Is It God's Plan?

Chapter 2: Diana's Field Day

As someone who worked in the public relations industry, field days were a norm for Diana.

"DSLR, check. Microphone, check. Recorder, check. What else do I need?" She murmured as she went through her things before leaving her apartment.

She was about to leave her place when her phone rang suddenly.

"We need you here, ASAP! The Duke of Alveo is staging a coup." Diana froze, her hand hovering over the doorknob.

"A coup? Are you serious?" she asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and panic.

The voice on the other end, her boss, Mr. Laufey, sounded frantic. "Dead serious. The Duke of Alveo is staging a coup, and the palace is in chaos. We need you here now. The king’s team is relying on us to manage the press."

She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Fine. I’m on my way."

Grabbing her bag, she rushed out the door, her mind racing. A coup? In Solovia? This wasn’t just another field day. This was a potential PR nightmare.

The streets were buzzing as she made her way to the palace. News vans lined the roads, reporters shouting into microphones, and camera flashes lighting up the evening sky. The tension in the air was palpable.

When she arrived, the palace gates were heavily guarded. Diana flashed her PR badge, and after a quick inspection, she was let through. Inside, the scene was even more chaotic. Officials were running around, phones glued to their ears, while journalists tried to push past security for a closer look.

"Diana!" Mr. Laufey called out, waving her over. "Thank God you’re here. The king’s team is in shambles. They need us to handle the press briefing. You’re leading this one."

Her heart skipped a beat. "Me? Leading the team? Are you sure?" I can't do this. She screamed in her thoughts.

"You’re the best we’ve got," he said, shoving a clipboard into her hands. "The king is about to make a statement. Make sure the press doesn’t eat him alive." Diana nodded, quickly setting up her equipment and reviewing the talking points.

As she worked, she couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of déjà vu. Something about this situation felt oddly familiar, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

Just as she finished setting up, a hush fell over the room. Diana turned to see a group of men entering, their presence commanding immediate attention. And there he was, Francis Anthony L. Solane, the King of Yelovia, walking in with an air of authority that made the room feel smaller.

Her breath caught in her throat. No way. It can’t be him.

But it was. The man from the coffee shop. The one who had left her flustered and blushing just days ago.

Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Diana felt that same jolt of electricity she had felt before. But there was no time to dwell on it. The king of Solovia stepped forward to address the crowd, his voice steady despite the chaos.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I assure you that the situation is under control. The Duke of Alveo’s actions are being dealt with swiftly, and the safety of our people remains our top priority."

Diana focused on her work, capturing every word, every expression. But her mind was spinning. So, that Anthony from the coffee shop really is the king? I thought he was just trying to scam me!

As the briefing ended and the crowd began to disperse, Diana packed up her equipment, her hands trembling slightly. She couldn’t believe what she had just learned.

"Ms. Rivera," a deep voice called out behind her.

She turned to see Anthony standing there, his dark chocolate eyes locked on hers.

"Your work is impressive," he said, his tone calm but sincere.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

He hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to say more, but instead, he gave her a small nod and walked away, leaving Diana standing there, her heart pounding in her chest.

As she left the palace that night, Diana couldn’t help but feel that her life was about to change in ways she couldn’t yet imagine.

Later that evening, Diana and her PR team gathered at a nearby bistro, a cozy spot they often frequented after long, chaotic days. The warm glow of string lights and the smell of freshly baked bread offered a much-needed reprieve from the tension of the day.

Diana sat at the corner of the table, poking at her plate of pasta while the others chatted animatedly about the day’s events. Her mind was still reeling from the realization that Anthony, the man who had left her flustered in the coffee shop, was not just any ordinary man, but the king.

"Earth to Diana," Liz teased, nudging her with an elbow. "You’ve been zoning out all night. Still thinking about the coup?"

"Something like that," Diana muttered, twirling her fork in her pasta.

