Power Play--Part IV

Paul woke the next morning in better spirits than when he had ended the budget meeting yesterday. Leda’s confidence in his abilities let him dismiss the self-doubt that had plagued him. He actually felt ready to take on the challenges of the day’s meetings.

Benedict joined him for breakfast in his room, allowing them to discuss any matters privately before the meetings. He agreed with Benedict’s suggestion of a new arts center for Edelburg instead of a golf course. The various art programs of both the university and the community would benefit from the project.

They two men continued to compare notes. Paul was glad when Benedict agreed with his assessment of which proposals were legitimate and which were merely ploys for more money and resources. He felt almost confident as he entered the room for the budget meeting.

Several of the mayors greeted him as he made his way to the table at the end of the room. Mayor Naffid and his associates managed not to look in his direction. Paul had to fight the urge to laugh at the childish antics.

However, he was ready for business as Mayor Grey called the room to order. They resumed from where they had stopped the day before. The hospital expansion was allowed to go through without any further discussion. As he and Benedict had thought, Mayor Espesito rose and proposed a new arts center for Edelburg instead of the golf course.

Paul happily gave the project approval. They made it through several more items before Naffid and his cronies tried to block the way again. Their objection was over the new irrigation system for Orehoma which they argued could harm the fishing waters critical to tourist town of Avanell.

Quickly going through his files, Paul silently praised Benedict’s organizational skills and foresight. He drew out environmental studies performed by two different research teams which deemed the irrigation project as minimal threat to Avanell. Naffid and the others were clearly surprised that the Prince had that information and reluctantly withdrew their objections.

He was about to go on to the next item when something in the back of the room caught his attention. A small crowd had gathered on either side of the double doors to the room. A security guard on this side was talking with a woman on the other side of the doors. Paul thought he had seen her before.

Whatever the woman said seemed to appease the guard. He stepped and pulled one of the doors open as a colleague mirrored his action. He drew a deep breath before calling, “Presenting Her Highness, the Princess of Jupiter.”

Paul rose with the others in the room. Years of court training were hard to ignore. He could hardly believe it when it was indeed Leda who entered the room and made way to the head table.

A place was quickly found for her beside him. As everyone around him bowed, Paul had to remind himself to remain upright. He instead took her hand and kissed it.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” he told her quietly, helping her to her chair. “What about your business at the palace?”

She smiled. “Well, I always wanted to be a spectator at one of these meetings, and my business at home can wait. Just continue on like I’m not here. I’m only here to watch.”

Wondering what his wife was up to, Paul took his seat. The mayor and staff members quickly followed suit. “Let us return to the previous item, the expansion of the Greater Demark school system.”

“Excuse me, Your Highness,” Mayor Espesito called, standing. “I was wondering if the Princess would give her opinion on the Orehoma irrigation project.”

“I have already given my opinion on that item,” Paul reminded him.

“Indeed you did, Your Highness,” Espesito agreed, “but I’m sure that others beside myself are interested to hear Her Highness’s opinion on the matter.”

Paul fumed at the direct challenge to him. He glanced at Leda and was surprised to see her smile. She leaned toward her husband and scanned his copy of the meeting agenda. “Is this the item?” she asked, pointing at it.

“Yes, it is.”

She leaned back into her chair and gave her attention to Mayor Espesito. “Since you have asked my opinion on the matter, I shall give it to you. The Prince has already given his approval for the project. I don’t see why I should weigh in on this decision. Also, if I’m to be asked my opinion on every matter already discussed, the time required for the meeting will almost double.”

After a moment’s pause, Espesito murmured, “Thank you, Your Highness.” He sank back into his chair. He and Naffid were soon having a quiet discussion amongst themselves.

Fighting the urge to grin, Paul went on to discuss the school system expansion. Naffid and Espesito tried a few more times to have Leda weigh in on a matter. Each time she would defer to Paul and his decision and the pair soon gave up that tactic.

