The Reluctant Princess

Chapter One

Theo

Almost as soon as Molly left the phone rang. With a weary sigh, I heaved myself off the bed, and picked it up.

"Hello?" I said, in my best bored voice, to show the caller that I didn't appreciate phone calls this early in the morning.

"Theodore? Is that you?" The shrill voice of my grandmother made me stand up straight. I inwardly groaned. What did she want?"

"Yes, Grandmama, it's me." 

"What are you talking like that for? Theodore, have you got another girl there with you?" Her high-pitched voice screeching down the phone made me wince.

"No, Grandmama, I haven't."

"Good, good." She paused for breath. "Theodore, you haven't forgotten about our meeting this afternoon? And you haven't forgotten to tell the girl, have you?" I clapped a hand over my forehead. I had completely forgotten about the meeting with Grandmama this evening, and I'd also forgotten to tell Molly about my eh, status. Not that I'd been putting it off or anything.

""Theodore?" I jumped.

"Eh, no, Grandmama. I hadn't forgotten. I'll eh, see you later." I could almost see her evil smile down the phone.

"Good. See you later dear." 

Oh god. This was going to be a bad day.

***

 Molly

I got the text from Theo about half an hour after I arrived into work. He can't seriously be that needy that he wants me to come back, I thought, shaking my head. But that wasn't it. That wasn't it at all.

He told me that I was to go to The Ritz (the where?) after work, and ask to be taken to the Edgar Suite, where he wanted to discuss 'something very important with me'.

Wait, what? This was possibly the most random thing that had happened to me all my life. 

The Ritz? Important? Oh my god, that must mean....

He was going to propose. 

Oh my days! My hands flew up to clutch at my hair. That would explain why he wanted me to stay this morning! But to hire out a suite in The Ritz when he could just ask me at home? I mean, I appreciated the thought, but for a guy who lived on baked beans and toast, it was a bit out of character. In any case, it was not good. Ok, so I liked the guy (hey, he was extremely attractive) but I didn't want to marry him! Maybe I'm wrong, I thought frantically. Yeah, I'm probably wrong. At least, I hope I am. But that didn't explain The Ritz. Oh god.

The rest of the day flew by in a panic induced blur. I could hardly focus on the article I was meant to be writing about skincare (I was a beauty correspondent for a glossy magazine). My mind kept drifting back to the text message. What could be so urgent that it couldn't be said over the phone, and must instead be said in the most expensive hotel in the city? 

"Molly? Earth to Molly?" My assistant Andrea snapped her fingers in my face. I snapped out of daydream about Theo and looked at her.

"What?" 

"Have you finished the article yet? Laura wants it by five?"

"What time is it now?" 

"Half four." 

"Oh. I'm sorry Andrea, I have a lot on my mind today. I'll finish it now." Andrea just rolled her eyes and went back to tapping away at her keyboard. I felt guilty about poor Andrea. She was only hired a month ago, and she'd already had to cover for me so many times that I'm sure she'd quit if she wasn't paying her way through college.