by Tee, Marian
She blurted out, “H-how did you know his name?”
“Did you truly expect I wouldn’t have done my research on people who wish to work for me?” Not waiting for her answer, he murmured, “About Grant Bennett...”
She slowly shook her head. “I don’t believe it’s appropriate that I speak of him, prince.”
And with that, she had passed the test, having proved that she could be loyal and trusted to keep other people’s secrets.
For now.
The prince nodded at Igor.
Igor said right away, “I’m delighted to let you know that you’ve been accepted for provisionary employment.”
“Oh, thank God.” The girl half-slumped in relief, saying, “I thought he wouldn’t want me because I wasn’t cool enough, and you know how most times cool kids think they can only stay cool by hanging out with cool people—-”
The prince slowly turned to Igor. Is this truly the best girl we can hire at this point?
Igor nodded. This is the best girl among the small sample group of females who are certain not to fall in love with you.
“And they don’t think about their individuality and—-”
Igor coughed.
The girl froze.
Then very faintly, she said, “I j-just babbled, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did, but we can choose to forget it.” Igor’s tone was efficient. “Thank you for coming, Ms. Cornwall. You will be under evaluation on your first thirty days, after which we will assess your performance. You will be offered a permanent position in our staff if you pass.”
WHEN IGOR CAME BACK after escorting the girl out, the prince said idly, “She’s different, isn’t she?”
“In a good way, I believe.” Igor took his usual place, standing at the side of the prince.
Leaning back against his seat, the prince remarked, “She calls me ‘prince.’” While he was known as the Prince of Darkness, no one had really called him that to his face.
“Which you are one,” Igor pointed out.
He rolled his eyes. “Not by blood or appointment, and you know that.”
“The people on the island think differently.” When the prince had turned eighteen, he had received a posthumous bequest from Rodrigo amounting to millions of dollars, all of which he had used to build new infrastructure on the island he had grown up in as well as set up livelihood programs for victims of gang-related crime.
The prince shook his head. “I’m just giving back what was theirs from the start.”
“Not many others would.” Igor’s tone was unusually cynical, but both of them knew he spoke the truth. Seeing the prince’s expression turn grim, he changed the subject, saying, “I believe you’ve made the right decision with the girl.”
“Do you?” The prince’s tone was unreadable.
Igor nodded firmly. “I am certain it has not escaped your notice that the last five women we dismissed had all made the mistake of thinking you were in love with them.”
The prince let out an inelegant snort.
“Exactly, sir. Ms. Cornwall, however, is unlikely to do the same. After all, she is engaged to Mr. Grant Bennett—-”
“Who, according to you,” the prince interrupted in a lazy drawl, “is my opposite.”
“Your exact opposite, sir.”
The prince raised a brow. “Did you really need to emphasize that?”
The older man’s expression remained bland. “Ms. Cornwall has been fortunate enough to find herself a good man to love, and I believe that Mr. Bennett is equally fortunate to have someone like Ms. Cornwall as his fiancée. It would be a pity if her employment with us would cause problems in the relationship.”
“Is that your roundabout way of telling me,” the prince drawled, “I should keep my hands off her?”
“Your words, not mine, sir.”
The prince rolled his eyes. “She’s not my type, Igor.”
“I am overjoyed to hear that, sir.” But privately, Igor wasn’t so certain. After all, when the girl had answered back, the prince had neither reprimanded nor fired her, which he normally would have done. Instead, the younger man had almost...smiled.
A genuine smile, which Igor had only seen the prince doing in the company of his small circle of friends.
But with the women he took to bed?
Never.
FAWN CORNWALL, BROWN eyes trained dedicatedly on the floor she was mopping, hummed as loudly as she could inside her mind. It was the only way she could continue working and pretend that there wasn’t a couple having sex right next to her.
Seriously, God, what have I gotten into?
No wonder she had thought this job to be too good to be true. In the seven days she had been working for the prince, she had witnessed just about every level of immorality and depravity that there was, enough to ruin her for life.
Like yesterday, there had been that guy drinking the girl’s pee—-
Mentally shuddering, she cut the thought off while she unconsciously sought her engagement ring. Since necklaces were the only allowed form of jewelry, she had chosen to turn it into a pendant at work, and over time it had also become her sole source of solace and comfort.
Feeling its solid shape under her uniform made Fawn sigh quietly in relief. This ring reminded her that once she stepped out of the prince’s world, something reassuringly normal waited for her.
I love you, Grant, she thought feelingly.
And for her future with Grant, she had to do this.
When she was done mopping, the couple in the living room still wasn’t done having sex. Not wanting to accidentally see their naked forms, she kept her head down as she moved towards the hallway.
Behind her, the couple’s groans became louder.
Fawn mentally cringed. Was this supposed to be arousing? It was like living straight out of a porn film, and yet—-
She had heard from the other maids how they were hopelessly turned on by what they saw and heard at the prince’s parties.
So why did she feel differently?
Was something wrong with her?
