Competing for a Title

Six - Im right here

Standing there. I wanted to run away and say forget this silly competition and spend another great night together with Alex. But where was he? I've yet to see him since he rode off last night. His not being here was making me feel as though he didn't enter me into the competition. But I don't understand who else would. Who else knows how I feel about him? Now I'm wondering if someone saw us last night. I'm just going to place along with this for the time being because none of this makes sense to me.

I'll greet everyone as if I'm a contestant. Just like Amelia said, I'll just be myself. I'm already entered into this so what's the worst that could happen? Just then I noticed that Amelia and his parents were walking back towards me. When they stopped in front of me his mother said, "follow my dear"

We all walked off into another room. My stomach was doing backflips. Even though they spoke quietly I had heard everything they said about me when they entered before. why the f**k would I want to be in a room alone with them.

"Before this goes any further and gets out of hand. I would like to know what is going," his mother said disturbingly calm.

"What do you mean?" Amelia asked not following where this was going.

"Young lady would you mind telling me how and why you are here."

I stood there for a minute contemplating what I was going to say. I didn't want to come off as weak and unsure of myself. I also couldn't say out loud that it was Alex that entered me into the competition. I knew that would lead to me having to say that we were out last night.

"Mom I'm aware that there was a formal presentation of all of the contestants beforehand but Ashle was working to get our staff set up for the competition. I think that should more than excuse her. We could introduce her now if you like."

"Helping the staff. Are you out of your mind? We cant have our staff competing and preparing for this competition."

"Mom would that look if we didn't allow ordinary people to compete in the completion. It's already bad enough that no one has heard from Alex. Now you want them to think that this thing is rigged? What would that do to our reputation?"

"It is something that I will think about. This entire thing is one big shock after the next. We don't even know who she is", said the father. I was getting tired of them speaking on me like I wasn't standing right there. At this point, I'm irritated and ready to spill the beans. This entire thing is messy, I'm keeping secrets, practically sneaking around since I saw Alex twice yesterday and didn't say anything, and to top it all off I don't even want to be in this competition.

"I'm Ashley Jones, kitchen manager for Palace Plates Catering Co.", I finally spoke with maybe too much confidence in my voice.

"Ah, I thought there was something familiar about you. I saw you with Sally yesterday in the dining hall!"

"Amelia this all should have been discussed beforehand." her father said as if he was in utter disbelief.

"Well, I don't know what to tell you. Although I think it would help with the media, this wasn't done on my part. I'm just feeling in where I can just like everyone else around here. I would advise you all to stop making a mockery out of this young lady and treat her as you would any other contestant rich or not."

"I'm putting an end to this bullshit now," said her now angry father.

"No King let her stay. I'll find a way to make this work in our favor. It doesn't matter one way or the other as I have the final say on who the bride is anyway. If she can't prove to be worthy of our family name then others nothing to bother about anyway."

"Fine then because I'm tired of the carrying on and back and forth. And where the hell is Alex?", he said storming off with his wife behind him.

"Ashley you may return to your duties if you weren't finished or retire to your room", Amelia said apologetically.

Just then a guard came in, "I'm waiting to escort you to your destination ma'am."

"that's ok, ill see to her," Amelia told him waving him off.

"no problem, You ladies enjoy your day." and off he was without another word.

"I'm so sorry about that. I had no idea that felt that way."

"oI, it's ok. I guess I could understand. I'm sure they only want the best for their son and someone like me with no stature or money would definitely be a downgrade."

"Now you stop with the nonsense. None of that should even matter. It should be about the type of person you are. No amount of stature or money would make a person have a great heart and soul. Who to say that if the riches most prominent woman was to win this competition that they wouldn't make my brothers' life a living hell. If you ask me, I don't think anyone with stature should even have been allowed in the competition, to begin with."

"Yeah, that does kind of defeat the purpose. like he could have just dated them on his own time without the competition."

we began walking down an unfamiliar hallway. Well, actually they were all unfamiliar. this was only my second day here and I haven't even covered a fraction of the floor was staying on. Amelia's phone began to ring.

"oh excuse me I have to take this call," she said walking off and waving at me. Does she realize that she just left me in the middle of the hallway lost? How the hell am I going to get back to my room or the kitchen. I just continue walking in the direction we were going. I'm sure she was coming this way for a reason. s**t if not I'm sure one of those scary out of nowhere guards will pop up and escort back.

I got halfway down the hall and was pulled into a room.