HIS PRINCESS

CHAPTER 11

Tyler didn’t need to say much to be noticed. He had that kind of face—clean lines, sharp eyes, and a jaw that looked like it belonged in magazines. He wasn’t tall enough to stand out in a crowd, but when he entered a room, people still turned.

Everything about him said he didn’t care—his half-buttoned shirts, his lazy smirk, the way he stood like the world owed him something. And maybe it did. He had money, looks, and a name that opened doors. That was enough for him.

Tyler spotted her first. His smirk was instant. "If it isn't Viola's little pet."

Kiara kept walking, eyes forward.

Kester stepped into her path, his bulk blocking the way. "What's the hurry?"

She sidestepped, but Diego mirrored her movement, cutting her off. The faint smell of their overly strong cologne mixed with the lemon floor cleaner.

Tyler pushed off the wall. "Where's your guard dog today?" His voice dripped with false concern. "Is Viola too busy to hold your hand?"

Kiara adjusted her grip on her books. "She's not my babysitter."

Tyler barked a laugh. "Could've fooled me." He snatched her notebook, flipping through the pages. "Still scribbling notes like a good little scholarship rat?"

She reached for it, but he held it just out of reach.

The classroom door nearest to them opened, and a teacher peered out. "Is there a problem?"

Tyler instantly straightened, handing the notebook back with a saccharine smile. "No problem at all, Mrs. Greene."

The moment the door closed, his expression hardened. He leaned in, voice low. "Tell Viola I said hi."

Kiara didn't react. She walked past them, shoulders tense until she turned the next corner.

Viola was waiting outside their next class, arms crossed. "You're late."

Kiara handed her the notebook. "Ran into Tyler."

Viola's jaw clenched. She took the notebook, flipping to a crumpled page. "Did he touch you?"

"No."

Viola exhaled sharply through her nose but didn't press further. The teacher waved them inside, and they took their seats.

Kiara focused on the lesson, but Viola's pen tapped an agitated rhythm against her desk the entire period.

When the bell rang, Viola was the first out the door. Kiara grabbed her wrist, but Viola shook her off with a sharp twist.

"Don't," Kiara warned.

Viola didn't answer. She shoved her hands into her hoodie pockets and stalked down the hall, shoulders rigid.

Kiara followed, keeping pace. "He's not worth it."

Viola turned a corner sharply, nearly colliding with a group of freshmen. They scattered like startled birds.

The cafeteria doors swung open ahead. Tyler sat at his usual table, holding court with his friends. His laugh cut through the post- lunchtime chatter.

Viola didn't hesitate. She grabbed a half-full carton of chocolate milk from a passing tray and hurled it.

The carton hit Tyler square in the chest, exploding brown liquid across his pristine white shirt. The cafeteria went silent.

Tyler shot up, chair screeching. "You psycho—"

Viola was already in his face. "Touch her stuff again, and next time it's your teeth."

A teacher blew a whistle. "Break it up!"

Viola didn't move. Tyler's fists clenched, but he didn't swing. They both knew Viola's family donated the new science wing last year.

Kiara hooked Viola's elbow and pulled her back. "Enough."

Viola let herself be dragged away, but not before flipping Kester off over her shoulder.

The principal's voice crackled over the PA system, calling both their names to the office.

Viola wiped her hands on her jeans, smearing chocolate milk residue. "Worse things would happen if he doesn't get his shits together."

Kiara sighed but didn't argue.

---

The principal's office smelled like old coffee and wood polish. Viola slouched in her chair, picking at a loose thread on her jeans. Kiara sat straight, hands folded in her lap.

Principal Halland adjusted his glasses. "This is the third time this month, Miss Daniels."

Viola shrugged. "He started it."

"That's no excuse." Halland tapped a pen on his desk. "One more incident and I'll have to call your parents."

Viola's jaw tightened but she stayed quiet.

Kiara spoke up. "It won't happen again."

Halland sighed. "Detention. Both of you. Today after school."

They nodded.

The bell rang for next period as they left the office. Viola kicked a pebble down the hall. "It's nothing we can't do."

Kiara checked her watch. "We're late for maths class."

Viola groaned but followed. Tyler and his friends were nowhere in sight.

The rest of the day passed quietly. Teachers lectured. Students took notes. The clock hands moved slowly toward closing time.

When the final bell rang, they grabbed their bags and headed to the detention room. The room was empty except for the students' detention prefect, who pointed to two desks in front.

Viola pulled out a deck of cards. "Go fish?"

Kiara sat down. "You're impossible."

They played cards until detention ended. The sun was low in the sky as they walked to the dorms.

Viola tossed a pebble at a tree. "Tyler won't bother you again."

Kiara didn't answer. She knew Tyler enough to agree with Viola's sentiments.

