“Kitchen is closed.” The com shuts off.
One red manicured fingernail taps the bag. “I would be a very bad secretary if I didn’t remind you of the dinner in two hours. But if you can’t make it…” She reaches into her purse and gets a bar of chocolate, the same kind the prince fed Junior.
“Oh no, thank you so much. I can make it.”
She peels open the bar and eats. “I think he sent you a dress.”
Great. “How can I dial my house from the Stronghold?”
“Get a Telean to clear it.”
“Any Telean, or…?”
“Mike.” She wags her eyebrows.
“His name is Mike?”
“Nah. We call him that ’cause we can’t pronounce his name.”
I grab the bag and sift through the boxed items. Four white boxes, different sizes. Not marked. No logos or anything on them, not even red bows. I open my com and call for Mike.
“Speak your purpose,” a male answers.
“Hi, Mike, my name is Anna—”
“I know who you are. This is the prince’s private line.”
“Actually, it’s his personal assistant’s line.”
“Same difference.”
I roll my eyes. “I’d like clearance to call my parents.”
“Negative.”
“What do you mean?” Sighing, I take off my dreadful shoes.
“I mean what I said. Negative. Clearance denied.”
“Why?” I look at Tamika, who’s only paying attention to the boxes on the table. I push the big box toward her. “Go ahead and open it,” I whisper.
Her eyes light up.
“Because,” Mike says.
“Because?”
“No other reason was given.”
“Okay. Hold on. Who gave you thisbecausereason?”
“The prince.”
“Thank you,” I say, and we hang up. I dial the prince.
“Omega,” he greets me immediately.
I’m gonna lose my shit. “Anna,” I correct.