" Hello, " Alexa's voice was a mixture of annoyance and impatience.
A familiar, low voice answered, crisp and Italian. " I trust you got my message, Miss Alexa Claire Donovan. "
Her eyes widened in disbelief, then narrowed in fury. " You!" she yelled into the phone, her hand instinctively clutching the device tighter. " I knew it ! You had to call me, didn't you? You didn't even have the decency to get a normal phone number. What, did you buy a burner phone for this call, did your 'people ' arrange it ?"
" My 'people ' , as you so charmingly put it, have a great deal of work to do to manage this disaster you've created. " His voice was perfectly calm, a stark contrast to her yelling. " You are just an inconvenience that I'm being forced to manage. "
" A disaster?" Alexa's voice was a high- pitched shriek of disbelief. " You're the one who started it ! You arrogant, pompous..."
" Don't even start", he cut her off, his tone growing colder. " This not my fault, you know it. This is a mess we're both in, your mother and my father seem to think the only way out is for us to pretend as friends. "
Edmund held the phone away from his ear for a moment, a sigh of pure frustration escaping his lips. He turned his head slightly toward his secretary, Lionel, who was standing a feet away.
" Lionel, please," he murmured into the silence of the study. " I am going to need you to talk to her. I can't deal with this exhausting woman."
" She can hear you", Alexa shrieked into the receiver. " And you're right. I can be exhausting, especially when I have to deal with an arrogant entitled jerk Iike you."
" Sry to interrupt," Lionel's calm, composed voice came through the line. " Miss Donovan, I'm Lionel Hemsworth, Prince Edmund's secretary. I hope you have a moment to spare for us. We thought it might be best to discuss this over a video conference. "
Lionel's voice was so professional, so perfectly polite, that it calmed Alexa's anger instantly.
" I have already contacted your secretary. " He continued, his tone a steady reassurance. " He will explain everything to you."
" Yeah, of course, Mr. Hemsworth," she said, her voice now completely professional, all traces of her previous anger gone." My secretary will be there. We can take this over from here until I reach my office."
" Excellent,we will look forward to your attendance." He replied.
The call ended with a soft click, leaving Alexa staring at her phone on silence. With a frustrated sigh, she shoved her phone into her bag, headed for the parking garage. The sterile silence of the concrete felt like a welcome escape from the chaos of her day. As she approached her car, a sleek,navy blue Porsche Cayenne Coupe, a sense of control returned to her.
She pulled the door open, the scent of the leather filled her senses as she slid into the driver's seat. The powerful engine hummed to life with a low growl. She pulled out of the parking spot, merging on to the street with a flick of her wrist. The drive became a blur of motion and power. She gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles turned white. This is my life, my business, my car. I would not let a " royal boy" dictate my every move.
The moment she took the exit map, the sleek interior of her car was filled with the sharp,digital ringtone of her phone. She glanced at the screen, a sigh escaping her lips when she saw the name JAMES DOUGHLAS.
" Yeah , Jay," she said.
'' When are you coming?" James spoke.
" I am on the way, just 20 mins and I will be there." She answered. "Ok, then meet you in the office." He said.
With a sense of relief, Alexa finally pulled off the main road, the sleek body of her Porsche Cayenne gliding to a stop in front of her destination. The building, a striking mix of glass, angular white panels, rose into the sky like a futuristic kingdom. This was her empire, that she built with her own efforts and hard work, Zenith Games.
Zenith games is one of the fastest growing gaming companies in the US. Over 4 yrs, the company is popular for creating games that are less than digital entertainment, more about interactive, living works of art. Their signature aesthetic is the masterful blend of digital oil painting, cutting edge CG graphics.
Their work has been critically acclaimed. The psychological thriller A shadow's lullaby won 4 of the Game awards and the mythological epic The Chronicles of echo won 2 of the Bafta Game awards.
The building wasn't a rigid, classical structure like the ones that housed royalty. It was a modern, dynamic, full of life, with vast glass walls that reflected the city, hinted at the digital world's created inside. She got out of the car, the sharp click of the door echoing .
The guards at the entrance, who knew her well, gave her a crisp , respectful salute , she returned with a small,professional smile. As she stepped into the lobby, she was met with a chorus of respectful greetings. The receptionist, a young woman with a bright smile, looked up from the desk.
" Good morning, Ms Donovan, " she said warmly.
" You too," Alexa replied with a polite nod, her expression softening.
As she moved past the reception desk, employees working their respectful greetings of ' Ms Donovan ' or ' Madam' following her as she passed.
