Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 130: Private Apology?

Chapter 130: Private Apology?

"I still don’t believe Jerome Brunton left nothing for you in his company. You’re his blood after all," The President took in another puff of the cigarette.

Talia didn’t want to answer him further. These businessmen just want to know how other people are doing to predict the stock market and for their own investments.

Does he think I’m a child who’d blabber everything I know? But... What he says makes sense. Grandpa wouldn’t have given all his shares to Arthur.

" Aren’t you being a busybody, Uncle Tony? Doesn’t your country does that enough?" Talia’s lips curved a bit and then she continued to take a sip of tea. "And failed?" she mumbled in a lower tone and continued to sip tea. This is the second cup of tea she was drinking.

Lambert couldn’t help but smile seeing the President’s face twitch a little, but he hid it with a cough.

He always wanted to call out this country for that but

There were rumours that A country tried to bring down the monarchy in Rosandale trying to bring in democracy, but failed.

"Well then, Mr. President," Prince Lambert stood up and buttoned his suit and extended his hands out for a handshake. "His Majesty would like to hear about the new terms of the trade deal between our nations."

"Surely you’ll stay here till then, right?" The President shook his hands and asked. He’ll have to assure they won’t sue the Campbell publicly.

Prince Lambert looked at Talia now placing the teacup on the coffee table and standing up.

"Yeah, it’s only a couple of weeks," Prince Lambert answered sensing no opposition from Talia.

At that time, the door opened and Senator Feldstein entered passing the security guards at the door. He tried to make eye contact with Prince Lambert and Talia and both of them ignored him making his ears flinch. He really got angry. He’s been in politics for almost three decades and no one treated him with this hostility. For what?

"One more request, Mr. President," Talia looked at the President and he nodded. He rubbed his upper lip as he felt awkward that Senator Feldstein got ignored.

The door was slightly ajar and Talia gestured Rebecca standing outskde to come in and she came in with a mixed emotion of awe and nerves.

"My friend Rebecca... She wants to visit her hometown and I planned to join her since I wanted to experience the countryside of this great nation-"

As she was speaking, Senator Feldstein with thunder rolling in his face, interjected her, "Mr. President, my daughter-in-law is pregnant and the doctors advised travelling during the first trimester is not good for her body and-"

"And so Senator Feldstein, out of love for his daughter-in-law, put her on the Federal watch list and no-fly list! I’ve never heard of such great love from a parent before," Talia spoke intersecting Senator Feldstein and in the end chuckled slightly as if she was jesting, but her eyes were making everyone in the room plenty uncomfortable.

Senator Feldstein fiddled his suit as he stood uncomfortably shifting his weight from one leg to another while the President was shocked.

This is a crime!

As if the situation in the room was not awkward enough, Senatorj Campbell barged in and as he rushed to Talia’s side, pushed Rebecca aside making Rebecca lose her balance.

Her leg twisted as she was standing in front of the sofa and she turned to hold the armrest of the sofa but still Seantor Campbell didn’t mind Rebecca and bulldozed her way in, making Rebecca turn sideways.

"Ah!" Rebecca screamed as her stomach was about to hit the backrest of the sofa. Talia reached to hold Rebecca but before she could reach Rebecca, Lambert acted fast and held her by the waist and helped her regain her balance.

"Rebecca, are you okay?" Talia walked to Rebecca who was now plae with fright and Talia hugged her, "It’s okay... It’s okay..."

Even senator Feldstein was startled and ran to get a cup of water for Rebecca. No matter what, she carries the first heir of their family and she cannot get hurt.

Talia glared at Seantor Campbell now extremely panicked, "What do you want?"

"I... I’ll ma- I’ll..."

"What. Do. You. Want?" Talia asked, this time her face was hard as a rock as if she wanted to kill the person in front of her.

"I’ll make Pete apologise to you.. And Rita too..." he knelt in front on her as his legs gave out.

"You should’ve apologised to my friend first for pushing her down. Or is that this Senator is too haughty to apologise?"

"I... I... I’m sorry, I’m sorry..." he started crying. He knew by the way everyone looked at him that his career is over.

The video of his son attacking this Princess is already leaked. Only his son’s face was clear and her face wasn’t visible since it was covered with her hair. And there are already many woman coming forward with stories of how they were abused by Peter Campbell.

He knew he will be thrown out of the Party. He at least wanted to make way for his future by making it seem like he resigned taking responsibility for his son’s actions. At least that way, he can save some face.

"Your son will insult me in public, your wife will insult me in public and I should accept apology in private? Hmpf! Who do you think I am? "

Talia spoke with a disdainful smirk and walked to the exit making sure Rebecca gets out first. She really was angry. Too angry to deal with anything. She doesn’t have to meet Campbell! Why is he here?

