Escaping Her Curse—Completed

Chapter Seventeen

Before long, Jessie was scurrying to clean up the room as the meeting ended and everyone filed out. It had been a long meeting, but an interesting one. Jessie had learned a lot and had taken a copious amount of notes.

“I’ll meet you back at the office,” Oliver smiled. “I have a ton of paperwork to catch up on.”

“Wait, sir!” Jessie called out, catching the door to rush after the prince.

She didn’t anticipate his quick halt and sudden turn as she ran straight into him, sending them both flying backwards. Oliver, however, was able to grab onto the door frame to brace himself, keeping the two of them upright. His other hand went to her shoulder, steadying her.

“Are you alright?”

She shook her head, looking flabbergasted. “You really need to stop doing that!”

“Me? Stop doing what?”

“Stopping right in the middle. I was expecting to catch up with you. That’s at least twice now, Your Highness. Haven’t we tempted fate enough? One of these times, we're going to end up on the floor!”

“Is that really so bad?’ Oliver teased. “I’d catch you, of course. You’d land perfectly safely onto me.”

Jessie opened her mouth to refute him, but stopped, unable to even form a sentence. She wasn’t quite sure what the prince was playing at or insinuating, but she didn’t want to egg him on any further.

“Your Highness,” she began instead. “We need to get to the tea party. As it is, we barely have enough time to get you back to the office to change! No paperwork until after this event.”

“Change?” Oliver asked, confused. “Why would I need to do that?”

Raising an eyebrow, she gave the prince a look. “You’re kidding, right?”

Oliver looked down at his plain tan trousers and white button-up shirt with its sleeves rolled up to the elbow. However, Jessie saw the wrinkles in the shirt and the small ink stain on his knee, and the bags under his eyes.

“What’s wrong with my outfit?”

“You’re going to a tea party, Your Highness. And to be frank, you look like…less like a prince trying to find his bride and more like an overworked secretary. You need to look at least decent! Wear something that brings out the ocean in your eyes and doesn’t highlight the bags. You need a quick styling to your golden hair and some pants that aren’t stained and hideous! I’m here to help! I said I’d get you to that party looking your best, and I will not let the king see that I failed. Now go!”

Stunned by her forwardness, Oliver did as she said and turned towards his office while mumbling to himself, “Overworked secretary? Stained pants? Hideous?”

“Oh, stop your grumbling and pay attention. I’m obviously going to stay out here, but on your desk should be a new outfit. Change and use the clean water from your washbowl to try to style your hair. Or, I can help if you really need it. Let me know when you’re done.”

Without even a smart quip, the prince shut the door to his office behind him and quickly changed into the outfit his assistant had picked out for him. He couldn’t lie, she had an eye for style. His new outfit consisted of a crisp, light blue shirt that perfectly complimented his eyes, and was slightly open in the front to hint at his broad chest. His pants were dark and pressed with matching shoes.

“Help me with my hair,” he shouted to Jessie through the door, and he began rolling up his sleeves.

“Oh don’t you mess that up!” Jessie said, frantically running over to his side in order to fight with him over his sleeves.

“Let me have some personality, please,” Oliver pleaded, resting a hand on top of hers.

With a shake of her head, she conceded, dropping his arm and letting him finish.

“My hair, please?”

“You don’t know how to do your own hair?”

He only shrugged with a cheeky grin.

She lightly smacked his shoulder, but then dipped her fingers into the water. “You’ll have to bend down,” she said.

He did so in one fluid motion, bringing their faces much closer together than she anticipated. Trying to ignore his beautifully sculpted face, she started messing with his hair, dragging her fingers through it and attempting to position it how she liked it.

“You really think my eyes are like the ocean?” Oliver suddenly asked quietly.

She briefly flickered her own eyes to meet his. “Y-yes.”

“And that my hair is golden?”

“It’s definitely a more golden shade than mine. Shinier too. You’re lucky,” Jessie replied, attempting to lighten the growing intimate mood.

“You’re not the first to say such a thing.”

“I doubt I’ll be the last. It’s common knowledge in the kingdom, you know.”

Jessie attempted to discern the saddened look on the prince’s features, but it was gone before she could truly analyze it.

“Jessie,” Oliver breathed, closing his eyes for a half second too long as she raked her fingers through his hair.

Instinctively, she pulled back and turned around. “I think you’re good to go now, Your Highness,” she said just above a whisper.

