It was a long march across the conference room to Meredith. You could fit the population of a small country around the table alone.
Within a minute, the room went quiet, like someone had gradually turned down the volume on a radio dial. Genevieve rose from her seat. She nodded at the silver-haired man on her left, who stood and nodded to the next person, and the next, until the twelve council members formed a silent wall in front of the large congregation.
“Everyone may be seated.” Genevieve smiled. “I would officially like to call this meeting to order.”
The room dimmed to a subdued purple. A halo of light illuminated Genevieve as she spread her arms wide. “As you well know, Façade was first established in the year 1483, under the direction of Beatrix the Bold. Within this newly formed institution, Beatrix established a council of six females, including three of her sisters. The initial goal of the agency was to protect female royalty. Beatrix also controlled the royals’ access to magic through the Charm Treaty of 1491. Changes have been made since that first meeting. The first man was sworn into the council two hundred years ago. The Rouge formula was expanded to an extensive royal makeup line, which now provides twenty-five percent of our profits. And of course, the council number grew to twelve. Council meetings have been conducted in this room for centuries, and it is very rare indeed for the invite list to be so expansive. So why are you here?”
No one moved. No one seemed to breathe.
“First off, let me begin by dispelling a rumor. I am not retiring.”
The collective breath was let out. Murmurs began. Meredith squeezed my hand. Her fingers were icicles, and her mouth was frozen in a tight line. I couldn’t imagine what this moment must have been like for her, knowing that everything in her life was about to change.
Lilith smirked at me from across the table. I couldn’t wait to see her expression in just a few more minutes.
“As such, we are not appointing a new head of council today. But I have decided to make a few changes, and that is why I’ve asked you all here.” Genevieve held up her pointer finger. “Number one involves an increase in our ranks. I would like the reception for our thirteenth council member to be warm and welcoming.”
News of a thirteenth council member hit the audience with a physical force. The promotion now seemed possible to everyone. Foam was going to drip from Lilith’s mouth if Genevieve didn’t move faster.
A screen slid down from the ceiling behind Genevieve, displaying the number thirteen and a question mark. “This agent has been vital to our agency, and now it is time for her to use her background to serve the council,” Genevieve began. “She has overcome many obstacles, both in her professional and personal life, but always has been devoted to her career. We look forward to her continued devotion as we create a new role for her. What her duties will be remains to be seen, but for now, please join me in welcoming the newest and youngest member to the Façade council. Meredith Pouffinski, please stand.”
Meredith’s image filled the screen. There was a shocked silence as Meredith’s chair scraped against the floor and she rose to her full four feet eleven inches. A serene smile played on her lips, but I could see her foot jiggling under the table. After the pause, the room burst into applause, all except for Lilith, who folded her arms purposefully across her chest. Meredith nodded at the audience, enjoying a moment she’d probably hoped for her whole life.
I wondered if she would text her prince about this. I wondered if she said anything to him anymore.
Genevieve raised a hand and the room quieted again. The screen went dark.
“I realize this news is a bit shocking, but predictability is for the predictable. Meredith will be inducted to the council in a private ceremony later today, but a celebratory feast will be served by the Dorshire chef immediately after this meeting. I hope you will congratulate Meredith on her new position. Thank you, Meredith.”
Meredith took her seat. If she was aware that every single person in the room was staring at her with envy, she didn’t show it.
“There is one more item of business to attend to,” Genevieve continued. “You’ll also notice we have quite a few younger Façade employees here today. I’ve invited a select number of Level Three substitutes to join us because of their exemplary performance in the field. I’ll invite you all to stand now.”
Five subs besides myself stood—three boys including Reed, and two other girls. The boys weren’t boys so much as men…easily in their early twenties, with an effortless preppy appeal. The larger girl sub was around their age also, with beautiful brown skin and dark curly hair. Which left the girl standing next to Lilith. She was waiflike, probably two or three years older than me. I smiled, and she stared at me. No smile. So maybe Lilith had already made this girl aware of who I was.
“Thank you. You may be seated. These subs are the future of Façade. They may serve on this very council someday. They may even hold my job. One of our new initiatives is a substitute ambassadorship. For a portion of each council meeting, we will invite one boy and one girl to attend as a representative for substitutes, or surrogates. They may offer any suggestions, talk about successes or even grievances. After all, subs are our eyes and ears in the field.”
Genevieve’s speech gave me the goose bumps. Today was going to go down in Façade history, and I was a part of it!
“To witness the effectiveness of this new program, I’ve asked Isabel and Gregory to be our first substitute spokespeople. Again, I cannot stress how progressively groundbreaking this moment is.” She motioned to one of the boys. “Gregory, if you will?”
I felt a pang of disappointment that I wouldn’t be able to address the council today, but part of being democratic was giving everyone a turn to speak. I’d also have more time to prepare my arguments. Maybe one of these subs would even say something similar to my concerns and I could build on that.
Gregory stood. His stature was large and commanding. His voice boomed. “Thank you for this honor, Genevieve. There is something of grave importance I’d like to address. Something that has weighed heavily on my heart. Something to do with usage of magic and cosmetics.”
