String of Fate

Chapter Ninety Eight

The door shut behind us and we finally had some privacy. I actually let out a sigh of relief, heading straight into the bathroom of the hotel's fanciest suite. Only the best for the princess. I pulled off the ridiculously tight dress and the most constricting bra that I had ever worn, replacing them with the leggings and oversized hoodie that I had been wearing before being forced to change for that stupid press meeting. Then, I headed back out to the main room of the suite and slouched on one of the plush settees, my bare feet up on the empty seat next to me.

Olivia and Arthur were both sitting on the other of the settee's, both still in their business outfits and looking at ease. I honestly didn't know how they could stick being in their suits. Arthur decided to pull off his tie and Olivia went as far as to unbutton the jacket that she was wearing. She was also reading the itinerary for the rest of the day. I had about an hour and a half of comfortable clothing before I would need to get into another tight dress and then go to the charity ball.

I didn't mind that I was going to the ball. I loved balls. I just hated the dresses. Why wasn't it acceptable that I could turn up to a pair of leggings and an oversized jumper? I man, I would still be able to dance. Why couldn't I wear trainers as well? High heels were ridiculously uncomfortable – and I know I needed the help in the height department, but I couldn't walk decently in them.

Olivia scowled at me from the other settee as Arthur placed the tie on the table between the two settees and I picked up my iPad. I pulled the earphones out of the pocket in the case and popped one of them into my ear as I loaded up YouTube. I had plenty of time to waste watching YouTube videos. It was better than having to listen to Olivia complain at me for the whole time. She'd been my assistant for the last three years, so she should know what I was like.

I mean, I liked lounging around in comfortable clothes and tried to stay in them until the last minute, but I was never late for an event. At least not by my own doing. Whenever I was late, which was hardly ever, it was due to the car getting caught by traffic to the way to an event. Should I ever be late from an event, it was due to some girl trying to chat up Arthur. I didn't know why they bothered. The only thing good about him was that he was a prince.

"Erin, I would really advise that you not spend too long on that device. The hairdresser is due here in an hour." Olivia explained, using a pen to point out to herself how far down the itinerary we were. The list had been quite long today, with the interviews with the journalists in preparation for the ball tonight and the brunch this morning for my grandparent's anniversary had probably meant that I had spent just as much time getting ready as I had actually doing the events that I needed to do.

"Oh, come on, Olivia, you know Erin will, regardless of what happens, will magically turn up on time." Arthur pointed out, kicking his shoes off and leaning back to get comfy. "We both know that she has this magical ability to not be late for anything. It must be a princess thing."

"You need to go and get changed, too, your highness." Olivia told him as he decided that he would be more comfortable with his feet on the table. The look that Olivia gave him was hilarious. She never actually treated us like royalty but since she was in her mid-twenties, she was still the most responsible out of the three of us. "You should be wearing a different outfit for the ball tonight."

"I can still chill here for at least an hour." He countered. It made me smile at him since he always told her straight even though she was seven years older than him. He always made sure that he was a voice of authority. That was something that I liked about him. Also, I liked the fact that he listened to my rants and actually paid attention to me because he liked me and not because I was a princess. "So, Erin, what made your parents think to throw you a charity fundraiser for your sixteenth birthday and throw in some of the priceless jewels that they own?"