Chapter Four

 

After her interview with Oscar, Amelia walked on air the entire return trip to the office. She’d put in a few more hours of work today then head home. Though, the thought of eating pizza and going over marketing materials left her with the blahs. Wonder what Oscar planned for his evening? Likely something more exciting, like dinner out at a nice restaurant then drinks at one of the local bars.

She texted Lilly and then her other best friend, Astrid, to see if they wanted to have a group call tonight. Since they were businesswomen as well, they might have some insights into hiring Oscar. Not that she’d tell them he was a prince. That was her secret, and a thrill of excitement shimmered up her spine at the thought of the handsome prince charming.

After preparing for one of tomorrow’s appointments for what seemed like only minutes, she was hands deep in cream fabric samples when Nia walked into her office, coat on and purse in hand. Amelia glanced up, blurry eyed, and refocused her vision to the woman standing several feet away. “Oh…is it that time already?”

“Oh yeah.” Nia gave a thumbs up. “Don’t get me wrong, boss, I love my job but when five o’clock hits, I’m ready to kick off my heels and relax.”

Amelia imagined heading home, then slipping off her shoes and pouring a tall glass of wine. A phantom buzz from her fantasy wine sent a calm, tingling sensation to her brain. If only she had the willpower to leave work with the rest of her staff. “Are you the last one here?”

“Betty is still around, but she’s packing up her laptop and heading out,” Nia said. “You should leave too.”

“I will…soon.” Amelia tossed aside the fan of satin fabric samples. After an hour of debating, she wasn’t any closer to selecting a shade of cream for a bride’s custom wedding dress. Maybe tomorrow would bring a clearer mind. Right now, she was still too unfocused.

In her mind’s eye, she continued to see Oscar’s face, his beautiful dark eyes, and his captivating smile. Was he really a prince come in search of a job or a ploy sent from Elegant Engagements? Would her competitor sink so low as to try and deceive her into believing she hired a real prince, only to learn he was working to ruin her business.

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Nia moved toward the door. “Don’t stay too late. This will all be here in the morning.”

“I know.” She sighed. Her business was her only true companion. Always there, waiting eagerly every day.

After Nia waved goodbye, Amelia sat at her desk and opened the internet browser on her computer. Only one way to know for sure if Oscar Mendoza was the real deal or a trickster in royal clothing. Her search started with the official website of Montecelia. When the formal photograph of the royal family loaded onto the screen, she felt her heart jerk to a stop.

A tall man, who was a mirror image of the man she’d met on the street stood at the back of the ensemble. At the front sat a regal looking middle-aged couple. The older man, King Marlon, resembled Oscar but with a broader frame. The queen sat with perfect posture and a flawless haute expression. Her silvery blonde hair was topped with a classic and elegant crown.

Standing beside Oscar was a very pretty woman wearing a tiara, who appeared to be close in age to him. The footnote underneath the photo listed her as Princess Rebecca Mendoza Simone. Her husband and two young daughters were positioned next to the princess. The girls wore silly smiles, in contrast to the serious adults.

Amelia’s gaze fixed back on Oscar. Yes, he was the man she’d sipped coffee with a few hours ago. And he was the man she asked to consider working at Royal Weddings Incorporated. Starting tomorrow, she’d likely be the boss of the Prince of Montecelia. What a crazy twist of fate.

She picked up her worry stone from off the tray on her desk and held the smooth opal inside her palm. Could she manage a royal employee? Could she manage not snaring her heart in the process? She reclined in her chair. The only way forward was to treat him like any other employee, with the same high expectations. If he wanted to live like a common person, she’d accommodate, and if he couldn’t keep up, they’d part ways.

Oscar was a prince and likely a future king. He’d leave America and return to his home country. He came from a very different, more privileged world.

She returned her attention to her computer and searched Oscar’s name, finding several interesting articles about him and the future of the monarchy. One news article stated he hadn’t been seen formally in public since the death of his father. The reporter noted the public’s growing apathy for the monarchy, writing about the questions brewing of whether a king, especially a withdrawn one, damaged the country’s reputation more than helped.

Amelia found a few candid photographs. One in particular, of a tan Oscar strolling barefoot in shorts on a beach, caused her body to warm and her stomach to flutter. He appeared relaxed, more similar to how she’d seen him today, and wore a large smile.

She leaned in to get a closer look. Now, if Montecelia could market the man in this photo, they’d have more tourists than they’d know what to do with.

After about a half an hour of tumbling down the Google search rabbit hole, she logged off of her computer. He’d been telling the truth. His situation was exactly as advertised.

