The Vindication Gents

Chapter 2.17

Peter Rovski’s POV

I have been waiting for time to visit my daughter. It has been 25 years since we were not expecting another child. It has always been her brother, Eddy Rovski, to have the family business. But now, I miss my daughter so much.

“Your Highness, we’re here,” my butler said as he was opening the door for us. I went with my wife as we have been missing her all the time. The time that we have missed during her first step, words and the love that we have not given to her.

“Thank you,” I said before I took my wife by the hand as we were walking toward the front door. It was nice and all, everything but something was amiss. And I don’t know what it was.

“Sire,” the guard said as he was greeting us at the front door. His face was pale. Was something wrong? Had something happened to Christine?

“What is it?” I asked as my wife was holding my hands tightly.

“Her Highness, she was—“ he did not finish the sentence before I ran toward the room where I knew my daughter would be in. I opened the door as it slammed into the wall. There was no sign of her.

Her clothes were gone.

Her trace of perfume and presence has long gone.

“Guards, tell the National Security we have a missing princess,” I shouted as I left the room with a heavy heart. Maybe this was my payment for neglecting my child under my nose.

Christine, where were you?!

Antonio Romano’s POV

I have been busy as I was ordering the necessary things for Kyle’s wedding. If you must know, Kyle was the brother of Laura, Lucca’s new bride or, should I say, the only duchess in his life. They were so happy together as I saw them at the reception.

“Tony, would this be a good combination with this?” My assistant was asking me about the color scheme. I was thinking more about the red and black. That would give some vibe to the couple.

“Well, keep looking, hon,” I said as I saw Christina was making some tea for me and my assistants. She was sweet like that.

“Here you go,” she said as she was smiling at my other employees. I think they liked her. I don’t know much but I can get a vibe from them that they don’t hate my PA.

Not like the ones in the past anyway.

Christina was chatting with them before she excused herself to give the tea to me. That was the routine since we got back from Finale Ligure and since I had told her that we would be leaving for Romania in the shortest time.

“Here you go, Tony,” Christina said, as she would light up whenever she talked to me. I think I beamed at her as well. I hoped she got my message that I was not into the male gender.

Only her.

“Why thank you, Bella,” I said, as others would not think that would be strange for them as I was using endearments with my PA. I used them as well on my other assistants because I was like that. Or maybe I wanted them to think that I was not obviously being much with my feelings. Especially toward the person that I wanted to convey my feelings the most.

“So, have you done the necessary things that we need for our wedding reception in Romania?” I asked Christina as she was looking at her notes. My trained eyes noticed everything that she had done in the past few days. Her manicure was immaculate, her hair was still a mess but it was glossy. Like she had it done at a salon.

Now I felt betrayed. I thought I was the only one that should touch her hair.

“Yes, I have made some of the requirements for the wedding venue and I have talked to the wine exporter from France about the wine but I don’t think it would be a problem during the wedding,” she said as she was looking at me. I was staring at her mouth since I was so awestruck by her beauty.

“Tony? Are you listening?” She asked me as I was blinking my eyes at her. I smiled before I put my tea down.

“Of course, bella. Why would I not?”

“Because you were staring at me,” she replied, who got some snickers from my other assistants. I glared at them before they moved their works to somewhere else.

“Alright then. Have you got your passport and luggage ready for our departure tonight?” I asked her before she was nodding at me.

“Yes, but I will be unable to work if I don’t have a laptop.” She said her concern before I waved my hand dismissively at her.

“No worries about the small problem. Now, shall we get going?” I asked as I dragged her by the hand before we exited the boutique and we went to my car. I asked her to get inside the car as she thanked me for holding her door. I went to my side before I was speeding off from the boutique to the airport.

“I thought we would be leaving tonight?” Christina asked as she was looking at me, arching her eyebrows at me. I smirked at her before we went out to the hangar as my private pilot was greeting me.

“We’re ready to go, sir.”

“As you wish. Come, bella, we have to get onto the plane now,” I said before I was walking past Christina. She was not used to this fast-paced life that I led, but I think I will have the enjoyment of showing that to her.

“After you,” I said as I was holding out my hand to her. She took it as she went inside and I was inside the plane after her.

“Woah, this is nice,” she said as she was looking around. I chuckled at her admiration before we went to our seats.

“Champagne?” The flight attendant asked us before I held out my hand, a sign for later. She went away before Christina was looking outside the window.

“Is this how your days were?” She asked, as she was still looking outside. I chuckled at her.

“Yes, most of the time if I have some clients from another country,” I replied as I was looking at my present for her. She was still not aware of that.

“Must be nice,” she mumbled in Hungarian before I chuckled. Yup, she still didn't have a clue that I know that language like the back of my hands. And I think I should keep that secret with me.

“Please fasten your seatbelt, we are ready to take off,” my captain said before we were fastening it. It was nice to know that I would be alone with Christina for a short moment before we were on time. I think I have to be brave for it to happen.

“Here,” I said as I pulled the present out of their hiding spot. It was in front of her the whole time, but I think she was not that perceptive.

Unlike me.

“Woah, you don’t have to,” she said, but her action was another story. Christina was like a child that had just got her first present for Christmas for the first time.

“Well, don’t just stare at it. Open it,” I said before Christina was smiling weakly at the present. My heart swelled at the sight.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” I asked, as I don’t think giving a present would be a bad idea. She sniffed before she was rubbing her eyes, if there was a single tear escaped them.

“Sorry. I was…I was just too happy. No one ever gave me a present before,” she said as she sniffed before she held the present like it was a delicate thing.

“What about your birthday?” I asked. She shook her head.

“Christmas?”

Another shook her head.

“Are you telling me that your parents were too busy to spend some quality time with you?” I asked while I was gritting my teeth at her. I was trying to control my anger before I took a deep breath.

“Well, they were—“ she said before I held out my hand.

“No matter, I will not be like them. When was your birthday?”

“Well, that’s the thing. I was born during Christmas,” she said sheepishly as she was tucking her hair behind her ears. Yup, she was nervous.

“Well, I think it will be a wonderful Christmas this year because I will be planning a Christmas party for you,” I said as I was touching her nose. She was as shocked as I was because I had never done that before with anyone.

What was happening to me?!

She smiled as I was smiling at her as well. We were looking at each other before she chuckled. “Well, if I last that long,” she said as she was looking at me.

And from that moment on, I have decided that I would keep her by my side forever.