Page 3 of Once Upon a Prince

“It’ll be fine. Trust me. You’re here, you’re in New York. You’re living with me. Things are only going to get better for here,” she said.

“Let’s hope so,” I muttered as the elevator doors opened and I followed her to her apartment. I didn’t get to say anything more as I stopped in the doorway of her apartment and just stared.

“Your room is to your left. The bathroom is next to your room. It should be all set up for you. Make yourself at home. We can head out to do some shopping for food later and hit a happy hour at the local pub if you want, depending on how you feel after your flight,” Ara said from the living room.

I had slowly walked with her into the living room. I took in the floor to ceiling windows that looked out onto Central Park, the soft gray couch that sat in front of a large flat screen television. There was a chaise lounger near the window and I could see Ara sitting there video chatting with me drinking a glass of wine. I longed to sit there with a book or a cup of coffee in the morning. Outside there was a small balcony with two chairs and a small table on it.

The space was open, inviting, and cozy. Ara hadn’t lived in the apartment long but I could see that she had made it a home. I almost felt jealous that she had.

“Does it look okay? Did I not clean it enough?” Ara asked when I continued to stare.

“What? No. It’s amazing. It’s beautiful. It’s so big,” I said.

“Really? It’s only sixteen hundred square feet. It’s quaint but I like it. Do you want to see your room?”

“Yes. Please,” I said and followed her with my luggage toward the front door but turned right to my bedroom.

Ara always had excellent taste and she had decorated the room in a cheerful and welcoming style. A deep red duvet comforter and pillows sat on top of a queen bed. The windows were open and let a lot of natural light into the room. There were small lights on either bedside tables that had a few drawers. There looked to be a closet next to the chest of drawers which had a bouquet of yellow roses.

“The roses are lovely,” I said as I walked up and smelled them.

“I know they’re your favorite,”

“You might be the first person who has ever given me flowers,” I said as I touched the petals. Turning to look at her, I added, “I just said I liked them as they are the flower that represents friendship.”

“Then they’re perfect on both counts. I’ll let you get settled. Do you want some help unpacking? Do you need to check in with Cheryl? You want to be left alone? What can I do for you?”

“You should go back to studying. I can get myself unpacked. If I need anything, I’ll let you know. I would love to get out and explore the city with you this afternoon if your study schedule allows, maybe get a drink, and check out Patty’s? As far as calling Cheryl, the only thing my stepmother wants from me is her part of my paychecks I’ll be sending to her.”

“I can’t believe she’s making you send her money; it isn’t right.”

“It was the only way she would allow me to go. Being able to live here rent-free and getting paid more here than she could get from me working at Taylor Med was why she agreed at all.”

“She doesn’t control you; you know that. You can do what you want,” Ara reminded me and not for the first time.

“She might not control me technically, but she does control my shares in Taylor Med. The trust my father set up with the shares is being held by her until I turn twenty-six. If she wants, she can take it all away, sell them, spend them, make them worthless. I worked there to help keep the company going after Dad died. I know the running of the company better than anyone, but I couldn’t work the hours or under her anymore. She had fought me about leaving but eventually she let me go. Though, until I landed in New York, I kept expecting her to change her mind and I still felt uneasy, as if she gave in too easily and I was missing something.

“I’ve always wanted to be in New York with you and Layla. It was only because Taylor Med was running so smoothly and I told her I could make more money being here that she allowed me to come. It sucks to have to send her money; it isn’t what I want, but it’s better than where I was. I have to take the win while I can. I have no choice but to do what she says, at least for the next couple of years.”

“Except you’re sending more than half your paycheck to her. How can you live on that?” Ara asked.

“I’ve lived on less,” I looked away from Ara. I didn’t want her to know how bad it was living under my stepmother’s thumb. She and Layla had gotten some of it out of me but I didn’t want them or anyone to know it all.

“You won’t have to now. She might be taking some of your money, but I’m not going to let her take your fun. You’re right, you got away from Cheryl. This is the first part of your whole new life. It’s going to be great.

“Anything I have is yours. Once you get all settled, we’ll do some food shopping and then hit happy hour. I think Layla is working late, otherwise she would join us. Tomorrow you’ll start your new job and the adventure will really begin,” Ara said and beamed at me.

“Sounds like a plan. I can’t be out late. I will meet with HR first thing tomorrow morning and then Dax Moore later in the day,” I said and took a deep breath.

“I still can’t believe that you got a job working for Dax Moore. He’s like the prince of New York. His family has been around since this was farm land. Though that’s nothing compared to how sexy he looks. I just might get you to try and see if you can have us meet,” Ara said with a sigh.

“I’m nervous enough about starting this job, you didn’t need to remind me who he is or how good looking he might be.”

“You already knew that. Didn’t you meet him years ago?” Ara asked.

“Yes, when I was like ten. Our fathers went to college together and stayed close after. Mr. Moore kept in contact with me after Dad died and said if I ever needed anything, to ask him. I never thought that meant him giving me a job, much less with his son.”

“I’m glad he did. Now you can be here, where you belong, with friends who love and support you. Not with your evil stepmother who only cares about herself.”

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