As she was about to open the door, the door banged open once more.

Now what?

Before Talia could react, a small girl banged on Talia’s waist. The little girl reached to her abdomen and Talia knew this was the President’s daughter - the first daughter of the country who turned seven this year.

After the death of the President’s eldest daughter, she is the apple of his eye.

"Don’t run in the hallways, young lady!" the first lady was chasing after her daughter.

"Sorry!" the little girl was really distressed. "I didn’t mean to.." her cute little pink lips pouted and Talia’s anger immediately went away.

"It’s okay!" Talia scrouched down and looked at the girl at her eye level, "You’re not hurt are you?" she asked gently. She didn’t even care about the men who were all distressed behind her.

"No..." The little girl shook her head. "Mommy said you are a Princess. Are you really a Princess?"

"Yes!" Talia smiled holding her cheek. She wanted to pinch that chubby cheeks but held back her urges.

"But you are not wearing a tiara!" she complained.

Talia chuckled, " I don’t because I’m not married yet," Talia didn’t know if the child will understand the Royal rules but said the truth anyway.

"Oh?" the child was confused but didn’t ask any questions about it further.

"Oops! I forgot!" the girl said suddenly and did a perfect curtsy in front of Talia.

"Aww! How cute! You did so well!" Talia really appreciated the girl’s nice gesture. She wanted to gift her something, but she didn’t bring anything with her.

She felt bad.

"Meet Prince Lambert," she pointed at him and the girl did a curtsy for him too.

"Uncle Tony, your daughter is too cute!" Talia tried to pick the girl up, but she couldn’t even though the child was thin.

Lambert rolled his eyes. She is like a stick. Why does she bother to lift a full grown child?

"Your Highness! If he is a Prince, why don’t you marry him and then you can wear a tiara!" the child said and Lambert was stupefied.

"No, I can’t marry him because he is my cousin," Talia explained not understanding why Lambert is overreacting. That guy looked pale.

This little cutie thinks Princesses marry Princes! How adorable!

"Do you want to sing the song for the Princess?" the first lady asked the child. "She practised a song for days to perform for you," she looked at Talia.

"That’s so awesome! Let me hear you sing!" Talia was excited. She really liked little children.

If I had acknowledged my marriage with Fred, we probably will have a child this big... Maybe not this big... But we’d have a child already... Too bad I was stupid!

" But I’m scared to sing in front of others... What if they laugh?" the little girl held her mother’s hand and pouted pitifully.

"Who will dare to laugh at my little angel?" The President joined the conversation. "I’ll -"

"If someone critiques your singing, you should be learning from it and improve yourself. Criticisms are not bad!" the first lady interrupted.

Talia could understand the parents. The father is the President and no one would dare to criticise her and he won’t allow it. And that is not good for the child and the child will grow up with a sense of entitlement thinking they have no rules... Kind of like Peter.

And the mother wants to bow her head and accept all criticisms to teach her humiity. But this might affect the self confidence of the child. Not all criticisms come out of love. Some will be out of jealousy. In that case the child will think she has no support in the face of danger.

The best way is to be moderate... The way her grandfather raised her.

Grandpa... He really was good to me.

Thinking about her grandfather made her remember that day... ’Purple-eyed monster!’ he called her straight to her face.

Maybe she was so impressed by her grandfather. And that’s why, his one word that he never repeated, impacted her greatly.

"But I’m still scared..."

The child’s voice distracted Talia from her own dark thoughts.

"I’ll play the piano to accompany you. And I don’t think you’ll be bad at singing. If someone gives you feedback, let’s accept it. But if someone mocks our little angel, we’ll make your daddy deal with them. What do you say?" Talia raised her eyebrows and the child bit her lips and looked at her mother.

" Okay! "the child nodded seeing the assuring smile from her mother.

" Let’s go.. Let’s go. Let’s ask the band if they can spare us their piano," Talia held the child’s hand and left the room followed by Lambert and Rebecca.

The room locked behind them and Talia really didn’t care what goes on inside.

"Why are we pandering to them? They are dignitaries from another nation and while in our nation-"

The President who was really touched by the heartfelt interaction between his daughter and Talia and was smiling gleefully felt like he was spalshsd with cold water when Senator Feldstein spoke.

" Do you know who she is Senator? She worked in your son’s firm for more than four years and you didn’t bother to check her background? And what’s with putting your daughter-in-law in the watch list? Why is that every one of you are so corrupt sitting in you posts for decades? Swamp! This place is a swamp! " he fisted his hand and hit the table. He really was enraged.

" We only learnt she is the Princess today. It was probably because they sealed her records. We all thought she had no one - "

" She - she has no one? She is Jerome Brunton’s only granddaughter! "the President emptied his entire cup. He really was annoyed with the people around him. Annoyed enough to quit being the President!