Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 178: A Fresh Rose In a Field of Plastic Flowers

Chapter 178: A Fresh Rose In a Field of Plastic Flowers

Talia forced a smile seeing that handsome guy with pretty blue eyes. She wanted to step aside, but was stunned to see him holding out his right hand. His left hand was behind his back and with his shoulders pulled back and his back straight, standing with a perfect posture, he exuded the charm of an aristocratic gentleman.

"Can I have a dance with you, Princess Talia?"

Sigh! Why is this guy’s voice so good! Talia wondered. Too bad he wears clip-on tie. Or else I might consider him for my sister; my non-existent sister.

She looked around to see if Arthur is around. Or even Cordelia or Louis. But alas! There was no one near her. And there still was a bunch of drunk men trying to get close to her or trying to have a word with her.

Too bad she cannot leave the hall abruptly. It would only cause

This guy with a clip-on seems decent. Better him than that guy with the crooked teeth who is now secretly leering at me!

"Yes, Mr. Russell," Talia smiled politely.

She stepped to the dance floor, and she placed her right hand in Samuel’s left hand and her other hand on his shoulder on the sleeves. She didn’t feel anything as he placed his right hand on her upper back. It was a normal dance.

But the song that was playing ended and suddenly the lighting over the dance floor dimmed making Talia gasp. What followed made Talia’s head hurt.

A melodic tune was played followed by the silky smooth voice that sung a very romantic song ’Home is where the heart is’.

Why did it suddenly turn to a slow dance?

Talia felt a bit uncomfortable. She looked around to see everyone joining the dance floor with their partner and soon the dance floor got filled with a romantic ambience. But Talia felt suffocated. This is why she never liked to attend these kind of gatherings without a partner.

"This is awkward..."

Talia heard that deep voice resonating on her head and looked up to see Samuel Russell with an embarrassed smile.

"Yeah..." Talia nodded.

They were surrounded by couples and Talia and Samuel with a proper distance between them, just did the basic box step to the rhythm.

"I can see the envy in the eyes of many men, Your Highness," Samuel said with a smile as he looked around. "I think they want to court you."

"Well, it’s a pity I’m not looking for courtship right now, Mr. Russell. I’m very much pleased with my current single life," Talia could understand the intent of Samuel Russell and rejected him candidly without being too blunt.

"It is a pity then..." Samuel said after a couple of seconds of being stunned. This is probably the first time he is facing a rejection even before he asked.

The beautiful petite woman in his arms,smelled pleasant like flowers. That beautiful blue eyes that seemed to hold the entire galaxy in them, that pretty nose that was placed aesthetically, that little plump lips, pink like a rose... All of them natural, like she was sculpted in a painstakingly meticulous way by the fingers of God himself.

He’s seen a lot of women, been with a lot of women; beautiful women. Many women who did all sorts of things to make themselves pretty, like surgeries. There is nothing wrong with that. But how many made his heart race like never before, like she does? He felt like he found a pleasant smelling, freshly blossomed rose in a field of plastic flowers - radiant and fragrant.

Too bad, she is not interested... And she is not in a status where he can pursue her against her wish.

Guess, I have to let her go! Woe to me and blessed is the man who gets her heart!

He bent down and noticed Talia’s eyes focused at a particular place even as they turned. She was entirely disconnected from him. He followed her line of sight and found that tall, handsome guy who is said to be the Chairman of her grandfather’s conglomerate standing there.

Hmm... Interesting...

Talia who couldn’t find Arthur for a long time, finally found him standing beside Mr. Ed, speaking to him with his face stiff as if he was angry.

At a distance she saw a photographer being dragged away from the room. Talia didn’t know what happened and wanted to ask Arthur.

’Look at me, Fred... Look at me, Fred...’

Talia silently chanted in her heart. In one of the books (romance novels) she read, she learnt that if someone truly loves you, they could hear your voice loud and clear, even if you speak in your heart.

She wanted to test if Fred loves her truly.

She chanted for what seemed like a millennium for her, but Arthur didn’t look at her.

Stupid Fred! Idiot Fred! Fine! Don’t look at me!

[... And my heart is anywhere you are

Anywhere you are is my home...]

The song was playing and Talia was interrupted by Samuel Russel clearing his throat.

"Speaking of home... My grandfather is from Esteria. Have you heard of Gerald Russell, The Earl of Worcester? He was my grandfather," Samuel’s kind blue eyes looked at Talia and she shook her head in the negative.

"Pardon me, I don’t know of all the Earls," she answered politely. But she sure knew for sure there is no Earldom of Worcester in Esteria.

Could I be wrong?

" Oh, pardon me... It was a long time ago. He lost everything during the depression and emigrated from Esteria and settled in this country. I’ve heard him talking about the Duke of Oakley a lot and how he helped him survive those days. He was very grateful to Lord Brunton and I fondly remember my childhood days when I’ve listened enthusiastically, his stories describing his home back in Esteria. I’ve always wanted to visit there..."

Talia nodded in acknowledgment. So that’s why she didn’t hear about Worcester. The Earl left with his family.

