Mixed messages

Unexpected changes

Last night I fell asleep while trying to go through the file on conduct at the estate.

1) Staff is to look neat and professional at all times. While at work we represent her Majesty Queen Ciniso Zulu and are to carry ourselves as such.

2) Personal communication devices are to be left in lockers provided or kept on silent at all times. No loud noises are to interrupt the daily routines of the estate occupants.

3) Discretion is advisable throughout the day. All attempts must be made to ensure that living areas are cleaned at times when they are not occupied. If one must be present while there are occupants in the area, then swift and discreet duties may be carried out.

4) All family members are to be referred to strictly as His/her majesty, unless otherwise stated....

I fell asleep before I could read the rest of it. Needless to say, the list goes on and on. It's incredibly long and detailed. I really need to make time to finish the rest.

My sleep was peaceful and when I eventually woke, images of a certain royal started plaguing my mind.

Get a grip Ri, you will not loose your job for bumping into someone. Besides it was technically Catherine that I collided with and her who ultimately pushed me to the ground. I am seriously paranoid.

This morning the sun is out and the trip to work is seamless. I meet Jazz in the taxi again today, so we end up sitting together. Turns out she lives a block away from me. This time there are six of us waiting for Max to pick us up at the same spot as yesterday.

True to form, he whistles at one of the ladies (I think her name is Thina) and makes a comment about her figure hugging dress. I really don't like this guy.

After changing into our uniforms we all head to our respective areas.

"Ri... Ri hold up" Trishal says jogging towards me as I was crossing the massive lawn leading to Princess Thando's residence.

I stop and wait for her to catch up, smiling despite the nerves that are eating at me.

Oh gosh, did Catherine rat me out? Am I about to get my first written warning? Worse still, are my services no longer needed. How the hell am I supposed to raise money for my studies if I loose this job?... I remind myself to calm down, panicking won't do me any good.

"Goodmorning Horizon, how are you doing today?" she asks catching up to me.

"I'm great thanks and yourself?" I respond quickly.

"Awesome. Hey sorry to do this to you at the last minute but it turns out Prince Andrews team is understaffed currently. Seeing as Princess Thando is at school, you and Jazz are the logical choices. Also Prince Andrew requested the new girl." She sounds breathless from trying to catch up to me.

Hmmm why would the Prince care who is on his housekeeping duties anyway? Curious.

"Oh sure thing, I will find Jazz and we will head there immediately" I respond. Glad this conversation had nothing to do with yesterday's unfortunately mishap.

"Great" she says. "Martelize will be waiting for you at the staff entrance of the Prince's residence. Good luck for your first day"

"Thank you" I say. I then quickly jog to find Jazz. I don't want to keep Martelize waiting. Today I plan to keep my head down and do a great job.

Jazz was easy to find and together we headed to our new allocation. "Why me?" Jazz complains. "I had gotten myself into a comfy routine over at Princess Thando's and now this." She is really pissed off. "You know it's easier to work for the princess coz she's never there. Aga nee man, rerig!" her Cape accent is much more apparent when she is mad. "There is little oversight and you get to spend most of the day pretty much relaxing"

"I'm sure the change is temporary Jazz. Besides it could have been worse. You could have been singled out" I laugh when she shoots daggers at me with her eyes. Yup she's a glass half empty kind of girl.

Martelize is waiting for us when we get to Prince Andrew's. She's a tall blonde, with frizzy hair that she has attempted to tame in a high ponytail. The hair is thick and unruly. It almost looks like she has a halo on her head... stunning.

"Hi ladies, sorry but I will have to catch you up on the go, the prince had his buddies over last night and the place is a mess. We are very happy for the extra hands. For now stay out of the bedrooms. Prince Andrew and his guests are all still sleeping." She is talking and walking, emphasising the need to rush. She has a thick Afrikaans accent and I struggle to hear everything.

We follow her first to a supply closet where we grab a large prepacked cleaning cart, then we head to the lounge.

"Whoaw!" Jazz exclaims as we both gasp at the chaos before us.

The lounge is a mess. Pizza boxes litter the floor along with beer bottles and cigarette buds. Some boxes are still fully loaded while others lie empty all over the place.

The beautiful cream white couches have fingerprint stains, almost as if they were used to wipe greasy hands. The dark wood floors are shock full of muddy footprints luckily the small area rug seems largely unaffected. Worst of all is the smell of alcohol and weed filling the air.

"You ladies can help me in here, I don't think I would finish in time if I do it myself" Martelize insists. "Uh, why didn't the evening team sort this out at night?" Jazz asks.

"Apparently the party was in full swing until about 7am" Martelize replies, getting started.

I immediately open the windows and sliding door, trying to get rid of this awful smell.Grabbing a black garbage bag I begin throwing empty cartons, beer bottles and cans into the trash. Martelize pulls her cart inside and starts mopping the floors, while Jazz gets to work on the stains covering the couches and pillows. We work together like a well oiled machine finishing quickly then each heading to a different unoccupied room that needs cleaning. I get the study, Martelize the kitchen and Jazz gets the TV room.

