The Princess Trap

Chapter Two: Sam

"Hi, Mom," I cradle the phone to my ear as I stuff clothes into my suitcase. It was finally summer break, and I couldn't wait to go back home for a bit of R&R. Truthfully, I've spent the last two months of junior year dreaming for this day to come. But Paula, my best friend and roommate, pauses mid-pack and looks at me, an eyebrow raised. She knew very well that my mom never calls me just because, like other parents do. And now that my mom's a senator, she's only gotten worse. "What's up?"

            "Oh nothing," She breezily responds, "I was just wondering what you were up to."

            Hmm.

"We're actually headed to the airport in a few minutes," I reply, "What's going on with you?"

"The airport? Really?"

I pause.

"Uh, I just said I was," I put my mom on speakerphone and Paula throws aside the toiletries she was packing to hurry over to my side. We both shoot panicky eyes at each other. This wasn't the first time my mom pulled something flaky on me at the last minute.

 "Mom, we're flying home today. I sent you a copy of my itinerary last month, remember? And Dad and I were just on the phone last Saturday, and he told me that Charlie was going to pick us up," Charlie was my mom's chauffer. Mom quickly adapted to the charity lunches, the nightly soirees and galas that came with the hard-hitting job she's always aspired for, and now that she's in the Senate, she realized early on that having someone drive us around was pretty convenient.

"Samantha," She says slowly, and I immediately know that whatever she says next is something I wouldn't like.  Paula falls back on the bed in a loud thump. This was our last summer as college students, and while we didn't have concrete plans, Mom's interference would definitely screw with whatever we thought we could get away with.

 "Remember the diplomat of Kordova we met at the President's Ball last Christmas? Well, as you know, I recently attended Senator Murphy's charity brunch, and he mentioned that a special envoy would be coming in next week, and that he would be delighted to receive some local help,"

I doubted he mentioned it in passing. "Come on, what really happened was that you asked him if anyone needed some help, and you had a daughter who just happened to be on her summer break," I grumbled. Paula started shaking me, mouthing the words NO over and over again. "Don't give in! This is your LAST summer!" She hissed.

"Did you know that the embassy is practically next door to your apartment?" Mom names the street the embassy is located at, and it was two stops away on the metro, but I wouldn't say it was 'practically next door'.

"So you got me the job," I deadpan.

"I volunteered you for the job. This is a great opportunity, Samantha! I honestly don't know why you're so hesitant to take this on." She corrects me. Paula groans and I squelch my urge to join her.

"Oh, wow, thank you, Mother. If you hadn't gotten me the job, I wouldn't be flying back home celebrating my final summer," I reply sarcastically, kicking off my slippers and settling into bed.

"Don't be difficult, darling. I got you this job so you can expand your network," My mother tuts into the phone. In the background, I could hear my younger brother Bennett playing a console game.

I sigh, "Mom, I'm an English Lit major. What would I need these kinds of connections for?" It wasn't a secret that my mother was against me majoring in English Literature, instead of Political Science. Even with only a year left in university, my mom still thinks that she can persuade me to come to my senses and march myself into the Political Science department and change majors.