Chapter 6 Meeting The Prince

• Annie
• About an hour into my second shift, a younger boy approaches me. His blue eyes are bright and his face is youthful. I assume he's some type of squire, but I'm not sure since I really am not acquainted with the ways of the royal hierarchy. "Are you Miss Shaw?" His voice is quiet and polite.
• I smile warmly at him. "Yes?"
• "His Royal Highness Prince Daniel Windsor wishes to see you Miss." Those words nearly make my heart stop. I don't want to see him. My breathing quickens.
• "O-oh? He does?" My tongue feels heavy in my mouth and I can speak. I am screwed. I am going to be fired. No, maybe instead I'll be executed for treason or something. Oh god, I don't want to die! "Right now?"
• The boy nods. "Yes Miss. Immediately. Follow me." I go to grab the cart when he shakes his head. "Don't worry Miss Shaw, someone will take care of that. Come with me."
• I have no choice but to follow him down the hall and through the castle. I feel like I'm being lead to the executioner, which if my original nightmarish thoughts were correct, wouldn't be far off. Oh fuck I really messed up and now I'm going to die. "Um... by any chance do you know what this is about?" I ask quietly.
• He shakes his head. "No, I'm sorry Miss. His Royal Highness just called you to summons. I know nothing of the reason."
• Shit.
• I know the reason.
• He walks me through the doors to the West Wing and my heart begins to race. "Here we are Miss Shaw. This is where I must take my leave. Go ahead, right through those doors." With that, the boy leaves me alone. The last thing I want to do is see his face, even if it's stupidly handsome.
• The cocky bastard.
• I hesitate outside the door for a moment. What's the point of knocking if I'm fired anyway? There are no repercussions to my actions because I'm already fired or even dead. Literally nothing worse could happen.
• I open the door. "Ah, Miss Shaw. Come join me. Would you like a drink?" Daniel was smirking and leaning on the counter with a glass in his hand. He brought the amber liquid up to his lips.
• I raise a brow and awkwardly shuffle into the suite, closing the door behind me. "No thank you, Your Highness."
• He grins, showing perfect white teeth and stares me down. His dark eyes unsettle me and I feel my skin erupt in goosebumps. "Ah, so you do know who I am?" He reaches under the counter and pours me a glass of scotch anyway. I frown. I need to remain sober.
• I answer by narrowing my eyes. "Are you trying to get me drunk?" I ask incredulously.
• There's a look in his eyes that I can't quite place as he continues to smile at me from across the counter. He brings the glass up to his lips again. Oh those lips. So perfect, I want to brush my fingers over them and take them in my mouth, feel them between my thighs... oh my god. No. Get your mind out of the gutter. This man, this hot man, is going to fire you and maybe even have you executed. He ignores my jab and laughs. "I see you still have no manners, Annie."
• I snort. Okay. This man is an asshole. "Well, what more do I have to lose?"
• Oh what the hell? Why not drink? I pick up the glass in a mock toast and then take a sip. The liquid burns its way down my throat and settles in my belly.
• Nope. Not doing that again.
• He leans forward over the counter until his face is just inches from my own. I feel my face flush. He's so close. "I can tell you right now Annie, you have much more to gain."
• I feel his warm breath on my lips and I'm tempted to lean in and taste them. They look so soft, so perfect. Instead, I focus on his attitude.
• Does he think I'm going to spread my legs for him? The nerve! Although, a part of me definitely wants to and this part is larger than I'm willing to admit, but this man is an ass. A confident ass. "Oh really? And what do I have to gain, Your Highness?"
• I don't think it's possible for him to lean any closer, but he does. His lips are so close, it's like he's about to kiss me. He lingers in my personal space for a few seconds, looking into my eyes, and then pulls away and straightens his jacket. I'm so focused on his face that I didn't notice earlier that he was wearing a fancy suit with a navy blue tie. It's a far cry from the towel earlier and he looks even hotter, if that's even possible. "I have a proposal for you."
• I lean forward, a smile playing on my lips. "There's nothing you have that I want."
• He grins and runs a hand through his raven hair. "Oh really? How about your job?"
• My jaw nearly hits the floor. "Oh, so now you're blackmailing me? Now who has the lack of manners? Aren't you supposed to be a gentleman?" I glare at him. I don't want my job, not anymore, but I have to admit that I need it. I need it to provide for myself and for Aline's family. He has me cornered.
• He leans forward again. "I'm no gentleman, Miss Shaw." Those eyes. Those dark eyes. They keep my in place when I want nothing more than to run. He clears his throat. "Like I said, I have a proposal for you," Prince Daniel reaches into his suit and pulls out a yellow folder. "You are foreign so you are blissfully unaware of my dire situation, which makes you perfect for the job."
• I eye the folder suspiciously. "What job?"
• He opens the folder and slides a contract across the island until it sits in front of me. "If you are unaware, I am this country's sole heir to the throne. I am serious about the crown, but my father is going to give it to my younger brother Michael. I do not have the best reputation."
• I snort. "You got that right, Buddy."
• He doesn't respond and I keep my gaze locked on his, trying to decode his meaning. "What does that have to do with me?"
• "Oh Annie, it has everything to do with you." He muses, like he's talking to an ignorant child. "You see, I need a wife and children to show I'm serious about becoming King and you need money to support your friend and your family back home."
• I'm staring to figure out what he wants, but decide to play dumb anyway. "And?"
• His smile widens, but it's a dark smile, like a fallen angel. "And, this leads me to my proposal. If you agree to become my wife for one year and provide me with an heir, I will pay you one million dollars."