Bound To You

|Chapter 12|

||Disappointment: sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfilment of one's hopes or expectations.||

Arabella awoke the next day groggily as her stomach churned with regret. She peeled herself off the sofa of her sitting room, she had slept on. Her skin felt dry and itched, her hair was matted and her eyes stung. Arabella quickly went to shower off the chlorine from the pool that had clung to her body.

As she showered, she couldn't help but wonder what had made her drink so senselessly. Then it all came crashing in, Remnants of the day before, washed over her and made her head throb. She vaguely remembered the King was present yesterday in her house and she probably told him some things no one should tell the King.

After dressing into a grey armless, high neck dress and brushing her hair, Arabella decided it was only right that she apologize to him, after all he was the King. He had said so himself.

It was nine in the morning when she drove away from her home. Driving down the street, the castle gates were open when she drove in. She knew it would be since she had learnt that the King opened his kingdom to people who could visit to voice their problems and concerns.

Getting out of the car, she gave the keys to the valet as security quickly checked the car and she was led through a metal detector before she was guided inside by servant to the waiting area. The receptionist stood behind a large mahogany counter, looking quite flustered as she seemed to search for something.

"Good morning. I'm here to see the King." Arabella said confidently, snapping the receptionist out of her daze.

"Do you have an appointment?" the receptionist asked her cheeks red with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry I don't have one" Arabella replied politely.

"Okay please take a seat and wait your turn to see the King in the throne room." The receptionist said before she went back to searching. She had not taken the time to smell the royal scent of Arabella.

Arabella awkwardly took a seat and looked around the castle. There was close to fifty people in waiting area, they had immediately known she was of high importance and had unconsciously bowed their heads.

Arabella had never done this before, usually she had appointments made or people would let her see them first as she was first priority. She knew that that King would see her immediately too if she had told the receptionist to inform the King of her presence, but she had to have time to fabricate some sort of apology that would pacify the King's ego. Additionally she didn't have much to do, in fact, nothing at all.

It was close to twelve-thirty in the afternoon when the receptionist announced that the King would see no more people for the day. The people in the room all looked disappointed and some went to the receptionist demanding that they see the King and Arabella sat still silent as she looked on.

It was when the door of the throne room opened that the room was silenced, the King walked briskly out and was flanked by two men dressed in black suits. His presence engulfed the room with thick authority as everyone quickly bowed their heads in respect for their almighty King.

He was dressed in a dark grey suit that tailored to his muscular body, the black tie he wore contrasted with the white shirt he wore. His hair was combed uniformly back and his face was stern. Arabella would be lying if she said she didn't like what she saw.

"Arabella." The King said loudly, in a cold demeanor. He had noticed her scent as soon as he exited the room. It was pungent amongst the many intermingled scents.

"Yes My King." Arabella said stiffly, her head bowed too in respect for the King.

The King's eyes found her in no time and he stared at beauty as he walked towards her past all the bowed figures.