CHAPTER 25

CHAPTER 25

Ingrid sat in the car, waiting for it to pull up to the booth. She ran her hands over her slacks, wishing she could get them to stop sweating.

“Ingrid Olson,” she said to the security officer in the booth.

He checked his computer and said, “ID?”

Ingrid handed it over. He must have been new because she didn’t recognize him, but it was still a requirement, even if he did recognize her, for him to scan her ID. He ran it through the system, and Ingrid could see her photo pop up on his screen. He read something there and then handed her ID back to her.

“Pull over to the side, please.”

She wasn’t on staff anymore, which meant her car would be subject to the bomb-sniffing dogs and added security. After the officers completed their check, she was given her temporary badge and permitted to drive through and park. Once parked, she was escorted by an attendant that she did recognize. They caught up for a minute while Ingrid checked in at a desk at the side entrance. Her ID was reviewed again, and she was then shown to a room where she was told she could sit down. Then, she was offered water. She politely declined. She wasn’t planning on being here very long.

“Her Majesty will see you now.”

Ingrid nodded and followed another staffer to an elevator, which she knew led to the private residence of the Queen. When she got to the floor, they walked down the familiar hall, but instead of turning toward Elin’s office, they continued on to the former King’s office.

“Your Majesty, Miss Ingrid Olson is here,” the staffer said after opening the door.

Ingrid walked into the office, finding pieces of Elin all over the office.

“Hi,” Elin greeted.

“Your Majesty,” Ingrid replied, taking Elin in now.

She looked gorgeous. Elin was wearing a gray-and-white dress and a pair of black flats. Her hair was down today, but it looked as if she’d run her hand through it recently.

“Ingrid, I’m glad you stopped by. Well, I hope I’m glad, at least. Have a seat,” Elin offered.

Ingrid sat down in a very comfortable chair and said, “I like what you’ve done in here.”

“You do?” Elin asked, sitting down in the chair opposite her.

“Yes, it looks great.”

“I resisted moving in here, but it just made sense. Moving into my parents’ old bedroom, though… is a little much for me, so I’m still in my room.”

“I can understand that,” Ingrid replied.

“Can I get you something to drink or–”

“No, I’m fine,” Ingrid interjected. “I’m sorry… I cut you off. I didn’t mean to. I’m actually a little nervous, if I’m being honest.”

“Oh,” Elin uttered, looking disappointed. “You’re turning down the job again, aren’t you?”

“I am.”

“Well, I guess I appreciate you coming all the way here to tell me in person.”

“Elin, I–”

“It’s okay.” Elin nodded. “I understand. I messed up in the beginning. I never should have accepted what my father said. I should have told him that you’re my secretary and to screw the whole seniority thing. It’s my fault, and I hope you know that I wish I could’ve done things differently.”

“I don’t,” Ingrid replied.

“Oh,” Elin uttered again. “Then, I suppose you’re happy where you are, and it all worked out – which is great, and I really am happy for you, Ingrid. I want you to have everything you want.”

“Elin–”

“I’ll ask Markus to stay on,” Elin continued to ramble as she stood up.

“Elin!”

Elin looked at her, realizing it finally, and said, “You’re calling me Elin.”

“Yes, I am,” Ingrid replied. “Will you sit back down, please?” Ingrid motioned to the chair. “And if you’re going to be upset about me calling you by your name, maybe hold off until I explain something.”

“I’m not upset; you can call me Elin whenever you want, Ingrid. I actually prefer it.” The woman sat back down.

“Why?”

“Because it’s weird when you call me ‘Your Majesty’ or ‘Ma’am,’” Elin replied.

“Why?” Ingrid asked again, feeling suddenly brave.

“I don’t know; it’s just weird.”

Ingrid smiled, looked down at her feet and then back up at Elin, who was staring out the window next to the chair.

“Hey, Elin?”

“Yeah?” Elin turned back to her.

“I can’t accept the job because it wouldn’t be appropriate.”

“Because of the old seniority rule?”

“No, because I came here to ask you out on a date.”

Elin’s eyes went wide, but she didn’t say anything.

“The reason I’m so nervous is that you’re a Queen, and I believe the protocol is that you have to propose the whole… romantic…”

“You want to go out with me?” Elin asked.

“Yes, I do.” Ingrid was blushing now.

“On a date?”

“That’s the idea, Elin.”

“You’re…”

“Gay, yes.”

“And you want–”

“Elin, yes.” Ingrid laughed.

“I’m sorry; I’m just having a problem wrapping my head around this.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve wanted it for so long,” Elin replied.

Ingrid swallowed and said, “You have?”

“That’s probably too much, huh?”

