Strawberry Kisses

27. Hurt me. Hurt you.

Evie Pov 

The coffee machine beeps and I smile while grabbing my cup and entering the sunroom. It was a quiet morning and I wanted to bask in it before my family came in and ruined my day. Actually, it's just Jace, For some reason he sees me having a lovely time and decides to make me get violent. 

After that night with Eloise after our engagement party, I hadn't talked to her. We've both been busy.  She with her newfound Queen duties and me, well getting ready to move from a regular life to a royal one. I didn't mind it actually, except for the part where I have to 'clean' up my social media presence. I was going to a meeting in the castle about that today. 

"Miss Dixon, are you ready to go? The car is here." Oh, the best part about this was me getting my own personal assistant. It's amazing. Mae is her name and she's the sweetest, cutest girl I've ever met. She helps me pick out my clothes for big things, keeps track of my book Instagram for me and my eating, and anything else I need. A real lifesaver. 

"Yes, I-" I spin around quickly and snag my phone and purse. My mom dressed me today, White heels, white sheer tights, and a short white long-sleeve dress. My hair was straight down my back and my glasses sat nicely on my nose. It was really pretty but business I guess. I just let her do whatever she wanted because if not I would've had to deal with her crying about how I'm really growing up. "Okay, let's go." 

We both rush out of my home and into the waiting car. On the way to the castle, Mae went through most of the things that I would have to talk about in the meeting and what was expected of me. I was nervous because I would be meeting with Eloise's publicist, her staff, and the Queen herself. I was nervous because no one had ever seen me in a professional light and secondly, I hadn't seen my fiancée in a few days. 

I pat my stomach as Mae and I follow a guard down the hall and into the meeting room. My stomach swirls as he opens the doors and ushers me inside. Relief floods me as I realize it's empty. I'd have time to gather myself. 

Before the guard closes the door a redhead pops her head in and grins at me. "Evie dear hi!" The former Queen, Isla, waves at me and glances behind her before giving me her attention. "I just wanted to pop in and say that Eloise is a hard ass when it comes to work so if you want something to go your way do what I used to do-"

"You still do it." Her husband's voice grumbles from behind the door and I giggle.

"Seduce her a bit in the meetings. Eye contact is everything and the dress you're wearing shows your boos in a modest way but trust me, like father like daughter." With that, she winks and disappears. 

I tap my heels against the floor and watch as Mae taps away at emails on her computer. When the seven potential personal assistants showed up at my front door I was shocked. I mean I was walking around in sweatpants, mismatched socks, a giant t-shirt that had blood on it because I had a nosebleed in the kitchen, and also some pancake batter from that morning. 

I had been a mess, but the looks on their faces didn't show it. Except for Mae, she looked like she could burst into laughter at any second. Because of that and a good gut feeling I took her arm, yanked her in my home then closed the front door. Later that day Eloise called me, but it was only to ask who I had picked. After I told her she hung up, it hurt my feelings so for the rest of the week until today I ignored any calls and texts she sent....Mae had to answer them. I mean I did tell her how and why she hurt my feelings and until I was ready to talk to her she could answer my assistant. 

One text I did see, well she wasn't happy with that. Her text said 'Evie don't piss me off' then 'Evie you're pissing me off'  to which I responded with 'I would apologize Your Highness but you hurt my feelings first.'  It was formal and to the point.