Was there something she was missing—-
“That’s quite a frown you’ve there,” a voice drawled.
Her head jerked up, and Fawn saw to her horror that it was the prince, leaning against the doorway of his study.
Holy crap.
How was it that he was here? Was it a billionaire thing that he was so scary good at hiding his footsteps?
When the prince raised a brow at her, Fawn realized she was still gaping at him. Turning red, she stammered, “G-good evening, prince.” Now please go, she thought desperately. It wasn’t that she was afraid of the prince, but he just felt too dangerous to her. Something inside of her seemed to set off the moment he was near, making her tingle all over.
It was seriously alarming, pun intended.
“You’re scowling now.”
His words had her hurriedly rearranging her face into a smile.
“You look like a clown.”
She tried one more time.
“A psychopath now, but it will do.” His voice turned brisk. “Are you not enjoying your work here?”
Fawn shook her head quickly, realized it might be misinterpreted, and nodded. Then she realized that could be misinterpreted as well, and she croaked out, “I r-really enjoy my work here.”
“Hard to tell,” the prince murmured after a beat, “after you nearly killed me by putting salt in my coffee.”
Because you made me nervous with how you kept staring at me!
She mumbled, “Sorry, prince.”
“I haven’t seen you around since then.”
She could only smile weakly. She had been avoiding him. After her first day fiasco, Fawn had been convinced that she wouldn’t survive the job if she kept bumping into the prince. Since then, she had done her best to familiarize herself with the prince’s schedule and movements, therefore ensuring she wouldn’t ever have to work anywhere near him.
And she ha
d succeeded—-until now.
“It makes me think you’re avoiding me.”
Fawn wanted to throw up at the direct question. Mary, Jesus, and Joseph, had she been found out? She cautiously took a peek at his expression and nearly collapsed.
He knew she was avoiding him!
The prince was gazing at her quizzically, and she knew he was expecting an answer. She knew but she didn’t want to, knowing that when she was nervous, she tended to—-
The prince raised a brow.
“Never, prince. I could never, like, seriously, never.”
She tended to do that.
Babble.
“I was actually just giving you, umm, a...wide berth? Not that I’m saying it’s because you’re fat because obviously you’re not, and I’m speaking from experience because I’ve seen you half-naked more times I’ve seen my own boyfriend—-”
Realizing what she had just let slip, Fawn turned red and shut up.
The prince was visibly stunned. “Are you telling the truth?”
“About what, prince?”
Emerald-green eyes boring through hers, the prince said pleasantly, “You should know I fire people who force me to repeat myself.”
Sweet Jesus protect my job.
Wincing, she stammered, “It’s true, prince.”
“Is your boyfriend gay then?”
“What? No!” She shook her head incredulously, thinking he really was the Prince of Darkness, to immediately assume that Grant had to be gay just because he liked to have his clothes on.
“Then why?”
Would he fire her if she told him he was asking her something that didn’t have anything to do with work?
“Yes,” the prince said.
She gaped at him. “Did you just read my mind?” He really was the Prince of Darkness!
Idiot, the prince thought. Her face was just too easy to read. He asked impatiently, “Why then?”
“W-why do you even want to know?” she asked helplessly.
“Curiosity perhaps,” he answered with a shrug. “Or boredom.”
She wondered if he knew how insulting that sounded and thought, Probably. It wasn’t like insulting her would do anything to the prince’s shockproof conscience. She said reluctantly, “Because he r-respects me.” Or at least that was what she liked to tell herself these days.
So girls like this one still existed, he thought. Pure as driven snow, thinking she could guard her virginity until she made it to the altar.
Idiot, he thought again.
“M-may I go now?”
“Of course...parthena mou.” The last one was unintended, but since he was unable to recall her name at that moment, the prince decided to use the first term that came to his mind in describing her.
Turning away and tightly clutching her mop like it was a weapon of self-defense, Fawn wondered nervously what those last words meant. What had he said again?
She remembered the cuss words she got one of the other maids, a half-Filipina, had tried to teach her. It really sounded similar, she thought suspiciously.
Pu...na...mo.
Hmm.
It really sounded familiar.
Could the prince be cursing her?
Alone in his study, the prince thought for a moment before walking to his desk and accessing the employee database in his computer. The girl’s file came up a few moments later.
Fawn.
Her name was Fawn.
And for one moment, the prince had an uneasy feeling that it was a name he would never forget again.
THE NEXT TIME THE PRINCE encountered her again, it was purely accidental. He was inside the watchtower, speaking with Noah, his chief of security, when he heard an unmistakable voice call out gaily, “I have something for you, Noah.”
Noah automatically looked at the prince for permission. Ex-army and in his fifties, Noah was all about the chain of command. Although Fawn was a good girl, the prince was his first priority.
“Don’t bother letting her know I’m here,” the prince murmured.
Nodding, Noah then poked his head out of the open window, saying with a cheerful smile, “Good morning, Fawn. You’re early today.”
