The clock ticks as we sit our final exam, our teacher Mr Harlsworth roams the room, keeping an eye on us. My desk scrapes on the hard vinyl floor as it gets kicked. I look to my right and see Jake grinning at me as he holds a little note out to me below the desk. How can I resist that cute smile that reaches his crystal blue eyes?

"I'll take that thank you." A deep voice growls from behind us.

I spin my head up and see Mr Harlsworth behind us, quickly taking the note from Jake. Good on ya Jake, it could have waited. I watch as he reads the note, a little grin crosses his plump face. Jake has gone redder than a tomato, he tries to hide under the lengths of his blonde fringe. Shit, what did he write on that?

Half an hour passes and our teacher calls for the test to end. He wanders the room collecting the papers, stopping at our desks. He drops the paper back onto Jake's desk and mutters something about him being lucky it's the end of our schooling. As he walks away Jake quickly passes the note to me and I shudder as I open it. Tonight? I blush as I quickly scrunch it up and put it into my pocket. Yes, it could have waited. The phone rings and Mr Harlsworth answers it.

"Hello.... Of course, straight away."

He hangs up the phone and looks at me, instantly I know I've done something wrong again.

"Stephanie, you are requested to go to the principal's office, now. Take all your things."

The class erupts in an 'Ooh Stephy's in trouble.'

"Settle down class, she is not in trouble."

My stomach flips as I quickly pack my things, looking at Jake I mouth later at him.

A cool wind gently wafts down the corridor, the vice principal passes me. He tightens his tie and runs his hand through his greasy black hair.

"In trouble again Miss Collins?"

He looks over his glasses at me. More like looking down at me.

"I don't know sir."

I hear him scoff, shaking his head as he continues down the corridor. Jackass. He is such a pervert. I've seen him watching the girls playing basketball. His hands were in his pants pockets, moving far too close to... ugh Steph, don't think about... it. The creepy grin that he got that day, it is still burned into my memory. I half expected him to make a dash for the toilets but he continued on his way, not noticing me watching him. As I sit and wait for the principal to call me in, I think about the stupid note that Jake tried to pass to me. Tonight? He means my birthday, he means sex, he means he wants it tonight. I sigh. He is cute but I always thought that his pursuit of me was just another notch on the bed head. Adding me to the long list of girls in this school that he has had sex with. The door opens and the principal steps out.

"Miss Collins, please come in."

I stand up and try to pull at my tiny skirt. She frowns at me as if to say 'way too short young lady'.

"Tidy your hair, socks up and leave your bag there." She huffs at me, walking back into the office.

I quickly try to tidy my long brown hair and pull my socks up as I walk into the office. An older woman sits in a seat opposite the principal. Her blonde hair in a perfect bob cut, she is thin and tall. She stands as I enter the room, pressing out her deep blue dress.

"Lady Penelope Williams, I would like to introduce you to Stephanie Collins, our highest achieving student for her year level." Mrs Bryson says, gesturing with her head for me to greet her.

I hold out my hand, trying to be as polite as possible.

"How do you do Miss Collins." She smiles at me, shaking my hand.

"Very well thank you Lady Williams."

"Please sit Stephanie." Mrs Bryson gestures to the seat.

The room is tiny, for the principal of the most elite private school in the country, her office is almost like a hole in the wall compared to what I would think she should have. It's bland and boring, the white walls tired and in need of some serious t.l.c. The only thing she has on the walls are all of her degrees. Books piled behind her, trays full of papers.

"Would you like to start Lady Williams?"

"Yes, thank you Mrs Bryson. Miss Collins, I have come to this school with the intention of finding an employee for the people that I work for."

Oh.

"Your principal has advised me that you have passed all of your examinations with excellence."

I can feel the heat rise in my cheeks. Yeah, ok I am a brainy-ac, no need to blurt it out to the world.

"Yes, all but the one I just finished, I don't know about that one."

