Love For Hire

Four weeks later…

Kinsley sat in the exam room as the nurse carefully removed her cast. It had been nearly six weeks since she broke her arm. Once the cast was off, Kinsley began to scratch and sigh with relief. That had been driving her nuts for weeks. Kinsley thanked the nurse and decided to head home. She flagged down a taxi and headed back to her parents’ house. She had taken a job as a waitress. The wag was complete crap, and so were the hours, but her options were limited, so she took what she could get. Kinsley had only been on the job for two weeks, and it was hard to do with her cast on. Things would greatly improve now that she had full use of both her arms. Her parents were allowing her to live on their couch until she could save up enough money to get her own apartment.

As the taxi pulled up to the building, Kinsley noticed the expensive luxury car parked on the curb outside the apartment. Kinsley paid the driver and got out. As the taxi drove away, Kinsley watched the luxury car’s doors open and out stepped Octavius and Stephan. Stephan stood by the car while Octavius walked her way. “Afternoon, Miss. Wells,” Octavius greeted her with a polite nod of his head.

“Afternoon Octavius. Funny seeing you here. How have you been?”

“Well enough.”

“And how is the royal family?”

“Well enough.”

They both looked at one another. She was sure the tension was because they both wished to speak of Nicholas, but she refused to. “Well, it was fun catching up. We really must do it again,” she said, taking out her keys and heading for the main door of the building. She knew Octavius would follow her, but she wished he would not.

“Kinsley,” Octavius spoke informally, playing on their friendship. “It is Nicholas,” he said. “He needs you, Kinsley.”

“He told me to leave,” she reminded him.

“He was trying to spare you because he loves you. Kinsley, he has given up. He is dying. The final days are upon him. If you love him, you will not allow him to die alone. Come back to the palace. Spend time with him. Hold his hand. He is terrified, Nicholas tries to pretend like he is ready, but his pending death has him living in terror. Go to him. Comfort him. Help him find peace. You only have to stay until he passes. It will not be long. A week at the most. After which, the King and Queen will compensate you for your time.”

Kinsley turned to face him. “Why are the King and Queen not comforting their son?”

“Nicholas has locked himself in his private rooms. He never comes out, and he refuses to allow anyone but me to come in, and he only allows that so that I can keep his drugs and liquor stocked.”

“If he refuses to see anyone, what makes the King and Queen think he will even see me?”

a soft spot for you. If anyone can convince him to see them, it is you. If he turns you away, then so be it, you will be

request. She decided to try. “I

the King has instructed me not to

back. She would see Nicholas. He might have sent her away, but she still loved him. She would help him die in

***

palace, Kinsley was met by Naya; the queen had come to the door to meet her. Naya hugged Kinsley as she came through the

bad it is not under more pleasant circumstances,” Kinsley said. “How

pain on Naya’s face. “He is failing fast. He does not have much time left. Please go to him. He really should not be alone at

allow my presence any more than he did

is that you try. Please

him to see me, but I make no

I ask is that you try. Bless you, child;

to

the way,” she smiled and left them

moment to compose herself for what she might see upon entering. He had been a shell when she last saw him, and he had four weeks to degrade further. Steeling her

was late afternoon, but the room was pitch black. Kinsley walked over to the windows and opened the curtains to allow some natural light to flood the room. Kinsley walked over to the large bed, where they had spent so much of

at him. Kinsley approached and took a seat on the mattress next to the man she loved. He looked terrible. He was extremely emaciated. He had withered away so quickly, the man she had met that first night was no more. This man lying in bed was nothing but skin and bones. His hair was thin, and his face was sunken. His eyes

his chest, brushing over every defined rib. He must have just stopped eating altogether after she left. Octavius was right. Nicholas had given up. He had drugged himself and gone to

face lovingly. “Oh, Nicholas, what you have

It looked like the act took all he had. He fixed her with his wavering gaze. “Kinsley,” he breathed so softly she could

Nicholas, I am

“You should not be.”

she said, taking his hand in hers. “And if you want me too, you will have to get up out of this bed and walk me to the front door of the palace yourself,” she said, knowing he did not

are so stubborn,”