“It’s Oliver when we’re alone, you know that.”

“I’m–I’m not sure I should cross that boundary anymore. You’re the prince! And I’m just your assistant. You’re going to get married, and I need to keep my distance due to my station.”

Oliver gently pulled on her shoulder and had her face him once more. He looked into her eyes and smiled weakly.

“I don’t want to abide by the rules when I’m with you. Who cares about stations and titles? When it’s just us? It feels right. It feels normal; I get to feel normal. I don’t know how else to explain it, Jessie, but being with you makes me feel free.”

She shook her head, taking a step back from him. “Don’t say this. Don’t say any of this before you go into that party and mingle with other women. You don’t know me.”

“But I feel like I do. You remind me so much of–of someone I thought I’d lost. She said my eyes reflected the ocean too. She had the most beautiful–”

“Please don’t,” Jessie interrupted abruptly. “I am no one. Don’t latch onto me because you’re dreaming of someone else.”

Oliver looked at her sharply then, frowning. He then sighed. “I guess you’re right. She’s gone, but I have you now. Please, be my friend as well as my assistant.”

“As long as you respect the boundaries I put up between us.”

Oliver’s demeanor became softer. “Fine. I guess. We’ll revisit it.”

Jessie grinned at him in disbelief. “No one ever says ‘no’ to you, do they?”

“Nope. I am a prince, afterall. Who’d be brave enough to attempt such a feat?”

“Me, apparently. Come on, we need to get going.”

Moments later, the two were hurriedly making their way to the garden, where the tea party was set to take place. Once they made it outside, Jessie was astonished to see how beautifully decorated the space was. They had pitched a linen tent in order to keep the sun off, but had woven different flowers of red, pink, and white all along the edges. There was one table set up in the middle, which had three places set up with pink teacups that matched the pink and white begonias that graced the center of the table in an elaborate vase. Longer tables filled the back of the tent where plates of food were set out. Little sandwiches, scones, and other desserts were laid out, waiting to be eaten.

Two beautiful women sat at the table, waiting for the prince’s presence. As their eyes gazed upon Oliver, both stood and elegantly curtsied before him. Both had large, yet delicate smiles gracing their pink lips.

“Your Majesty,” a servant called out. “May I present to you, Lady Fiona and Lady Christine.”

Fiona dipped her head once more, causing her dark ringlets to fall onto her bosom. Unfortunately for her, her fuchsia dress clashed horribly with the pink used to decorate the tent. Her dress was gaudy, with pleats and ruffles running down the skirt and a low ‘V’ neckline, which exposed her ample chest. Flowers made of fabric dotted the bodice, and Fiona had a large jeweled necklace, which grabbed the attention of all who looked at her. Fiona wore quite a bit of makeup, which included a heavy foundation that didn’t quite match her skin tone and had a deep smokey eye. It felt out of place for a daytime tea.

Christine, on the other hand, had chosen a more simple gown of light blue. It had three bows on the center of her bodice and a sheer fabric covering her collarbone and shoulders. Her skirt had a simple pleat that fell lightly to the floor. Her blond hair was curled around her face and pulled back into an elegant bun. She only wore dangly gold earrings as her jewelry of choice. Jessie thought she looked well put together and beautiful. She had a light application of makeup that focused on her rosy cheeks and brown eyes.

“Welcome, ladies. Thank you for joining me for tea,” Oliver said easily as Jessie took her place near the maids in the corner.

She didn’t quite know where she belonged, but she assumed it wasn’t next to Oliver at the table set for three.

“The palace is gorgeous, and I certainly wouldn’t turn down an almost private meeting with His Highness,” Fiona said with her high-pitched voice. “To know that you personally invited me here is truly an honor.”

Oliver gave her a tight smile and watched one of the maids pour their tea and place an assortment of eateries onto the table. Fiona immediately took a piece of cake and began eating it.

“Yes, I must say that I was quite taken back by your invitation, Your Highness, especially after you couldn’t make it to the last one,” Christine added politely.

Her voice was quiet but commanded attention. It was almost as if she spoke softer to make one lean in to hear her. It irked Jessie, though she knew not why.

Footsteps sounded behind the three, and everyone turned to see the king approaching.

“With pleasantries out of the way, let’s get to the nitty gritty,” the king said in his booming voice. “Who should become the next queen?”