Chapter 3

Mercede’s POV

My night was plagued nightmare’s, that I barely slept a wink. 

If this was a nightmare about me going back to prison, I wouldn’t have thought much of it. But instead, I had a nightmare about being beheaded, or burnt at a stake, and the last one my skin was being peeled off in a slow torturous motion, and just thinking about it now, sends a shiver down my spine.

And all this punishment for what? Because I faked my identity, and pretended to be a princess.

A sane person would have taken this as the universe telling them not to go for the interview, but not me.

Not someone who was three days away from being hauled back into prison.

And thanks to the insane pep talk Nicole gave me last night after we went through a series of questions I might be asked, my heart was now made of steel–and I’m seeing this through till the very end.

Nicole gave me cash for uber, because apparently, I can get to my destination by bus.

When I arrived in front of the address, my jaw literally dropped open.

Nicole said they were rich. She didn’t say anything about being royalty rich!

The house was a whole estate. The kind you only see in movies with British accents, and inheritance drama.

The inside was as magnificent as the outside. The floor was made of Italian marble, a chandelier dripping crystals dangled above, and a twin staircase with handrails that looked like they were made out of pure gold.

A maid led me to a room where about twenty ladies who looked like they just walked out of Vogue magazine were seated.

Their skin was spotless, and makeup flawless. And don't even get me started on the designer outfit they were dripping in.

And then there was me. Jane in a room full of Jasmines.

Whatever confidence I woke up with was crushed in a heartbeat, as I felt small and invisible in their presence.

But this was a matter of life and death at this point, so I stayed. Ignoring the condescending stares I got from the rest of the ladies.

One after another, the ladies were called into a room.

Some walked out of the room with a smile on their faces, while the others looked like their hearts had been chewed and spat out.

“Mercedes Alexander,” my name was called next.

I took in a deep breath, and walked into the room.

A woman probably in her later 40’s or early 50’s was seated behind her desk.

“You must be Adam's cousin,” she gave me a once over, and from the way her nose scrunched up I knew she wasn't impressed by what she was seeing.

“Yes ma'am,” I said politely with a nod.

She went through my resume which was on her desk, before asking me a few standard questions.

‘What would you do if a child throws a tantrum in public.’

‘How do you handle a child that's a picky eater?’

‘What’s your bedtime routine?..

The woman smiled all through as I answered the best I could. I was a kindergarten teacher before I went to jail, so I have a pretty good experience with dealing with kids.

“You're good,” she said with a tight lipped smile. “But you're not what we're looking for.”

My heart sank to the pit of my stomach.

Not because I hadn't heard those words countless times for the past few weeks.

But because this time, the rejection stung as hell.

Not just because this was my last shot of not going back to jail.

But because for the first time in weeks, it actually felt possible.

I walked out of the office, and just as I rounded a corner, two small bodies crashed into me.

“Save us!” One of them whispered with wide eyes, a girl.

“Yes, please! The dragon's coming!’ the boy added, hiding behind me and handing me a sword made out of cardboard.

“The what?” I asked baffled.

“The dragon! It's gonna eat us!” They both shrieked, clutching tightly to my legs, as they pointed dramatically in the direction they came in.

And I saw a grown ass man in a giant dragon costume staggering towards us dramatically.

ROOOAARRR!!

I almost burst out laughing, at how funny he looked as his wings dangled in opposite direction. But the kids were clinging to me like I was their last lifeline.

So I immediately slipped into character, stepping forward and shielding the kids.

“Beware, foul beast!” I shouted in my best Game of Throne voice. “For I am the chosen one. Protector of the land! Come any close, and I shall SMITE THEE WHERE YOU STAND!”

The dragon roared, stomping his padded feet on the ground.

The kids squealed in excitement, and that was all the boost I needed.

“I’m not afraid of you!” I continued dramatically, swinging the sword.

 The dragon lurched towards us, and I let out a heroic yell and charged towards it too.

“Kapow!” I tapped the sword on the dragon's chest.

“Nooooooooo I've been DEFEATEDDDD!” The dragon groaned dramatically, as it spun in a circle and collapsed onto the ground.

The kids burst out laughing.

I put one foot on the dragon on the floor, and held my sword high. “Fear not, little ones! The smelly beast has been slain!”

“Yay!” The kids ran towards me and wrapped their arms around my legs.

“Thank you Dragon Slayer!” The girl cheered.

“You're the coolest!” The boy added, and the girl handed me a crumpled paper crown I hadn't realized she was holding.

“Well, thank you,” I chuckled, putting the crown on my head.

The kids giggled, before running away yelling ‘The smelly beast has been defeated!’