Palace Heaven

"You do realize, you are accusing a Prince to kidnap a poor girl in the middle of the night for no definite explanation." Roy declared incredulously.

"Yes. The events fit right in. The girl was kidnapped, not asked for any ransom which means she is of a great use to the captor."

"The Prince?"

"He is a possibility. We have to find out whether he is the one or not."

"And if you are proved incorrect in this?"

"We will return back." Ella shrugged. He said frustrated, "So this is a trial and error test going on? Don't you realize the consequences that follow this expedition you are dragging us into?"

"You can head back if you want to." She replied while pulling her suitcase through the gates. They went different ways for checking in gender wise, which gave enough time for Roy to think about the madness they were trapping themselves in. He was thinking of ways to comfortably get themselves safely out of that country. He had to keep his gun away in the limo, when their plans changed about taking normal airlines rather than a private one. Of course he wouldn't leave her alone in there, she knew it well hence proclaimed it in front of him to prove a point.

Angrily stuffing his luggage from the counter, he made his way to her, taking a seat opposite her as the others were occupied. Still not stopping to investigate he asked questions without giving away who are they talking about. "What did you see in your memory?" He saw the hesitation in her face, was it that bad? "It would be helpful if you explain me the base of your instincts for accusing that man." A few turned their heads towards them, which he ignored or glared off to.

She leaned towards him saying, "I saw a girl, daylight, water and... pearls?"

"Pearls?"

"I didn't see the pearls. But I got a clue through them." The horrified expression on Roy's face could have made Ella laugh any other day if she didn't understand the gravity of their situation.

"You want to travel across to death because of some pearls?!" Again, that resulted in some gazes transferred to them, under which she squirmed slightly with his outburst. Making up her mind she replaced her seating place to sit next to him, letting him know everything that has been bothering her mind ever since she had stepped in the city. At the end, she saw his face becoming grim. Whether it was due to disbelief or disappointment, she didn't ask. It wasn't much of a use as she had to do this, it couldn't be a coincidence for ending up like that.

"It could be entirely coincidental." He told her mind which was reasoning her that she was being foolish to quest upon this.

"It could. But the odds are greater. And my instincts say I should go ahead with it." Ella saw him picturing it in his mind but she knew her explanation didn't hold stronger grounds. "They were the same words, Roy. I won't feel at peace until I know who that girl is."

"You are saying that you have met Cora before."

"I am not saying anything. Everything stands loose. I have to see it for myself if my memories aren't helping me." She finalized and Roy knew he wouldn't be able to persuade her further. Perhaps he could help her realize it was all useless and then they can return back. The thought was easier as a thought than executed in reality. The journey to the country was quiet between them. Comfortably quiet. Both thankful of the distraction from the previous topic of discussion which had led in a silent treatment for days.

As he saw her asleep on the back of her hand resting her elbows on the armrest, he wondered if she thought about their problems. Or maybe she found a way to cope through it by distractions like these. Thinking about their destination, Roy feared he may lose her again, now that they were arriving in the lands of the foreigner.

Ella's face wasn't unknown in the city of Dubai which extended to the whole continent, probably because of the popularity of the corporation. One look at the impending newspaper about the heir, would say that Ella's was not wanted in the place due to her rejection in keeping up the marriage with their Prince. "I am not welcomed." Ella muttered grimly to her companion while embarking from the airport to the car awaiting. He noticed some of them taking photos after their realization that the famous woman who refused the Prince, was present in the city, he wished he had more security around themselves. Sure, the hotel owner had sent a ride to escort them, but they were no trained combats to protect them.

"You cannot complain about it." He indicated about all the events that have happened relating to this city, which shut their conversation. For the nth time Roy felt that this was a terrible idea to come up here unannounced only to later search for a girl he has never seen before. "Do you at least have a photo of the girl? How are we going to search for a person we haven't met?"

"I had told the Deputy to send you the picture. Didn't you get it?"

"I did. But it belongs to a small girl. We are searching for a nineteen-year-old. Almost a woman. Not to forget, she had been taken for unknown reasons, she would be alone and..." He couldn't go further with his words, rather took out his phone to show her the picture. He moistened his lips looking ahead in the front with the driver taking them through the streets, "We don't know whether we will be able to get her."

She took hold of the phone, the form feeling foreign to touch, with both her hands she saw the photo of the girl, the photo wasn't proving a lot of details as Roy said, it was a ten year old in there. Studying the features, she noticed the hair was lighter than her brother's, eye color was blurry and other features of her face somewhat matched her brother's. The picture seemed to be torn from the edges, like only her face was cut out to show the missing person.

She heard him say, "Rest now, Elle. And don't think too much of those memories. One wrong step, and I will carry you away to the palace, if you don't listen to me." She wanted to argue but nodded in exhaustion, noticing they had reached the hotel premises. The heir and the CEO were welcomed in the hotel by the man in-charge, who operated the business in the city.

"Welcome to Palace Heaven, Sir and Mam. Your suite is ready." The man with a clean-shaved outfit from his face to his boots announced. Ella gave a smile while Roy nodded and asked about Ali Bari, who was the in-charge of running the realties in Dubai under the Kings' Corporation.

"Mr. Ali has told me to inform you, he will be joining in the evening. He had some matters to attend Sir." The man said leading the way to the suite. Ella raked her eyes through the place, she had always heard and read about the investments of the corporation, where it is located, what is the nature of the property, but never had a chance to see it for herself until now.

"He didn't inform me about any matters. He was told to receive us when we landed here, which means we need to speak with him immediately." She heard Roy chide the manager. That's what she assumed, considering only the highest of authority present here would see them through.

The manager replied uneasily, "Mr. Ali sends his apologies, Sir. He had been in a rift since the engagement was broke. Many contracts have been cancelled, leading to a few losses but it shall be covered in due time. The hotel has managed to surpass its qualities greatly." They heard the host relaying the problem and covering it up in good graces like a promising Manager he was.

"That's alright. We will see him when he is back. We should be informed." Ella felt she had to say this as a condolement for the problems in the businesses due to her mistakes. The Manager nodded agreeing to it. After the both of them were left alone in the suite, which was luxurious enough to cost a lot, if she hadn't been the owner of it.

"You don't have to give explanation to something that was not in your hands." He broke the silence about her guilt in the statement she had spoken to the Manager. Ella walked to the kitchen to grab a glass of water replying, "I cannot make mistakes and have the others cleaning away the mess."

"As I said it wasn't your fault. People make mistakes, crueler than yours." "You knew I was making a mistake. Why didn't you stop me?"

"I tried, Elle!" He argued to which she equally voiced, "Should have tried harder. You are the face of the corporation. You have to maintain that." Both stared at each other, knowing they were having a stupid fight, when Ella whispered, "Don't ever do that again."

He nodded after hearing that, promising, "I won't let you go away from me."

"I meant don't let me make such mistakes." She corrected, blushing lightly. "You know I mean both." He gave a knowing look to her across from the chair she was sitting.

When reminded of the night she had rejected him on the name of marriage, he let his gaze fall on the floor uttering, "I will make arrangements for meeting the Prince. You should rest." He was gone before she could protest. He was standing near the door, it would have been difficult for her to reach him and make him stay, she reasoned herself.