Jacqueline and the Royal Palace

Chapter 2.

"Sorry for getting you in trouble with your boss." I heard Owen say behind me and I groaned. Just why won't this guy leave me the f**k alone?

I turned to see him standing in front of me and I started thinking of ways I could get rid of him.

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes before I turned and kept walking. We were standing in the way of other people anyway.

"I can give you a ride home," he offered sweetly and I ignored him. "Jacqueline, there's this new fine dining restaurant that opened yesterday," he said, walking beside me, standing only two inches taller than me. "Also, I was wondering if we could go there, just the two of us and have a good time. Like a date, you know. You've been working hard these days, how about you let me take good care of you?" he babbled and ran his hands through his hair. "You can set the date, and we can go."

"Enough Owen," I cut him off, halting in my steps. "Why don't you just leave me the h**l alone!" I yelled, startling some passers-by, but that didn't stop me from ranting. "I thought I made it clear the first time that I didn't want to be with you, and why would I want to be with you anyway?" I flailed my arms at him and now some passers-by had stopped and were watching us.

"Jacqueline," he said softly. "I felt myself changing the first time I set my eyes on you, and I'm ready to do anything for you. I have a car and a nice house we can live in if you would just give me a chance." he begged, looking so sincere and, for a moment, I almost took pity on him, but I had better get rid of him.

"I may be poor now, but I am way out of your league!" I gritted through clenched teeth. Just then, I noticed some people getting out their phones. "Get a life!" I hissed at Owen and walked away, and I could hear some people laughing at him.

Poor Owen. But yeah, whatever. He shouldn't bother me again after this.

*

I entered my apartment and, after closing the door behind me, I removed my shoes and took of my coat before slumping heavily on my small bed feeling exhausted and the bed creaked.

I stared at the ceiling of my dingy studio apartment.

Just why do I have to live in this sh*t place?

Oh right, because I didn't want to share a small house with my family, but apparently, privacy comes with great cost, and now I have bills to pay.

Sitting upright, I took out all the stuff from my pocket, which mostly consisted of the money I got from tips, and trust me when I say I got a lot of it. Truly, being beautiful has its own perks.

And then there were the pieces of paper which had handwritten phone numbers from guys who couldn't approach me and thought the huge tip they left would make me call them. I crumpled the pieces of paper and threw them inside the dustbin before counting my money. The notes with phone numbers on them, I couldn't do anything about but put them in my wallet.

After counting the tips along with the ones I got in the past few weeks which I had been saving, I decided it was enough to do something important to upgrade my life.

I looked around my small room which had nothing much to it, there was my creaking single bed which could collapse anytime, the old and worn-out sofa with the coffee table and my small wardrobe that had few clothes. I was more than grateful we wore uniforms in my place of work. If not, they would have since seen me for who I really was, a rat. And then there was the kitchenette that was running out of groceries.

The room was so small that I could walk around it in just ten seconds. I looked to my left at the small bedside drawer and on it were heaps of magazines and right there, and then I decided what I needed to do buy the money. The latest Xphone!

I put the money aside and took the gossip magazine on top which I had bought earlier today but didn't get the time to read it.

I smiled seeing the picture of Prince Asher on the cover, he looked so hot. I wish I could see him once even if it's just a glimpse, but even his family barely get to see him and where he disappears. No one knows,

"What is the Country's Hot Crown Prince Up to Lately?" I read out the title. 'This better be good', I thought before opening the magazine and my eyes widened seeing the picture of the crown prince having the time of his life in a pool with girls.

The gossip magazine read: 'How could a Prince who never cares about his reputation and his family rule the country?... While the adopted Prince Nathaniel is doing great things and making his country proud, the supposed crown Prince is there enjoying his time without a care in the world, for who knows where and with women who could be carrying STD's... And let's not forget that he hasn't been seen in the country for over eight months now," I continued, reading the magazine.

Prince Asher was the only son of Late King Martin and Late Queen Catherine of the country, both of whom died years back when he was only little, so his grandmother Maria was now the Queen,, and while Prince Asher was expected to take the crown soon, as he was now 27, Prince Asher was,, kind of rebellious and chose to abscond his duties leaving the adopted Prince Nathaniel to take care of things.

I delved into the magazines, looking at the pictures of beautiful dresses worn by beautiful rich people and reading tips on how to be better that I didn't know when I dozed off.

*

The sharp ringing from the telephone beside me woke me up, and I groaned, feeling a headache caused by the abrupt disruption of my sleep and cutting my dream off. I was dreaming of myself with the Prince and he was tying my shoe laces. What a dream! The insistent telephone kept ringing, and I picked it up and put it to my ear.

"Hello?" I croaked.

"Jack!" Mr. Drew bellowed "Be here in ten minutes or find another job!" He screamed and cut of the call, which had me shooting out of bed and scrambling to get ready. I can't believe I overslept. Maybe I'm just not cut out for this kind of life.

*one week later*

"Is it just me or does Owen not come here anymore?" Someone stated. All of us, the fifteen staff of the restaurant, were in the lounge room and we were waiting for Mr. Drew to come address us on a certain issue about the restaurant.

While the others chatted among themselves, my head was bent over my latest Xphone, going through social media. I still rejoice thinking of everyone's face when they see me with the Xphone. Morgan was green with envy and Natalie was really excited for me and wanted to try taking some pictures together, so I let her.

I smile crept onto my face when I received a new notification. My first photo with Natalie that I posted on Istarglam had gotten another like from a new follower.

Ah! The perks of being beautiful!

The picture was of the two of us at night after we had gotten off work, and we snapped outside the restaurant wearing our coats. I mean, I can't let people know I am a waitress in the first instance. That is no good first impression.

"Maybe he's finally realized how much of a loner she is and went running on his heels." Morgan sneered and everyone in the lounge room laughed excluding Natalie and I.

"If you feel so sorry for him, then you can have him," I retorted. "If he ever looks your way that is."

Some of the people whistled, and Natalie grinned as she gave me a thumbs up which infuriated Morgan. But just as she was about to make a comeback, Mr. Drew came in, drawing everyone's attention to him. not long after and briefed us. Something about being more meticulous or whatever to increase our sales by making the customers order more.

*

Just like every single day, I went back to my apartment happy that the day's work was over. Today's shift ended at 5pm and as soon as I entered my apartment, I changed into an oversize shirt and shorts before cooking some instant noodles.

I served the noodles on a plate and poured water in a glass before sitting down and logging Istarglam to read the latest gist.

"Will Prince Asher grace his own grandmother the Queen's birthday dinner this year?... "

Oh my god, I can't believe I forgot today was the Queen's birthday. Prince Asher didn't attend the birthday last year, so I wonder if he would today. I scrolled down and watched while eating as Stacy Jones went on and on about who was expected to attend the birthday celebration while making jabs at some of the celebrities and famous people.

I hate my life, but social media make it better, so I love it.

Just when I had finished my food and was resting on my sofa watching a series with my favorite actress, Hannah Jacob, when I heard a knock on the door which had me startled. Who could it possibly be? I never have anyone come over, not neighbors and certainly not friends.