How I became the Duchess

I'm sorry Mr Ambremò there's a problem with the royal apartment

The summer a year ago

The royal apartment offers more than a person can use. There are five bedrooms, four bathrooms, two living rooms, one welcome lounge and an entrance hall.

I promised myself to spend this holiday in style. I do deserve it after spending the last five summers behind the desk with numbers - except family vacations.

After I took a long bath in the Queens bathroom - the big round bathtub really deserves the attribute royal - I put a light make up on my face and took out a short summer dress from my suitcase. ´It's creased. I will ask at the reception if they could send someone to uncase my clothes and to iron the crease one (I expect it all will be, but...).´

I shrug my shoulder. I put the dress on, my backpack (not the turistic one this one looks more like a purse) on my back and took my sunglasses with the room card into my hands.

´Yeah. I am ready for my first small trip in Prague.´

When I got off the elevator and headed to the reception I heard Anna saying. "I am really sorry Mr Ambremò there is just one really small problem with the royal apartment. I am truly sorry. We are solving it. Give us just a little while please and drink some exceptional whisky at our bar. On behalf of the hotel of course?"

"I do not understand..."

There was a handsome man not more than thirty years old - I would guess twentyseven - standing at reception desk.

"Ugh, ugh" I took coughing as the best way to interrupt them. As they turned to me I started to talk. "Excuse me please. Is there a problem with the royal apartment."

"Ms Suckley." Anna started to talk before the man - Mr Ambremò as I could get to know from Anna's speech - even could take his breath. "Is there anything I could help you with?"

"Yes, you are right. There is. I would like to know what problem is with the royal apartment?" I smiled as I was talking, to look nicer.

"Well." Anna's body started shivering.

"Would you please explain me what is wrong with my apartment?!" Ambremò said and there was a lot of dominance in his voice. And anger.

"YOUR apartment? I am living in the royal apartment." I said not in a nice voice.

"No. The apartment is reserved for DE AMBREMÒ." He puted emphasis on his name like saying his name wrong would be making him more angry than the problem itself.

"Could you please explain it?" I turned to Anna.

Anna ws shivering and she bowed her head. "I don't know how did this happen. It has never happened to me before."

Anna's voice has had broken in the middle of her speech and we didn't get any answer yet. She is almost crying.

I took a breath to encourage her, but I didn't get there. Mr de Ambremò - in his well fitting suit, which was telling ´I am here the rich one´ - was out of his patience.

"What is wrong with MY apartment?! How is it possible that this small girl is saying she is living in there?!"

"Because she is." answered Anna instead of me. Tears were falling from her eyes already. "I booked the room for both of you. I am really sorry. It has never ever happened to me. I am truly sorry. I also do not understand it but somehow as we have so many websites where we do offer our... I am so sorry... I I do not know what to do..."

I wanted to say something indeed to stop her crying, to help her somehow but I was not able to say a word. It was like, I really wanted, I did, truly, but my mouth did not obey me. It was just opened and I was not able to close it.

Looked like Mr de Ambremò was not suffering from the same troubles. His dark black eyes - the same colour as his hair is - ere sending flashes at Anna and she is bowed down even more, though I thought it was impossible.

"You most to be kidding me! Although I hate travelling to the Eastern Europe, but I couldn't postpone it anymore, so I reserved the best apartment I could find in the town and you are trying to tell me, I must to share it with a child?!"

"No, you do not have to." I said and anger was boiling inside me. ´Child! How dares he! But I must save Anna from his anger and I do believe, she can't lose this job, just because one playboy can't behave himself.´ "Please Anna, I do believe there is another free room in this hotel. Could you give me one instead of royal apartment please?"

Now it was her who is shocked.

"Could the formalities be solved when I come back? There is something I have to do." I was lying, but I did not feel comfortable in this situation. Anna just nodded and typed something into the keyboard. "I will also move out of the apartment, when I return. But there are four other free rooms in there. My things are just in the Queen's bedroom and bathroom."I was talking to Mr. Ambremò now. But I did not give him time to reply. I turned back to Anna. "Is there a room. I am in hurry."

"Already reserved, madam. " Anna told and there was smile even in her eyes. And I had a feeling I've made a new friend.

I smiled and left. I did not know where. ´I must to say my best summer ever is starting "well".´