They arrived at the country club and were ushered over to the outdoor venue where the party was being held. There was a DJ, a dance floor, several cabanas for lounging and a bar.
“Time to mingle,” Tracey said as Liane reluctantly followed. Many people greeted them, especially Liane, who was constantly asked about the crown prince. They told her how lucky she was to be engaged to him as they asked to take pictures with her.
“This is not my idea of fun,” Liane said to Tracey. She hated how people never bothered to get to know her when they met her. They immediately started discussing her engagement to the prince. Tracey rubbed her shoulder.
“Comes with the territory my dear, so get used to it.”
A waiter approached them with a tray of champagne. Liane took one and drank half the glass in one gulp. Tracey stared at her, “Slow down lady, we just got here.” Liane drank the rest of her champagne and took another before the waiter walked away. She went to sit inside a cabana while Tracey went off in search of a suitor.
Liane saw Jean Pierre walk in with his entourage. He had a swagger to his step as the women turned to admire him. His smiled indicated that he knew the effect he had on those watching him and was enjoying the attention. Liane just drank her champagne and looked away. One of the guests came to sit with her.
“You look lonely,” he said to her, as he sat down next to her. Liane could tell that he’d already had a bit too much to drink, as his leg rubbed up against hers.
Deciding to put some distance between them, she slid over. “I am just fine,” she replied with half a smile.
“I’m Jake,” the man introduced himself. As he put his hand out to shake, he spilled some of his drink on his pants. He tried to brush it off as Liane closed her eyes and prayed that he would go away.
“Hello, Jake,” she replied, as she was suddenly wishing that she had not chosen to sit alone.
“May I have your name?”
“Liane, as in Liane LeBlanc, the future crown princess of Monaco,” a familiar deep voice said from behind him. Liane turned her head to see Jean Pierre standing there. She frowned. She had not asked for his help and she certainly did not need it. She had everything under control. Or at least she would have.
Jake looked at Liane wide-eyed. “Oh, excuse me.” He stood up clumsily, as he spilled the remainder of his drink and left.
“I was handling the situation myself,” Liane said to him, as she took a sip of her champagne.
“Not from where I was standing. He was about to jump all over you,” he replied sarcastically.
“I’m sure you would know,” she replied under her breath.
“What?”
“Why are you here?” There was something about Jean Pierre that made Liane’s blood boil.
“Why is it that you are sitting alone?”
“I like it that way.”
Jean Pierre took Liane's glass and sipped her champagne. Her mouth hung open, as she stared at him in disbelief. First, he took her horse and now he was snatching her champagne glass from her.
“Close your mouth dear, it is not pretty,” Jean Pierre said before he took another large sip and handed her an almost empty glass. He walked off leaving her speechless. Liane threw the glass on the floor shattering it. His arrogance made her temperature rise. She groaned as she stood up and went to find Tracey.
***
She finally found her talking with one of the guests who was dressed in a well-tailored suit. Tracey rubbed his arm as she laughed at a joke that was not even funny. Liane shook her head.
“I need to speak with you,” Liane said to Tracey.
“Now?” Tracey asked.
Liane looked at the man Tracey was speaking to. “I will only be a minute. Please do not go anywhere, I promise to return her to you,” she said to him and dragged Tracey away.
“What is it?” Tracey asked.
“How long are we going to stay here?” Liane asked.
Tracey narrowed her gaze at her. “What happened?”
“Jean Pierre happened.”
“He's here?” Tracey was immediately filled with excitement.
“Yes, unfortunately.”
“Fine, just let me get this man's number,” Tracey said and returned to him. Liane took another champagne glass and went inside the building to wander around while she waited for her friend.
She found a secluded spot with no one around and more importantly, no cameras. She decided to sit down and put her feet up. She pulled out her phone and ended up playing games. She was bored out of her mind and simply wanted to go home. Hearing footsteps, she looked up to see Jean Pierre approaching her. “Are you everywhere?” she asked as she stood up.
“Why the hostility?” he asked.