The study is mostly clean. I empty the trash can, dust off the bookshelves and straighten out the desk. When I am done I put fresh flowers in the vase and spray a small puff of furniture cleaner in the air. It gives the room an earthy, oakey scent which is much better than the smell of artificial air fresheners.

I open the door to exit and come face to chest with a muscular, broad shouldered man. I don't need to look up to know exactly who it is.

"We have got to stop meeting like this" Prince Andrew chuckles, staring straight at me. His frame completely fills the doorway, blocking the only exit to the room. Just my luck. "Goodmorning your highness. Apologies, I was just about to head out." I was kind of hoping my statement would make him move from the doorway but I had no such luck. Atleast today I didn't crash into anyone, but I'm standing uncomfortably close to him.

"What's the rush? And didn't I say call me Andrew yesterday?" that makes look up and meet his gaze. He can't possibly be serious! I take a much needed step back.

"Pardon me your..." I stop myself before I could finish his title when I see a frown crease his forehead. "Sorry. It may take some getting used to" I can feel the blush spreading on my face. The fact that I still did not use his name does not go unnoticed. "Say Aaanndrew" he draws out his name."Go on, try it on for size" he says with a rumbling chuckle that sends shockwaves up and down my spine.

I don't know why he insists on being called by name but if it makes him move out of my way...

I try to look behind him to make sure that I won't be heard. "Alright then Andrew" his name coming out as more of a whisper. This smug look appears on his face briefly. Jerk, I think to myself.

His eyebrows shoot up and I realise that I rolled my eyes at him. s**t.

After a second, this hearty laugh erupts from him, completely transforming him into this heart stopping man. I can't take my eyes off.

He moves out of the doorway and heads towards his table, taking a seat behind the large desk. Once he is completely composed again he speaks, stopping me dead in my tracks before I could make my hasty retreat. "I don't think anyone has rolled their eyes at me since I was a child..." he looks at me like he is waiting for me to say something. Is he waiting for an apology or something? I'm not sure but I think I've maxed out the word sorry for today. I was about to ask to be excused from the room when he speaks again, clarifying my confusion.

"What's your name?" he asks like it was obvious that it was what he was waiting for.

"Horizon" I say it softly.

"Alright Horizon" it rolls off his tongue like butter.

"Please tell the kitchen that my guests should be up only around midday. They can hold off on breakfast until then. As for me I'll be in here working and would appreciate some coffee while I do." he says.

The relief I feel must be evident on my face because I swear I saw him frown when I responded with 'yes sir' before leaving.

Andrew POV

I swear I don't intend to make the new housekeeper feel uncomfortable. Somehow I think that's exactly what I have done. I was just annoyed last night when all attempts to work bore no fruits and I gave up, deciding to call it a night. Little did I know that Nathi had other plans for me. He swarmed in here with an army of his friends roping me into a long night of watching them behave like idiots. I called it a night after playing a few rounds of FIFA and ensuring that enough food was ordered to feed the army. I refused to have him make Charles whip something up at the last minute.

My brother needs to grow up and stop with the weekday parties though. He becomes completely useless the following day, leaving me to pick up all the slack with the business.

The only good thing I could get from this whole debacle is that I could use the mess they made to get the new girl brought over to my team.

For some reason I couldn't take my mind off her. When I woke this morning I sent all the sleeping party people off to the guest rooms and called HR. Yesterday Catherine had pretended not to know the new girl's name. Seemingly insulted that I would ask her for details about the woman that 'assaulted her.' Her words not mine. I swear Cathy can be a major drama queen.

I was pleasantly surprised to walk into this room and bump into Horizon yet again. Horizon... beautiful name for easily the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen. What's worse is she doesn't seem to realise it. She isn't batting her eyelids at me constantly or going out of her way to get my attention. She simply commands it just by being. I try to focus on the task at hand but I find it difficult to concentrate on the words on the page. I keep looking at the door waiting for her to reappear. The way she said my name and the blush that spread across her face when she felt embarrassed... Priceless.

I am bitterly disappointed when one of the regular helpers, the one with the frizzy hair walks in with a coffee tray in hand. Pity Horizon didn't bring it herself.

"Thank you" I say as she sits the tray on my desk. I look up confused as to why she hasn't exited. I find her staring at me batting her eyelashes expectantly. I've learned to ignore this sort of thing but today I'm finding it particularly irritating.

"Yes?" I grumble sounding like an ogre. "oh, will that be all your highness?" she asks huskily. "Yes, that's all" I say dismissively. As she turns around and leaves the room swaying her hips provocatively. I can't help but roll my eyes at the effort.

I gasp when the door clicks shut, laughing out loud at my own behaviour. Since when do I roll my eyes people. Even though the person in question didn't see it. Man I'm in trouble!...