Chater 1

“Okay, so they are allergic to nuts, and this is a list of meetings they have for tomorrow.”

Mr. Goodwill pushed a thick folder across the polished desk.

Amara Valerie glanced at it without touching it.

She was sitting comfortably in the leather chair opposite him, one leg crossed over the other, sunglasses resting on top of her head despite being indoors. She had spent the last forty minutes listening to the royal family's lawyer explain everything she supposedly needed to know about her new job.

She was beginning to wonder if she had made a terrible decision.

Not because she was afraid of the job.

She simply hated being told what to do.

“Not bad.” She picked up the folder and flipped through the pages. “So, what time am I supposed to report to work and when is the closing time? Do I get a tea break?”

Mr. Goodwill looked at her over his glasses.

“You are supposed to report to work at eight in the morning and closing time is four p.m., though sometimes they stay late. Your contract says eight hours Monday to Thursday and six hours on Friday. Any hours after that are considered optional and overtime.”

Amara nodded slowly.

“Coffee break?”

“Ten a.m.”

“Lunch?”

“One p.m. The company has a cafeteria, so you can have your meals there.”

“Excellent.”

Mr. Goodwill closed the folder in front of him.

“Is there anything else?”

“Yes.”

Amara leaned forward.

“What do I need to know about them? Except for their allergies.”

Mr. Goodwill hesitated.

That hesitation immediately caught Amara's attention.

She narrowed her eyes.

“What?”

“The Pablo brothers run a tight ship.”

“I gathered that.”

“Expect challenges.”

“I like challenges.”

“I know but they are a different challenge.”

He sighed and adjusted his tie.

“Lorry Pablo is very strict and uptight. He is probably the most feared of the two.”

Amara's eyebrows rose.

“Probably?”

Mr. Goodwill ignored her.

“Nick Pablo is also strict, but he can be charming when he wants to be. He's a playboy, and one thing is for sure…”

He paused.

“He is going to want to get in your pants.”

Amara stared at him.

Then she burst out laughing.

Mr. Goodwill didn't.

“Oh, you're serious?”

“Unfortunately.”

“That's adorable.”

“Princess—”

“Relax. I can handle a horny man.”

“You will be working with him every day.”

“I can handle him, relax.”

Mr. Goodwill pinched the bridge of his nose.

Amara smiled innocently.

“And before you ask, no, I am not going to sleep with my employer.”

“I wasn't going to ask.”

“You were thinking about it.”

“I was thinking about how much trouble this arrangement might cause.”

“That sounds like a you problem.”

He gave her a long look.

Amara grinned.

There was a reason her family had spent her entire childhood keeping her away from the public.

She was trouble.

Beautiful, intelligent, unpredictable kind of trouble.

And she had absolutely no intention of changing.

“They do not know that you're a princess,” Mr. Goodwill continued. “Only their mother knows. She's the one who recommended you to them.”

Amara's smile faded slightly.

“And that means?”

“You cannot be fired by them.”

Her eyes widened.

“Interesting.”

“Very.”

“So I'm practically untouchable.”

“Don't use that word.”

“Why?”

“Because you'll start believing it.”

“Too late.”

Mr. Goodwill shook his head.

Amara returned her attention to the folder.

“Do I share an office with them or do I have my own?”

“You share an office.”

“No.”

He blinked.

“No?”

“I want my own office.”

“Princess...”

“It can be next to theirs or something but i need my own space”

Mr. Goodwill stared at her for a few seconds.

“That can be arranged.”

“Thank you.”

She stood, picking up her handbag.

Mr. Goodwill rose as well.

“I'll have the arrangements made before tomorrow morning.”

“Perfect.”

Amara walked toward the door before suddenly turning around.

“Mr. Goodwill?”

“Yes?”

“Do I have to wear those horrible little pencil skirts?”

He looked at her outfit.

Black trousers. White fitted shirt. Designer sneakers. A leather jacket hanging over one shoulder.

“No.”

“Good.”

“You do, however, need to dress professionally.”

“I know how to dress.”

“I wasn't questioning your fashion sense.”

“You should never question my fashion sense.”

Mr. Goodwill smiled.

Amara opened the door.

“Thank you, Mr. Goodwill. I need to get going before my friends start panicking. I disappeared without saying anything.”

“It's my pleasure, Princess—”

She immediately turned around.

“Just Amara...we talked about this Mr Goodwill”

He smiled.

“Of course.”

She gave him a wink before walking away.

The moment she stepped outside, Amara pulled out her phone.

Thirty-seven missed calls.

Twenty-three messages.

She stared at the screen.

“Oh, shit.”

She hadn't even finished saying it when her phone rang.

Nora.

Amara answered.

“Hello?”

“WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?”

Amara winced and pulled the phone away from her ear.

“Good afternoon to you too.”

“Amara!”