Taking the final turn down the hall, she approached her office. She pushed the heavy, dark wood door open, the soft click of the latch.
The room was a reflection of her ambition. The walls were a deep, polished obsidian, sleek, modern furniture was arranged with a minimalist 's precision. A massive elegant desk sat at the center of the room, it's dark wood punctuated by clean, metallic lines. But the real centerpiece was the floor-to- ceiling glass wall that offered a commanding view of the city skyline, a glittering testament of her hard work. She walked in, he soft carpet ruffling her steps. She sat down in the executive chair behind her desk, the soft leather molding perfectly to her form.
A soft knock sounded on the heavy door of her office.
" May, I come in, Ms Donovan?" James's voice was polite, clear from the other side.
" Yes,come in" , Alexa said , her voice back to its Ceo-level composure.
James entered , holding a tablet securely in one hand. He was the perfect, friendly counterpoint to the room's elegant, serious decor , he came prepared to work.
" Good morning, Miss Donovan, " he said, his voice cheerful but professional.
" Yeah, good morning, Mr Doughlas, " she replies.
" Prince Edmund's secretary, just called me. There's an auction tomorrow night. A charitable event." James said without a preamble.
" What auction can you explain me in detail?" Alexa speaks.
James nods his head in yes and continues.
" It's the annual Royal Charity Auction . It's a mandatory appearence. Both of you must be there, you will arive in separate cars but attain the event as friends ."
Her jaw tightened. " An auction? Are u serious?"
" The future of the two countries and the reputations are in line amd depends on it." His voice now serious. " This is your chance to prove the world you two are on Good terms."
" Fine ," she replies rolling her eyes.
" Oh, one more thing, I have the conference set on my tablet. We will go live in a few minutes." He said, his voice cheerful but professional.
James's finger hovered over the tablet's screen. He pressed a button, the screen flashed to life. The view snapped into focus, revealing a formal - looking study was rich mahogany desk. Seated at it was Prince Edmund, his expression as unyielding, regal as ever. Standing beside him was Lionel Hemsworth, his face a mask of perfect composure.
" Good evening, Miss Donovan and Mr Doughlas, " Lionel's voice was the first to cut through the silence, as polite, measured as before.
Edmund didn't wait for Alexa to reply. " Now that we are all assembled, let's not waste anymore time. We have an auction to plan, I'm sure you have more important things to do."
Alexa's lips curled into a thin smile. " Believe me, Prince Edmund, " she retorted , her voice dripping with sarcasm. " Nothing would please me more than to get this over with."
" Splendid," Edmund said, his eyes narrowed in a cold, calculating stare. " Then, we are in agreement. Lionel, if you please."
Lionel nodded , his eyes meeting James 's for a fleeting moment before he began to speak, outshine the details of the collaboration.
" As you both are aware," Lionel said, his voice as smooth as ever. " The proceeds from this auction are dedicated to the International Youth Intiative. The crown is, of course, highly invested in this philanthropic effort. We are confident that with Miss Donovan 's company joining us, our combined bid will not only secure the property, but will also set a new standard for corporate philanthropy."
James took over , a polite, professional smile on his face as he looked at the tablet.
'' Thanks, Mr. Hemsworth. I will be handling the public relations aspect of this alliance. "
He paused, continued further, " To project a unified front to the public, my team, I have determined it's the best for the two of you, Prince Edmund , Miss Donovan , to make several public appearances together, joint interviews. Your relationship will be portrayed not as a political alliance,but a newfound friendship."
Alexa leaned forward in her chair, her eyes fixed on the chair. " Fine," she said, her voice sharp,low. " I'll do it. Just make sure that Royal Majesty cooperates with me."
On the other side of the call, Edmund's lips curled into a disdainful sneer. " Oh, I'll do my part even better ," he said, his voice laced with condescending arrogance. " Just make sure this woman is well- behaved."
Lionel's perfectly composed expression did not change, but a hint of professional relief flickered in his eyes.
" Excellent, " James said.
" Then we can proceed with the planning. I will coordinate your first public appearence with Mr. Hemsworth. I'll send an email with the proposed schedule shortly. And for further queries Mr Hemsworth will filled you in, Your Highness. OK, that's it for today. Hope you have a great day. Thanks for your precious time."
" Yes, and thank you ,Miss Donovan and Mr Doughlas. " Lionel said .
As James began to press the button to disconnect, Edmund and Alexa's eyes locked on the screen. The polite pleasantries were over. The forced alliance was in place. For a single, charged moment, they simply glared at each other— his eyes cold and arrogant, hers full of defiance and contempt.