"Well I am sure you did extremely well at it." Her smile warm and genuine.

"Why not go to an employment agency?"

"We require someone young and intelligent and without many commitments. My employer decided that fresh out of school might be a good idea."

"Oh ok."

"Do you think that you would be interested in the position?"

"Sorry, what is the position?"

She chuckles. "Oh, I am truly sorry, I did forget that part." She sighs at her forgetfulness. "You would be employed as a personal assistant to a member of the Leonte family. Have you heard of them?"

"No, sorry." I shake my head.

"It doesn't matter. They are an old family from Santrina, who hold many residences in this fair country of ours and spend quite some time here. You will be required to travel with your employer as necessary so that is why it is necessary that you don't have many commitments."

"Oh ok. What do you do?"

"Same as what you would be doing, only I am the assistant to the patriarch of the family, Alexandru Eugen Leonte the second."

"And I would be working for?"

"His son. He is coming to an age where he is expected to take on more duties, alleviating some of his fathers. He will require an assistant, just as his father did when he started. So, what do you think?"

"Uh, yeah sure, why not? I have never been a personal assistant before, but I can give it a crack."

She chuckles again. "I will train you. Don't worry about it too much. Now, I will send the driver to pick you up tonight and bring you to the residence, you will stay on site as required."

"Tonight?" I gasp.

"Yes, time is of the essence, Alexandru Senior is out of the country and I have limited time to train you."

"But it's my birthday..." I stutter. "I was..." What? Going to have sex with Jake? What's more important?

"Did you have plans with your family?" Her face etched with concern.

"Just dinner." I sigh.

"That's fine, I can send him later in the evening if you like."

"Ok."

"You will need to pack your things to bring to the manor house, your accommodation is prepared for your arrival."

"Do I have to live there?"

"Yes. It is unfortunately necessary in case we are needed in an emergency or if we need to leave the country unexpectedly."

"Does that happen often?"

"It can do. Do you have a passport?"

"No."

"Ok, we can deal with that next week."

"Still on board?"

I nod even though I have serious reservations about it.

"Excellent." She says as she stands.

"I will see you this evening Miss Collins. Mrs Bryson, thank you for seeing me at such short notice."

"No problems Lady Williams, any time."

She shows her out of the room and closes the door behind her.

"Oh my god Stephanie Collins I could hug you... if that were allowed." She laughs.

She falls into her chair sighing with a big grin.

"The Leonte family, wow."

"Do you know them?"

"No, let's see what the old internet will tell us."

She starts typing at her computer, bringing up the internet to check out the Leonte family. I read through the site, this family is royalty in some place called Santrina and are mega rich. I look at the photo of the family, the Queen sits on a regal chair, her dress a deep blue flowing to the ground, her shoulders bare except for an enormously ostentatious diamond and sapphire necklace. Her chocolate brown hair swept up and neatly pinned with a glittering diamond crown sitting perfectly on her. She has piercing brown eyes that seem to follow you, even though the computer screen. Her olive skin, it's perfect, not a flaw to be found. She is beautiful. The King sits beside her, upright and steadfast in a formal suit, his hair black as the night, his skin paler than the Queens but just as flawless. His eyes seem to shimmer, a pale grey colour. Standing behind them are their two children, adults in age but looking so annoyingly young. The princess has long black hair, straight and as dark as her fathers, she is as beautiful as her mother. I cast my eyes upon my future boss, the prince. He stands behind his father, tall and not surprisingly just as good looking as the rest of the family. His eyes grey like his father, but darker, almost like a gun metal grey in colour. He has his mother's olive skin and chocolate brown hair that sits just on his collar and flops in his eyes.

"Quite the catch isn't he?"

I flush as I look up at my principal. Really? Do I need to be discussing royal hotties with you?

"Uh yeah, sure."

"So you can leave early to go and pack your things."

"Ok thanks." I whisper, still a little shocked at the events of the past half an hour.

