Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
I snort. Tilting my head to the side, I look at this woman as if she’s crazy. She must be.
“Three million dollars?” I laugh. “Yeah, that’s not happening. You three have lost it.”
“Then you obviously don’t want to buy us out. You’re wasting our time. You can leave,” she says, waving a hand at me.
“Okay, thanks for your time,” I say and stand.
Bianca’s face turns white as a sheet. I had a feeling that would be her reaction. You see, I noticed a few things while entering this brownstone. This was the home my father bought when Bianca talked him into moving back to the States.
While this place is no Château, my father allowed Bianca to furnish it with the best and most expensive things. Items are missing. Some of Bianca’s prized possessions are no longer on display.
Glenda’s weave looks more torn up than usual and they all look like it’s been a month since they’ve had fill-ins. I’ve never known these three to go a week without getting their nails done. The Band-Aid around the nail of Rosa’s index finger screams that something is off.
I don’t think any of this is a coincidence. They’re having money problems. They need me more than I need to buy the company.
“Just give us the money,” Glenda stands and shouts. “You’re rich. A fucking princess, for crying out loud. I hate you.”
“It wasn’t good enough that you stole a prince from my sister,” Rosa joins in. “You go over there and find out you’re a princess. Every damn paper in London has your face plastered all over it.”
“What?” I stumble back and look at them in confusion.
I turn to Ms. Randell, but she’s no longer sitting in the armchair she had taken when I sat. My confusion grows. I knew these two were spoiled and jealous, but damn. That shit has caused them to go insane as well.
Rosa stomps off. Bianca covers her face and shoves her hands in her hair as she vibrates with anger. Glenda glares at me like I’m some piece of shit.
“Don’t try to play stupid with us,” Glenda snarls. “We know you have money. That’s why you’re here. You found out about the money and companies in Europe. Then you found out you’re a princess.”
“You ruined our lives. Clients don’t want to sign with us. Our reputation is shit because of you. All of our parties were canceled because you threw dirt on our names.”
“Why are you here? To gloat. Big fancy princess with all that money and a prince pining after his long-lost princess. You made us look like fools. We’re losing everything because of you,” she hurls at me.
“Here, you want to lie to our faces now?” Rosa storms back in, tossing a tablet at me.
I look down at the screen. This time the blood drains from my face. Pictures of the day Princeton kissed me in front of the hotel are splashed on the screen. There are also a few pictures I had no idea anyone had taken during my time in Verlez.
However, it’s the headline that’s put a lump in my throat. Lost Princess has Returned. I start to skim the article and I freeze.
It has been confirmed. We’ve lost Princess Beverly. May she rest in peace. However, all is not lost. While we will keep our fond memories of the princess, we can also rejoice in the gift she has left us.
Prince Princeton Duke of Verlez looks elated to have Princess Cinder Duchess of Fru Fru back on this side of the pond. We all know the story of the prince who lost his bride before she was old enough to speak. We’re hoping for a happily ever after for our beloved prince this time.
I stop reading as my brain begins to catch up. My mother was a princess. I’m the baby princess.
“Oh, wait,” Glenda snorts. “I don’t think she knew.”
“She can’t be that stupid,” Rosa replies.
“Enough,” Bianca bursts out and stands from the couch. “Give us your best offer for our shares and they’re yours.”
“She will do no such thing.”
A chill runs through me. My heart skips a beat at the sound of his voice. I don’t turn to face him. I can’t.
I close my eyes and all the threads start to come together. Arthur wasn’t talking to Princeton when he said Your Highness the day Princeton took me to the Château. He was talking to me. And the night I called to get help to return home, he had another slip of the tongue, which means Princeton knew.
My knees nearly buckle. I have no one I can trust. Once again, I’ve been played the fool.
“You knew,” I choke out.
* * *
Princeton
“This is the address,” Williams says from the front seat as the car comes to a stop. “She’s inside.”
“How do you know?” I suddenly have to question how Williams knew Cinder’s exact location. He knew she wouldn’t be at her apartment.