Chapter 39: An Invitation
San Francisco's evening traffic moved slowly as the sun dipped below the horizon, turning the sky into a deep orange glow. Anshul walked calmly through the streets, leaving the financial district behind while thinking about the conversation he had just finished.
Daniel Carter had taken the business proposal more seriously than expected.
That was a good sign.
Investment firms rarely agreed to meetings with unknown entrepreneurs unless something about the proposal caught their attention. The fact that Daniel was willing to present the plan to senior partners meant the idea had already passed the first filter.
But Anshul wasn't depending entirely on investors.
The wealth he had already gathered gave him something far more important than funding.
Freedom.
Freedom to build things at his own pace.
Freedom to negotiate without desperation.
As he walked toward Mia's neighborhood, the familiar black limousine was already parked outside her house again.
The routine had almost become predictable.
A few minutes later the door opened.
Mia stepped out.
She looked far more composed than she had during the first days of training. Her posture had improved noticeably, and even the way she carried herself seemed different.
When she spotted Anshul standing nearby, she smiled slightly.
"You're starting to appear here every day."
"Coincidence."
"Sure," Mia said with a laugh.
She walked closer and leaned against the gate.
"Training was worse today."
"That sounds impressive."
"They made me practice formal introductions for two hours."
"What kind of introductions?"
"The kind where you have to remember ten different royal titles and greet people properly."
"That sounds exhausting."
"It is," Mia admitted.
For a moment she studied him quietly.
"So what did you do today?"
"Business."
Her eyebrows rose slightly.
"You're running a company now?"
"Working on it."
Mia looked surprised but curious.
"I thought you were just a traveler."
"I do other things too."
"Well, apparently you're mysterious enough already," she said with a small smile.
At that moment the limousine door opened again.
Queen Clarisse stepped out.
She had clearly noticed the conversation from inside the vehicle.
Her calm eyes examined Anshul briefly before shifting toward Mia.
"Amelia."
"Yes, Grandmother?"
"You have an engagement tomorrow afternoon."
Mia groaned softly.
"What kind of engagement?"
"A formal dinner."
"That sounds dangerous."
Clarisse ignored the comment.
"You will attend."
Then her gaze shifted toward Anshul again.
"Young man."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"You seem to spend a considerable amount of time near my granddaughter."
Mia immediately looked embarrassed.
"We're just talking!"
Clarisse raised an eyebrow slightly.
"I see."
She paused for a moment before speaking again.
"If you are truly her friend, you may attend tomorrow's dinner as a guest."
Mia blinked in surprise.
"Wait, really?"
Clarisse nodded once.
"It would give Amelia someone familiar to speak with."
Mia turned toward Anshul quickly.
"You have to come."
He considered the situation for a moment.
A royal dinner meant meeting influential people connected to Genovia.
For someone planning to build a company that might eventually move its headquarters there…
That opportunity was valuable.
"I'll come," he said.
Mia smiled immediately.
"Good."
Clarisse watched the interaction quietly before returning to the limousine.
"Joseph."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Prepare the schedule."
The car door closed again.
As the limousine drove away, Mia looked back at Anshul with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
"You're going to regret agreeing to this."
"Why?"
"Because royal dinners are terrifying."
Anshul smiled slightly.
"We'll see."
As Mia walked back into the house, Anshul remained standing on the sidewalk for a moment.
Tomorrow would be interesting.
For the first time since arriving in this world, he would step directly into Genovia's royal circle.