Chapter's song: Sugar by Maroon 5 (this song is the bomb!)

Dear Ms. Two cents' worth,

I have been with my girlfriend for three years and she has really let herself go. I'm not attracted to her at all. So I met this other girl and we have sex in our apartment when my girlfriend is at work. Blah blah blah ...

Signed,

The Usual Dick

I roll my eyes.

My office clock, hidden beneath a pile of fast food wrappers and cups of coffee in various stages of decay, clicks over to 3:58. I have two minutes to get my column into my editor.

It's going to have to be this one. I reach for my coffee and sip, then spit it out all over the jerk's letter. Must have been my cup from yesterday. I scramble for a piece of fruity Trident and chomp. One day old coffee is not my beverage of choice.

Time to write my answer to this jerk.

Dear Usual Dick,

Please fuck-off and get gonorrhea.

I delete that line. Pretty sure the editor won't like it and I need this stupid job. I need the money and it's only for a while. Until I can get on the news desk. Sighing, I click on my other story. The one about the humanitarian crisis in Syria. I quickly write up a bunch of comments about being true to yourself, blah, blah blah, and hit send. I loathe the Help Column. I also sent him my other article, hoping that he takes me seriously. Fifth-one and counting.

Shutting down my computer, I glance at the mess around me. Should I pick it up? I'm about to grab my jacket and take off when I stop. Does it look like a serious newspaper journalist office? Ugh. Condescendingly, I fish out the wrappers, make a ball with them and throw it to the canister. The little ball bounces off the ledge and ends up on the floor unwrapped.

My phone rings as I'm about to pick up the trash from the floor. Instead, I push it under my desk. If I don't see it, it's not there.

Could it be Mr. Smith? Did he give my other article a go? My heart races as I pick up the phone. "Kate speaking!"

"Hi there!" It's Emily, my best friend. I slump on my chair as I hear Marianne, her baby, gurgling on the background.

"Hi Em."

"Wow, someone is glad to hear me!" She quips.

"Sorry, I was expecting my boss to call."

"Still trying to change the world, one article at a time?" She knew about me sending actual news articles to Mr. Smith since last month. She gave me the idea when I told her I was writing other stuff on the side.

The stench of the hamburger wrapper underneath my desk reaches my nose. Ew. "He keeps ignoring my second mail."

"That blows, hun."

I reach out for the wrappers with my shoe, pulling them out and scrunching up my nose. "Indeed."

"Hey—" I tense. I've known Emily for over seven years and I know she wants something. And something big. "—Scott wants to take me out on a date." My stomach tightens when she mentions her husband's name. Like every freaking time. It's the same as my ex. Actually, I'm pretty sure that my ex was named after him. He is the prince of England, after all. Plus, a few years older than my ex.

Bloody hell. Stop thinking about him.

"Good for you." I smile, knowing full-well that she probably wants me to take care of Marianne.

"Well...you see, Scott asked Mark to babysit for us."

I frown. "Mark?"

"Exactly."

He's as reliable as the Titanic. I can't imagine him holding little Marianne in his hands. Okay, I could imagine him. He is her Godfather and sort of sweet with her. However, he's a complete douchebag and not to be taken seriously. As a celebrity, he takes advantage of his status and is notorious for causing controversy. Yet, I'm also Marianne's Godmother. I shudder. I always knew accepting the role would probably come back to bite me in the ass. Like right now.

I'll never admit this to anyone, not even Emily, but I had a slight crush on Mark a few years back. You know, before I actually met the guy through my best-friend. It was nonsense, though. Just a small town girl crushing over the photos from a magazine. It was super-tiny and innocent. Not even worth mentioning. So, why am I thinking about it right now? My brows furrow.

"Kate? Please? Could you come over?" She pleads softly. Darn.

Exhaling, I close my eyes as I lean back on the chair. "At what time do you need me?" My tone is clipped. I roll my eyes. I can't ever say no to Emily. I love her too much. 

"He's coming over at six. Thank you Kate, I owe you!"

"You do!" I rub my temple. "Big time!"

Emily chuckles."I know. Love you, hun!" I groan a goodbye before the call ends.

Ugh. This is so not going to be fun.

I reach out for the wrappers and throw them in the trashcan. I also rearrange my desk and take the stale coffee to wash the mug in the office kitchen. Anything to keep me from thinking about babysitting with Mark.

It doesn't work.

I picture him with that stupid smirk on his face as I finish the chores I'd been putting off for the last week. My whole body is tense as I leave my cubicle and reach the elevator. 

It never ceases to surprise me how oddly different Mark and Scott are. They don't even look alike! Scott has dark hair and brown eyes and Mark's hair is a dull blond and has blue eyes like every other British out there, including me. Mind you, those are the only traits we have in common.

He's obnoxious, a complete snob, evil-mannered and pompous as hell. The complete opposite of his brother. Nevertheless, I know that when it comes to his niece, his everything but. He might have the best intentions towards her, but he doesn't have the skills or the tenacity to babysit a 5 month-old.

I'm gonna need comfortable clothes. I make a stop on my tiny apartment to take a quick shower. Tennis shoes, sport pants and a bright pink t-shirt later, I hop back on my car to join the dreadful Prince and his impossible quest.

You owe me big, Emily. 

First chapter! I'm really excited for this!! Special thanks to BrittanieCharmintine, for helping me edit!

Remember that it doesn't take much to vote on the story, and it comes a long way for me! :)

Love you all!