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‘What I need in this life to be happy is you, Arissa.’
His gaze was so sincere. He wasn’t sad. He was smiling. It was almost as if saying the words out loud and making his declaration had taken a weight off his shoulders.
A shout came from the side.
‘Corinez needs this reform. The healthcare system has to change. The people of Corinez can’t trust anyone as much as they trust you.’
‘The Independent Press Standards Organisation will get to the bottom of this. It won’t happen again.’
‘Arissa, what can we do to persuade you to stay?’
The question came from an older man with grey hair. Arissa’s skin prickled. The attention was on her.
For a few seconds she couldn’t think straight. Then her focus shifted to the man she loved standing in front of her. He’d offered to give up everything for her. What could she give up for him?
Or maybe she didn’t need to give up anything, maybe she needed to compromise. That didn’t seem quite so terrifying.
She stared at the podium with the microphone. Maybe it was time to take control. To tell her own story. To use the press attention to bring the focus entirely on the safe haven scheme and its value. If she owned her story and told it herself then she wouldn’t need to worry about the press revealing it to the world for her.
She closed her eyes for a second and concentrated on the heat of Philippe’s skin next to hers. The strength. The passion. This was hers. This was hers to take.
She straightened her back and relaxed her shoulders, purposely pushing them down.
She squeezed Philippe’s hand and kept holding it as she stepped up to the podium. She could do this. She could do this for her, and for him.
What kind of life did she want? One where she had to live a life without the man that she loved? Or one where she faced the world and told them the truth?
There it was. She’d admitted it to herself—even though she’d known it for the last few days.
He had more strength and determination than she could ever have dreamed of. He could have walked away from someone like her. Walking away from his country might have never even entered his head. But for Philippe, it had. He was clear. He would stand up for her no matter what.
He tugged at her arm. ‘Don’t. You don’t need to say anything. Don’t be forced into the spotlight—I know that’s not what you want.’
She reached back and touched his cheek with her free hand. ‘Maybe we can both get what we want,’ she whispered.
She stood behind the podium and faced the press. They silenced much quicker for her than they had for Philippe.
She lifted her chin. ‘Prince Philippe is right. I’m a doctor. That’s what I am and what I want to continue to be. But I have a story to tell you. One that I preferred to keep private. But somehow—’ she glanced around the room at the expectant faces ‘—it seems that today might be a good day to tell it.’
She took a few moments to collect her thoughts. ‘I was an abandoned baby. Thirty years ago I was left outside an unmanned clinic in Temur Sapora.’ She tilted her chin upwards. ‘‘I was lucky. I was found. I was sick, but recovered in hospital and was adopted by a loving couple who gave me the best life they could.’ She gave a little smile. ‘I miss and think about them every day.’
She could see the exchange of glances.
‘And here I am. I’ve grown up, trained as a doctor and now I specialise in children’s blood disorders, with a particular focus on cancers. I know there’s a need in Corinez. I saw a patient only yesterday who needs accessible treatment that could save their life.’ She put her hand on her chest. ‘What will it take for me to stay? I know you only ask because you want to keep your Prince. I don’t want to keep a prince.’ She turned and met his gaze. ‘I want to keep the man I fell in love with, Philippe Aronaz.
‘I want you all to publicise the safe haven cot. I want you to tell how it can save lives. I want you to reassure women that there is someplace safe that they can leave their babies. And...’ she paused and smiled at Philippe ‘...if the plans for maternity care work out, maybe we will be able to offer all kinds of support to women in need.’ She took a final breath. ‘And it goes without saying that I expect integrity from every person in the room to respect the rights of any patients that I see.’
His hand moved, releasing her fingers as he changed position and came and stood at her back, slipping one hand over hers. It was almost as if he was moving into a protective stance—and somehow that gave her the reassurance that she needed.
He was there. He was with her. Confidence flowed throughout her body. She turned to face Philippe instead of the press. ‘Do you think this can work?’
He leaned forward and put his forehead on hers. It was as if they were the only two people in the room. They weren’t surrounded by TV cameras. There wasn’t an array of hungry press people in the room. ‘Are you sure, Arissa? I love you. I’ll go anywhere with you. I mean that. Don’t do anything that will make you unhappy. I don’t want that for you.’
He blinked and his long eyelashes brushed against her skin and sent tingles to every part of her. ‘Will you be my champion?’ she whispered back.
A smile broke out across his face. ‘Always,’ he murmured.
‘Then, we do this together. We can make this work.’
For a few seconds neither of them moved, but then Philippe raised his head, slipped his hand into hers and turned to face the press pack.
‘Our press conference for today is over. I think you have what you need. Today is a unique opportunity for us all. Please spread the word about the safe haven scheme and our plans for maternity care.’
It was a moment in history. It had never been her intention to be in this situation but at this second she couldn’t be prouder of the man that she loved.
Yes, life would change. But it would change hand in hand with a man that she wanted to be by her side for the rest of her life.
Philippe turned towards her. ‘We need to do something,’ he said quickly, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the staff room in the fire and rescue centre.
She was stunned. He ushered the few people that were in the room back outside and closed the door quickly behind them.
‘What’s wrong?’ What on earth was he doing?
He shook his head and stepped up close. ‘Nothing is wrong.’ He laughed as he glanced around them, then reached up a
nd touched her cheek. ‘I always thought when I did this I would plan. There would be stars. There would be a romantic dinner. A beautiful setting. Maybe even some music.’ He held his hands out. ‘Instead we have a slightly messy staff room, with a few odd chairs.’
Her stomach flipped. Somehow she knew what was going to happen next. Her heart swelled in her chest as she tried to catch her breath.
Philippe dug down into his pocket and opened a black velvet box as he dropped to one knee. ‘Arissa Cotter, I love you. More than I ever knew was possible. You’ve taught me to trust and love again. I promise that no matter where this road leads I’ll be by your side. If we choose to stay here, then know that I also want to help you with your work in Temur Sapora. When you go there, I’ll go there. I want to mirror your commitments to your own country. It’s part of you, therefore it’s part of me. I want you to—’
She bent forward and put a finger to his lips. ‘Stop talking, Philippe.’ A millisecond of worry flashed across his eyes before she laughed and shook her head. ‘My answer is yes. I love you. I love what you just did for me. I love what you’ve promised me. I hope we never have to leave, but if we do, I’ll be leaving with the man I love.’ She ran her fingers through his hair. ‘I don’t care where we are, just as long as we’re together.’ She glanced down at the ring and her eyes widened. ‘Where on earth did you...?’
He pulled the ring from the box. ‘This was given to me last night by my mother. It’s a family ring, belonged to a former queen.’ He slid the yellow-gold ring with a huge square green emerald onto her finger. ‘My mother said that as soon as she saw you in that green dress, she knew this ring was meant for you.’
