Calix

I inhale a tight breath at the feeling of Isha's soft lips on mine. My palm moves on to carefully caress her cheeks and with the other, pull the woman by her waist, as close to me, as possible. What starts as a sweet, unsure, soft kiss soon turns into an ardent one. Isha's slender fingers tangle into my hair, tugging me closer to her face. Meanwhile, I suck on her lower lip and smile subtly, hearing the soft moan being produced by her. Quite literally, our tongues find one another, dominating in an intense fight while we enjoy ourselves in the luscious kiss.

This kiss is different from our first one. It was merely Isha placing her lips on mine and me not responding but today. It feels special, somehow. More fiery, to be specific.

Hearts beating. Teeth clashing. Tongues fighting. Lips entangling in a fervent kiss. I have never experienced this before, but I sure as hell do not hate it.

For what feels like an eternity, we finally pull apart with flushed cheeks, and messy hair, from the hot kiss. Isha's lipstick is smudged, and perhaps I have some on mine too. My thumb moves to her face to remove the tints of red formed from her lipstick, at the corner of her lips.

We stare at one another, huffing and puffing due to the earnest kiss we have just shared before scrambling away from one another when realisation strikes us.

What have I done? Horror hits me at the thought that I had allowed myself to accept the sexual tension in the heat of the moment, when I was the one to propose the condition of no kissing policy between us.

"Um-uh." Isha breaks the uncomfortable silence while trying her best to fix her appearance and avoid my eyes in the meantime. I honestly do the same. "It's late and I have work tomorrow so..."

"Yeah yeah, totally. Oh wait, I have arranged dinner for you." In the midst of the whole kissing and dancing session, the preparation of dinner I had made for Isha, had slipped out of my mind. Although I am sure, the dinner will be us trying to fill our appetite as fast as possible in silence but there is no way I am allowing my date to leave without having dinner at least.

"No it's alright." Isha hurriedly walks past me to grab her purse and before I can stop her, she is already almost out of the ballroom. "I'll see you later. Thanks for the ki-date. And good night."

"Should I drop—" Isha walks away from my view when I am on the verge of offering her accompany to her residence. Even when I have full trust on Broody escorting Isha, and providing her with tight security, for the first time ever, the thought that if only I wasn't someone as popular and important as a prince, strikes me.

And then memories of our shared kiss rushes through my mind, as unknowingly I touch my lips, with a light grin. It was overwhelming and filled with so many mind-boggling emotions that I wouldn't mind experiencing the moment from not long ago, again.

In the spur of the moment, I forgot to bring up the topic of the Royal Ball happening next year that Nirvana will be hosting.

Almost instantly, another terrifying thought strikes me. Primarily because of Isha's hurry to leave.

Did Isha not like the kiss, due to my lack of experience?

 "You have been sighing. A lot."

"Tell me about it." I reply with little to absolutely no energy left in me.

The damn kiss has been replaying in my mind like a favourite movie. I am glad that Isha and I are back to how we were previously, which became evident due to her casual message from last night of Returned home safely. Thanks for the date. Good night.

But that does not give a reason for my inner conflicts to peacefully settle. We have shared fair amount of messages here and there in the morning but none of us dared to bring up the kiss.

Possibly, it could mean two things. Either Isha was shy and awkward (like me) to talk about how we got carried away in the moment, which does not seem to be the case, judging from her nonchalant attitude. Or, she hated the kiss, which makes everything worse for me.

Perhaps, I should apologize. Or perhaps, I should not.

"Your Royal Highness, mind I need to remind you that we have been standing in front of the meeting hall for the past five minutes." Audrey's subtly irritated voice brings me back to reality.

Work. I need to focus on work.

"Give me a moment, please." I close my eyes to soothe myself down and focus on the matter I and my employees are going to discuss in the meeting.

Hearts beating. Teeth clashing. Tongues fighting. Lips entangling in a fervent kiss—

"Ah shit fuck it!"

Audrey widens her eyes at my sudden scream and use of undignified words, especially from the mouth of a royal prince. My secretary after all, does not know what I am going through. Thankfully Kev, my bodyguard, is not the kind of person to react to the abnormal behaviour of the prince he is assigned to protect.

"Your Royal Highness—" recognizing Audrey's scolding tone very well, I push through the door of the meeting hall and enter.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I apologize for the sudden delay in the meeting. Shall we begin then..." My voice unknowingly trails off when my gaze hardens after falling on two particular men.

Crown Prince Carlos, leaning against what is supposed to be my seat, greets me with that lazy drawl on his lips. And on his right side, after two people, is seated the timid looking (contrasting to his rather large physique), but more confident than before, Harvey Jikora.

One has been shamelessly hitting on Isha for whatever ulterior motives he has up his sleeve, and the other is close to Isha. Closer than me. He freaking used to call her Pumpkin, and even she had a nickname for him.

"Your Royal Highness, everybody is staring at you," Audrey murmurs under her breath.

I clear my throat and try to smile through my strained displeasure.

"What a surprise," I can't help the taunt from being expressed, "May I ask why Prince Carlos has decided to join us today?"

"I am the Crown Prince," Carlos taunts back, emphasizing the term Crown Prince, since he knows my sensitive point well, "Of course I must stay during meetings conducted regarding the issues concerning Syncitia."

