CHAPTER 9: THE MEETING WITH PRINCE CHARMING

Unknown Person's POV

I was lounging in my office when there came a knock to the door.

"Enter." I say as calmly as I can under the circumstances.

"Sir, we just heard Captain Wills order his men to clear Michael Robert's house tomorrow morning first thing."

"And why is this of importance to me?" I ask.

"Sir, we have reason to believe that Michael didn't get rid of your letters." He replies.

"Well then you better send someone tonight to clean his apartment before the police get there hands on those letters."

"Yes sir." He says before he turns around ready to leave.

"Hold," I say and he stops in his tracks, "did you find anything on the Shadow yet?"

"No sir." He says as he turns around to look at me.

"Remember I need to get the Shadow, find me his weakness. Dismiss." I say and he leaves.

I rub my head as I feel a headache coming along. The Shadow was playing in my field and I wanted him gone or on my side, but preferably the latter.

I know that he might not take too kindly to my offer to work for me, but if I know his weakness I can force him. It is only a matter of time.

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Victoria's POV

After we finished our lunch we went back to shopping. I looked at the time, it was one o'clock and Jaydan was going to pick me up at four. I told Leila and Gracie that we needed to hurry along.

I begged them to come with me to the book store and they kindly agreed. We made our way to my favorite bookstore, Bargain Books. I loved to read, whenever I had to much of reality I would open a book and travel to another world.

I picked out three books and after I made my payment, I was once again pulled away to another shop. The rest of the time flew by and it was three o'clock. Gracie and Leila made their final purchases and we left the mall.

Gracie and Leila dropped me off and before they left, they made me promise again that I would enjoy myself.

I had 45 minutes before Jaydan will be here so I started to read one of the books that I have bought to pass the time.

I was in the middle of chapter 3 when I heard a car pull up in the drive way. A few seconds later there was a knock on the door. I closed my book and made sure I still had my phone with me.

I stood up to open the door and was greeted by a handsome boy.

"Hi Victoria, you look lovely." Jaydan says with one of his breath taking smiles.

"Hey, you don't look too bad yourself." I reply with a matching smile.

"Are you ready?" He asks.

"Yes, let me just lock and then we can go." I reply before I step out and lock the door behind me.

Jaydan led me to his car, a Ford Mustang GT, my favorite car. He opened the door for me and I climbed in.

"I love your car." I say as he closes the door behind him and starts the engine.

"Thanks, my father bought her for me to congratulate me on becoming the CEO." He replies.

"Is it customized?" I ask.

"I chose the colour and parts, without really knowing I did."

"How is that possible?"

"Well, my dad and I were watching a car race and he asked me what my favorite car was. I immediately said that I love the mustang, but that there is a few minor changes I would make to it. He asked me more about the minor changes and the next week the car was delivered on our doorstep with all the changes."

"Wow, that must have been a big surprise."

"It was, I asked my father four times if the car was actually mine. But he finally convinced me and now I take any chance I can get to go for a ride." He says and I can hear the fondness in his voice.

"I would too, she must drive like a dream."

"She does, are you going to get a car?"

"I hope so."

"Any preferred car?" He asks as he gives me a side glance.

"No not really...beggers can't be choosers."

"Definitely, do you know how to drive a car?"

"Yip, my dad said it's is one of the most important things to know how to do."

"I agree."

The rest of the ride was filled with silence. Not with awkward silence, but comfortable silence. The radio was playing a soft tune as I stared out side at the passing buildings and cars.

My thoughts went back to this mornings news, the thief in question has been murdered and dumped in a lake, but why? The Shadow has returned the money the dead thief has stolen, but he couldn't have killed him to retrieve the money, could he? Was the Shadow a murderer? Have I been helping a psychopath? What if he tries to kill me, but if he had wanted to he could've done it a long time ago. Was the Shadow the good guy I believed him to be or-

"Victoria, Victoria." I was brought out of my thoughts by Jaydan, who was shaking me slightly.