“No.” Ingrid shook her head. “How long?”

“Since we met?”

Ingrid couldn’t hold back her smile.

“You didn’t say anything.”

“Neither did you,” Elin replied.

“You were a Princess and my boss,” she reasoned. “Now, you’re a Queen, and I’m pretty sure I’m not even allowed to ask you–”

“Will you go out with me, Ingrid?” Elin interrupted.

Ingrid laughed and said, “Yes, I will.”

Elin took a deep breath and said, “You know the whole Queen thing isn’t going away…”

“I know.”

“And you still want–”

“Since before I even left, I had been thinking about how I felt about you. When I was sent off to work with Mari, I felt like I’d let you down or that I wasn’t good enough. Then, I realized I wasn’t that upset because of the job – I was more upset because I wouldn’t get to see you every day. I wouldn’t have an excuse to just pop into your office and talk to you, see you looking how you do right now.”

“How do I–”

“Beautiful,” Ingrid stated. “You look beautiful, Elin. You always do.”

Elin’s smile widened, and she said, “Part of me wants to walk over there and take your hand.”

“Only part?” Ingrid asked, hopeful.

“I have a meeting with Markus.”

“Oh, I see.”

“I guess I’ll have to keep him on.”

“I don’t think I can work for you if we’re going to try this, Elin.”

“No, I agree. I’m still sad about it, but I agree,” she said, standing up.

Ingrid stood up quickly as well before telling Elin, “I don’t exactly know how to say goodbye to you right now.” She chuckled.

“We could… I don’t know, actually.”

“I should probably just walk out like someone who didn’t just come in here to see if you’d go out with me sometime.”

“When?”

“Now; you have a meeting with–”

“No, when will we go out, Ingrid?” Elin asked.

“You’re the Queen, Elin. When can you go out?”

“I will clear my schedule for this.”

Ingrid knew she was blushing even redder now.

“How about I let you have your meeting right now, but I’ll call you tonight, and we can talk about it?”

“Yes. Please… um, call.” Elin nodded before she bit her lower lip.

“Okay. Let’s do that, then.”

“Okay,” Elin said, smiling at her.

“Your Majesty, Mr. Markus–”

“Just one minute,” Elin interrupted the attendant.

“Let him in, Elin. I’ll call you tonight, okay?”

Ingrid smiled at her and then turned to leave the room. She passed Markus on her way out.

“Ingrid?” he asked, surprised.

“Hi, Markus. Nice to see you again.”

“Can I help you with anything?”

“No, I got what I came here for.” She smiled more to herself than to Markus.

◆◆◆

“You did it? You asked our Queen out on a date?” Sarah Anne asked.

“I did.” Ingrid couldn’t stop her smile.

“And she said yes?”

“Sarah, you can’t say anything about this. You know she’s–”

“I wouldn’t; you know that,” Sarah interrupted her. “You’re going on a date with a freaking Queen, Ingrid.” Her sister laughed.

“I’m nervous enough. I don’t need you making it worse.”

“You should be nervous; she’s a Queen.”

“She’s Elin,” Ingrid said.

“Who is the Queen,” Sarah added.

“But she wasn’t always. And… God, I think I’ve had these feelings since we met, and I just didn’t know. How stupid was I?”

“It happens. I mean, you thought she was straight. Plus, she’s royalty, so I can get why you wouldn’t put two and two together. So, when is the big day, and what are you wearing? You can borrow something of mine if you need to. You don’t exactly have date clothes.”

“I do too.”

“No, you have interview clothes and work clothes; you do not have date clothes.”

“I don’t know yet. We’re going to talk tonight. I’m supposed to call her.”

“Well, what are you waiting for? Call the woman.”

“It’s probably early. She’s still working.”

“So? Just text her and ask her to let you know when she’s done or something. Do Queens text?”

Ingrid’s phone buzzed on the table.

“Holy shit! It’s her,” Sarah Anne noted, looking at the lit-up screen.

“It’s her?” Ingrid asked, quickly reaching for the phone and checking the readout. “It’s her?” she asked in a softer voice.

“Oh, my God!” Sarah laughed. “What did she say?”

“She’s free now,” Ingrid said. “She wants to know if she can call me.”

“Tell her yes.”

Ingrid stood up.

“Where are you going?” Sarah Anne asked.

“I’m not talking to her out here with you listening in,” Ingrid told her.

“Ingrid, you’re not having phone sex with the woman; you’re arranging a date.”

Ingrid laughed, walked into her own room, typed her response, and nervously waited. A moment later, her phone rang.

“Hi,” she said, smiling wide.

“Hi,” Elin greeted her back.