However, the Princess would from time to time raise a point or issue about the budget item being discussed. Paul realized that Leda was showing that she was not suddenly passive. Yet each decision was rejected or approved by Paul.

He was grateful that they had completed the budget when he asked Mayor Grey to dismiss them for the day. The final meetings were minor and could be completed by the following afternoon. He was glad to know that he would be home soon.

Sharing his wife’s smile, he helped from her seat. They mingled amongst the mayors for a while, accepting congratulations from the few who had not attended their wedding and coronation. When dinner was called, he escorted her to the dining room.

Dinner was a lively affair compared to the meetings. He was happy to note that Mayor Grey and her husband were by him and Leda. The presence of his wife, good food, and friendly conversations helped ease the lingering stress of the day from Paul.

When Leda tried to suppress a yawn, he decided it was time for them to retire for the night. As he held her hand, he realized how quickly he had come to miss such simple contact with her. The look in her eyes let him know that she felt the same way.

Once they were in his suite, he worked to take off his tie as Leda quickly got out of her shoes. He watched as she took down her hair. The red and gold strands caught the light of the room. Could this glorious creature really be his?

Leda frowned when she realized that Paul was staring at her. “Paul, is there something wrong?”

“No, nothing,” he quickly replied. “I’m just trying to convince myself that you’re really here.”

She smiled as she made her way to him. With a gentle air, she cupped his cheek with her hand. “Real enough?”

“Yes,” he said. He pressed her hand against his face with one of his own and kissed the inside of her wrist. “It’s only been a few days but I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too.”

“Is that why you came?”

She confirmed his suspicions when she shook her head. “It was one of the reasons, but not the main one. You said last night that people felt that you were a stand-in for me. I realized that by being absent, I was making them right.”

“So you came but deferred all decisions to me,” he finished, “hopefully cementing my authority with the mayors.”

“Exactly.”

“My intelligent yet devious wife,” he said with a chuckle. “Will you help with these last meetings so I can get home?”

“Absolutely,” Leda replied, pulling him down for a kiss.


