CHAPTER 5
“I’m really glad you came,” Ned said as he left the trailer, and they all three started walking.
The princess tilted her head to one side. “Did you think I wouldn’t show up? I always keep my word. Do you?”
For a second, Ned looked confused.
“The answer here would be yes,” Benson said, giving Ned a sharp look. “Yes, you keep your word.”
“Of course,” Ned said quickly.
“Good,” the princess said. “Then we shouldn’t have any trouble at all working together.”
Ned picked up their pace. “And that work is waiting. Let’s get you to the set. I want you to see how we’ve set up the tea party, and then we can talk about costumes. My costume designer Sarah is looking forward to meeting you. She agreed with all the points you made yesterday.”
The princess smiled. “I like Sarah already.”
“Just remember this is fiction, not a documentary,” Ned warned. “I don’t have the time or money to completely redo everything. We’re just looking for your insight and any suggestions of things we can change quickly.”
“Understood,” the princess said, leaning into him as she held up her phone. “Say royal!”
“I thought no pictures allowed,” Ned said with a laugh. She snapped the photo. It was a great picture. They both were smiling.”
“Unless I take them,” the princess said, beaming back at him.
They shared a smile. Benson, watching their playful banter, frowned.
The princess was checking out the photo when she tripped over some cables. Both Benson and Ned tried to catch her, but Ned got her first. His touch sent shivers down her spine.
“I got you,” Ned said.
“Thank you,” she answered breathlessly, blushing. Aware that Benson was watching her, she fought to pull herself together. If Benson knew what she was feeling for Ned, she knew he’d hustle her out of the park so fast it would make her head spin.
“You really do need to be more careful, Princess,” Benson said as he stepped in between her and Ned, separating them.
“It must be a hard job trying to watch this one,” Ned said with a laugh.
The princess and Benson both gave Ned a blank stare.
“What do you mean by that?” the princess asked.
“Just that I wouldn’t want the job trying to keep up with you, Princess. You’re a force,” Ned said.
The princess frowned. “What?”
“I think he means that as a compliment,” Benson said.
Ned looked surprised that Benson was coming to his rescue.
“I did,” Ned said. “Sorry if it came out wrong. I only meant that being in charge of someone else’s life and safety would be a lot of pressure. It’s impossible to protect anyone twenty-four seven. You’re setting yourself up for failure.”
Benson stood up straighter. “I don’t fail.”
After an awkward silence, the princess spoke first. “I think what Ned means is he wouldn’t want to be responsible for someone else’s life.”
“That’s exactly what I meant,” Ned said, relieved.
“But, as director of this movie, aren’t you responsible for everyone’s safety here?” the princess challenged him. “All of the people on the set, the crew, the producers, the actors, everyone, you’re in charge of all of them. You need to keep them safe. Their livelihoods are in your hands, too. They can’t feed their families unless you pay them. In many ways, you’re doing a lot more than Benson is doing.”
“The princess makes a good point,” Benson said. “I only have to protect her. You have all of these people counting on you.”
The princess looked into Ned’s eyes. “You’re like the king of this movie production, and that comes with a lot of responsibilities.”
Ned quickly took off his baseball hat and put it on the princess’s head. “In that case, I quit. You can be the new director.”
The princess laughed. “Don’t even think you’re getting this hat back.”
“Wait, she’s kidding, right?” Ned asked Benson. “That’s my lucky hat.”
Benson, dead serious, shook his head. “No. I don’t believe she is.”
The princess beamed back at Ned. “Now I look the part. I read a lot of directors wear baseball hats. Is that because baseball is America’s sport? Now I just need a a permanent scowl, and everyone will think I’m the director.”
Ned frowned. “I do not have a permanent scowl.”
“There it is now!” the princess said, pointing at his face.
Benson nodded. “Indeed.”
Ned laughed. “Okay. Wow. I just have so much pressure to make this movie a hit.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m here to save your movie,” the princess said.
Ned laughed louder as he looked at Benson. “Is she always this confident?”
Benson nodded. “Always.”
The princess tipped her baseball hat to them. “Let’s get to work!”