She slipped on her sweater and grabbed her purse, then shut off the lights to her office. As hard as keeping quiet would be, she wouldn’t reveal his identity. If he wanted to be regarded as a regular guy, she’d help him pull it off.

Now, time for an evening home alone. Just her and a few half-dead house plants. After a phone chat with Lilly and Astrid, she’d likely spend a long night, tossing and turning, wondering if Prince Oscar was really as perfect as he seemed.

~ * ~

Oscar rolled over and groaned. What had happened to his mattress? He’d tossed and turned all night, trying to find a position where his back hadn’t ached.

He couldn’t recall his schedule for today. Likely, he didn’t have one. After breakfast, he’d take the boat out and head for the cove he discovered the other day. In the afternoon, he’d pick up where he left off on the boat build. The wood would be delivered by then, and he could begin planning.

He sniffed, inhaling unfamiliar scents, and stilled. Wait. Where am I?

Oscar shot up into a sitting position and whipped his head around. This was not his villa in Greece or his room in the palace.

Alarm triggered a surge of adrenaline. The digital clock resting on the side table flashed 7:55. He leaped out of bed and sprinted into the bathroom. Amelia had asked he be at the office at eight o’clock—five minutes from now. He’d wished to make a good impression on his first day. Instead, he’d be tardy and possibly fired before he’d even begun.

Once showered and dressed, he collected his documents and room key card on the way to the door. As he dashed through the lobby, he glanced around for something portable to eat. He swiped a banana from the breakfast counter and headed outside. A warm, summer breeze brushed over his face. Instead of smiling at the pleasant weather, he ground his teeth and picked up the pace.

Amelia had provided him an opportunity. After the near disaster with her bag, he understood how seriously she took her business. Judging from his interactions with her yesterday, he’d assessed her as smart and driven. And instead of proving himself worthy of her consideration, right now, he was only proving he couldn’t tell time.

Fortunately, the distance from the hotel to the office was minimal. He entered through the front door with a whispered prayer on his lips and found the space running in full gear. Everyone was focused on their tasks.

A dark-haired woman approached and held out her hand. “You must be Oscar. Welcome. I’m Nia, Ms. Newland’s assistant. Please follow me.”

Oscar batted away his nerves. He’d dined with heads of state and socialized with movie stars. Even briefly dated a starlet. He was never insecure. But at that moment, he sensed doubt winding around him, squeezing tight. What if he failed and returned to Montecelia, tail firmly tucked between his legs, proving his uncle correct?

Before entering Amelia’s office, he wiped his palms on the sides of his pants legs. He took a deep breath and summoned his bravado, setting out the illusion like a shopkeeper’s window display. With the polish he’d learned since he’d begun walking, he strode into her office with all the confidence of a prince.

The sight of her sitting at her desk kicked him straight in the chest. What if after all these years of unsuccessful dating, he’d secretly held a deep attraction to the no-nonsense business woman type?

“Good morning, Ms. Newland.” Oscar bowed. “My deepest apologies for my lateness. The alarm clock in my hotel room was out of order.” He smiled in an attempt to lift the frown on her lips.

Amelia’s gaze shifted to Nia and softened. “Thank you for escorting Mr. Mendoza back to my office. Please close the door on your way out.”

“Good luck,” Nia whispered before she scooted out of the office, clicking the door closed behind her.

“Have a seat.” Amelia pointed to one of the parson’s chairs positioned beside the desk. “I asked you to be here at eight o’clock. It’s now eight-thirty.”

He sat, fighting the urge to squirm in his seat like a primary schoolboy being disciplined for misbehavior. “My deepest pardons. When I have an early morning appointment, I typically have staff who wake me.”

She arched one eyebrow. “Unless you plan on sending for your butler, I suggest you learn how to use the alarm feature on your phone.”

“Actually, my valet, Tony, is responsible for my care.” His attempt at a laugh caught in his throat. “He’s the most trusted member of my service.”

Amelia rolled her eyes, and one corner of her mouth lifted ever so slightly. But only for a second before it snapped back in place. “Unless Tony is staying with you for the next few months, which in my opinion defeats your purpose, find an alarm that works and use it religiously. Otherwise, I’ll believe you don’t take this job seriously.” She leaned forward in her chair, and her blue-eyed gaze caught his attention. Within her eyes, he saw a smart woman who operated a competitive business. He had to do better. “If you plan on playing a working man until you grow bored, then jet off to your castle, tell me now and save me the trouble.”

Her doubt was only the latest to join the voices of people questioning his commitment. “I won’t fail you.” If he gave up now, he’d prove his critics correct. “Do I still have the job?”

