Chapter 17 Chapter Sixteen

Tanner couldn't help ruminating over the woman he thought was the princess.The more he thought about how arrogant she was and how she mocked him, the more angry he felt. We'll improve your lines, dear.You know how trite that is? ... Are you impatient, dear? ... Get out your little black book, let's try and see if we can find someone who is free to serve you tonight... It seems that he must subdue the demon and eliminate the demon, so as to kill her evil spirit.He decided to see her one more time, give her what she deserved, and forget about her completely. Tanner waited three days before calling.

"Princess?" "Who are you?" He really wanted to throw away the microphone.How many damn men call her princess?He managed to keep his voice calm: "This is Tanner Kingsley." "Oh, yes. How are you?" Her tone was completely lukewarm. I was wrong, Tanner thought.I shouldn't have called her at all. "I think we can have dinner again sometime, but you're probably busy, so let's just forget—" "How is it tonight?" Tanner was spotted by her again unexpectedly.He couldn't wait to teach the bitch a lesson. Four hours later, Tanner sat across a table from Paula Cooper in a French bistro on Lexington Avenue East.He was surprised because he felt so happy to see her again.He had forgotten how alive and full of life she was.

"I miss you a lot, Princess," Tanner said. She smiled slightly: "Oh, I miss you too. You are really special. Very special." These are his words, returned to him, mocked at him.To hell with her. It looks like this evening will be a repeat of last time.On other nights of romance, Tanner was always the one controlling the conversation.Facing the princess, he felt uneasy, as if she was always one step ahead of him.She could answer every word he said fluently.She was quick-witted and simply ignored any of his nonsense. The women Tanner dated were all beautiful and willing, but for the first time in his life, he had a feeling that maybe something had been missed in the past.They come too easily.They're all the cuddly type, but they're too docile.Not challenging.And Paula...

"Tell me about yourself," Tanner said. She shrugged: "My father was rich and powerful, and I was pampered into a domineering little girl - maids and footmen - with waiters serving tea by the swimming pool, Radcliffe Noble Ladies Academy, and Ladies' Institute—the whole set. Then my father lost everything and died. I worked as an administrative assistant for a politician." "How do you like it?" "No. He's boring." Her eyes met his. "I'm looking for someone more interesting." The next day, Tanner called again. "Princess?"

"I was expecting you to call, Tanner." Her voice was active and enthusiastic. There was a burst of joy in Tanner's heart: "Really?" "Of course. Where are you taking me for dinner tonight?" He laughed: "Anywhere you want to go." "I'd like to go to the Hotel Maxim in Paris, but as long as I can be with you, I will be satisfied wherever I go." She caught him off guard again, but anyway, her words warmed his heart. They ate at Basque Shores on Fifty-fifth Street, and Tanner's eyes stayed on her throughout the meal, wondering why he was so attracted to her.It's not her looks; it's her mind and personality that are admirable.She radiates wisdom and confidence from the inside out.She was the most independent woman he had ever known.

Their conversation was wide-ranging, and Tanner found her surprisingly knowledgeable. "How do you want to spend your life, Princess?" She looked at Tanner for a moment before replying, "I want to be in power—power over the world." Tanner smiled: "Then we are a couple." "How many women have you said that to, Tanner?" He couldn't help getting angry: "Can you not play this trick? I said you are different, and I used to—" "What used to be?" "You're really frustrating me," Tanner said exasperatedly. "Poor baby. If you're depressed, why don't you take a shower—?"

Anger surged up again.He has had enough.He stood up abruptly: "Forget it. It's useless—" "—to my place." Tanner could hardly believe his ears: "Where are you?" "Yes, I have a resting place on Park Avenue," she said. "Will you take me home?" They omitted dessert. The resting place is a luxurious apartment, which is very elegantly decorated. Tanner looked around and was surprised to find that the house was extravagant and yet extremely elegant.Just for her: a collection of paintings of various genres, a long dining table, a crystal chandelier, an Italian couch, six Chippendale chairs and a daybed.

Tanner had barely had time to see this when she heard her say, "Come in and see my bedroom." The bedroom is all white with white furniture and a large mirror set into the ceiling above the bed. Tanner looked around. "It's beautiful. It's the most—" "Shh." Paula began to undress him. "We can talk later." After she undressed Tanner, she began to slowly undress herself.She has a 100% sexy body. With her arms around Tanner and her body pressed against him, she put her lips to his ear and murmured, "This is the end of the prologue."

After a long time, they talked until the night fell. They've been together every night since.The princess often amazed Tanner with her humor and charm, and gradually she became beautiful to him. One morning Andrew said to Tanner, "I've never seen you smile so much. Is it a woman?" Tanner nodded: "Yes." "Seriously? Are you going to marry her?" "I've been thinking about it." Andrew looked at Tanner for a while: "Maybe you should tell her." Tanner squeezed Andrew's arm: "Maybe I will." The next night Tanner and the princess were alone in her apartment.

Tanner said, "Princess, you asked me to tell you something I've never said to another woman before." "What, baby?" "Listen. I want you to marry me." After a moment of hesitation, she grinned and threw herself into his arms: "Oh, Tanner!" He looked into her eyes affectionately: "does this mean 'good'?" "I want to marry you, honey, but—I'm afraid there's a problem." "what is the problem?" "I told you. I want to do something big. I want to have enough power to rule the world—to change it. The foundation of it all is money. How can we have a future if you don't have a future?"

