Uncrowned Princess

4

Isabella sat at the reception desk, bored out of her mind, when the phone rang. She picked it up with a sigh.

"Front desk, how may I help you?" she said, her voice dripping with forced politeness.

"I'd like breakfast brought to my room," a man's voice demanded.

Isabella's eyes narrowed. "Sir, we have a huge dining room. Perhaps you'd like to walk a little? It might help get your blood recycled."

"Excuse me?" the man sputtered.

Dan, overhearing the conversation, quickly took the phone from Isabella. "I apologize for the confusion, sir. We'll have your dinner sent up right away."

As he hung up, Dan laughed and shook his head at Isabella. "You can't talk to guests like that!"

Laura, passing by, shot Dan a look.

Dan turned back to Isabella. "Since Maria has the day off, I need you to bring breakfast to room 198."

"Are you kidding me?" Isabella complained. "I'm not a waitress!"

Isabella grumbled as she carried the breakfast tray to room 198. She knocked on the door, but there was no answer. She could hear the shower running in the bathroom.

"Hello?" she called out. No response.

Shrugging, Isabella entered the room and set the tray on the table. As she straightened up, she caught sight of the stunning view from the window. Unable to resist, she pulled out her phone and snapped a photo.

"This'll show them," she muttered, quickly posting the picture to Instagram with the caption: "Just another day at the office 😎 #livingmybestlife"

As she hit 'post', she heard the bathroom door open.

"What are you doing in here?" a man's voice demanded.

Isabella spun around, her face flushing. "I... I was just delivering your breakfast, sir."

"And taking photos of my room?" the man accused.

"It's just the view," Isabella argued. "I didn't think—"

"I'll be speaking to your manager about this," the man threatened.

Isabella's temper flared. "Oh, really? Well, maybe I'll tell them how you were too lazy to come down to have  your breakfast!"

As the argument escalated, the man grabbed his forehead then pointed at the door. "Get out!"

Isabella rolled her eyes. "Whatever." She slammed the door behind her, hearing the man yelling into his phone as she left.

She was descending the stairs when Dan came rushing up. He gave her a look and said, "Isabella, just take a seat at the desk and don't move. Talk less."

He was going upstairs when he turned back to her. "And keep your opinions to yourself. Don't share them with the guests."

Isabella trudged down the stairs, muttering under her breath. She flopped into the chair at the reception desk, her phone buzzed with a notification from Stephanie.

Stephanie: Where are you, girl? We miss you at the cafe!

Isabella: rolling her eyes Oh, you wouldn't understand. I'm in New York, at my father's company branch. Some of us have actual careers to worry about.

Stephanie: New York? Since when? Why didn't you tell us?

Isabella: with a haughty tone It all happened so fast. Father needed someone he could trust for an important project. Naturally, he chose me.