I almost yelled, “Amen!” Gregory was my man. Gregory was going to make my job so much easier. It was totally obvious that too much magic was wasted on the makeup. Thank goodness I had Gregory to get the ball rolling.
“Specter has been part of this agency for centuries now. And as such, our needs have been overlooked. Where is the male makeup line?” Gregory pumped his fist into the air. “Where are the antiaging serums specifically triggered to the contours of a man’s face? Where are the soothing aftershaves? The women are given makeup that makes them look fifteen years younger, while we still walk around with receding hairlines! Where is the justice in that?”
The crowd nodded thoughtfully, like male makeup was a viable topic of discussion. Gregory! You’re kidding me. Go glob on some concealer if you’re worried about wrinkles. Or better yet, go take on the appearance of a handsome prince.
I couldn’t believe that I worked for an agency where a guy like this was actually being taken seriously. He could have asked for new vending machines in the lobby and been more helpful. At least then I could go chug a Mountain Dew to calm my nerves.
Genevieve tapped a pen to her mouth. “I’m so sorry the agency has been blind to your needs, Gregory. This is an issue we clearly need to address.” Genevieve turned to a blue-haired woman to her left. “Esmeralda, you’re over that. I want a male-cosmetic sub committee organized stat.” She beamed. “See? This is how we progress as an institution.”
The room broke into applause. Sergei crossed the room and gave Gregory a gruff hug. I caught Reed’s eye and he shrugged. I knew him well enough to know he thought this was stupid too. At least I wasn’t the only sane person in the room.
“Now, Isabel, what would you like to add to the conversation?” Genevieve asked.
Isabel was already putting on some lipstick. Lilith reached over and fluffed her
hair and they gave each other a hug before Isabel stood and flashed a bright smile to the crowd. “I would not change a thing about Façade. The tradition our foremothers set for us is respectable, honorable, wise, and pragmatic.”
I snuck a glance at Lilith. She was mouthing the words with Isabel.
I slumped back in my seat. My dreams of committees and proposals were already melting away. If I wanted to make any changes here, it wasn’t going to be by convincing a large group of people that something they’d done for generations was wrong. Especially when they had things like boy blush to worry about.
Isabel was still going. “…I appreciate the venerable traditions of sovereigns and surrogates past, and think those relationships should continue into the ages. Let us not forget, we work for monarchs, for the elite, the exalted, and the privileged. We must not lose our credibility by adapting the ideals of…” She paused, making a face. “Democracy. We have a wonderful institution here. I elect we keep Façade exactly the way it is. Thank you.”
Lilith burst into applause. The crowd followed with polite clapping. Genevieve cleared her throat. “Well, thank you for those heartfelt adulations. Glad to hear you support Façade so fervently. A lovely note to end on, I believe. Ambassadors, you know the framework for future meetings, and you will be contacted when it’s time for you to address the council. This section of the meeting will now close so we might celebrate our newest member. Please, enjoy the music and food, and thank you all for your hard work at Façade!”
Well, that was a royal waste of time. I turned to tell Meredith this, along with a bunch of other grievances, but she was already standing, already being whisked away by the congratulatory masses. She was glowing and laughing and…happy. It was the happiest I’d seen her at work, almost as happy as she was with her prince. I sighed. Great. That wasn’t something I could mess with, not today. Yet another important topic to save for another time. I might explode with all the save-upiness inside me.
The crowd spilled into Dorshire Hall. Banquet tables and bouquets of fresh flowers added more appeal to the eloquent space. I set my sights on the dessert table. At least they would have cream puffs. Cream puffs would never leave me. Cream puffs would never promise a revolution and then provide a student council speech. They may be puffy, but they are true to what they are.
I reached the table and took in the petit fours, the iced tiara cookies, the macaroons. There weren’t any cream puffs. The one thing I wanted, and Façade couldn’t deliver. Typical. I settled for an éclair. An éclair and a fleeting chance that anything at Façade would ever change.
A brass band jammed in the corner as waiters circled with appetizers. Agents mingled with council members, who chatted with people I’d never seen before, serving on committees I’d never heard of. If this many people were at an “exclusive” event, it made me wonder how big Façade really was. Meredith’s promotion was a very big deal. And if she was a big deal now, was she still going to have time for me? If I didn’t have Meredith on my side, who did I have?
The other Level Threes stood in a circle near the salad bar. Reed caught my eye and nodded me over. Oh, goodie. Maybe Gregory would share ideas on how to save his manly cuticles. And I wasn’t too eager to talk to Reed, either, since our conversations left me feeling so sweet and sour. And Lilith’s little prodigy…no thanks. Still. I didn’t know these other subs. Maybe one would turn to me and say, “You know what I was just thinking, Desi? That whole magic-stealing thing is a bummer. Let’s lobby against that, K?”
Gregory was receiving compliments on his moving cosmetics speech. I leaned back on my crutches and tried to eat my éclair in silence, but when he started to compare himself to some of the American founding fathers, I snorted.
Gregory squinted at me. “Is there a problem?”
I swallowed the rest of my éclair and licked my fingers. “No. I mean, its just makeup. Not life or death.”
