Chapter 32

MILA

As we sat and chatted, I thought that Mrs. Raven just might be my new best friend. She was charming and delightful, and it seemed like she was the only person in Felix’s life who could give him a hard time and get away with it.

Better yet, she seemed delighted to have me in the apartment. She told me over and over again how special I must be if Felix was asking me to move in.

Choosing what I was wearing each day was a lot more fun when I was going through my brand-new closet. The dresses and skirts felt like they went on for miles, and I had shirts in every color of the rainbow. Felix was right about dressing for every occasion–there were certainly enough gowns in here to play dress-up every day of the week.

Thankfully, Felix had also put some more casual options in the closet as well, so I was able to find something that would be perfect for a day out shopping: designer-label jeans, a silky blouse, and chunky loafers that felt like I was walking on air.

I braided my hair back and studied my reflection before brushing on the tiniest bit of makeup. If I was going to start going out with the prince, I better start looking the part.

The girl who looked back at me in the mirror looked nothing like the old Mila. But I was starting to think that that was a good thing.

Felix applauded when he saw me, and made me give a twirl for both him and Mrs. Raven. As much as it embarrassed me to admit it, I appreciated their praise. It was nice to be admired just for existing and putting on a pretty blouse.

Mrs. Raven handed a piece of paper to Felix.

“I took the liberty of making a list of all the things a young lady might need in this apartment,” she said. “Lamps and a vanity and perhaps even a new couch. You’ve been living in a bachelor pad for far too long, Felix, darling.”

Felix blushed, but gratefully accepted the shopping list.

“A bachelor pad is an unflattering way to put it, Mrs. Raven,” he said. She flicked her hand at him.

“I meant it to be unflattering. You need a woman’s touch,” she said teasingly, and then waltzed out of the room.

Felix turned to me, a bit sheepish.

“She’s the only one allowed to speak to me that way,” he explained. I merely laughed.

“And I love her for it,” I told him. Felix kissed me in response.

Felix’s driver picked us up in one of their less-conspicuous cars, and we were off.

Felix and I returned to the row of high-end stores, this time stopping in several furniture and art shops. While all the employees seemed to know Felix by name, they were respectful enough to give us space and privacy. I had a short list of things to purchase, but Felix had already informed me that we would be going above and beyond. I rolled my eyes when he said that, but I knew now it was better to let him spoil me.

I was learning not to mind.

One of the stores had an expansive cooking section, and I was thrilled to find exactly what I wanted: pots and pans, baking sheets, a slow cooker, a cute little oven mitt set. I had been away from the kitchen for far too long, and it would be nice to set up a little space of my own in the prince’s apartment.

The art store was even more grand than the furniture store. They had a local artist who you could commission to paint your ceilings with a Renaissance-style mural, except with your faces as the cherubs. Which was only mildly horrifying. I privately informed Felix that over my dead body would I be paying someone $20,000 to paint my face on a naked angel baby.

Felix laughed and agreed. We got a lovely little watercolor of the Fresonian coast and a cool, sophisticated black-and-white photograph of a palm tree. Felix was happy to oblige my taste, but it turned out that we actually had very similar inclinations when it came to art and decoration.

“What about this one?” I asked Felix, pointing at a small marble sculpture that mimicked the mountain ranges of Fresonia.

“I love it!” he exclaimed, pulling me into his arms.

My heart felt warm as we spent the morning strolling down the streets, picking out pieces for his apartment. Our apartment? I wasn’t sure how to think about it. I’d never lived with a boyfriend, so this felt like uncharted territory.

Well, to be fair, everything about being with Felix felt like uncharted territory.

Felix mentioned that he could use a new couch for the living space, so we spent two hours jumping on several couches to see which one was the most comfortable. It felt easygoing, natural.

As we left one of the stores, Felix slung an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close.

“It’s nice to see you happy,” he mused. “A smile looks good on you.”

“You make me happy,” I murmured. It was true–being with Felix made my heart feel lighter and happier than it had been in years, maybe even ever. Is this what love looked like?

Love. That was a big word. I gulped it down and kept walking.

From down the street, I noticed a passerby snap a photo of us on his phone. He wasn’t even trying to be discreet. Felix noticed it, too, which I could tell from the way he tightened his grip on my shoulders.

“Sorry,” he whispered. “Sometimes my presence can cause a bit of commotion.”

The first photographer attracted several others within seconds. When I looked over to the other side of the street again, there were at least a dozen people taking pictures of the two of us. I knew that no one would be able to get close to us–although Felix’s security guards were dressed in casual daywear today, they were highly trained and always on the lookout.

Felix steered me to his other side, blocking my face from the cameras. I shifted my weight, wondering if they would somehow photograph me at an unflattering angle and I would face national embarrassment.

“They’re being aggressive today,” he remarked. “It must be because they’ve never seen me buying furniture with a beautiful woman.”

“It’s okay,” I said. “I know it comes with the territory of this relationship.”

“Thank you for being so understanding,” Felix said, continuing to block me from the crowd.

“I’m just not sure if I want my picture splashed across the national news yet,” I admitted, ducking behind a tree. “Going public with your family is one thing. Going public with an entire country is another.”

“I completely understand that, Mila. I can make sure that doesn’t happen to you,” Felix assured me.

Thankfully, at that moment, his driver pulled up, and we were able to escape into the car.

We were sliding into the backseat when my phone rang.

I frowned, not recognizing the caller I.D. The country code was Fresonia, though, so I picked it up.

“Is this Mila Benson?” I did not know the voice on the other end.

“Yes, who is this?” I asked as politely as possible.

“This is Nina from the Samson Group, we’re calling about the restaurant space on Grand Avenue that you applied for?”

My breath hitched in my throat. “Yes?”