CHAPTER 2
Gary, the movie’s producer, walked up to Ned with the photographers. “What’s going on?”
Ned, still processing what had happened, picked up Princess Isabella’s glove. “Nothing. Just some fan that thought she knew more about our movie than we do,”
What Ned didn’t add was that the princess had intrigued him. Not just because she was beautiful. It was her feisty spirit and self-confidence he’d most admired. He chuckled, thinking how she had no filter. From what he’d seen, she seemed to do and say whatever she wanted. It was a trait he admired and envied. Unfortunately, lately, most of the women he’d dated were all trying to get something from him. They would say whatever they thought he wanted to hear to get it and would never stand up to him like the princess had. He knew this was his own fault for dating people in the business. But with his hectic work schedule, those were the only people he had a chance to meet.
He glanced over at Simone, who was adjusting her tiara. They’d gone on a few dates, but when the spark wasn’t there for him, he’d decided they were better off as friends. He wasn’t sure if Simone was happy about getting friend-zoned. She’d never said anything about it.
“Do you really think my outfit is all wrong?” Simone asked, concerned. “She seemed to know what she was talking about.”
“She has probably just watched too many episodes of The Crown. Now everyone thinks they’re a royal expert,” Ned said.
But Simone wasn’t convinced. “Gary, you’re the producer. What do you think?”
Gary chuckled. “I think I wish I was here for it.” He noticed the glove Ned was holding when the gold emblem embossed on it glittered in the sunlight. It was three stars circled by a wreath of olive branches. “Can I see that glove?”
“Sure,” Ned tossed it at him.
Gary’s eyes grew wider as he studied the emblem. “Was this her glove? The woman that was giving you all the royal tips.”
Ned, bored, nodded. “Now, let’s get back to work. We’re losing light. We need to get more press photos of Simone during our shoot. Are you guys ready?” he asked the photographers.
“Ready,” they both answered in unison, holding up their cameras.
“Hold on. Wait,” Gary said, excitedly.
“For what?” Ned asked impatiently. “Time is money. You know how much I’ve already invested in this movie. Everyone, including you, thought I was nuts doing an independent film, investing my own money. Now, my bank account and reputation are on the line. I’m all in on this one. I can’t afford any mistakes.”
“I know,” Gary said. “And as your producer, I’ve been telling you to sell this movie. We have to get more press and generate more interest.”
“And that’s why we’re shooting more press photos with our Princess Lorna. Everyone loves a princess.”
“Exactly,” Gary said with a calculating smile. “Just imagine if we could get a real princess in our movie. We’d be fighting off the press and buyers!”
“What are you talking about?” Ned asked, confused.
Gary waved the glove he was holding. “I thought I recognized her as she was rushed off by her bodyguard.”
Simone’s eyes grew huge. “Her bodyguard?”
“That’s what I’m guessing,” Gary said. “She wouldn’t be out without some kind of security.”
“Who is she? An actress?” Simone asked.
“No,” Gary said, his smile growing. “She’s a princess, the real deal.”
Ned laughed. “Right.”
“I’m serious, Ned. I saw her on the news this morning,” Gary said. “She’s from a small sovereign state in Eastern Europe. She’s a real princess. She’s in town promoting some charity.”
“Seriously?” Ned asked. He hadn’t seen Gary this excited in a long time.
“Yes!” Gary answered. “And the charity is having a big ball tonight. We need to go!”
Ned laughed. “Even if this were all true, how would we get an invite to the ball?”
“Leave that to me,” Gary said. “You just concentrate on how we’re going to convince this princess to be in our movie.”