"Stephanie..." I look at her as I step to the doorway. "Good luck with your job."

"Thank you Mrs Bryson."

I almost stumble out of her office, eager to get home and start packing. The walk home was the longest ever, thinking about the prince and what life is going to be like for me now. I wonder if I'm going to have days off, I think my parents will be super cranky if I don't come home at least once a week. Then there's Evie, I am going to have an enormous phone bill from texting her all the time.

"You're home early." my mother says looking at me from the lounge suite.

"Yeah, I uh, got offered a job today."

"Oh wow, really? Honey that is wonderful. What's the job?"

She turns off the television and turns her body to look at me better. Jeez, she's got her hair in curlers again. I can't remember how many times I've told her that she should straighten her hair. Long blonde beautiful hair that she insists putting in curlers and creating a terrible frizz. And the clothes, my mother dresses like a complete frump. For a woman that's fifty-three she dresses like she's eighty. Shocking. That's the only word I have for my mother and her fashion sense.

"Well, it's a personal assistant to a son of some royal family. It means that I will have to live at their estate."

Her face drops, the happiness gone. "Oh. Did you accept the job? What about uni?"

"I don't know. They are picking me up later tonight."

"That quickly? It's your birthday."

"I know. That's why it's later tonight, so that we can have dinner. The lady said she needs to train me while the father is out of the country so that she has time to do it."

"Seems reasonable, I suppose. She would probably be busy."

She gets up from the lounge looking like a lost mother.

"Well then I guess I best start tea soon then."

My mother wanders out to the back yard to pick herbs no doubt. Slowly I trudge up the stairs, wondering how much I should pack. My phone buzzes as I am searching for my suitcase.

what happened? You never came back to class.

Jake, damn it, I forgot.

sorry, got offered a job, going to it tonight

wtf? So no tonight then?

no sorry

Yeah, sorry that you don't get to add me to your long list of bedded beauties. By the time my mother has cooked dinner, my father has gotten home from work. I have packed all of my clothes and a few sentimental trinkets and photos. I don't know if this is the right thing to do, because I am pretty sure that I am going to miss my parents, but I have to leave home at some point. My father is to say the least, shocked. Dinner is quiet and uneasy. I think my father is annoyed that I have just dismissed my university education so quickly and easily. When the driver comes to pick me up, there is a few tears shed, mostly by my mother. My father gives me a big hug and tells me that he is only a phone call away. Happy birthday Stephanie Collins.

*

The driveway is long and straight, the trees shadow the path ahead. The manor house appears in the distance, getting closer and closer. It dominates the horizon, its beauty bathed in the moonlight. Out of the corner of my eye I think that I see something dart between the trees. I crane my neck to try and see out the windows but all I see are the trees, gently swaying with the wind. The manor house is vast; I think I might need a map for the first few weeks... or months. It is two floors high, the roof has several turrets and a tower to one side. It looks medieval. The stonework looks like it is a golden colour although it is hard to tell in the darkness. The driver pulls the car up beside the stairs to the front door. A man walks out to the car and opens my door.

"Good evening Miss Collins, Lady Penelope is expecting you. Follow me please."

I get out of the car and move to the boot to collect my bags.

"Leave them Miss Collins, one of the servants will take them to your accommodation."

"Of course." I mutter quietly.

I follow the lanky man into the residence and through the foyer. The room is dark, only a few dull tea lights hang from the sconce on the walls. I struggle to keep up with him, if I lose him, I am going to get lost. He turns a corner and moves quickly down the corridor to a door. Opening it I see that the room is well lit, it feels warm in here even though the breeze is cool. The room is beautiful, a large desk sits beside a vast window, sheer curtains blow with the gentle breeze that floats into the room. Wood panels reach to a dado with a cream wallpaper to the ceiling.

"Ah, Miss Collins, good to see you again. Please come in."

I walk in and feel the breeze rush past me as the man shuts the door.

"Please sit. Do you want something to drink?"

