I will make sure your luggage is all in your suite before you return," said Alfred honestly and William murmured a quick 'Thank you' before getting out of the car.

Hesitantly, he walked towards the cafe entrance. When he entered a small bell rung, the woman he had spotted outside was sitting on a couch reading a book. He decided it would be best if he bought a coffee and something to eat, since he hadn't eaten anything all day and it was now noon. After ordering he decided he would walk up to the woman, he didn't want to seem like a stalker.

When it was his turn to order, he ordered a simple espresso and a panini. He waited patiently as the workers gave him his order. That's when I decided to make my way up to the woman with the auburn hair. The book with the title, "The Mockingbird" was covering her face so he couldn't see if she was who he thought she was. As he got closer, the woman seemed to feel his gaze on her. She set the book on her lap and looked directly at him. "Can I help you?" she asked coldly but then she saw him and her eyes changed and she looked intrigued. The woman placed a strand of her hair behind her ear and looked at him excitedly.

William was disappointed to find the woman wasn't who he was hoping she was but he had to admit, it would have been a very odd coincidence for him to see the woman from the plane, again. He didn't believe in destiny after all. "Oh, I am sorry to intrude miss, I thought you were somebody else," William explained, he began to step back and the woman raised and eyebrow, she probably was surprised by his British accent and his actions.

"No problem, you seem lost, here," she said handing out a card, Rachel David, Tourist Guide. "If you ever want to explore New York in all of its magnificence, give me a call. I look forward to helping you," she said both a wink and a soft chuckle.

"Thank you, I will keep that in mind, Miss David," said William and saw the woman had an intense gaze as her eyes roamed his body with much interest. William shuddered in disgust and quickly made his way out of the small coffee shop with his coffee and panini in hand. That encounter had been strange, were all Americans so forward and bold?

Out in the streets he was bumped into and pushed as people tried to make their way through the busy city, it was very different from his home. William looked around trying to find some kind of directions, thankfully he was taller than most of the people walking by. He looked through his phone and found the hotel he was staying at. The St. Regis New York.

He found the directions and started walking through the crowd while drinking his coffee and taking small bites from his lunch. People rushed and pushed him as they passed, some murmured an apology but others just kept on rushing by. The noise was very loud and he was beginning to feel overwhelmed. It was getting more crowded as the day passed and he reached the hotel an hour later even though the hotel wasn't that far away. The crowded streets had slowed him down.

In the reception he was stopped by the receptionist. "Can I help you, sir?" she asked nicely.

William smiled and nodded, "I have a reservation under the name William Johns. Mr. Dickens dropped of my luggage earlier this afternoon."

The receptionist nodded as she looked at the computer screen and then back at him. "Oh yes Mr. Johns, please follow me, I'll take you to your suite." William followed the short brunette woman to his suite up in the last floor. She led him into the suite and turned to him, "I hope you enjoy your stay here, if there's anything else that you need the phone is right next to the bed along with the receptions number," after I nodded, she walked past him and closed the door behind her and he was left alone in the big suite.

William walked to his bedroom and found his suitcases along with a card with Alfred's number. William saved the number with Alfred's name in his cellphone and sent his father and Adrianna a quick text telling them he had arrived to the hotel safely. He sighed and walked to the bathroom to take a shower. That long flight and the long walk in the sun had really worn him out.

The warm water ran down him and he relaxed instantly but it was just a quick rinse. William walked out and only wrapped a towel around his waist as he quickly brushed his teeth and walked over to his suitcase. He then dried himself and got into his gym clothes, before he walked to the hotel's gymnasium. In seemed kind of ironic to take a shower and then exercise but he really needed to take his mind off of everything going on in his mind.

There were a couple of people on the treadmills, bikes and weights in the large room. He walked towards the bench to do weights first and an hour and a half later, he was sweating intensely from doing weights and jogging on the treadmill.

Just as he was getting off the treadmill, his phone went off. William wiped the sweat from his hands with a towel that was nearby and answered without checking the ID. "William Johns speaking."

"Hello son, how was your flight?" asked Dan Johns, his father.

"It was tirying and long," William said trying to regain his breath. He was already feeling homesick. He'd never been so far away from his family before, this was actually his first time in another continent. Then he continued, "I actually met Alfred Dickens, your former chauffeur."

"Really? Alfred is your chauffeur? I would not have guessed it, I did not believe he was still working because of his age. Anyway, I actually called you for another reason. I hope that what I am about to tell you will not ruin your plans for tonight. I have e-mailed you some work that has to be done for the new project we have in mind and I need you to send me the files we worked on last week to add them to our files here in the base."

William sighed and took his things before making his way back up to his room, "it is fine, I will finish the work and I will send you the files as soon as I am finished."

"Great, thank you son, I have some work to finish as well. Your mother and I will call later, hopefully you will still be awake."

"That is alright dad, finish your work but I cannot promise to stay awake, I have not rested well in the last couple of hours," William then hung up and walked into his suite. After another quick shower he took out his computer and turned it on.

"What in the name-," he stopped and stared bewildered at the computer screen. On the home screen was Adalet with a brown Labrador Retriever. Her auburn hair flowed back as if the wind had pushed it back. The dog had its tongue out as if goofing for the camera as Adalet hugged him tightly. Realization crossed his face then.

"Miss, Sir, we are going to land pretty soon, please put all electronics away." The flight attendant said. Adalet quickly put her computer away and under her seat. William did the same.

Once they landed, both of them reached for their computer cases and then went their separate ways after their last encounter when they picked up their luggage.

William covered his face with his hands and sighed. "I need that computer, I need to find her," he murmured to himself before taking his phone as he searched for her name. He found she worked at a magazine. He reached for the hotel phone and began to dial.

After a few rings, the other person picked up. "Hello, Alfred speaking," he said on the other line.

"Alfred, I need you to come get me, please," He said anxiously as he searched for the magazine's address.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will be there as soon as I can, hopefully in a couple of minutes," said Alfred before hanging up.

William paced around the room. His hand was on his hair in a frustrated way but he couldn't stop looking at the computer screen. That smile, those eyes. Adalet. He would see her again. Just that thought made him nervous and filled with anticipation. What was happening to him?