When love lasts

Chapter One

Present

“SO SELENE WHO ARE YOU TAKING as your date for the Gala, is it Jeremy Scott? Rose asked enthusiastically.

Selene looked at her best friend and partner's face and smiled, “Why Jeremy?” she asked, “I mean you could have called anyone's name Rose.”

"Yeah, I could have, ʼ Rose grinned, “but I didn't. Why don't you want to go out with him? I mean he's hot, handsome, super rich and he'll take good care of you Selene, why can't you see that?"

"I'm not just ready for any romantic relationship with anyone. He's a good man and a great friend and let's be real here Rose, I'm not the one he wants” 

Rose blushed and looked away from Selene, “We're not talking about me” 

“And who said we were?” Selene smirked and sighed, “I have Calliope to think about. No man wants a relationship with a single mother these days—by the way thanks for agreeing to babysit her for me and to satisfy your curiosity, yes, I'm taking Jeremy with me to the gala."

"Good." she said, “So when is he picking you up?"

"6pm on the dot an…”

Before she could say another word, Rose ring tone interrupted her. 

And judging by her pale face, Selene didn't need to get a soothsayer to tell her the person on the other line.

"It's your father isn't it?" she asked

“Yes” 

“Why was he calling?” 

Rose sighed and confided, “Dad wants us to invest in his company.”

Selene said in a perplexed voice “But Glitters is a jewelry maker company. Except—” She stared at Rose and gasp, “He's—ʼ

“In a serious debt. Yes” Rose completed, “And I told him that I can't invest in his company because of that and also, I only own fifty percent of the company.”

“What did he say?” 

Rose shrugged, “The usual when he doesn't have his own way. I'm a b***h. That mum would never stand and watch him suffer as he's doing now” 

"Oh sweetheart I'm sorry" she said as she hugged her bestie. “you know sometimes Rose you are going to have to stand up for yourself against your father. You can't keep letting him bully like this.”

Rose raised her head and smiled before she said, "It's not that easy Selene, I don't want to break him like mum's death did to him, he's just hurting and I'm sure he'll get over it."

"Oh Rose… 

Selene's heart broke for her friend because even after everything she still loved her father unconditionally. Rose's actions caused Selene question to herself for the first time in five years if she did the right thing by running away from her home and cutting all connection with her family.

“Don't worry about it” She cautioned herself, “They're better off without you”

“Selene have you been listening to what I've been saying?” Rose asked interrupting her thoughts

“Huh… Not really”

“Don't you think Greece is a wonderful place to go on vacation?”

Greece? Selene paled at that. She can't go back to Greece… In fact she can't go to anywhere near Greece.

“—Think about it, they've got beautiful islands, fresh air and the best part is hotel Delphi Beach in Aigio. Did you know that the kingdom of Aigo lost their princess in a war between their Kingdom and that of T— she stopped talking and held Selene's hand who seemed to have gone more pale, “Selene are you alright?”

“Yeah—yeah, I'm okay,ʼ she answered trying to regain her composure

“You're not Okayʼ Rose frowned

“I must have had too much sunʼ She said and kicked herself mentally.. Really Selene? That's your excuse?

“That's BS and you know it because the shutters are closedʼ Rose said, “Why are you always spooked about Greece? I mean last two years, I suggested we celebrate Calli's birthday there but you disagreed and the other time, we got a million dollar contract from a royal family to design the family heirloom and you rejectedʼ

“It holds memories that I don't want to revisitʼ

“But Selene—ʼ

“You don't understand, Rose,ʼ She cut in, “I can't go back there… It's safer like thisʼ

“Safer?ʼ Rose asked in a bewildering manner, “Selene what are you talking about?ʼ

Selene stood up shakily and excused herself, She had devised a method of dealing with her past, though. In her head she visualised a box, and into that box she put all those nasty, sad memories, and then she visualised herself shutting the lid of the box and locking it up with a padlock and titanium chain. She entered a room connected to the master bedroom and came back with a box then clicked it open which caused Rose to stand up and cover her mouth in an attempt to stop herself from screaming.

“Is that—ʼ

“Yes, the lost jewel of Aigioʼ

“But—how did you?—Did a prince give—No!ʼ She shook her head, breathing heavily, “Selene what is the lost jewel of the princess of Aigio doing in your room in your house on top of your—ʼ

“Breathe Roseʼ Selene held her hand and took her to the bed, “Breathe,ʼ She said again and Rose complied. She took in a deep breath and said, “I have the Jewel with me because—ʼ

But Selene didn't finish because Rose got the memo. “You are the lost princess of Aigio?ʼ She said, more like asked and Selene nodded.

“My God! Now it all makes sense”

“What?ʼ

“Your refusal to have anything to do with Greeceʼ

“Noʼ Selene denied.

“Yeah,ʼ Rose eyed her skeptically, “Off courseʼ

“Okay, fineʼ Selene sighed, “It's just that I wanted a clean break from all these princess stuff and Royalties so I came to Londonʼ

“Seleneʼ Rose drawled, “I'm your best friend not a reporterʼ

“What's that supposed to mean?ʼ

Rose smiled and held her hand, “Why did you leave Aigio, Selene?ʼ

“The two kingdoms came to an agreement to build a dam. The workers had assembled to work as they were digging, it was discovered that there was Gold in the border of the kingdoms. Which resulted in a disagreement and then days later, two bodies of a couple from Aigio were discovered in a farm in Temeni and vice versa. Except Temeni's was seen by the road side. And then I ruined everything by having an affair with their crowned Princeʼ

Rose gaped at her but Selene continued, “I got my heart broken and I knew that I was done for. So I boltedʼ Selene finished and congratulated herself for putting up her brave face. Five years and her terrible experience with Alexander Christos still hurts like yesterday's mistake.

“I'm sorry Seleneʼ Rose said sympathetically and hugged her, “But are you sure cutting yourself off from your family is the right thing to do?ʼ

She bridled at that question, “My parents might forgive it but the entire kingdom will never forget it. They'll see it as a betrayal of the Royal society. Instead of standing by the royal house, I picked a side by sleeping with him.”

“Selene, you were young and obviously you thought you were in love with the Prince. So? You had an affair with him, what could possibly go wrong especially if no one knew about it?ʼ

“But everyone will knowʼ

“Why? What are you talking about? Did anyone find out about your secret affair with him?ʼ Rose asked

“No, Rose. My affair was not only forbidden but it wielded a lot of consequencesʼ

“Oh my Godʼ Rose covered her mouth, “Calliopeʼ She whispered and Selene nodded.