“I'm fine.”

“You disappeared on us!”

“I had things to do.”

“what's so important that you couuld'nt tell us!”

“I forgot.”

“You forgot?”

“Yes.”

There was silence.

Then Nora said slowly, “Wait until I see you.”

Amara smiled.

“I'll be home soon.”

“You'd better.”

The call ended.

Amara shook her head, laughing as she walked toward her car.

For someone who had spent her entire life being protected by royal security, she had somehow managed to make two friends who were more terrifying than any bodyguard.

And she loved them for it.

☆

☆

☆

AMARA'S APARTMENT

Amara had barely parked her car when two familiar figures appeared from nowhere.

Nora was carrying three bags.

Javey was carrying seven.

Amara stared at them.

“What the hell?”

“Bitch, where have you been?” Javey demanded, already marching toward her. “We've been through hell looking for you!”

He grabbed her arm and began pulling her toward the apartment building.

“Have you forgotten that tomorrow is your first day at Pablo Innovations? You need to be ready!”

Amara struggled to keep up.

“You went through hell looking for me?”

“Yes!”

“That's why you couldn't find me.”

Javey stopped.

“What?”

“You should have tried heaven instead.”

Nora burst out laughing.

Javey stared at Amara with pure disbelief.

“You're lucky you're pretty.”

“I know.”

“You're also lucky I love you.”

“I know that too.”

“God, I hate you.”

“You wish.”

“I just tolerate you.”

“Same thing.”

Nora walked past them, shaking her head.

“Can we get inside before the neighbors think we've lost our minds?”

“You two have lost your minds,” Amara said.

Javey gasped dramatically.

“Excuse me? I'm a successful fashion designer. I have a reputation.”

“You once cried because a model wore the wrong shade of beige.”

“It was a warm beige with a cool undertone. There is a difference.”

Nora laughed.

“She's right though.”

Amara looked between them.

“You're both insane.”

“Rich people are allowed to be insane,” Javey replied.

Amara smiled.

That was the thing about Nora and Javey.

They came from wealthy families. They had never needed to worry about money, and both had chosen careers they actually loved rather than simply taking over their family businesses.

Javey had built his own fashion label and had become one of the youngest designers in Elaris to have his work showcased internationally.

Nora, on the other hand, had turned her obsession with hair into a luxury beauty business. Her salon had become popular among celebrities, politicians, and wealthy clients.

And somehow, despite their very different lives, the three of them had become inseparable.

Neither of them knew the truth about Amara.

They thought she was simply another wealthy girl living independently.

They didn't know she was Princess Amara Valerie.

They didn't know that the apartment they constantly invaded was one of several properties quietly purchased for her by the royal family.

They didn't know that the black SUV parked downstairs belonged to the royal security team.

And they certainly didn't know that the woman they called Mara had learned how to fire a gun before she could properly write her own name.

Amara intended to keep it that way.

For now.

The moment they entered the apartment, Javey threw the bags onto the couch.

“Okay. We have a problem.”

Amara removed her shoes.

“What?”

“You don't have anything suitable for your first day.”

Amara looked at the bags.

“You brought seven bags.”

“Exactly.”

Nora dropped her bags beside them.

“And before you complain, yes, I picked your hair.”

Amara stared at her.

“You picked my hair?”

“Yes.”

“You two are planning my entire life.”

“Someone has to,” Javey said.

Amara laughed and walked toward the kitchen.

“I'm getting coffee.”

“No.”

She stopped.

“What?”

“You're not drinking coffee.”

“Why?”

“Because you're going to be awake all night.”

“You have a thing tomorrow.”

“Exactly.”

Amara turned around.

“What thing?”

Javey and Nora exchanged a look.

Amara immediately became suspicious.

“What?”

Javey smiled.

“Your first day at Pablo Innovations.”

Nora leaned against the counter.

“We're making sure you don't embarrass yourself.”

Amara scoffed.

“Me?”

“Yes, you.”

“I've never embarrassed myself in my life.”

Javey and Nora stared at her.

Amara slowly smiled.

“Okay. Maybe once.”

“Once?” Nora laughed. “You hacked into your university's security system because the cafeteria ran out of your favorite dessert.”

“They shouldn't have lied to me.”

“You changed the entire lunch menu!”

“I was making a point.”

“You caused a campus-wide lockdown!”

Amara shrugged.

“People overreact.”

Javey shook his head.

“Tomorrow, you are going to behave like a normal employee.”

Amara smiled.

“Of course.”

Nora narrowed her eyes.

“Promise?”

Amara held up her hand.

“I promise.”

Neither of them believed her.

And, if Amara was being honest with herself, she didn't believe herself either.

A girl starting her first real job.

A girl who knew absolutely nothing about being an assistant.

And unfortunately for the Pablo brothers…

She was about to become their biggest problem.