I sit down on a rather plush lounge suite.

"No thank you Lady Penelope."

She smiles. "Please call me Penny when we are not with company. No need for the formalities all the time."

"Ok and Steph or Stephanie is fine, whichever you like."

"Of course. Now..." She clasps her hands. "We will keep it simple tonight, I am sure you have had a tiring day."

"Yeah." I scoff.

"So, your accommodation has been prepared, I believe your possessions are waiting for you there. You have an assortment of suitable clothing and..."

"Sorry?"

"Clothing. When you are in the presence of royalty my dear, one does not wear jeans or short skirts."

She gestures up and down my body, I blush looking at my poor choice of clothes, my jeans have a tear in my right knee, my shirt is probably too tight for her.

"Oh ok."

"So, no revealing shirts, no crude logos or sayings, no bare belly showing, no skirts above the knees, no pants."

Well there goes all of the clothes that I packed.

"Elegant and sophisticated at all times. And because this is expected of you, we have staff that can accommodate your beauty needs."

"Oh?"

"Hair dresser, beautician."

Awesome.

"Moving on to how you greet the family. You must curtsy to them and address them as 'your highness'. Understood?"

"Yes."

"Excellent."

The door flies open and he barrels into the room. Hello handsome!

"Penny, father has..." He looks at us.

Penny grabs me by the elbow, yanking me up with her. She curtsies and gestures for me to follow suit.

"Your highness, may I introduce you to Miss Stephanie Collins, your new assistant. Stephanie this is His Royal Highness Prince Alexandru Eugen Leonte the third."

The photo does not do him justice, he is gorgeous. I idly wonder why he is allowed to wear shirts and jeans. Then my mind tells me to shut up, that he is firstly, the boss man and secondly, the shirt is nicely too tight, revealing a fine body. Don't ruin a good thing dumb arse! Those grey eyes are open wide with curiosity. He walks over and takes my hand kissing me on the knuckles.

"Pleased to meet you."

Jeez Penny hold me up, I think I am going to pass out.

"Likewise." Is what I manage. Good on ya Steph! I inwardly roll my eyes. What would you prefer? Hello your royal hotness?

"And Alex is fine." He grins at me.

Alex walks over to a cabinet behind the door as Penny looks at the ceiling shaking her head.

"We were just in the middle of a few quick formalities and then I was going to take Miss Collins to her accommodation."

I realise I am biting my bottom lip, watching him dig through the filing cabinet. Stop perving on your boss Steph!

"Oh I can do that if you like, father has arrived back early and wants to see you urgently."

"He is back already?"

Alex nods as he shuts the cabinet draw.

"Oh dear lord, I haven't even started her training yet."

"Don't stress Penny, I can do that. Father is still hung up about the Alina thing."

She sighs. "Of course. Is he in his study?"

He nods again.

"Well then, Miss Collins, I will leave you in the capable hands of his highness, I will see you tomorrow morning bright and early. Good night."

"Good night."

She scurries out the door and leaves me with prince dreamboat.

"So, do you have any questions?"

He saunters over and sits down on the same lounge as me. He sits side on, resting one arm on the back of the lounge propping his head. Pouncing on him in 3...2...

"It is a really large place here, so for a while you might want to stick with someone."

"Sure."

"Are you tired or would you like to learn some things tonight?"

"I'm ok at the moment."

He grins, perfect white teeth shine out.

"Well, where would you like to begin?"

"Uh, my duties?"

"Ok, let's see. Handling my correspondence, organising my schedule, attending functions with me until my betrothed is found..."

"Sorry, found? Is she lost or have you just not found her yet?"

He laughs. "She has been lost for many years. When she was born it was agreed that she was to be my wife but shortly after her birth, her parents were killed in a car accident and the girl was taken from the car never to be seen again."

"Oh that is awful."

"The child being kidnapped or the fact that I have an arranged marriage hanging over my head?"

I blush. "Uh the child being kidnapped."

