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.She noticed guards stationed at the top, almost hidden except for long, slotted windows running around the width of the building.“You wanted privacy, Stacia.You’ll get it here.I guarantee you there’ll be no more gossip about us as long as we’re at SwissDen.My father has this down to a science.The people who are invited here have one thing in common – they’re rich and they guard their privacy ferociously.My father makes sure no one’s disappointed in that respect.”She was convinced already.Armed sentries stood at the beginning and end of the bridge.The guards opened the gates and once inside, she saw immediately where the prince’s creative talents originated from – the genes of his father.The king had designed a paradise – almost too exotic and grandiose to even be believed.Surely, the Garden of Eden had not contained more lush trees, fragrant flowers, birds chirping and rushing waterfalls than this heavenly kingdom.Everything was climate-controlled, there was no sign of snow anywhere, except for the mountain peaks visible through the individual domes.The limo followed a winding path, which led to what appeared to be another castle nestled amid a manicured jungle.“Welcome to my home,” Clay said.“You say that as if you live in some simple cottage.How can anything impress you after living here? My mind can’t even consume all this beauty.It’s like how I feel when I see your ice sculptures.Everything is so.overwhelming.yet.welcoming, I guess is the word.”“That’s my mother’s touch.She wants her guests to feel welcome here.” He stepped out of the limo, reached back in and took her hand to help her out.“Come on, let’s go meet my parents.”They entered the castle through a gold-studded door.The butler told Clay the king and queen were waiting for them in the atrium.Once again, Stacia could not believe the resplendent beauty.Even the main entry hall glistened as if burnished in gold.White carpeting led upstairs on stairs wide enough for six people to walk up side-by-side.They walked through a huge doorway leading to the atrium.“This is where we welcome our guests.It’s another of my mother’s ideas.She thinks Mother Nature has made every forest a welcoming sight, a place of tranquility.She tried to bring the same ambience in here.”“Well, she certainly succeeded,” Stacia said, her eyes trying to scan the mixture of outside and inside consolidated together as one in this peaceful room.White wrought-iron sofas with thick, red velvet pillows were spaced around the paths.Tables with red-cushioned chairs were nestled into specially-designed hollowed-out areas among the greenery.Regal flower arrangements decorated each table.Exotic plants and trees, many with fragrant blossoms, were intricately placed to allow privacy at each sofa.“Hello,” Clay said as they neared where his parents were sitting together on one of the sofas.“This is Stacia.”“Welcome to our home,” his mother said, as simply as Clay had when they’d arrived at SwissDen.She gave Stacia a warm smile.And the genes for his charm must come from his mother, Stacia thought.“I’m pleased to meet you, Your Majesty.” She restrained her almost uncontrollable urge to bow to this woman whose very presence radiated royalty and commanded reverence to the blueblood circulating in her veins.Stacia dropped her eyes out of respect and mumbled humbly, “You have a magnificent home.”“Clay explained how upset you were by some of the references made in the tabloids,” his father said.“I want to assure you that you are protected here from any further exposure.”“Do you two mind if I show Stacia around?” Clay asked.“Of course not, dear,” his mother said.“Even though they’re a king and queen, they act like my parents do toward me.I can feel their love for you,” Stacia said as she and Clay left the atrium.“And I learned to love from them.I hope what they taught me will help me now and in the future.”Now? Future? Stacia was quiet.She had given up trying to find answers for his responses in that arena [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]