“Classes were cancelled,” Fawn answered, smiling back up at Noah. “I asked Igor if I could do an extra shift and he said yes.” She lifted the paper bag she was holding. “Bagels, and like you’ve never tasted before.” At his doubtful look, she insisted, “I’m not exaggerating. Should I bring it up?”
“No need.” At the prince’s nod, he told Fawn, “I’ll come down.”
The prince continued to listen to the conversation below.
“These are good. Where did you get them?”
“A girl from my statistics class. I told her I’d help with her business plan if she ever thinks of selling them.”
“She could be your first client then.”
“You know me too well, Noah. That’s exactly what I told her,” the prince heard Fawn say with a faint giggle. “Anyway, I gotta go. I also have some for Igor and the others.”
Knowing that the prince was still listening in, Noah asked, “And the prince?”
Silence.
Then Fawn whispered uneasily, “But he’s always sleeping in the mornings. I don’t have to give him any.”
“Are you scared of the prince?”
“No. Yes. I mean, I don’t know. He’s just different.”
“From your beloved Grant?”
“No one’s like Grant.” And this time, Fawn’s tone was proud and happy.
The prince gritted his teeth.
When Noah came back up, he took one look at his young employer and burst out laughing. Most other employees of the prince wouldn’t have the courage to do so, but like Igor, he had been with the prince for a long time. Plus, he was old, which allowed him certain privileges.
The prince said in exasperation, “I can still fire you, you know.”
“But then I would have to tell Fawn you did so unreasonably,” Noah pointed out, “and she’d be even more terrified of you.”
The prince stared at him stonily.
“She’s a good girl, Fawn. It’s a pity she’s already taken.”
The prince decided it was time to change the subject. “What’s that about her getting her first client?”
“She wants to start an accounting firm when she graduates,” he explained. “You didn’t know?”
“I didn’t care to check.”
Because he was lying to himself, Noah realized.
“What’s that look for?” the prince snapped.
“I was thinking the girl’s right. You’re different from the great Grant Bennett. He’s got balls to say what he feels, and that’s why he’s got the girl, too. Sir.”
ON HER THIRD WEEK IN, Igor announced she was being temporarily promoted, saying she could now work at the third floor, too.
She looked at Igor doubtfully, thinking it seemed more like a fancier way of getting her to fill in for Paula, who had called in sick.
“You’ll get paid extra for it,” Igor hinted.
She brightened. “On my way up.” It should be okay, anyway, she thought. The party had just started for the night, so it should keep the prince out of the way while she worked.
Upstairs, it took her a shorter time than usual to sweep and dust. Unlike the other floors, the third story was the prince’s exclusive territory. As it was off-limits to most guests and employees, there were no cigarette butts or empty bottles to clean out, no vomit or spilled drinks to wipe clean.
Seeing that she had finished half an hour earlier than she should, Fawn headed to the third-floor balcony to enjoy a breath of fresh air. Here, the air smelled clean instead of reeking of smoke and alcohol. It was almost peaceful, if one pretended not to hear the groans and sounds of slapping bodies from below.
She checked her watch. Time’s up, Fawn thought. She was about to emerge from the third-floor balcony when she heard the sound of feminine laughter.
Without thi
nking, she stepped back from the balcony doors and hid herself behind the curtains, hoping that whoever it was would leave the hallway right away.
Fawn bit her lip. Or maybe she should report it? This was for the prince’s exclusive use, after all.
When she heard the girl start to emit lewd gasps, Fawn cautiously took a peek—-
Oh.
It was the prince, carrying a girl in his arms, her legs locked around his waist while their mouths were fused in an open-mouthed kiss.
Oh.
In the three weeks she had seen couples doing things – well, okay, there were often threesomes, too, and occasionally foursomes as well – Fawn had been more embarrassed than anything else. It wasn’t that she had never dreamed of making love before. She had. But the way they seemed to do it, with more passion than emotion, it made them look more like animals to her.
But right now—-
She shifted on her feet uncomfortably, knowing she should either stop watching or start making noises so the prince would know they weren’t alone. But...she could do neither, couldn’t even peel her gaze from the way the girl was suddenly and frantically tearing the shirt off the prince’s body.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she heard the prince purr in dark amusement. Pulling away, he let the girl slide to her feet while unbuttoning his shirt and throwing it to the floor.
Fawn gulped as she saw the blonde rake her nails down the prince’s naked back, and her throat went dry as she saw the prince’s muscular body ripple in reaction. And then they were kissing again, the prince suddenly pushing the girl against the wall, his mouth slanting open over the girl’s mouth. She saw his tongue slip inside the girl’s mouth, and she thought about Grant kissing her that way.
It had only happened once, Fawn remembered. It was prom night, and he had suddenly pulled her towards him, more aggressive than usual, and she remembered that all she could think at that time was the taste and scent of beer in his kiss and how wet his tongue was.
But then Grant had dug his hands inside her gown—-
Just like what the prince was doing now.
The prince had torn the glittering spaghetti top from the girl and, plumping one breast in his hand, he took the nipple into his mouth and began to suck.