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Was he serious? Would he really buy the entire building just to keep me from getting evicted? He was obviously bluffing.
Tommy sputtered in protest. “Whoa, whoa, slow your roll, amigo. No need to get your royal panties in a bunch. I’ll give you seventy-two hours, Grace.” And with that, he scurried away.
The prince turned to me, his eyes twinkling with humor. “Where were we?”
“Are you really going to buy the building?” I asked, still skeptical about this entire situation.
“I’ll keep it in my back pocket as an option,” Prince Oliver replied casually. “Now, about my wedding . . .”
I held up a hand to stop him right there. “Okay look, as flattered as I am by this bizarre business proposal, I’m kinda in career-crisis mode at the moment. I’m fresh off a lawsuit, my reputation is trashed, and I just narrowly dodged eviction. Forgive me for finding this entire thing just a little far-fetched.”
“Grace, put aside your suspicions and let’s get down to business,” Prince Oliver said. “I will pay your next three months of rent if you plan my wedding. That is not your salary. Consider it a signing bonus. I mentioned my proposed salary for your services on the phone, which would be approximately one month of your time.”
“Twenty thousand dollars?” Cristina said.
“Exactly.” Prince Oliver gave me a big smile.
“Done!” Cristina blurted out.
“Not done!” I said, shocked that Cristina had suddenly become my agent, and that Prince Oliver had actually agreed to that much money with zero hesitation.
“Look—I’m offering you not only a chance to resuscitate your career but also an all-expenses-paid trip to Verdana.” Prince Oliver winked, his charm impossible to ignore. “There are five people on your wedding planning team. They all have their assignments and duties. All you have to do is manage them. Instead of what people in your business call a day-of coordinator, consider yourself a month-of coordinator. Most of the big items for the wedding day were set in place long ago. Your job would be to oversee the entire wedding process in the final month, confirm that everything is set, and ensure that the day goes off without a hitch. Surely, you can handle that. And I will handle the legal fees of your pending legal battles here and any other issues that arise. Think of it as a one-month European vacation with everything covered. Travel, accommodations, food, and wardrobe.” He glanced down at my feet. “That includes shoes.”
I was so shocked, I didn’t know what to say.
“What kind of shoes are we talking about here?” Cristina jumped in and asked.
“Whatever Grace’s heart desires,” Prince Oliver said.
Cristina’s eyes went wide. “Gucci, Valentino, Versace, Prada? Anything at all?”
He nodded. “All the above, if that’s what she wants.”
“Grace could definitely use some new shoes,” she said. “I mean, look at these things.” She grabbed my foot and lifted my leg in the direction of the prince.
“Hey!” I said, latching on to her shoulder to keep myself from falling into him again. “No deal!”
“Excuse us, Your Highness,” Cristina chimed in, dropping my leg, then grabbing my arm this time. “I need to have a little chat with my friend.”
Prince Oliver nodded. “Of course.”
Before I could object, she dragged me inside my office and closed the door behind us.
“What exactly are you doing?” I asked.
“Um, hello?” Cristina said. “I was going to ask you the same thing. A real-life prince is asking for your help and offering you the world to boot! You’d be crazy not to take this opportunity.”
I glanced out the window at Prince Oliver and Dante, both chatting, but staring in my direction. I quickly closed the blinds, then turned back to Cristina.
“Something doesn’t feel right about this,” I said. “It can’t possibly be legit. ”
“Grace—this is real,” she said firmly, grasping my hand. “You’ve got this. You’re talented, passionate, and you deserve this opportunity. Plus, it’s a chance to work closely with an incredibly handsome prince. And who knows? Maybe he’s got some handsome, single prince friends. What’s not to love about this? You really have nothing to lose.”
“No?” I said. “What if I ruin his wedding and destroy any hope of rebuilding my reputation? This could be the biggest break of my life or the final nail in my career’s coffin. People seem to take joy in watching others fail, and I’m really getting tired of it.”
“Life is full of risks,” Cristina reminded me. “If you don't take chances, you’ll never know what you’re capable of. And who knows? Maybe this is exactly what you need to find your way back to the top. If not, you pivot and try something new. Either way, you’re taking action to get your life back on track. He is trusting you. Why don’t you trust yourself? The Universe is giving you this golden opportunity. Take it.”
I would’ve loved nothing more than to face my fears and prove everyone wrong, but planning the prince’s wedding was a jump off a cliff, and I preferred baby steps.