"Are you okay? You look pale." He asks and the concern and worry is clear on his face.

"Yeah, sorry I was just thinking." I say uncertain.

"About what? It must be something terrible because you look awfully pale."

"Uhm....I...I...was thinking about a friend." I say, I couldn't just blurt out, oh you know I've been helping the Shadow for a while now, but I think he might be psychopath who murdered the thief who broke into the bank. But don't worry it is nothing to be worried about.

"A friend?" He asks with disbelief lacing his voice.

"Yeah, oh look we're here shall we go?" I ask desperately trying to change the subject.

"Oh okay, let's go." He says a bit surprised with the sudden change of subject, and we both climb out of the car.

The sweet aroma of coffee filled my nostrils as we entered the shop. We placed our order before we took a seat at the window.

"So who's this friend of yours?" Jaydan asks as we wait for our lattes. I wreck my brain on what to say and chose to say something near the truth.

"Well, his name is Alec and-"

"Your worried about Alec Williams?" He asks perplexed.

"Yes, do you know him?"

"Yes, he is my best friend."

"What? Really? I did not know that."

"Yeah, well we've known each other for a long time. Why are you worried?"

"I don't know, maybe you can help me. Is he trying to shut you out?"

"Well we've always been truthful with each other, but there is something strange about him lately."

"What?" I ask.

"Well, we would sometimes plan to do something, like a game night but numerous times he would come up with an excuse. He has been very busy in the nights lately and every time I ask him about it, he would say that it was school stuff."

"That is strange, what do you think he is up to?"

"I don't know, I don't want to ruin our friendship by pushing him. After the death of his father I just think he wants his space."

"I understand." I reply as the waitress brings our lattes.

We both smile at her and thank her before she leaves. I take a sip of my latte before I ask, "How is work?"

"Busy, I barely get time to relax but I enjoy it. Even with all the meetings." Jaydan says as he savours a sip of his latte.

"Rather you than me. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Well, I've been wondering why your father made you the CEO, is there a specific reason?" I ask curiously.

"Oh....well-"

"Never mind, it has nothing to do with me." I say, scolding myself for asking such curious questions which had nothing to do with me.

"No it's fine." He says with a reassuring smile, "My father is in the process of buying another business."

"Wow, what business?"

"A security company, he thought it would be better if he could focus all his attention on the new company, so he made me the CEO."

"That makes sense."

"Yes, my father said he wouldn't trust a stranger with the company, and I've practically been born their."

"Its a big responsibility."

"Very big, so have you talked to your dad about becoming a detective?" He asks and I think back to the first time I told my father about my job choice. He gave me a two hour explanation on why it was the worst idea ever.

"No, I don't think that it is such a good idea....."

"Why not? Maybe if you tell him how you truly feel, he will reconsider." I considered his words and found some value in them. He might be right, if I tell my father why I really want to be a detective he might understand.

"Maybe your right, I'll talk to him as soon as he gets back."

"Great idea. Where are they by the way?" He asks and we both take a sip of our lattes before I answer.

"Some police convention, they'll be back by Friday."

"That is a shame, I would've really liked to see them."

"My mother would've wanted to see you too, she absolutely adores you."

"Really, that is wonderful."

"Why is it wonderful?"

"Well now I can ask you on a date and my chances of being rejected would be slim."

"Yeah, my mother squealed like a teenager when she heard we were going out for coffee."

"Wow she loves me that much?"

"Yip."

"Guess my father was right, I truly am a ladies man." He says with a wink, and I can't help but laugh at him. He wasn't really arogant, but rather playfully arogant. He was the complete opposite of what you would expect from a rich CEO.

"Quite the charmer, aren't you?"

"Only with special girls and on special occasions, and today it's both, lucky you."

"Your girlfriend must adore you?"

"She would've, if she existed."

"You don't have a girlfriend?" I ask shocked. How can a smart, handsome and wealthy guy like him not be taken. I didn't think of today as a date because I knew he might have someone special and he only considered me as a future friend.