I bite back a mocking retort. There are too many eyes present for me to lose my usually calm temper, that everyone knows I have. I clench my fists tight at the raging anxiety inside me, at the thought of being powerless in front of Carlos, just because of a title. My breathing grows ragged and I take a moment to recollect my composure.

Quite unexpectedly, the image of Isha forms in front of me, allowing a soft smile to appear on my lips.

"Is everything alright, Your Royal Highness?" Audrey asks, observing my silence.

"Yes." I smile with confidence. Let me focus on the State affairs now, rather than letting myself get swayed by anger due to the presence of the future king.

My eyes fall on Harvey, who bows a little as soon as he notices my stare on him. It would be unprofessional of me to show displeasure to one of my best employees just because of certain emotions I can't even understand. There is no need for me to possess hostility towards Harvey. Not at all.

"Let us focus on the rising flood cases of Palatiana then," I begin, as I take my seat at the other end of the round table, and flip through the documents handed to me. "Are we still having our access to Palatiana denied by Syncitia's Military Officers, installed there?"

"Yes, Your Royal Highness," the woman sitting to my left, answers, "Unfortunately, we are unable to impose power over them and pursue them to grant us access."

"The entire situation seems quite suspicious," I mumble, my fingers rubbing my chin as I delve deeper in thought, "I cannot help but wonder if the rising flood cases we are being reported of, are nothing but a sham. In order to stop Nirvana from investigating the truth about the illegal material trade in such a remote place, I meant. Especially since Palatiana is surrounded by absolutely no water-body."

"Shall we issue another request to the military then, Your Royal Highness?" a male employee presents the question this time.

"It might be hard. Due to our lost connections with Palatiana for a long time, the military installed there aren't obliged to listen to our orders. But we cannot let this matter slide away either."

If only I were the Crown Prince, I would have travelled to Palatiana myself, regardless of the fact whether the flood reports are forged or not.

"It is definitely odd," Carlos speaks up abruptly, "The military have always maintained co-operative relations with the Royal family. Not to mention, they are not the ones to dispatch officers who could go as far as do something to harm Syncitia. Are you sure your speculations are legit?"

"Yes I am, Your Royal Highness." I state firmly at my brother's condescending tone. "I do not form careless assumptions based on nothing, for your kind information."

"We'll see." His lips twitch. "Because His Majesty has allowed me to attend all meetings conducted by you, Prince Calix, now onward. You see, he wants me to personally check whether you are handling the State affairs diligently. After all, you will become my right-hand Royal Minister. Isn't that right, Prince Calix?"

No one dares to speak at our silent but deadly stares at one another. Carlos plans on humiliating me, but I will not tolerate him getting away with his way, all the damn time.

However, before one of us could speak, Harvey speaks up in an apologetic tone. "I apologize for interrupting, Your Royal Highnesses, but I have an idea that may help us."

"Let us hear it then." I swiftly move my attention to Harvey.

"If Crown Prince Carlos personally sends a notice to the Head of Syncitia's Military Team, regarding the seriousness of the issue of Palatiana, we will no longer need permission from the officers installed at Palatiana."

It is not that I didn't think of the possibility before, myself. But the thought of asking Carlos for help and seeing how advantageous it would be for him to receive a permission with a flick of his finger, because of his title, irked me. But it is also true, we need to investigate the matter, as soon as possible.

"I think that can be managed if Prince Carlos—"

A loud knock on the closed door makes me halt my words. It is unbecoming of someone to interrupt, while a meeting is going on. Especially, important meetings where members of the royal family are present.

"I'll see to the matter. It seems as if an emergency has arrived," Audrey informs as she walks away to hold the door open.

All of our eyes' crinkle in confusion at the sight of a guard, informing something in a haste.

"Is there any problem?" I question at the seemingly nervous expression on Audrey when she finishes taking the information from the guard.

"Your Royal Highness." Audrey breaths tightly when she faces me. From my peripheral vision, I can sense the stares of the fifteen employees, and Carlos, on us.

"Miss Lola Hwang contacted Nirvana not long ago to inform something important. She wants to deliver this message to you.

Miss Isha Sen had an accident. She is admitted to Orchid Hospital—"

"Ladies and gentlemen," I turn around to the staring eyes with my beating heart and forced smile, "I have to leave urgently due to an emergency. Please continue this meeting despite my absence."

Without staying any more moment or entertaining any possibly inquiry, I dash out of the room. Sweat beads form soon enough at the thought of Isha's injured self.

No. Isha is alright. Nothing will happen to her.

I find Audrey and Kev following me out and my secretary furiously calling for a car to be prepared. I do notice Carlos and Harvey coming out of the meeting room as well, but I do not have time to explore what business they could possibly have.

Please be alright. Chanting the words in my mind, I run out of the main building, not caring about or apologizing to the people I stumble across in the corridors. Right now, Isha is my top priority and I need to be there. For her.

"Orchid Hospital. Fast." I order the driver, as soon as I, Audrey and Kev get inside the car waiting outside for us.

My eyes unconsciously move to Harvey and Carlos getting inside two separate cars and following us outside of Nirvana as well.

Isha. God, Isha. Please be safe.