III
Please call us for more information.
Signed
Clarissa Williams
Secretary
"Oh my gosh," I whispered to myself once I was done reading the entire email. Was it real? Or this was a dream.
"Hey, Shirley! Are you going to eat or not?" I heard Lola's voice irritated somewhere but it never caught my attention because I stuck with the letters in front of me. I felt her tap on my shoulder and spoke again like a child throwing her tantrums, "I'm freaking hungry, let's eat."
I looked at her with teary eyes. I hugged her tightly, closed to break her bones. "I can't believe it! I can't believe it!" I shouted and several pairs of eyes went in our direction. I jumped and cried at the same time.
"Hey, my bones," she broke my hug and held my shoulders. She furrowed her eyebrow, "What's happening? Spit it out calmly."
"Pinch me first here," I pointed my cheek. With confusion, she did what I had said. Her pinch hurt because of her long nails. I would have a wound later, but I did not care, "I'm not dreaming! Oh my gosh! This is real. Oh my gosh!" I sobbed.
"What are you talking about?" Lola asked with sort of anger in her tone.
"I don't know how to explain it to you," I pushed her to my chair, in front of my computer. Using my mouse, I put the screen at the top of the most important mail I received in my whole life. "You should read it. Read it."
After two minutes of silence, Lola had her popular big eyes expression. Different emotions showed on her face. Excitement. Happiness. Worry. Fear. That was her talent, showing all her emotions simultaneously.
"They gave you the job," she murmured audibly and repeated it again, now talking to me, "They gave you the job. That was oh my gosh."
"Yeah, it was crazy. I never expect that I'll have the job that fast. They badly need an accountant. I'm grateful to you for sharing this to me," I was not sure if I were crying, smiling, or both.
She smiled and held my cheek, "Thank me if you will be already in England and your family have a better life. But, I'm worried, what if the prince..."
I stopped her before she could continue, "No need to worry, Lola. If ever the prince put his finger on me, I'm going to break all his bones. I promise."
We laughed. I could not ask for another friend because I had my one and only best friend.
"Hey, have you called them?" she asked. Suddenly, I came back to reality.
"Not yet," I rushed to the nearest phone and dialled their number I had written on my palm.
I got nervous and excited at one go. I bit my lower lip while waited for the answer from the other line. Lola put her thumbs-up, giving me an assurance that I could do it.
After three rings, a British accent woman finally answered.
"Hello, this is..."
I did not let her say whatever she was saying. I interrupted her, "Hello, this is Shirley Woodman. I was emailed this morning about your acceptance to me being a personal accountant of Prince Alexander."
"Oh I see you are Ms. Woodman. I am Clarissa Williams," she paused, "As what we emailed to you, you're really qualified and we want you to work with us as soon as possible. You will be interviewed when you are already here in England."
I got nervous all of a sudden, "Interview? I thought you already choose me."
"Yes, the job is really yours. The interview is just for formality and we want to know more about you," she replied and continued, "Now, you called us and we assumed you confirmed of accepting this job, I'm going to email you again, this time, about the requirements you need to work in the palace."
I was relieved. "Okay, thank you so much for accepting me."
Palace. I smiled at the thought.
---
After Clarissa Williams sent me the list of requirements, I did not delay any longer. I arranged all the things I needed like my working visa and passport. She said that they would shoulder my plane ticket. I was glad because I did not have money to buy my ticket.
Two weeks passed, I had all the papers I needed. A week after, I would fly all the way to England to start my new job. I had sent my resignation letter to my boss the day before. Maybe I would get an answer from him next day. Whatever answer he had, no one could stop me from leaving.
My family and I had our dinner when I decided to tell them about my royal job. Reminder, they had no idea I would leave the country next week.
"I got a new job," my appetizer.
Dad and mom changed glances before Dad took his turn, "A new job? When did you leave your previous job?"
"Umm. I still have it, but I think my boss got my letter today," I answered without eye contact with any of them. I should have told them before. I felt some kind of guilt though. I was sure they would be shocked once my secret revealed. "But my new job is far away better."
"What is it?" mom lovingly smiled and reached my hand.
"It's...I'm a personal accountant."
"That's nice, a dream come true, Shirs," Elena said with a real happiness on her pale face. She was always sick and medicines were her partner in everyday survival. She and Hana were closer than I was with either of them. I was seven years older than Elena and twelve years than Hana, so no doubt why we were not the common sisters in town.
I cleared my throat, "Yeah."
"Where will you work?" Dad asked again.
"Dad, it's not where, it's who! Ley will be a personal accountant of someone," Hana lectured. She always did that if she heard inappropriate words in her perspective.
"He is someone popular and important," I bowed my head, not ready to see their reactions. Prince Alexander was important I doubted it. He was important by name, but, in reality, no.
Hana immediately became interested when she heard my words, "Wow, popular and important? You named her. Let me meet her."
I faced them. They looked all joyful. Ugh, I forgot to say who it was and where he lived. "Hana, it's him. He is Prince Alexander."
"Prince Alexander?!" Elena exclaimed, "You mean the prince of England?"
I nodded.
Hana put her both hands to cover her mouth. Elena's jaw landed on the floor. As usual, Chance was busy in his own world. Mom and dad's reactions were unreadable. I had no idea if they were still happy or not.
"You three go there and watch TV," mom commanded to my three siblings.
Hana was preparing to protest when mom gave her a deadly look. They all left the kitchen area, but they could still overhear us at the living room because there is no wall separating each area from one another. I heard them switch the channel to the news when mom started to talk.
"Are you serious? Are you going to be a personal accountant of the prince?"
"Yes, they gave me the job two weeks ago and I will work with them starting next week."
"Next week?" dad said, more on asking than stating.
I nodded again. "I wanted to tell it to you when Lola told me about the job, but I chose to keep it as a secret for a while because I wanted to arrange everything first, so no more disappointments."
"Shirley, you've never disappointed us," mom put her arms around me. "You're the bravest and the best girl in the world. You deserve a better future. This is your opportunity. I'm so proud of you."
"You're not angry?" I hugged her side.
"No, why am I?" she smiled and I shook my head.
I looked at dad and he smiled at me, "You stay out of trouble, okay? Just call us always and don't forget to ask the prince if we can play golf together."
I beamed. "Okay, I'll tell him."
"Hey Ley," Hana bounced at the kitchen; she pointed the TV, "Your boyfriend is on news!"
I glared at her, and then looked at the news. Prince Alexander was in another scandal, what was new? Blood crept through my face, "He's not my boyfriend. He is my boss. I'm going to work there so that I can buy you a pair of new black shoes."
"Great. Tell Princess Emily about your beautiful sister," Hana was in full excitement.
"I'll try?"
We continued to talk about my plans. I thought I would return to them contented, but I was wrong.