“Depends.” She folded her hands and rested them on her desk. “Your work here will not be high profile or glamourous. And you’ll get no great accolades, other than maybe a ‘good job’ every so often.”

He surveyed her office. The space was finely furnished and decorated, but he noted nothing personal. No family photographs or treasures brought back from trips, making him wonder, who was Amelia Newland outside of work?

He focused his full attention on her. “I want this job and everything that comes with it.”

She nodded, appearing appeased. “Okay.” Reaching to the bookcase behind her, she retrieved a folder and passed it to him. “Here are a few papers for you to fill out. While you’re doing that, I’ll make a photocopy of your work visa. Normally, new hire paperwork is something Nia handles, but I don’t want anyone else in the office knowing you’re a prince.”

“I agree.” He finally exhaled a full breath. “I’ll simply be known as Oscar and say I’m from Spain. In every regard, I desire to be treated like a regular guy.”

“Highly doubtful,” she muttered. “Not when you’re dressed like an Italian model.”

“I’ll buy new clothing. How about a pair of jeans, or are those too casual for the office?” He hadn’t considered he might need a different, more relaxed wardrobe in order to fit in.

“Casual is fine. You won’t be working directly with clients. The less debonair you look, the better.” She sighed and shook her head.

Usually, people were stuffing him into stiff suits and constricting ties. A reason why he loved time spent on the water—free from the reproachful gaze of society. “I’ll go shopping today and purchase clothes more fitted for Justin Bieber than Justin Trudeau.”

“Oh no.” She laughed. “Don’t go too crazy. Let me check my schedule and maybe we can sneak away for a shopping trip. I can’t have you coming into my office looking like a suburban wannabe gangster.”

“A what?” He scratched his temple, very confused.

“Never mind.” Amelia’s cheeks bloomed pink, and she gazed at her computer screen. “Fill out the paperwork and then we can discuss the details of the job. I’ll show you to your office, go over the computer login information, and get you started.”

Once again, he was taken by her beauty. Simple, understated elegance. If she wasn’t his new boss, he’d turn on every ounce of charm and ask her out for dinner. He couldn’t mess up this opportunity, though. His male instincts would need to take a sleeping pill. “I am at your service. Let us begin.”

~ * ~

After spending thirty minutes giving Oscar a high level overview of the tasks he’d be charged with while employed at RWI, Amelia escorted him across the hall to Heather’s office. So far, she liked the quality of the questions he asked, and he’d impressed her with his ability to retain information. Oscar might not have any real world job experience, but she got the sense he knew the ins and outs of planning a party. Probably a skill he’d been born with, like waving to adoring crowds and chatting over tea.

“Heather left a very detailed lists of vendors, payment schedules, current projects, and scheduled wedding dates, times, and locations.” She sat behind Heather’s desk and powered up her computer. “Since she left for maternity leave, I’ve made vendor payments and tracked client charges. Both things I haven’t kept up with like I should.”

He sat on the corner of the desk and gazed down with a grin. “I’m confident you gave a respectable showing.”

More heat crept up her body, from her feet to her face. She rolled the office chair slightly backward, away from the source. Too close and her brain cells turned into mush. “Feel free to adjust Heather’s procedures to what works best for you.” Standing, she held out a sheet of paper with the business logo printed on top. “Here’s your formal job offer. Take some time and read it. Come over if you have any questions. If you find it satisfactory, sign and date, then return it to me.”

Once he held the job offer sheet, she retreated to her own office. With both doors still open, she turned to face him, standing across the hall. Her breath halted at the sight of him gazing back. She cleared her throat. “I realize you must be used to giving orders rather than taking them, and fair warning, I’m a demanding boss. I appreciate your willingness to step into the position and learn something new.”

“Being born into a royal family, I discovered early the rules were different for me.” He tipped his head to one side and gave a rueful smile. “Both my mother and father instilled in me a desire to serve the people of our country and our world, but some lessons were learned too late. I’m hoping to get a second chance.”

“I’ve read some of the articles about you online. Do you really think you have enough time to repair your reputation?” And if he couldn’t and was denied the chance to be king, would he find contentment in a life as a regular person, like her?

“Rule number one, don’t believe everything you read.” He hopped off the corner of the desk and straightened his posture. “And rule number two…people have short memories and love a good redemption story.”

For his sake, Amelia hoped he was correct. News stories and gossip had tarnished and put into question his character.

She firmed her resolve to help Oscar any way she could and send him home to Montecelia ready to prove his worth and fulfill his duty.