Page 107 of Merciless Prince
Her nostrils flared with irritation. “Not an actor, huh?” she said, arms folding. “That’s funny, because I could’ve sworn I saw you on SNS a few weeks ago.”
“I’m not an actorhere, I mean,” I said. I swallowed hard and clasped my hands together. “I’m literally begging you. I need your help. Please just let someone know I’m here.”
The woman sighed and rolled her eyes. Then she walked away, muttering something under her breath about needing to speak with my manager.
As I watched her go, my chest tightened like a thick rubber band was squeezing around it. This was insane. No one believed I was a real prisoner apart from a six-year-old child who couldn’t do anything to help me.
I choked down a breath and sank to my knees, tears freely sliding down my face.
“Hey, I brought you some lunch!”
I looked up to see a short blonde woman in an emerald-green velvet dress. I recognized her as one of the medieval princesses who wandered around the courtyard every day, posing for pictures with tourists and occasionally participating in the reenactments as a hapless maiden who needed to be rescued by a noble knight.
“I’m Bobbi, by the way,” she went on. “You’re Shay, right?”
“Yes.” I wiped the tears off my cheeks and stood up. “Could I please borrow your phone?”
“Sorry, it’s in the staff room,” she said with an amiable smile. “We’re not allowed our phones while we’re working, remember?
“I really need to call someone. It’s an emergency.”
Her smile vanished. “Oh, I’m so sorry! I thought you were just fake-crying for the audience,” she said, eyes widening. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m not supposed to be here,” I said, taking a step closer to the bars. “Killian Knight has been keeping me prisoner in the castle for two weeks now, and he drugged me and put me in this cell today. I need to call the police and tell them everything.”
“Oh, I see.” Bobbi snorted with amusement and dropped a brown paper bag at my feet. “You know, you can chill on the acting bit around me. I’m not going to tell the boss you dropped character for a few minutes during lunch.”
“I’m not acting. I’m a real prisoner!” I said, hitting the bars with the flat of my hand. “Please, you have to get me out of here!”
“Ugh, you’re one of those annoying-ass method actors, aren’t you?” she said, rolling her eyes.
“That’s not what this is about,” I said, voice cracking on the last word. “Please, Bobbi. I really need you to help me.”
She blew out an exasperated sigh and stepped back. “Enjoy your lunch,” she said, motioning to the brown paper bag. “By the way, in case no one told you yet, there’s a bathroom in there.”
My eyes widened. “What? Where?”
“Through there,” she said, pointing to the arched wooden door behind me. “Anyway, I have to get back to my spot. Hope you’re enjoying your first day!”
She spun around and walked away.
“Wait!” I called out to her retreating back. She didn’t turn around.
With a sigh, I sat down and picked at the turkey and salad sub from the paper bag. Once I was full, I went over to the door on the other side of the cell.
Until a few minutes ago, I’d assumed it was a fake door that had been installed to add some extra medieval flair to the space, because I knew Killian wasn’t stupid enough to leave me in a room that I could possibly escape from. Bobbi was right, though. The door led into a tiny bathroom behind the cell.
I went over every inch of the room, desperately searching for a way out. There was nothing, though. No windows or other doors leading anywhere else. Just a toilet and a small basin with some soap and paper towel.
“Shit!” I smacked my hand on the basin as angry tears stung my eyes. I hated this so much. I hated Killian, too. Every time I thought he couldn’t be any more of an asshole, he outdid himself.
Today’s psychologically torturous punishment seemed like even more of a betrayal to me because I was so sure that Killian was softening up toward me in the car last night. When he denied hurting Cori and told me that he’d never do something so monstrous to me after the way I lost my parents, I thought there might be some humanity in him after all. I even had the briefest thought that there might be a chance he could change. Be a decent guy. Maybe even be a decent guy forme.
But no, that was pure delusion.
I splashed some cold water on my face to soothe the indignant heat burning in my cheeks. Then I headed back out to the cell and crouched on the pile of straw, chest rising and falling with harsh, angry breaths.
Familiar black shoes appeared near the bars a while later. I lifted my gaze to find Killian standing there.