Before Liz could press further, the bell above the bistro’s door jingled, and the entire table fell silent. Diana looked up, and her heart nearly stopped.

There he was.

Francis Anthony L. Solane, the King of Yelovia, was standing in the doorway of their humble little bistro.

The room seemed to hold its breath as he scanned the space, his dark chocolate eyes landing on their table. With a small, almost imperceptible smile, he walked over.

"Good evening," Anthony said, his deep voice cutting through the stunned silence.

Diana’s boss, Mr. Laufey, was the first to recover. He shot to his feet, nearly knocking over his chair. "Your Majesty! What an honor—"

"Please," Anthony interrupted, raising a hand. "No formalities tonight. I’m just here to join you for dinner, if that’s all right."

The table exchanged wide-eyed glances, and Diana’s heart raced. Why in the world would a king join us for dinner?

"Of course, Your, uh, Anthony," Mr. Laufey stammered, gesturing to the empty seat directly across from Diana.

Anthony sat down gracefully, his presence commanding yet oddly casual. "I thought it was only fair to thank the team that kept today’s chaos from spiraling out of control. You all did exceptional work."

The team murmured their thanks, still visibly starstruck. Diana, on the other hand, was doing her best to avoid his gaze, her cheeks burning.

"So," Anthony said, his eyes flicking to Diana, "how’s the pasta?"

She blinked, caught off guard. "Oh, um, it’s good. Really good."

"Mind if I try?" he asked, a playful glint in his eyes.

Diana stared at him, unsure if he was serious. "You… want to try my pasta?" She was so shocked that she almost choked on her pasta.

"Why not?" he said with a small shrug, as if it were the most normal request in the world.

Before she could respond, Liz slid her plate across the table. "Here, Your Majesty, you can try mine!"

Anthony chuckled, shaking his head. "Thank you, but I’d rather hear Diana’s opinion."

Diana’s face turned an even deeper shade of red as she reluctantly pushed her plate toward him. He twirled a forkful of pasta with practiced ease and took a bite, nodding thoughtfully.

"Not bad," he said, setting the fork down. "But I think the chef back at the palace might have some competition."

The table erupted in laughter, and Diana couldn’t help but smile, even as her heart continued to race.

As the evening went on, Anthony’s presence seemed to put everyone at ease. He asked questions about their work, cracked a few surprisingly witty jokes, and even shared a story about his own PR nightmares as king.

At one point, Liz leaned over to Diana and whispered, "Is it just me, or is he totally flirting with you?"

"Shut up," Diana hissed, her cheeks burning again.

But as the night wore on, she couldn’t deny the way Anthony’s gaze seemed to linger on her, or the way his smile softened whenever she spoke.

When the dinner finally came to an end, Anthony stood and addressed the group. "Thank you all for letting me crash your dinner. Your work today was invaluable, and I’m grateful for each of you."

He turned to Diana, his expression unreadable. "And Diana, I’ll be seeing you again soon."

Her breath hitched, but before she could respond, he gave her a small nod and walked out of the bistro, leaving her and the rest of the team in stunned silence.

Liz broke the quiet first. "Okay, what just happened? Did the king of Yelovia just casually join us for dinner? And did he just single you out?"

Diana buried her face in her hands, groaning. "I don’t know, Liz. I don’t know."

But deep down, she couldn’t help but feel that her life was about to get even more complicated—and maybe, just maybe, a little more exciting.

- END OF CHAPTER 2 -

Hi, lovely readers!

What a whirlwind of a chapter, right? From PR chaos to unexpected dinner guests, Diana’s life is definitely taking a turn for the unpredictable. I mean, how often does a king casually join you for pasta? (Answer: never, unless you’re Diana.)

I hope you enjoyed the mix of tension, humor, and those little sparks between Diana and Anthony. Things are heating up, and I can’t wait to share what’s next.

What do you think Anthony meant by "I’ll be seeing you again soon"? Let me know your thoughts. I love hearing from you!

Until next time,

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