Part IV Paul woke the next morning in better spirits than when he had ended the budget meeting yesterday. Leda’s confidence in his abilities let him dismiss the self-doubt that had plagued him. He actually felt ready to take on the challenges of the day’s meetings. Benedict joined him for breakfast in his room, allowing them to discuss any matters privately before the meetings. He agreed with Benedict’s suggestion of a new arts center for Edelburg instead of a golf course. The various art programs of both the university and the community would benefit from the project. They two men continued to compare notes. Paul was glad when Benedict agreed with his assessment of which proposals were legitimate and which were merely ploys for more money and resources. He felt almost confident as he entered the room for the budget meeting. Several of the mayors greeted him as he made his way to the table at the end of the room. Mayor Naffid and his associates managed not to look in his direction. Paul had to fight the urge to laugh at the childish antics. However, he was ready for business as Mayor Grey called the room to order. They resumed from where they had stopped the day before. The hospital expansion was allowed to go through without any further discussion. As he and Benedict had thought, Mayor Espesito rose and proposed a new arts center for Edelburg instead of the golf course. Paul happily gave the project approval. They made it through several more items before Naffid and his cronies tried to block the way again. Their objection was over the new irrigation system for Orehoma which they argued could harm the fishing waters critical to tourist town of Avanell. Quickly going through his files, Paul silently praised Benedict’s organizational skills and foresight. He drew out environmental studies performed by two different research teams which deemed the irrigation project as minimal threat to Avanell. Naffid and the others were clearly surprised that the Prince had that information and reluctantly withdrew their objections. He was about to go on to the next item when something in the back of the room caught his attention. A small crowd had gathered on either side of the double doors to the room. A security guard on this side was talking with a woman on the other side of the doors. Paul thought he had seen her before. Whatever the woman said seemed to appease the guard. He stepped and pulled one of the doors open as a colleague mirrored his action. He drew a deep breath before calling, “Presenting Her Highness, the Princess of Jupiter.” Paul rose with the others in the room. Years of court training were hard to ignore. He could hardly believe it when it was indeed Leda who entered the room and made way to the head table. A place was quickly found for her beside him. As everyone around him bowed, Paul had to remind himself to remain upright. He instead took her hand and kissed it. “I can’t believe you’re here,” he told her quietly, helping her to her chair. “What about your business at the palace?” She smiled. “Well, I always wanted to be a spectator at one of these meetings, and my business at home can wait. Just continue on like I’m not here. I’m only here to watch.” Wondering what his wife was up to, Paul took his seat. The mayor and staff members quickly followed suit. “Let us return to the previous item, the expansion of the Greater Demark school system.” “Excuse me, Your Highness,” Mayor Espesito called, standing. “I was wondering if the Princess would give her opinion on the Orehoma irrigation project.” “I have already given my opinion on that item,” Paul reminded him. “Indeed you did, Your Highness,” Espesito agreed, “but I’m sure that others beside myself are interested to hear Her Highness’s opinion on the matter.” Paul fumed at the direct challenge to him. He glanced at Leda and was surprised to see her smile. She leaned toward her husband and scanned his copy of the meeting agenda. “Is this the item?” she asked, pointing at it. “Yes, it is.” She leaned back into her chair and gave her attention to Mayor Espesito. “Since you have asked my opinion on the matter, I shall give it to you. The Prince has already given his approval for the project. I don’t see why I should weigh in on this decision. Also, if I’m to be asked my opinion on every matter already discussed, the time required for the meeting will almost double.” After a moment’s pause, Espesito murmured, “Thank you, Your Highness.” He sank back into his chair. He and Naffid were soon having a quiet discussion amongst themselves. Fighting the urge to grin, Paul went on to discuss the school system expansion. Naffid and Espesito tried a few more times to have Leda weigh in on a matter. Each time she would defer to Paul and his decision and the pair soon gave up that tactic. However, the Princess would from time to time raise a point or issue about the budget item being discussed. Paul realized that Leda was showing that she was not suddenly passive. Yet each decision was rejected or approved by Paul. He was grateful that they had completed the budget when he asked Mayor Grey to dismiss them for the day. The final meetings were minor and could be completed by the following afternoon. He was glad to know that he would be home soon. Sharing his wife’s smile, he helped from her seat. They mingled amongst the mayors for a while, accepting congratulations from the few who had not attended their wedding and coronation. When dinner was called, he escorted her to the dining room. Dinner was a lively affair compared to the meetings. He was happy to note that Mayor Grey and her husband were by him and Leda. The presence of his wife, good food, and friendly conversations helped ease the lingering stress of the day from Paul. When Leda tried to suppress a yawn, he decided it was time for them to retire for the night. As he held her hand, he realized how quickly he had come to miss such simple contact with her. The look in her eyes let him know that she felt the same way. Once they were in his suite, he worked to take off his tie as Leda quickly got out of her shoes. He watched as she took down her hair. The red and gold strands caught the light of the room. Could this glorious creature really be his? Leda frowned when she realized that Paul was staring at her. “Paul, is there something wrong?” “No, nothing,” he quickly replied. “I’m just trying to convince myself that you’re really here.” She smiled as she made her way to him. With a gentle air, she cupped his cheek with her hand. “Real enough?” “Yes,” he said. He pressed her hand against his face with one of his own and kissed the inside of her wrist. “It’s only been a few days but I’ve missed you.” “I’ve missed you, too.” “Is that why you came?” She confirmed his suspicions when she shook her head. “It was one of the reasons, but not the main one. You said last night that people felt that you were a stand-in for me. I realized that by being absent, I was making them right.” “So you came but deferred all decisions to me,” he finished, “hopefully cementing my authority with the mayors.” “Exactly.” “My intelligent yet devious wife,” he said with a chuckle. “Will you help with these last meetings so I can get home?” “Absolutely,” Leda replied, pulling him down for a kiss.


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