"No, I guess I've been so busy these last years, I didn't really got the chance to meet someone."

"Oh, but there must be girls that tried to make a move on you?"

"To many to count. And don't even get me started on their mothers, they love to shove their daughters into my life. But your different." He says as he looks me in the eyes.

"How am I different?" I ask as I take a long sip of my latte, waiting for him to respond.

"For starters, you didn't really flirt with me like all the others and you asked questions about me, not my money or my company."

"Girls actually ask you about that?"

"You would be surprise, this one time I was attending a Gala when one of my mother's clients introduced me to her daughter. She asked me what I planned to do with my life and I told her that I will be taking over my father's company. And then she said she was glad that I would be able to take care of her daughter."

"Wow, you were made a marriage proposal, that is so funny."

"Yip, do you see what I have to deal with."

"Poor you, I'm just glad I don't have to deal with that."

"Yeah, how about you? Is someone going to break my legs for taking you out for coffee?"

"Nope no one."

"Thank goodness."

"So is this a....uhm....date?" I ask uncertainly.

"It depends, do you want it to be?" He asks expectantly. I'm puzzled with what to say. Do I want it to be a date?

"Well, I would like to get to know you better."

"Me too, that's why I asked you in the first place. We can always see where this date leads?" He says uncertain, he looked a little bit worried about how I'll respond to this.

"Sure why not?" I say with a big smile to reassure him that I felt the same. He returned my smile and the rest of our conversation carried on.

I learned the most interesting things about him, and I was surprised to find out that he was actually a big trouble maker in school.

I told him about my love for sports cars and racing and he was quite taken back by how much I knew about cars. We told each other about what we liked, disliked and our hobbies. He actually shared my love for racing cars.

Even after our lattes were long gone we continued to talk and I can honestly say I enjoyed being around him.

Jaydan was busy telling me about his favorite places he had visited around the world when he was interupted by his cellphone ringing, "I'm sorry Victoria, but I have to take this." His says apologetic. I gave him a smile with a nod and he answers his call.

"Hello, Michael how are you?.....you made the appointment....when?....20 minutes....okay I'll be there." He says before he ends the call.

"Everything okay?" I ask.

"Everything is perfect, but I'm afraid I have to go. Michael arranged a meeting with some big investors, I wouldn't go-"

"If it wasn't so important, I understand." I reassure.

"Thanks I promise I'll make it up to you. Shall we go?" He asks and I can see that he was quite worried that I won't understand.

"Sure." I reply and we both stand. We quickly dispose of our cups before we leave.

"Do you want to drive?" Jaydan asks as we arrive at the car.

"Serious?" I ask.

"Serious, here you go." He says as he throws the keys and I catch it in one swift motion.

"Thanks." I say with a huge grin.

I climb in the driver seat and close the door behind me. As soon as Jaydan is in, I place the key in the ignition.

The excitement of the drive is still in my system as we stop at my house. Jaydan was right, the car rides like a dream. As soon as the key hit the ignition, I fell inlove.

"Wow." I say as I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding.

"Yes, wow, it is amazing isn't it?" He asks as he stares at me.

"Incredible." I say.

"I'll walk you to the door." He says and we both climb out.

As we both stand in front of the door, I turn around to face Jaydan.

"So this is me." I say as I look at him awkwardly.

"I guess so, thanks for coming with me, I enjoyed it."

"Me too."

"Does that mean we can meet again?"

"Definitely." I say.

"Till then Miss Wills." He says before he takes my hand and places a small kiss on my knuckles. He lets go of my and gives me one last breath taking smile before he turns on his heels and leaves. I wave at him as he drives of, with a huge smile plastered on my face.

Definitely Prince charming.

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Hey guys
Hope you enjoy this chapter and please tell me what you about Jaydan, and what do you think about Alec's unexplained nightly activities?
I want to thank you for giving my book a shot, I hope you enjoy so far, please comment and vote.
-Amorie