Tanner took her hand. "No problem. I own half of an important business, princess. One day I'll make enough money to give you everything you want." She shook her head: "No. You have a brother, Andrew, and you obey him. I know everything about the two of you. He doesn't want the company to develop, and I want much more than you can give me now. " "You are wrong." Tanner thought for a moment, "I want you to meet Andrew." The three of them had lunch together the next day. Paula is charming, and it's clear Andrew takes an immediate liking to her.Andrew is concerned about a woman his brother has dated before.This one is different.She is personable and smart and quick-witted.Andrew glanced at his younger brother opposite, nodded and said, "Good choice." Paula said: "I think it's amazing what the Kingsley Group is doing, Andrew, to help so many people in the world. Tanner told me all about it." "Glad we did that. We're going to do more." "You mean the company wants to expand?" "Not in that sense. I mean we're going to send more people to more countries to do their part." Tanner said eagerly, "Then we'll get down to signing the contract here, and—" Andrew smiled. "Tanner is impatient. Take it easy. Let's do what we have to do first, Tanner. Help others." Tanner looked at the princess.Her expression was noncommittal. The next day, Tanner called: "Hey Princess. When can I pick you up?" A moment of silence: "Honey, I'm so sorry. I can't make an appointment tonight." Tanner was surprised: "Did something go wrong?" "No. A friend of mine is in town, and I must see him." he?Tanner felt a pang of jealousy. "I understand. Then tomorrow night we'll—" "No, not tomorrow night. Wouldn't we have an appointment next Monday?" She's going to spend the weekend with someone who doesn't know.Tanner hung up, worried and frustrated. On Monday night, the princess apologized: "I apologize for the weekend babe. An old friend came to see me in New York." Images of the princess's beautiful apartment flashed through Tanner's mind.That's not what she can afford by salary: "Who is he?" "I'm sorry. I can't tell you his name. He—he's too famous, and he doesn't like publicity." "Do you love him?" She took Tanner's hand and said softly, "Tanner, I love you. Only you." "Does he love you?" She hesitated: "Yes." Tanner thought: I've got to figure out a way to give her everything she wants.I can't lose her. The next day, at 4:58 in the morning, Andrew Kingsley was awakened by the phone ringing. "I've got a call from Sweden. Please wait a moment." A moment later, a voice with a slight Swedish accent said, "Congratulations, Mr. Kingsley. The Nobel Committee has selected you to accept this year's Nobel Prize in Physics for your pioneering work on nanotechnology..." Nobel Prize! After the call ended, Andrew hurriedly dressed and ran directly to the office. As soon as Tanner arrived, Andrew stepped forward to tell his brother the news. Tanner hugged him. "Nobel! Great, Andrew! Great!" Really is.Because now all of Tanner's problems are hopefully resolved. Five minutes later, Tanner spoke to the princess. "Do you understand what that means, dear? Now that the Kingsley Group has a Nobel Prize, we can get all the business we can handle. I mean government contracts and big corporations. I will be able to give you the whole world." "It's amazing, baby." "Will you marry me?" "Tanner, marrying you is my biggest wish in this world." When Tanner put the microphone back, he was ecstatic.He rushed into his brother's office: "Andrew, I'm getting married." Andrew raised his head and said enthusiastically: "It's really good news. When will the wedding be held?" "We'll be finalizing it soon. All staff will be invited." Andrew was waiting for Tanner when he walked into the office the next morning.He had a bouquet of flowers stuck in the buttonhole of his jacket. "why is this?" Andrew grinned. "I'm getting ready for your wedding. I'm so happy." "Thank you, Andrew." The news spread like wildfire.The wedding was not officially announced, no one said anything to Tanner, but everyone gave him knowing glances and smiles. Tanner walked into his brother's office: "Andrew, with the Nobel Prize, everyone will come to us. And with the prize money—" Andrew interrupted him: "With that bonus, we can hire more people and send them to Eritrea and Uganda." Tanner said word for word, "But don't you want to use the bonus to grow the business?" Andrew shook his head: "We will continue to do what we did, Tanner." Tanner looked at his brother for a long time: "It's your company, Andrew." Tanner made up his mind and called her. "Princess, I have a business trip to Washington. You may not hear from me for a day or two." "There won't be any blondes, brunettes, redheads," she teased. "It's all useless. You are the only woman I love deeply in this world." "I love you too." The next morning, Tanner Kingsley met at the Pentagon with Chief of Staff General Alan Patton. "I think your suggestion is very interesting," said General Patton. "We are discussing who to use for that test." "Your tests involve micro-nanotechnology, and my brother just won a Nobel Prize for his work on that." "We know very well." "He's very excited and willing to use it for the public good." "We are deeply honored, Mr. Kingsley. Not many Nobel laureates have offered their services." He looked up to confirm that the door was closed. "It's top secret. If it works, it will be the most important component of our armed forces. Molecular nanotechnology will allow us to control the physical world at the level of individual molecules. Until now, efforts to further shrink chips have been stigmatized by the so-called 'Crosstalk' electronic interference, when electrons were uncontrolled. If this experiment is successful, it will give us important new defensive and offensive weapons." Tanner said: "This experiment is not dangerous, is it? I don't want anything to happen to my brother." "You needn't worry. We'll be sending over all the equipment you need, including protective suits, and two of our scientists who will assist your brother." "Then we can do it?" "You can." On the way back to New York, Tanner thought: All I have to do now is convince Andrew.