Momentarily, Yassia even fervently wished for someone to come and keep her thoughts from wandering into one particular direction: The reason why she had mixed feelings about the young Duke’s imminent arrival. Normally, it should have been nothing to her, just another celebrity’s face that may bring cameras and attention with him, from which she, if possible, had to hide and keep her head low. But maybe, just maybe there was something more to this. Yassia still couldn’t quite shake off the inkling that the same man who would arrive here with his entourage at any moment, could be the same person that had run her over with his car, brought her to hospital and then disappeared. She could not be sure, as all she remembered of that incident was a short flicker of a handsome face framed by golden locks before she passed out, and then, several times, a voice. A few weeks before, she had seen a slightly tell-taling bulletin in one of those tabloid shows on TV, and for a moment she had been struck with the though of her savior being that very same young man… but then, it could not be possible, right? It would explain his sudden disappearance, since they had shown the Duke on a journey to the continent where he should have done some beneficial sponsor work, but had rather been spotted in nightclubs and in company of skimpily cladded girls. Which was why Yassia wasn’t be sure if she even WANTED him to be that very same man. Oh well… until she heard his voice and saw his face other than on a blurred picture, she could not be sure anyway.
Then suddenly she was pulled from her thoughts by a buzz of excitement that seemed to just turn louder and louder, and when Yassia stood up and looked out of the window overlooking the courtyard, the large double-winged gate and a bit of the sloped street beyond, she saw the royal entourage sneaking its way towards the Boarding School. They were here already!
In the same minute, she heard a low growl, followed by a curse from the adjoining room, where her uncle’s office was located. “Damn, I’m not ready yet!! I can’t seem to find my tie! And where are my black shoes?!” Yassia suppressed a smile at her grumpy and, as usual, disorganized uncle, and called back: “Shall I help you search?”
”NO!” came the immediate, sharp answer. “Someone needs to greet our high guest! And I better have it be you than this fool Bricks! Go, hurry!”
Yassia was about to protest, but then there wasn’t any objective reason that was any good why she shouldn’t go down and greet the Duke in her uncle’s name. Normally, that would have been the task of Timothy Bricker, deputy rector of the school, but while he could deal well with students, he was an absolute nightmare for social happenings such as this. It had brought him the nickname ‘Bricks’, not just by the students but seemingly by everyone, because he dropped so many.
Biting back an exasperate sigh, Yassia hurried down the several flight of stairs into the courtyard, making her way to the front of the row of students, just in time for the first car of the entourage to pull through the gate. Hiding her trembling hands behind her back, Yassia took a deep, calming breath. She had dealt with high society before, all her life to be precise, she could do this! And maybe she was wrong. She would most likely be wrong; it would not be him!
***
"We have arrived, Your Grace."
Oliver, Duke of Richmond, looked up from the Game of Thrones ebook he was reading on his iPad when his assistant called his attention. He leaned closer to the window of the Jaguar XJ ride he was on, and smiled as he saw the all too familiar facade of his beloved alma mater. So many childhood and teenage memories had been created here, and it was one of the many places that the young duke hold dear to his heart. Hence, of course, his generous donation to the school this time. While he had offered money every now and then for the school, Oliver wanted a more lasting legacy. No, not one that would have his name written all over it. (He had vehemently disagreed to have his name inscribed anywhere near the new gymnasium). Oliver just wanted to give something back to the school and the educators who have molded him and have made his younger years spent at school totally memorable. The old gymnasium had seen its share of wear and tear throughout the years. He had spent most of his teenage years playing basketball with his pals there, and Oliver thought it would be a fitting gesture to give it a complete facelift--no, an extreme makeover so to speak.
And now, it was all ready to be inaugurated and opened to the students. Believe it or not, Oliver was probably just as excited as those lot peeking out of their school windows and gathering in the courtyard to try out the new place. Maybe in fact even more. He had only seen the plans of the gymnasium. He wanted to see it all for himself now. Maybe shoot some balls with the younger kids. And perhaps skate for a few rounds later in the skating rink. He had specifically made sure that nothing but top of the line, world class equipment would be bought for the gymnasium.
"Sire, remember, you have two hours here for a quick speech and a brief tour before we move on to your next--"
"Yes, Bauer, I heard it all the first time. I'm not a kid anymore you know," he said handing his iPad to his assistant and putting his gloves on just as his ride stopped.
"Sometimes you still are, you know," his assistant mumbled teasingly.
"I heard that," Oliver remarked with a playful smirk. Bauer was really more like an older brother to him that their relationship was more light and brotherly than anything. He had been taking care of Oliver since he was young boy, and Oliver had declined all other offers for a younger assistant. Well, he did have another one. Technically, he was more like his assistant's assistant.