“Do you know how hard it is to get in character for a self-confident prince like Harry when I don’t feel confident underneath? Do you?”
“Harry?” I asked. “Prince Harry? Of England? You sub for him?”
“I’m his Match. And as such, I deserve the same respect and privileges afforded our agents.”
“You’re still talking about makeup, right?” I asked.
Reed squeezed my elbow and whispered, “Desi, careful—”
I shook him off. “No, I’m just saying, I’m all for equality, but you’re thinking small potatoes.”
“And what potatoes would you have in mind?” Gregory sneered.
“What about where the magic for that makeup comes from?” I asked.
The older girl flipped her dark hair. “Don’t tell me you’re going to go off on animal testing. It doesn’t hurt the organisms to take magic, you know.”
The group stared at me like I was a creature from one of Kylee’s favorite movies. Reed looked at his feet. So they all bought the same story—extra magic came from organic material. None of them knew the harsh truth. And if I told them, would they believe me? Doubt it. They all had a great job. Why question that?
“Never mind,” I grumbled.
“And, I’m sorry, but how long have you been a sub?” Gregory asked. “I don’t mean to be obtuse, but you’re obviously very young and inexperienced. So why are you here? I’m curious.”
Because I know secrets you don’t. “I don’t know. I just am.”
“Are you doubting Genevieve?” Reed cut in.
Gregory barked a laugh. “Of course not.”
“Well, Desi obviously must be very talented and smart if she’s gotten so far so fast. So maybe we should give her some respect.”
“How long have you been here?” Isabel asked.
“Almost six months,” I said.
“Wow,” Gregory said. They stood there, staring at me, trying to figure out what made me so special.
It was in that moment that I made up my mind. I could either be a part of the problem, or I could be a part of the solution. I had tried to be rational, tried to play by the rules, and it just wasn’t working. I could wait until it was my turn to address the council as a substitute ambassador, but who was to say they would listen to me? I mean, they already KNEW about sub-sanitation; they were the ones who invented it. No, I needed to take some action myself.
Now was the time to make a real impact. “I have to go.” I hobbled away, out of Dorshire, away from all the confusion. There were footsteps behind me, but I didn’t look back. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I took a painful hop down each stair, trying not to let the ankle slow down my resolve. I was starting to form a plan now and wouldn’t have much time to execute it.
“Desi!” Reed caught up to me easily, his hand light on my shoulder.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“Why are you so mad?”
“I’m not.”
“You are. Here, let me help.” He swooped me up into his arms and stuck my crutches on top of me. I didn’t even have time to object—he had me down the stairs and seated on a bench before I knew it. My skin was all tingly from his touch. He kneeled down in front of me and brushed a hair away from my face. “Now. Is this about that crazy stolen magic story?”
I flinched. Story? He made it sound like I’d wiggled my way into this little club. I didn’t ask for any of this. I was actually really happy at Level One, trying to make little impacts in my clients’ lives, not worrying about ambassador meetings and Matching and power. Reed didn’t get that because he was a legacy. Born and bred to be a part of Façade. He’d lived with this his whole life and had never had cause to question.
“It wasn’t a story,” I said.
“Okay. But what I’m really concerned about right now is how upset you are.”
I buried my face in my hands. He might think I was nuts, but he also cared about me, or at least cared if I was upset. He’d defended me in front of all those people, not worrying if he looked crazy by association.
Who could blame
him for thinking I was making up my “story”? The sub-sanitation room is really one of those things you have to see to believe. Which meant I needed to include Reed on my plan. I was going to the sub-sanitation room. Right now. Meredith had a special key to get in, but Reed said that I could program my manual to get anywhere into Façade. Why not there? And once he saw those glowing vials filled with stolen magic, he would have to believe me.
“Hey, you want to go explore Façade some more?” I asked. “I could show you some places Sergei didn’t.”
“Can’t. Sergei just sent me an urgent job.” He smiled and held up his manual. “Another time, though?”
“Yeah. Another time.”
Reed reached over and gave my hand a little squeeze. “Be careful out there.”
My hand was still buzzing minutes after he left. Stupid hand. Didn’t matter who Reed was or how I felt about him in Sproutville. Here, he was important, and here he didn’t want to listen to me. And although that realization was painful, it didn’t change what I needed to do.
Infiltrate Façade.
As I limped through Façade’s corridors, I devised DBIF: TBP, short for Desi Bascomb Infiltrates Façade: The Battle Plan.
1. Find a map of Façade.
2. Get into the sub-sanitation room.
3. Find a former sub’s magic.
4. Return/restore that sub’s magic.
The problems with that plan:
1. Façade: Even if I managed to find a map, I still wouldn’t have an invisibility cloak to hide me. I couldn’t cover all of my tracks. And if surveillance went back to monitor where I had been, they could document my every move.
2. Room: There is a special key that I didn’t have. There was an application that I needed to somehow access and hope even worked.
3. Magic: When Meredith showed me the Wall o’ Magic, there were thousands of vessels, and there could be much more stored somewhere else. To just pick up one vessel and know who originally owned that magic was not going to be easy. Forget easy. Impossible.
A Princess for Hire Book Page 8