62. Complications.

[Claire]
The plane descent was a real scare, Sophie and I held on to each other, our eyes closed and we screamed our lungs out until the plane landed.
A few minutes after the plane landed, we dared to open our eyes and we were so relieved that the plane had not crashed.
Sophie peed her pants and though initially I didn't laugh or make fun of her because I was still shaken by the ordeal, after a few minutes, I wouldn't let her hear the last of it, I even promised to inform Michele about it and she promised to stab me in my sleep.
The pilot apologized for the incident and I waited while Sophie changed her clothes. After she was done, we exited the plane together.
"We could have died," Sophie murmured after we left the plane.
"That's why you peed your pants like a little girl?" I teased her and laughed.
"Come on, I'm serious, my life flashed before my eyes in that minute and I realized that I've been taking Michele for granted, he's the only family I have left and if I had died today, I'd have regretted never telling him how much he means to me." She said and her words touched me.
"Yes, I understand what you mean, I'm sorry for making fun of you." I apologized.
"It's okay." She smiled.
"But I'm sure he knows just how much you love and care about him." I offered.
"I know that he does, it's something we both know but I never say it, I should start saying it, he tells me all the time but I… I just don't say it back." She said sadly.
"Well, I guess you didn't die, you have the rest of your life to make things right and tell him how much you love him." I said and hugged her. "While we're on that, you should also consider giving Mason or Ben a call, which one is his name again?" I asked.
"Both." She laughed. "His name is Ace Benjamin, I like to call him Mason because it just sounds more manly." She said,
"So what, you're going to give him a call?" I asked and she nodded. "Words please."
"Oui, fille." She smiled at me.
I knew the meaning of what she said but I still wanted more affirmation.
"English please." I batted my eyes at her.
"Fine." She huffed. "Yes, I'll give him a call."
"Thanks, babe, you deserve to be happy, don't take that away from yourself," I told her.
"If." She added and then stopped, a wicked glint in her eyes. "You call your parents too."
"No," I said automatically.
"Okay then."
"No, it's not fair, you're only calling one person and you want me to call two besides, it's not the same thing, Mason never betrayed you or deceived you." I argued.
"Okay, then pick one to speak to."
"Fine then." I conceded because I knew that she wouldn't let it go. "Only if you add in a kiss and bring him to our next outing."
"Fine, if you'll call your parents now."
"Deal." I smiled and brought my phone out of my bag. "I choose to call Nana." I said.
"Fine, but no cold bullshit too oui." She said and I nodded.
"You must send me a photo proof before the day runs out and I expect to see him tomorrow." I narrowed my eyes on her.
"Sure, just call her already." She smiled.
"Hello." Nana picked on the second ring and I tried not to grimace.
"Hi, Nana, it's me, Claire." I tried to sound as warm as I could.
"Oh my child, thank goodness you called, are you safe, have you landed safely?" She asked and the worry in her voice melted my heart.
"Yes, Nana, I've landed safely, just called to inform you about that, please pass it unto father." I ended the call before she replied and I turned to Sophie.
"Your turn."
"I need to speak to my brother first." She said immediately.
"Don't you dare make up any excuses, Soph, I've already done my part of the deal." I glared at her.
"No, I'm not, you said you wanted photo confirmation right, I promise I'll send you one before the day runs out."
"Fine." I huffed and crossed my arms.
"Where are you headed?" She smiled with her eyes and put her arms on my shoulders.
Her question brought a smile to my face because I was already thinking about the one person I wanted to see now.
"No way." She chuckled.
"What?" I asked her because I hadn't said anything.
"I don't believe it."
"Come on, what is it?" I asked, getting slightly irritated.
"You're going to see your french beau aren't you?"
"I didn't say that." I replied quickly.
"You didn't have to, it was written all over your face, and that smile." She teased.
"Why don't we leave the airport first before you start with your theories." I laughed.
She was right though.
After we left the airport, I went home to drop my luggage and to have a long shower. When I was done getting ready, I ate a light lunch and ordered a taxi.
I'd been to the palace a total of three times and I'd never been to Jean's quarters, I'd also never seen him standing in uniform except the first time we met during the parade but I guessed that was because he was kind of the Prince's guard rather than a royal guard.
I was so excited I was literally bouncing on my seat as I headed to the palace, I wanted to see his reaction mostly.
"We're here, miss, this is where I have to stop."
"Thank you, sir." I paid my fare and exited the castle.
The walk to the residential gates was far but I made it and only when I got there did I realize that I didn't know where he was and he'd never introduced me to any one of his friends or colleagues before.
"State your business here." A guard demanded, stopping me from entering.
"I'm here to see Jean." I answered timidly.
"I don't know who that is." He answered coldly.
"Well, I'm his girlfriend and he works here, he's a guard and he's really close to the Prince." I said and all of a sudden the guard's demeanor changed.
He went from cold and grumpy to warm and smiley in a few minutes.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting, miss do come in." He said and allowed me to enter. "Please come with me, I'll help you find your boyfriend."
"Oh, that's very kind of you, thanks."
He took me around to the other guards and we kept asking but nobody knew any Jean, I was already past frustrated and I wanted to show them a picture reference before a guard stopped me.
When I looked at him, I realized that I'd seen him before.
"I know you." I said.
"Is this him?" The guard that had been helping me asked.
"No, but I know who she's looking for, I'll take it from here, you can go back to your duties." He said and they all left immediately.
"You didn't tell him you were coming." He faced me when the others left.
"No, I thought to surprise him, I just got back in the country." I explained.
"You don't understand anything." He sighed and started walking. "You can't just come and go here as you please, he's an employee, not the owner."
"I'm sorry, I did not realize that I could get him into trouble." I apologized.
"No need, come with me, I'll take you to him."
I couldn't even look around the palace because I had to jog to catch up with his strides.
"Wait here, I'll call him out for you, he might be busy." The guard said and left me in the garden.
I waited in the garden for about thirty minutes before I saw the guard coming back with Jean and the Prince. He was in a horse riding hat and he had sunglasses on and a nose mask so I couldn't really see his face.
"Jean." I screamed in my head and ran to him but I'm real life my nervousness had me rooted to a spot.
"Claire." Jean smiled when he came closer and pulled me into his arms. "I've missed you so much." He whispered to my ear and I relaxed.
For a second I feared he would be mad at me.
"I missed you too, I'm sorry for coming unannounced but I wanted to surprise you."
"No, you don't have to be sorry." He smiled and then looked at the two men behind him. "Pardon my lack of courtesy, let me introduce you to my best friend and my driver."
"Your royal highness." I curtsied in front of the Prince. "Nice to meet you both, I'm Claire."
"So you're Claire, I've heard so much about you." The Prince stretched out his hand to me and I shook it with trembling hands.
"Well, I have to get back to work." The driver said and dismissed himself after a courtesy to the Prince.
"I'll leave you too, I do have matters and affairs to handle." The Prince smiled. "Claire, do come again sometime and I do hope the next time I will be able to treat you to a meal."
.
.
[Narrator]
Unknown to the three of them, from a room upstairs and through a clear window, a man stood with a camera in hand pointing outside to the people in the garden and he was just clicking away.