"I got this, Ben," he told his driver as Bauer only shook his head with a smile. Oliver opened the door himself and stepped out of the car. The young duke was not really the type who wanted to be waited upon or the sort. He'd rather do things on his own if he could. His assistants, servants and bodyguards already have enough on their plate as it is. He pulled the black coat he was wearing tighter as a strong gust of wind howled by, and two of his bodyguards immediately flanked his sides as they made his way, head bowed, towards the group of students crowded around the courtyard. "Tea or chocolate?" he remarked randomly, which didn't surprise his guards at all.
"We reckon they'd offer you tea, Your Grace," one of them replied. The other nodded.
"I say hot chocolate. One day off for each of you, if you win. Otherwise, you play basketball with me later," Oliver countered with a playful smirk.
"You have a wager, sire." As it turns out, it wasn't exactly a random comment as it was a game that he and his bodyguards usually play before entering an event or something similar.
Oliver then scanned the crowd to look for the school rector or maybe even the deputy rector waiting for him, but none of them were there. A worried frown appeared on his face, hoping none of them were down with sickness with the weather being nasty and all these past few days. He noticed not one of them to be familiar...and then his eyes fell upon a young lady standing with the students, and he felt something instantly click inside his head. He remembered exactly who she was. Who could forget that beautiful face? He wondered if she remembered him at all though, the state she was in the last time they had met. Instantly, Oliver felt elated at the sight of her that it didn't even occur to him to wonder why she was in his old alma mater. It didn't matter.
Oliver, Duke of Richmond, looked up from the Game of Thrones ebook he was reading on his iPad when his assistant called his attention. He leaned closer to the window of the Jaguar XJ ride he was on, and smiled as he saw the all too familiar facade of his beloved alma mater. So many childhood and teenage memories had been created here, and it was one of the many places that the young duke hold dear to his heart. Hence, of course, his generous donation to the school this time. While he had offered money every now and then for the school, Oliver wanted a more lasting legacy. No, not one that would have his name written all over it. (He had vehemently disagreed to have his name inscribed anywhere near the new gymnasium). Oliver just wanted to give something back to the school and the educators who have molded him and have made his younger years spent at school totally memorable. The old gymnasium had seen its share of wear and tear throughout the years. He had spent most of his teenage years playing basketball with his pals there, and Oliver thought it would be a fitting gesture to give it a complete facelift--no, an extreme makeover so to speak.
And now, it was all ready to be inaugurated and opened to the students. Believe it or not, Oliver was probably just as excited as those lot peeking out of their school windows and gathering in the courtyard to try out the new place. Maybe in fact even more. He had only seen the plans of the gymnasium. He wanted to see it all for himself now. Maybe shoot some balls with the younger kids. And perhaps skate for a few rounds later in the skating rink. He had specifically made sure that nothing but top of the line, world class equipment would be bought for the gymnasium.
"Sire, remember, you have two hours here for a quick speech and a brief tour before we move on to your next--"
"Yes, Bauer, I heard it all the first time. I'm not a kid anymore you know," he said handing his iPad to his assistant and putting his gloves on just as his ride stopped.
"Sometimes you still are, you know," his assistant mumbled teasingly.
"I heard that," Oliver remarked with a playful smirk. Bauer was really more like an older brother to him that their relationship was more light and brotherly than anything. He had been taking care of Oliver since he was young boy, and Oliver had declined all other offers for a younger assistant. Well, he did have another one. Technically, he was more like his assistant's assistant.
"I got this, Ben," he told his driver as Bauer only shook his head with a smile. Oliver opened the door himself and stepped out of the car. The young duke was not really the type who wanted to be waited upon or the sort. He'd rather do things on his own if he could. His assistants, servants and bodyguards already have enough on their plate as it is. He pulled the black coat he was wearing tighter as a strong gust of wind howled by, and two of his bodyguards immediately flanked his sides as they made his way, head bowed, towards the group of students crowded around the courtyard. "Tea or chocolate?" he remarked randomly, which didn't surprise his guards at all.
"We reckon they'd offer you tea, Your Grace," one of them replied. The other nodded.
"I say hot chocolate. One day off for each of you, if you win. Otherwise, you play basketball with me later," Oliver countered with a playful smirk.
"You have a wager, sire." As it turns out, it wasn't exactly a random comment as it was a game that he and his bodyguards usually play before entering an event or something similar.
Oliver then scanned the crowd to look for the school rector or maybe even the deputy rector waiting for him, but none of them were there. A worried frown appeared on his face, hoping none of them were down with sickness with the weather being nasty and all these past few days. He noticed not one of them to be familiar...and then his eyes fell upon a young lady standing with the students, and he felt something instantly click inside his head. He remembered exactly who she was. Who could forget that beautiful face? He wondered if she remembered him at all though, the state she was in the last time they had met. Instantly, Oliver felt elated at the sight of her that it didn't even occur to him to wonder why she was in his old alma mater. It didn't matter.
