Taking a deep breath, she braced herself and lifted her head as she made her way towards the suite of offices.
The door was open and she stepped forward tentatively, expecting to see the prince there as well. Her relief was palpable when she only saw the queen. She was on the phone.
Gesturing towards a chair, the woman continued her conversation in rapid Spanish.
The conversation had to do with some delayed shipment and Antoinette felt the guilt soaring through her body. It had been her job to follow up. She had not done her job.
"Well, that's sorted out." Sofia put the phone away and focused on the woman perched on the edge of the chair. She noticed the difference in the hairstyle but made no comment.
"I apologize for not following up," Antoinette said stiffly. "I suppose it's one of several reasons you have to let me go."
"Pardon?"
"I did something unforgivable and I don't expect you to keep me on."
"My dear, what on earth are you talking about?"
Antoinette felt hope flare inside her chest and then die. Obviously she did not know what had transpired between her and Tomas. "I left."
"You did, yes. And you think that's grounds for dismissal? I thought we had some sort of relationship by now."
Antoinette felt the emotions raging through her body.
"I have something to tell you, I..."
"You and Tomas had an altercation again. He told me about it. As a matter of fact, he said it was his fault. He went looking for you."
She gaped at the queen. "He what?"
"He blamed himself for once again upsetting you. So, he went looking for you." The phone started ringing again. "Now I will not hear this nonsense about you leaving. I left some files on your desk and would like you to sort them out as soon as possible." She looked up at the knock on the door. "Ah, refreshments. Just what we needed."
*****
She was veering from exhaustion to exhilaration and just wanted to curl up on her bed and sleep for several hours. She was not fired. She still had her job, a job she really liked. The prince had not said a word to his mother, her employer. Antoinette supposed she owed him for that much. But nothing more. And she hoped fervently that she did not have to see him in the near future. She was going to forget what happened between them and move on.
She would!
But just now, she wanted a nice long hot bath and then her bed and a glass of wine. In that order.
"Oh, Carmen, you don't need to bother with me tonight. I'm just going to draw my own bath and just lie in it for a while."
"I'm afraid that's not going to be possible, Señorita Antoinette," the woman told her, moving towards the closet. "The queen sent me up to tell you that there's a change of plans. Some delegates came in unexpectedly and she's hosting a dinner party. She wants you down in the dining room at eight." She glanced at her watch. "Which gives me two hours to get you nice and presentable."
"Oh, but..."
"She said to tell you that this was part of your job, and she would really appreciate you being there. It's important."
"Great." Antoinette saw her well-ordered and quiet evening going up in smoke. "Did she say if, did she say who else would be there?"
The woman threw her a puzzled glance.
"Okay, don't answer that." Blowing out a breath, she started to strip.
*****
"You look wonderful," Queen Sofia told her warmly, holding out both hands to take hers. "That color blue is so great against your skin tone. I knew you wanted to go straight to bed, but these associates came in unexpectedly."
"I understand completely."
