Chapter 12: Blunt

*Benjamin's POV*

Jazz didn't answer, so I sat myself down, right next to her. She smelled like cotton candy. "What are you reading?" I whispered. "Uhm Karl Marx, Das kapital," she hesitantly said. "So you're rather an economist then?" I grinned.

Jazz looked at me with one eyebrow raised. The deep blue head scarf she wore, brought out her eyes. I noticed she had fair skin, a tiny nose and then those huge green eyes, which still stared at me.

I made a mental picture of her face in my head. "Not an economist then?" I teased.

"Marx was not only an economist," she said. "He was also a revolutionary of his own sorts, a socialist, a great historian and a political theorist," she said sharply.

Shocked by her absurd intense reaction, I could only smile at her. "What do you like about his works?" I asked with sincere curiosity. "Well, this book offers a unified framework, to make sense of some of the most troubling issues, facing humanity all over the world today.

"Issues like?" I prompted, of course already knowing the answer. She pouted her lips and frowned at me.

"In particular the rising economic inequality, economic instability, and the unsustainability of the way we live, travel and consume," she said without looking at me.

"So to sum it up, according to you, we have a looming planetary crisis on our hand?" I couldn't help but smile at her.

She turned her head, looking straight into my eyes and rolled her eyes at me. "Figueres that a wealthy prince like you would deny, or be ignorant, to the existence of a huge gap between income classes and sustainability problems.

"I could only guess how big your ecologic footprint is." She shrugged. Before I could react, she stood up and hastily walked away, leaving me stunned by her rudeness.

I sat there for a while, trying to reassemble myself. Surely I had to fix this before I flew back home. But first I had to say my goodbyes to Raina.

I knocked on my cousins door and Jazz opened it. I gasped. "GOD Those eyes," I said breathless.

Her green cat-like eyes bored into mine and a shiver went up my spine. "Your highness," she said and quickly looked away. "Can we please talk," I pleaded, forgetting I came for Raina. She rolled her eyes and tried to walk away. "That's twice today. Did I do something to upset you?" I frowned.

Of course I knew I had upset her, I just wanted her to start talking to me. Hell, I would take her yelling at me, if that was a way to fix this.

She mumbled something under her breath, which I couldn't catch. "What?" I prompted her to clarify. "Sorry Ben, she is knew to the protocol. Please forgive her impoliteness."

Before I could interrupt, Raina send Jasmine off. "Where did you do that for?" I complained. Raina smirked. "Come on Ben, the maid, really?!" She exclaimed incredulous. I let it go, this conversation wasn't leading anywhere. Raina had no clue. I was glad the gossip hadn't reached her yet. I thought the whole palace would know by now.

"I came to say goodbye," I said running my hand through my hair in frustration.

Raina hugged me and as always, she made me sing her a song before I went back home. It had become our little routine over the years. She truly was my favorite cousin.

Now it was time to find habibie.

*Saphira's POV*

After grandma had left my room, I just stood there for a while. Then I almost ran through the hallway, past all the closed doors and ran down the stairs. "Mom!" I yelled.

"Hi doll," she said from the kitchen bar. Grandma had already left. "I thought you already went to sleep," mom said as I walked towards her.

I folded my arms around her neck and rested my chin on her shoulders. "No, not yet. I just stared at my so called 'closet'." I made a silly face when I said the last word. "I think I could get lost in it," I said sarcastically.

"I bet you could, if you tried hard enough," mom said mirroring the same expression I had on my face." So, this means you're not mad at me?!" She asked me biting her lip and then sighed.

I know what she meant, but I was not. "No mom, not at all." I Promised.

After mom gave me some PJ's grandma instructed her on giving me, she kissed my forehead and told me I had to go to sleep. She was right, though. It had been a very long day and I actually was tired.

I put on the flannel PJ's and went to my bathroom, to clean myself up after this very long day. I brushed my long brown hair and then I giggled a little.

Malibu is making me a nutcase I thought, staring into my own blue eyes, reflecting in the mirror. I made both my eyes point towards my nose and giggled a little harder. Well, mom and I had a new life now, but I would stay the same, right?!

*Benjamin's POV*

I was straightening my tie while walking back to my suite, when the Jazz bumped into me, spilling a platter of tea.

Again, she mumbled something under her breath, with an irritated tone. I chuckled. She had serious guts, now knowing I was a Saud prince.

"Let me help you," I offered bending to help her pick up the cups. Our eyes met and for a moment we were frozen. I swallowed loudly and hoped she didn't notice.

"I can manage," she said bluntly. I half-smiled. "I can see that," I pointed out referring to the broken glass and wet carpet. I fought back a laugh.

"Are you mad at me for not being ecofriendly, or can we talk about last night?" I asked with my most charming smile.

She pouted her lips in an irritated manner. "The first," she said unwillingly. I chuckled.

"Look, I've heard about you asking around for me all morning, and of course I know I should be flattered. But I'm not," she stated.

She cleared her throat. "Your highness," she added with a sharp edge. Shocked by her words and tone, I burst out in laughter. "What's so funny?" she demanded.

"Well I don't know, you amuse me perhaps." I smirked. "You do realize whom you're talking to right?" I said in a more serious manner. This wasn't how she behaved with everyone else at the palace right?!

She could get in so much trouble. My grandfather certainly would not be so patient.

"Just because you're royal, doesn't mean you can have your way with me," she said icy. I was puzzled by her words. I scratched between my eyes, trying to make sense of her.

"What made you say that?" I wondered. "Listen," she said as she took a deep breath and broadened her shoulders. It was a funny sight. She was so petite, did she really think she could scare me off like that?

"Like I have told you before, my family is in a tough spot and the Sultan, may God me with him, let me work here to reduce our debt." She looked away from me. "I can't deal with trouble."

I tilted my head and a playful smile lingered on the edge of my lips. "You think I'm trouble?" I teased.

"Well yes your highness," she said trying to avoid my eyes. Unexpectedly she grabbed a handful of my black blouse, pulling me closer and our noses almost touched.

I felt her warm breath on my skin.

"Don't flatter yourself," she whispered gasping for air, and stormed off again. What was up with that? She always seemed to run away when things got heated.

She wouldn't get away from me so easily, not this time.