He laughs again. "Here I was thinking that you thought both."

I grin, trying not to laugh.

"So if they never find her are you doomed to walk the earth alone?"

"No, although the consequences are quite high. They have until one month after my twenty-fifth birthday to find her otherwise my father will lose his kingdom."

"Jeez that is harsh."

He shrugs a little morosely. "It was the agreement that was made, our union was to be a symbol of the two lands coming together, if we do not marry then the agreement will be breached therefore forfeiting our kingdom to the current ruler of my betrothal's kingdom."

"Which is?"

"Her uncle. He took over as steward until she is found."

"Do you hold hope of finding her?"

"For my father's sake yes. He stands to lose a lot if she isn't found in time."

"How long have you got?"

"A few months."

"Oh snap."

"Oh snap indeed."

"So what do you think about marrying someone you have never met?"

"I detest it completely but I do it for my father."

"Have they found any leads on her?"

He shakes his head. "It was a rural road, no one around for miles, except for one fellow. My father has just returned from the country; he went to see the girl's uncle. Apparently the uncle had been to see the fellow that came across the car, but sadly the fellow had passed away the day he went to see him."

"Oh, that's no good."

"No." he pauses "So, tell me about my new assistant, the lovely Miss Stephanie Collins."

Oh jeez, mister charmer is on the loose.

"Well, up until a few hours ago I still lived with my parents, I had just finished high school and I had just turned down..." I stop in my tracks thinking that it might not be overly appropriate to tell a prince that I turned down a guy for sex.

"Turned down what Miss Collins?" He says with a cheeky grin.

I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks. Oh jeez, he knows. I clear my throat.

"Sorry, probably not appropriate."

He laughs as he leans into me, whispering in my ear.

"Why Miss Collins, were you going to have sex with a boy tonight?"

I nearly pass out. Lord help me make it through this night. He leans back into the chair.

"How nice of you to give it up to spend it with me, learning about my family history."

"Uh yeah. Well he thought he was doing me a favour, you know, seeing as its..."

"It's what?"

"My birthday." I whisper.

His jaw drops as his eyes widen with shock.

"It's your birthday?"

I nod.

"And you are here? Not with your family or your friends?"

"It's ok, I had dinner with my parents."

He frowns, a deep furrow creases into his brow as he looks at his watch.

"Probably a bit late to pester your friends." He mutters.

Alex grabs my hand and drags me from the lounge suite.

"Where are we going?"

"Out."

"Where?" I say as he drags me further along the corridor.

"Oh, I don't know, maybe a club or something. You only turn..." He frowns again. "How old are you?"

"Eighteen."

"Really? Well then all the more reason to celebrate."

The lanky man passes us in the corridor.

"Gerald, have the car brought around please."

"Yes, your highness." He bows to him and continues down the corridor.

Alex opens a door at the end of the corridor. The room is rather average, a lounge suite sits in the middle of the room, a kitchenette with a dining table in one corner. Around the room are doors, all closed, little signs beside each of the doors.

"This is the staff quarters. Your room is... that one."

Beside the door is a highly polished silver plate with my name on it.

Stephanie Collins

PA TO HRH A.E. LEONTE III

As he opens the door, a cool breeze flows through, he flicks on the light revealing a medium sized room with a large bed with a canopy, soft white sheer material hangs around the poles, gracefully dangling down at the ends.

"I believe Penny had clothing ordered for you." He gestures to a door.

I wander over to it and open it, another room this one a little smaller but stuffed full of clothes and shoes, accessories, everything I could ever need.

"Quickly now, your birthday is almost over."

I spin around and see him leaning on the door frame, watching me.

"Is it part of the job's duties to let you watch me dress?"

He grins. "No, but I could have it added in if you like."

I push him back, his skin is cool, I can feel it through the softness of his shirt.

"Out."

"As you wish." He grins.

I shut the door, needing to catch my breath. Jeez, he is smooth.

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