“Yes, my boyfriend came over to comfort me last night.”
“To comfort you?” My ire was white-hot. “To comfort you where? You aren’t coming from your room. Where is he?”
“We slept in one of the guest rooms. And he left out the back, where his car was parked.” She set her shoes down on the floor and stepped into them. “Now, what is it you want me to do this morning? I tried to make things right last night, but you weren’t having any of it.”
“I want you to pack your shit and get the hell out of my house.” The words flew out of my mouth before I could censor them.
“Excuse me?”
“You disappeared last night, you got drunk on the job, invited a stranger into my home during a difficult time, and then did God knows what in a guest room that is reserved for visiting dignitaries.” I clenched my hands at my sides. “Get your stuff and get out.”
“You might as well clear out your desk at the palace as well,” Selene added. “I’ll let them know you have limited access for the next two days.”
“You’re firing me?” She put her hands on her hips and I had to fight a violent urge. Apparently I’d spent too much time with my sister-in-law.
“Yes.”
“For having my boyfriend over.” She started laughing. “Fine. Fire me for having my boyfriend over to your freaking house. Fire me for being driven to drinking by your emotional baggage. Do you know how much money you cost me yesterday?”
“What are you talking about?” David stood up and put a hand on my shoulder.
“She bailed on an interview. I was going to make five thousand euros just for getting Her Highness to talk to someone.” She pointed at me and I froze. “I didn’t complain when you chose one of the lowest bidders, but then you started crying like a giant baby. I’ve been helping you! You’re boring, you do nothing, and your charity was going to fizzle.”
“Did you take those pictures?” I squeezed the words out from between my teeth.
“How could I have taken those pictures? I was a floor down with the peasants, remember?” She sashayed toward the stairs.
“If I found out you took those pictures, you will never work in Lilaria again.” I could feel the explosion building under the surface, fighting to get free of my tight hold.
“Is that a threat, Princess?” She turned to look at me. “Are you threatening an ex-employee?”
“I’m reminding you of the contract you signed.” I sneered at her. “The one where you agreed to never release revealing or damaging information about the royal family and their staff.”
“Well, it would be impossible to prove that I took any pictures.”
“It’s not impossible to find out who leaked them.” David laughed. “And from what I can tell from your face, you’re going to have something to worry about all the way back to whatever hellhole you came out of.”
She turned to go back to her room and I broke. “Get out. Don’t get your stuff. I’ll have it shipped to you. Get out of my home right now.”
“This isn’t your home. This is your mommy’s home.” She laughed. “You’re just a floating figurehead. You have no real title or job. You have nothing but your boy toy—”
“ENOUGH!” I shook with the need to hurt her. “I may be a princess, but I can get my bitch on when I need to. Take your slutty ass and leave right now.” She started to respond and I held up my hand. “If you don’t want to be escorted out by Jameson and Mark, you will keep your lying mouth shut.”
Jameson had come to stand by the door with crossed arms. His face was impassive, but just his large bulk was threatening. You could feel his desire to throw her out vibrating in the air.
Turning on one heel she marched to the door and yanked it open. Without a look back she disappeared, but not before slamming the heavy wood panel.
I stood there shaking, unable to say anything while my blood boiled with rage. The only other time I had been this angry was when I found out Sam had been mobbed by the paparazzi. I had let Tabitha into my home, into my life, and she had sold pictures of me to people who would use them to damage my reputation.
The sound of clapping caught my attention and I realized that Selene was applauding me. “I didn’t think you had that in you.”
“I guess we’re surprising each other this week.” I shrugged.
“Wow.” David touched my hand and I turned to look at him. “That was really sexy.” His eyes ran over me hungrily, but there was a small smile playing along his lips that softened the comment. “I really like you as an angry princess.”