" Ah! So a fair-weather citizen! "

That familiar deep baritone voice interrupted their conversation. Talia immediately let go of her hands and took a step back as if she was caught doing something wrong.

Did Fred just accuse a dead guy for leaving his homeland when there was depression? Talia could only sigh.

"Mr. Russell, Arthur Sinclair." Fred held out his hand and Samuel, although stunned, shook his hand with a smile.

"Nice meeting you, Mr.Sinclair."

He didn’t want to get on the wrong side of this man. He is leading one of the biggest conglomerates that is said to have invested in a lot of companies. Who knows how many productions have their investment? He didn’t want to ruin his career just when it is taking off.

"Then I’ll borrow the... Princess here," Arthur said with a smile. He smiled but Talia felt a wave of coldness emitted from him and shrunk back. But she felt that familiar big hand caressing her back and froze, petrified to move.

"Sure, have a nice evening. You too, Your Highness," Samuel smiled sweetly at Talia.

"Thanks, Mr. Russell. And you can visit Esteria anytime you please," Talia said with a polite smile.

Samuel Russell left bowing, placing his hand over his heart.

"You seem very happy, Princess Talia," Talia heard the eerie voice coming from above as she felt the hand holding her upper back, sliding down to her waist.

She felt a goosebumps all over her as she felt a mixed feeling of fear and delight.

---

The man whose face was covered with black cloth allover, was hyperventilating as his chest pressed on a cold surface of what seemed to be a brick wall.

He couldn’t see a thing. But it was amazing how good his other senses were and he could tell he was now getting pressed on a brick wall. Someone was holding his neck and both his hands were pressed on the wall too.

Am I going to get executed?

He had beard this is how gangs eliminate snitches. Push them on a wall and put a bullet through the back of the head.

But why is he here? What did he do?

He was just taking photographs inside the ballroom and suddenly he was dragged by some strong men to somewhere. How could this happen? Isn’t the President’s residence supposedly the safest place on the planet? Who could kidnap him from that place?

He was too stressed, he couldn’t even shout for help.

"Mr. Bailey... You have some nerves to be here... After the Blackmail Tape you sent us... "

"Wh- what bl-bl-blackmail...?" he was hyperventilating and out of fear he stuttered.

"Have you already forgotten about the tape you recently sent asking for ten million? Mmm... I thought with that much money in the stake, you’d at least remember it,"

David Bailey felt the leather glove tracing over the back of his head and felt his scalp going numb. He felt like his chest was burning as he breathed hard and he felt like vomiting.

No way! These are Talia’s people? How did I get caught? It’s impossible. That’s right? They shouldn’t be sure and are just fishing for truth... I won’t agree.

" No...I have no idea what you’re talking about!" he spoke hurriedly taking a deep breath.

He hand a feeling, if he admitted, he’d be dead.

"Oh really?"

That deep voice that seemed to be originating from the depth of hell, chuckled.

David Bailey shuddered as he felt a sharp object trailing over his hand and the pouted tip rested squarely at the middle of his hand as his palm was pressed in the wall.

" Aren’t you a photographer? You’ll need your hands, right?" the voice hissed. "I can take your eyes, but with the technology now, you can get donated eyes if you spend some money... But your hands... You can’t get new hands, right? And even if you did, the cost, the rehabilitation, the pain and efforts you’ll have to get through-."

" Plea... Please.... No.... " David Bailey couldn’t get through any longer and ended up sobbing. He could feel his pants getting wet and there were sniggers of some men behind him. Even though he couldn’t see, he could say he was getting recorded.

" The tape? "

" I... I... I’m sorry... I just wanted to get some money out of Tal-"

Before he finished, he was hit hard at the back of his head.

"Who are you addressing by name? She’s a Princess!"

"Okay... Okay..." David Bailey could only writhe in pain and apologise, "I’m sorry... I- Me and Princess Talia... We never slept together. We stayed in the same house but we never went further than first base... I’m sorry I made a doctored video of her with me... I’m sorry... Please don’t hurt me... Please don’t kill me..."

He begged.

" Well, good that you confessed. But for our assurance, we will have to make a tape of you in case you change your tune in the future. Hope you could understand." Mr. Ed let go of David, and looked at the puddle on the ground disgustedly as he stepped back.

" You know what to do !" Mr. Ed nodded at the men standing around and left holding the recording in his hand.

" What are you doing..? Why are you tearing my clothes away...? Hey! Where are you touching..?"

Mr. Ed didn’t mind the screams coming from behind as he walked with his back straight.

That guy wanted to humiliate a woman, that too a woman whom he dated for two years for money. Their Princess is not the only woman. Recently there are complaints about him surfacing that are made by some models. They claimed that he is blackmailing them with their naked pictures.

He needs to learn what humiliation is first-hand. Only when he sees his naked pictures in the mail, will he know how it truly feels. Only then he won’t try doing these lowly things in the future.

Princess Talia! I got back at this scum, who made you petrified that day! He will not hurt you in the future.

Mr. Ed sent a couple of texts and walked towards the ballroom.

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