A month ago, her life was just her usual shitty day. But it was a routine that she had come to accept as her norm. She fought the terrible shits and lived to survive another day.
Today was just that.
Stop fidgeting!
She squeezed her hands together as she tried to calm her nerves while staring at the fancy china plate, silver utensils, and crystal glass before her.
Damn it! What did I get myself into?
An acting job, remember? It was what she had signed up for. She thought it was a decent job that should pay the bills.
But more than that, she could finally help her brother, Jake, pay for his treatment. She did not share the same blood with him. But she was her only family. She would do anything to save his life.
Yeah! That was the dream.
It was not as if she had not impersonated another person before. "Of course, I can do this."
She could act. Much more, she could lie. That was what she had learned her entire life. It was her weapon for survival. She could certainly play the part of the Princess.
Still, she thought this acting job was different. She could go to jail if caught, sending shivers down her spine.
This time, she was not performing in front of a camera. No one was instructing her what to do or say. There was no cut or second take. It was real-life, set in a real world.
"I apologize for my tardiness, but I had to attend to some urgent matter." The man stood before her with a charming smile on his lips.
She thought he was handsome, but still, she was not her type. But, of course, it did not matter because this man was beyond her reach.
She looked down at her nails, wondering what a grown-ass man like him was doing getting engaged to a stranger.
It was the twenty-first century, not the Medieval times, but apparently, arranged marriage still existed. But still, this man should be able to dictate his life, not let others do it for him.
What a wimp!
It did not matter as she ate her meal, barely saying much to each other. If she had to rate this date, she would say it was the worst one she had ever had.
The food sucks!
It was awkward!
Nothing about this union felt right.
She thought the Princess was better off marrying another man than this Prince. But that was just her opinion.
"It was great to meet you, Princess Jasmin. I guess we will be meeting again soon." From what she could tell, the Prince appeared as eager as her to end this night.
The man escorted her and her assistant to her awaiting car, politely saying his goodbye until he disappeared from her sight.
Finally! Mission accomplished!
Quickly, she wiped her face off the thick makeup and rearranged her hair in a messy bun. Then, inside the limousine, she changed into plain clothes, jeans, a shirt, and sneakers.
"That is more like it." She sighed, relieved that it was over. "It was nice transacting with you." She thanked the Princess's assistant as she handed her payment.
Quickly, she rushed to the corner to catch a cab. But she guessed her quick escape failed.
Honk! Honk! Honk!
An expensive black car abruptly stopped before her, slightly startling her. Then, a man in a black suit stepped out and walked toward her.
"Princess Jasmin, I don't think it is safe for you to be alone..." The man unexpectedly said her name, at least the character she played for the night.
"...in this kind of place, unprotected." He continued, emphasizing the crowded street. "Please, Your Highness, let me at least give you a ride."
Of course, she was alarmed. It was not normal for someone to suddenly offer her a ride. But this man seemed to think that she was still Princess Jasmin.
Damnit! Charlie!
She should have taken the subway. Suddenly, she regretted staying in the open where anybody could see her.
This man probably saw her when she came out of the car and followed her.
Fuck off! Go away! Mind your own business.
She wanted to shout at him. But she stopped herself, thinking he might realize she had impersonated a Royal Princess with her unladylike behavior.
What if he reported her to the police? She did not want to go to jail. She already had enough juvenile records to last her a lifetime. The next one might finally become permanent.
Besides, who would pay Jake's bills if she went to prison? No, she had no choice but to keep pretending.
"Wait! Who are you again?" But maybe she could wiggle her way out of this mess or work out a deal. After all, he was not Prince Elijah.
"I am Hunter, Prince Elijah's driver." The man introduced himself. "I know he would fire me if he learned that I just let you wander on the street all alone."
He was tall, with sufficient flesh and muscles to sculpt a perfect body. In addition, he was handsome. He could easily land a modeling or acting career if he chose to leave his current job.
"Hmm!" She thought of his proposition, which sounded reasonable. "I will consider your offer if you promise not to tell the Prince about this."
"Let this be our little secret."
Funnily, she became his dirty little secret.