His gaze still on the paper he was reading, her son said hoarsely, “I welcome death with a smile, knowing that you can lead a life that your mother and I have always dreamed for you.”
Slowly, Reid looked up, his fierce green gaze meeting everyone else in the courtroom. “I know that people will think I’m too young to make any promises, but I’ll still swear it anyway. In honor of my parents’ sacrifices and the love that Lord and Lady Malcolm have given me, I will do everything I can so that none of it will be in vain. I will lead a life that they can be proud of. But if this court asks me to denounce my biological parents in favor of a piece of paper that has nothing to do with my character, I will never do that. Rodrigo Chalkias was not the best of men, but he had been a good father to me, and I cannot and will not lie about—-”
His voice suddenly cracked, and when Enid saw her son’s shoulders start to shake, she didn’t even pause to think.
She rushed to him, protocol be damned. Her son needed her, and when she reached him, he looked at her and said brokenly, “I don’t want you to think I’m betraying you or Father. I love you, but—-”
Enid shook her head. “Hush.”
People began to shout behind them. The judge began pounding his gavel, demanding for order in the court. But she heard none of it. She saw none of it. The mother only saw her son, and Enid drew her little boy close.
“I’d never think that, baby.” And as he cried on her shoulder, she whispered, “I’m so, so proud of you. Everything you said was perfect. You’re the son we want, and we wouldn’t have you any other way.”
Present Time
“Are you sure about her, Igor?” The words, spoken in Greek, were underlined with skepticism.
“Yes, sir.”
Fingers tapped on the desk and the silence inside the study continued. It was furnished in somber tones of dark wood and black, as expected of someone the media liked to refer to as The Prince of Darkness. Superficially, it was a nod to Reid Chalkias’ love for throwing the wildest parties. However, there were also others who believed that it was equally apt, when one considered the long-standing rumors about Reid’s biological parents. Although both had been declared officially dead, many insisted that it was just a cover-up, that they still reigned in the criminal underworld and their only son was their heir apparent.
Either way, it made someone like this girl quite unsuitable for someone like him.
His gaze returned to her once more, and his emerald-green gaze took dispassionate note of her physical features. Wavy blonde hair, light brown eyes, and summer-kissed skin; a body that was neither slender nor curvy, and made only more remarkable by the hint of generous breasts hidden under her shapeless blouse – none of it made her either spectacularly pretty or ugly, and normally only the most attractive looking and outgoing women made it into his employ. Pretty girls made things easier with the kind of lifestyle he led as well as the kind of company he kept.
On the other hand—-
The prince’s gaze focused on the impressive diamond winking on the girl’s finger.
Pretty girls who applied for a job in his home were usually after him, and not all of them were willing to accept his rules about never dating staff. Of course, some of them persisted in being blind, thinking they could be the one to change him. They went to odd lengths simply to get his attention, and remembering the sheer absurdity of such thoughts made the prince’s lips curl – but the memories were also enough for him to come to a decision.
He glanced at Igor, and the older man, who had been with him since birth, nodded in understanding.
“Please tell us a bit about yourself, Ms. Cornwall.”
“I’m, umm, Fawn Cornwall, I’m 21 years old, and I grew up in small-town Massachusetts. I’m an only child, my dad died when I was young while my mom’s been head housekeeper for the mayor’s family since she was twenty-four. I also started working as a cleaner and babysitter for them when I was sixteen. I know everything when it comes to housekeeping, and I’ve also helped the mayor’s housewife when it comes to organizing parties.”
“Go on.”
“M-my resume—-”
“If I had wanted to just read your resume,” the prince said coolly, “I would have.” He waited for her to cry or snap at him, and if she had done either, he would have had her tossed out of the room on the spot.
But she did neither.
Instead, she only blinked at him. “I’m on my last year in university. I’m majoring in Accounting. I have no time for extracurricular activities because I need to pay for my own schooling.” There was no change in the inflection of her voice. It was as if she had only mentally shrugged off his furious tone, and then it was business as usual.
The prince was grudgingly impressed.
“Proceed.”
“I’m, umm, engaged.”
“How long?”
“Since my first year in college.”
The prince didn’t bother hiding his surprise. “That early?”
She said simply, “We know we’re meant to be together.”
“How touching.”
“Tell me about your fiancé. It’s Grant Bennett, isn’t it?”
She blurted out, “H-how did you know his name?”
“Did you truly expect I wouldn’t have done my research on people who wish to work for me?” Not waiting for her answer, he murmured, “About Grant Bennett...”
She slowly shook her head. “I don’t believe it’s appropriate that I speak of him, prince.”
And with that, she had passed the test, having proved that she could be loyal and trusted to keep other people’s secrets.
For now.
The prince nodded at Igor.
Igor said right away, “I’m delighted to let you know that you’ve been accepted for provisionary employment.”
“Oh, thank God.” The girl half-slumped in relief, saying, “I thought he wouldn’t want me because I wasn’t cool enough, and you know
