Chapter 2 #2
"Senorita Carter." His voice was deep and, like the rest of the people she had met since landing, had no trace of an accent.
It was precise and rich. "Welcome to our home.
I trust your flight was uneventful?" There wasn't a trace of a smile on his face, and it hit her that he might have been forced into playing host by his mother.
"It was."
"Would you like something to drink?" He turned as if to go toward a recessed cabinet when she stopped him.
"I'm fine. If you could have someone point me to my rooms, I'd be very grateful."
He turned to look at her, eyes skimming the plain black pants and ash-gray sweater she had chosen to wear. Antoinette had a feeling he found her wanting. Lifting her chin, she gave him a cool look, her face stiff.
"My mother insisted on me being here. Would you like something sent up to your rooms?"
"That's not necessary, and you could have said no."
His thick brows lifted at her temerity, and it occurred to him that she had not bowed as was customary when in the presence of royalty.
But he should have expected nothing less; after all, she was an American and by experience, he knew they were not noted for their polite behavior.
Or even common social etiquette. They were rude, loud and brash.
She had not disappointed him by proving him wrong at all.
"I could have, yes, but I chose to stay. Polite behavior is what we're most famous for."
"I'm just an employee, so there's no need to put out extra effort. I don't need to be coddled. Can you ring a bell or whatever it is you do to summon someone to take me to my room, please?"
For some annoying reason, her tone and attitude were pissing him off.
He had rescheduled his plans with a very delectable female at his mother's orders to welcome this person, and she wasn't showing the right amount of gratitude.
He was the bloody prince, and she happened to be an employee.
They had a full complement of staff who bowed and scraped whenever he stepped into a room, but not her.
She was just now arriving and, as he had predicted, was showing insolence to the one who would be paying her wages. It was not something to be condoned.
Anger blossomed inside him and had to be contained.
As royals, they were not supposed to show any form of emotions, including ire, especially in front of servants, and that's what she bloody well was.
It did not matter that she would be assistant to his mother; she was still an employee and should know her place.
"Is it your plan to show disrespect to the people you'll be working for?"
Antoinette stiffened at the arrogant tone, eyes flashing.
She was tired and getting cranky. She had been traveling for several hours.
A car to the airport in the States, a long plane ride to Madrid, plus another car ride and then another plane ride and another car ride.
She was officially crashing and in no mood to pander to the fragile ego of the man standing in front of her.
She just wanted to get horizontal for a few minutes and close her eyes.
She was certainly not in the mood to play verbal chess with this arrogant jackass.
And on top of it, he had brought back bitter memories of her ex-fiancé.
"Will I be working for you? I was under the impression that your mother hired me."
His lips tightened, his expression turning ominous. "The technicality matters not. You work for my mother, you work for me too, and I demand respect from one of your station."
"Of all the rude and condescending-" She stopped and took a deep, bracing breath.
"Look, I'm exhausted and just want to lie down for a bit.
You can sort out the technicalities with the queen.
Now, do I have to wander around the palace and find someone to take me to my room, or are you going to do the honors? "
Anger exploded inside his brain as if a bomb had detonated. For the first time in his life, he was losing control of his emotions. His hands tightened into fists, and it took a Herculean effort to hold onto his temper.
"Senorita Carter, I demand you apologize-"
"I guess that's a no, then. I'll find someone myself."
He actually stood there, stunned, and watched as she marched from the room and slammed the doors shut behind her.
In all his thirty-five years, he had never been treated with such careless disregard and disrespect.
He had been all over the world, and people from different countries treated him the way royalty was supposed to be treated.
With awe and sometimes reverence. This..
.this woman had come into his home and had been nothing but rude and abrasive.
She could not stay, of course. Taking a deep, fortifying breath, he nodded.
He would confront his mother and send her packing.
Her behavior was an insult that would not go unpunished. It might be too late to put her on a flight tonight, but he would do so first thing in the morning. His mother would just have to find someone else for the position. Someone who knew how to behave in an appropriate manner.