They reached the dorm building. Dinner would be served in an hour. Another ordinary school night.

Viola held the door open. "Coming?"

Kiara followed her inside. The door clicked shut behind them.

The dorm hallway smelled of cleaning spray and old wood. Their shoes squeaked on the polished floors as they walked to their room.

Viola tossed her backpack onto her bed. It landed with a thud, scattering pens across the blanket. She flopped down next to it and pulled out her phone.

Kiara sat at her desk and opened her math book. The numbers blurred on the page. She rubbed her eyes.

"You hungry?" Viola asked without looking up from her phone.

"Not yet."

Viola tapped her screen a few times. "Dining hall's serving meatloaf."

Kiara made a face. "We can order pizza."

Viola grinned. "Now you're talking."

They split the cost on Viola's phone app. Extra cheese, no olives. The confirmation screen said thirty minutes for delivery.

Kiara worked on her math homework while Viola scrolled through social media. The desk lamp hummed softly.

The dorm monitor knocked with their pizza. Viola tipped him two hundred dollars from the jar on her dresser.

They ate straight from the box, sitting on Viola's bed. Grease spotted the cardboard as Viola grabbed her third slice.

"Tyler looked like a melted candy bar," she said with her mouth full.

Kiara didn't laugh, but her shoulders relaxed slightly. She wiped her fingers on a napkin. Evening study hours would start soon.

Viola balled up the empty pizza box and tossed it toward the trash can. It missed. She moved towards the trash can and put the pizza box inside.

"Homework?" Kiara asked.

Viola groaned but reached for her backpack. They worked in silence as the room grew darker. The desk lamp cast long shadows across their textbooks.

Later, the dorm monitor did room checks. They pretended to be studying until his footsteps faded down the hall.

Viola closed her book with a snap. "Shower time."

Kiara nodded. She gathered her pajamas while Viola dug through her dresser for clean clothes.

The bathroom tiles were cold underfoot. Water pipes groaned as Viola turned on the shower. Steam fogged the mirror within minutes.

They took turns brushing their teeth. The mint toothpaste smelled sharp in the humid air.

Back in their room, Viola turned off the overhead light. They climbed into their respective beds.

"Good night Kiara," Viola mumbled into her pillow.

Kiara pulled her blanket up to her chin. "Good night Viola."

Sebastian Harris sat behind his polished mahogany desk, fingers steepled under his chin. The housekeeper's call played in his mind - Ariana had left before dawn. His phone lay silent beside a stack of unsigned contracts.

He picked up the device and dialed Ariana's number. The line rang twelve times before going to voicemail. His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly as he set the phone down.

A knock sounded at the door. His assistant entered with a stack of files. "The quarterly reports, sir."

Sebastian didn't look up. "Leave them."

The assistant hesitated. "There's also the—"

"I said leave them." His voice remained even, but the temperature in the room seemed to drop.

The assistant set the files on the edge of the desk and retreated quickly. The door clicked shut with finality.

Sebastian swiveled his chair toward the floor-to-ceiling windows. The city sprawled below, lights twinkling in the evening gloom. He tapped one finger against the armrest in a slow, measured rhythm.

After few minutes of silence, he pressed the intercom. "Cancel my afternoon meetings."

"Yes, Mr. Harris." The secretary's voice wavered slightly.

He stood and walked to the wet bar, pouring two fingers of bourbon. The amber liquid swirled as he took a sip, the burn barely registering.

At his desk again, he opened the top file. His pen hovered over the signature line before he snapped it shut. The clock on the wall ticked loudly in the empty office.

The intercom buzzed again. "Sir, Mr. Thomas is insisting—"

"Not now." He didn't raise his voice, but the words carried through the speaker with finality.

The sunset painted Sebastian's office in fiery orange hues as he stared at his untouched drink. His phone screen lit up again - another ignored call from Ariana. He swiped it away with one sharp motion.

A knock came at the door. Fiona entered, her heels clicking softly. "The Tokyo investors are waiting for your—"

"Reschedule." His voice was ice.

Fiona hesitated. "They flew fourteen hours for this meeting."

Sebastian finally looked up. The quiet fury in his gaze made her take half a step back. "Did I stutter?"

Fiona swallowed. "No, Mr. Harris." She retreated, closing the door without another word.

Sebastian stood abruptly, his chair rolling back into the window. He paced to the glass wall overlooking the city, his reflection a shadow against the dying light.

His intercom buzzed again. He ignored it.

Sebastian's phone vibrated on the desk. He glanced at the screen - an alert from his security team. Camera footage from the villa last night.

He opened the file. Grainy black-and-white footage showed "Ariana" leaving before dawn. He zoomed in. The way she moved... the way she hesitated at the door...

His fingers tightened around the phone.