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extremely unprofessional.”
    “You went through my stuff?” I asked.
    Miranda straightened up and sniffed. “Of
course I wouldn’t normally go through your stuff, but there was a
random bag in one of the guest rooms and I looked inside to see who
it belonged to. Unfortunately, it was all too clear.”
    My mind was reeling, both at the shame of
being caught in a lie, and at the fact that I couldn’t understand
what she was talking about. I had definitely put my bag in my room.
Except… what if it was the wrong hallway again? Surely all the
rooms couldn’t possibly look that much alike.
    “It wasn’t my room?”
    “It would appear not,” she said, raising her
nose even higher.
    I buried my head in my hands. Stupid,
giant castles.
    I sighed. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you
about Spain. I honestly didn’t know I was doing anything wrong
until you called. Then I just tried to make the best of a bad
situation and get back here as soon as I could.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Well, if you really
don’t think you did anything wrong, then I sincerely doubt even
more that you are the right person for this job. And these would
seem to plead my case.” She actually tossed the books into my
hands. “I knew the Prince was being ridiculous when he insisted
upon hiring you, what with your limited experience.” She looked
right at me. “And by limited, I mean none. You aren’t even a real
writer.”
    My mouth dropped open. I mean, I knew I was
no biographer, at least not yet, but it was a slap in the face to
say I was not a real writer. I’d been writing copy my entire adult
life. I had degree in creative writing for Pete’s sake. “Miss
Steeves, I understand that this doesn’t look very good on my part,”
I said, gesturing to the books, “but I think they at least prove
that I’m trying to do the best job possible.”
    She scoffed.
    But I had no choice but to keep fighting.
“The Prince knew my background when he hired me, he knew I wasn’t
an experienced biographer, but he still thought I would be the best
person for the job based on my other experience.”
    “Yes,” she sneered, “your other experience.
Ridiculous, in my opinion. Hiring someone because they know what
it’s like to be in the tabloids.” She seemed to suddenly remember
she was holding one in her hand. “Which, I see, has not ceased to
follow you around. Yet another reason we really shouldn’t have you
around.”
    “What? Why?” I asked.
    “Why? Because the press is still after you,
that’s why. I mean, we can’t very well have the paparazzi staking
out the castle wondering what the most famous Bridesmaid in the
world is doing running around here, now can we?”
    “No one knows I’m here,” I said,
quietly.
    “Oh really? And did you know when these were
being taken?” She waved the tabloid in the air.
    “No,” I said, even quieter now.
    I could see I was in a losing battle. I knew
I should just walk away and start packing. “Am I fired then?” I
asked, not able to take much more. Tears were stinging the back of
my eyes and the last thing I wanted to do was cry in front of this
robot of a woman.
    She dropped her arm to her side, my magazine
face slapping her in the thigh. “I would certainly think so, but
the Prince will have the final say. Though you most certainly can
be assured that he will hear about all of this.”
    I couldn’t help but notice she deflated a
little with her last outburst. She obviously wanted me out of there
badly, and it seemed to be killing her that she didn’t have the
sole authority to get rid of me. No matter what, it seemed, the
Prince would always have the last word.
    Not that it mattered, I was sure.
    Once Leo heard about my trip, and the stupid
books, he’d probably fly back just so he could boot me out himself.
I probably would. Okay, I wouldn’t be that mean, but I probably
wouldn’t be that happy about an employee doing something like this
either. Although, seriously, no one told me