*****
"My name is Carmen, Senorita Carter." The woman told her with a smile as she was escorted up the curving staircase. "Lucia said I'm to be assigned to you. Ah, here's your suite." She opened the double doors with a flourish.
"It's beautiful, yes?"
"More than." Antoinette felt her anger and annoyance dissolving as she stepped into the lime-green room with the sunny yellow trimmings. The sitting room was larger than her own bedroom at home and boasted antique furniture. The carpet was a combination of pale yellow intermingled with green.
"The bedroom is through here." Pleased at her reaction, Carmen led the way into a bright yellow room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a garden and a balcony.
"You can see for miles. Lucia thought you would love the view.
The bathroom is through there and it has a bath and a shower.
There's also a small office and a kitchenette in case you do not feel like going down to supper. "
"This is-" She took in a breath and let it out. "This is wonderful." Suddenly she remembered what the woman had initially said. "What do you mean assigned to me? For what?"
"I'm to take care of your rooms, tidying up and such, as well as be available if you need anything."
"I won't. Do you mean you're my personal maid?"
Carmen bobbed her head. Brushing past Antoinette, she hefted the suitcase and placed it on a loveseat and proceeded to start unpacking.
"You don't have to do that."
"It's my job." The woman took out some clothes carefully and studied them.
"We should get them pressed before hanging them up.
" She looked over at Antoinette. "I'm also to tell you that they will be serving supper at eight instead of ten tonight.
That's to accommodate since you're not used to our hours. "
"You have supper at ten?"
"Normally, we do."
"Would you mind coming back later? I'm feeling a little tired after my trip and would like to lie down for a bit."
"Oh, of course." The woman was immediately contrite. "I should have realized that." She pointed to the phone on the bedside table. "The extensions are written down. Just call when you need me."
"Thank you."
Antoinette waited until she had left the room and closed the doors before turning around in a circle.
This was unbelievable. It was like a fairytale, except her smile faded as she made her way out onto the balcony.
The arrogant prince with his superior attitude.
As if he had expected her to be bowing and scraping in his presence.
She let out a snort. As if that's going to happen.
Leaning on the railing, she took in a deep breath and closed her eyes as the scent of blooming flowers filled her nostrils.
The air was clean, sharp, and breathable.
Opening her eyes, she studied the spectacular view and caught a glimpse of the sunset sparkling on water.
A stream or a moat, she could not figure out what it was.
And there was a stable. And a pergola. Also, a bridge. She was suddenly itching to explore.
No doubt something like that would take days if not weeks. The place was huge, and after all, she was here to work. She was quite certain that if she was not fired after the encounter with the prince and walking out on him, she would have days off.
She had walked out on the arrogant jerk, who was no doubt plotting ways to send her packing. Well, she hoped that the queen was able to form an opinion without being influenced by her shallow and spoiled son.
Womanizing bastard. Whore! Slut! One who thinks he's God's gift to women.
Taking another breath to dispel the anger, she reluctantly admitted that she was projecting.
After two weeks of being cheated on by that asshole, she was still not over it.
And it was not fair to judge the prince.
Just because he was too handsome to be real, or the fact that she had seen his photos in the magazines she had devoured, did not mean he was a worthless piece of trash.
Royalty or not. Men like him used their position and good looks to do whatever the hell they pleased.
But that was not her problem. She had gotten a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and she was going to make the most of it.
The prince did not have to come in contact with her.
She was quite certain he had parties to attend and numerous women to see to.
Hopefully, please God! She turned her face up to the velvety sky in entreaty.
Let them see each other as little as possible.
Lifting her hands, she rubbed them over her face and forced herself to admire the spectacular view.
Within minutes, the scent, the sound of birds chirping, the general clean air, served to calm her down. This was a new beginning for her, and she wasn't going to allow anything or anyone to spoil it.